Leafy Twigs Research Articles

First recognition of the extinct eudicot genus Palibinia in North America: Leaves and fruits of Palibinia comptonifolia (R.W.Br.) comb. nov. from the Eocene of Utah and Colorado, USA

AbstractNewly investigated leafy twigs bearing axillary fruits from the Eocene Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation in eastern Utah, USA, have provided more information on the species previously attributed to the Proteaceae as Banksia comptonifolia R.W.Br. The leaves are simple, estipulate with short petioles, and elongate laminae with prominent angular nonglandular teeth. The laminae have a thick midvein and pinnate craspedodromous secondaries, and are distinctive in the presence of a thick, often coalified, marginal rim. Vegetative and reproductive buds occur in the axils of the leaves. These features indicate that the species belongs to Palibinia Korovin—an extinct Eudicot genus previously known only from the Paleogene of Asia and Europe. Small pedicellate ovoid fruits 1.5–2.2 mm wide are borne in fascicles of three and are seen to be capsules with four apical valves. Despite the specific epithet referring to similarity of the foliage to that of Comptonia (Myricaceae), the fasciculate inflorescence organization with axillary flowers is quite distinct from the catkins characteristic of that family. Assignment to Banksia or other Proteaceae with complex inflorescences and follicular fruits is also problematic. Additionally, MacGinitie′s transfer of the species to Vauquelinia of the Rosaceae is contradicted by the lack of stipule scars on the twig and by differences in leaf venation and floral morphology. We transfer the species to Palibinia comptonifolia (R.W.Br.) comb. nov., but its familial affinity within the Pentapetalae remains uncertain. This new occurrence augments records from the Paleogene of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, England, and Germany.

Nesting behaviour of short-toed eagles (Circaetus gallicus) in central Italy, as revealed by nest cameras

During 2021, from 1 March to 31 August, we used camera-traps to monitor two short-toed eagle pairs in the Tolfa hills (Latium, central Italy) with the intention of observing differences in behaviour between the two sexes and between different pairs during the entire breeding cycle. Males carried mainly dry twigs during the pre-laying period; females carried mostly leafy twigs usually after laying. Brooding is carried out almost entirely by the females (83 vs 17%), and females alone were observed to brood during the night. The adults’ behaviour differed even further during the fledging period: the male went hunting and limited himself almost exclusively to delivering the prey, while the female continued to remain at the nest until the chick was 22 days old, after which her absences increased constantly up to the 45th day, which is more than half of the fledging period. Female-chick interactions can be frequent and lasts up to the middle of the fledging period. Significant behavioural differences emerged from the comparison between the two pairs during the pre-laying period: in particular the average daily presence at the nest (72 vs 31 min) and the number of prey items offered at the nest by the male (29 vs 4). We also observed evident differences between pairs in the nest courtship displays. In one nest we observed an unmistakable and frequent behaviour, that we propose to call “neck display”, and which was never observed in the other nest.

Extinction Risk Assessment and Chemical Composition of Aerial Parts Essential Oils from Two Endangered Endemic Malagasy Salvia Species.

Seven essential oil samples of two endemic species of Malagasy sage, Salvia sessilifolia Baker and Salvia leucodermis Baker, were investigated via GC(RI), GC-MS and 13C NMR spectrometry. In total, 81compounds were identified accounting for 93.5% to 98.7% of the total composition. The main constituents for the both species were (E)-β-caryophyllene (29.2% to 60.1%), myrcene (1.2% to 21.7%), α-humulene (5.2% to 19.7%), (E)-nerolidol (0.8% to 15.5%) and caryophyllene oxide (1.4% to 10.8%). Ethnobotanical survey of 46 informants revealed that decoctions of leafy twigs and chewed leaves were usually used. Due to the repeated fires, over-harvesting and grazing, the populations of S. sessilifolia and S. leucodermis are drastically fragmented. These risk factors led to threats to the habitats of the target species. Salvia sessilifolia Baker and Salvia leucodermis Baker are proposed to be classified as endangered species.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF CHROMOLAENA ODORATA HARVESTED IN THE REGION OF THE MOUNTAIN DISTRICT OF CÔTE D'IVOIRE.

Introduction: The aromatic plants have occupied an important place in the daily life of man. The excessive and repetitive use of drugs has led the body to develop resistance to their curative effects. Many authors have focused on the study of the therapeutic properties of essential oils in order to provide new remedies. They are used as a source of bioactive molecules of natural origin. Objective: The objective of this work is to contribute to the valorization of medicinal and aromatic plants of the Ivorian flora. We propose to determine the chemical composition and to evaluate the antioxidant activity by spectrophotometry of the essential oil. Materials and Methods: The plant material consists of the leafy twigs of C. odorata. The technical of steam distillation using a four-compartment stainless steel device was used to extract the essential oil from the plant matrix. The analysis of the essential oils was carried out on a GC chromatograph (7890A, Agilent Technologies) coupled to a mass spectrometer (5975C, Agilent Technologies). The antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated using the Blois method. Results: The essential oil obtained by steaming, with an aromatic odor and pale green color has a yield of (0.082 ± 0.004) %. Analysis of the chromatogram and mass spectra identified 24 phytocompounds (99.92%). The phytochemical composition is dominated by hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes (44.21%) followed by hydrocarbon monoterpenes (29.48%) and other compounds (26.23%). The major compound are α-pinene (17.79%), 6-propen-1-enylbicyclo [3.1.0] and hexan-2-one (14.95%) . Conclusion: The essential oil extract of C. odorata exhibits low antioxidant activity compared to vitamin C.

New petrified calamitaleans from the Permian of the Parnaíba Basin, central-north Brazil, part III, with some concerns regarding anatomical features of Paleozoic petrified sphenophytes

A new petrified calamitalean is described from the Permian Motuca Formation, Parnaíba Basin, central-north Brazil. In contrast to all other three-dimensionally preserved Brazilian species, it represents a semi-self-supporting woody plant characterized by a distinctive branch system and cellular anatomy. Arthropitys buritiranensis sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the new material. The branch architecture is composed of at least three types of branches: (i) principal woody side branches, (ii) up to three secondary woody branches per node, scattered along the stem or the principal side branches, and (iii) 8–11 leafy twigs per whorl, at every third, rarely the second node, without secondary growth. The wood is segmented into fascicular wedges and interfascicular rays, clearly visible only within the inner wood of the stem and woody branches. The tracheid walls of the secondary xylem have exclusively scalariform pits. Ray parenchyma cells have pitted horizontal walls. The new calamitalean was part of the riparian vegetation of tree ferns, calamitaleans and gymnosperms recorded in a distal fluvial plain setting. The wood shows irregular growth interruptions and, therefore, points to a seasonally dry climate that shaped even low latitude paleofloras of tropical Pangaea.

Sooty molds from the Jurassic of Patagonia, Argentina.

The sooty molds are a globally distributed ecological group of ascomycetes with epiphyllous, saprotrophic habit, comprising several phylogenetically distant taxa (i.e., members of the classes Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes). Their fossil record extends almost continuously back to the early Cretaceous; however, they are hypothesized to have originated in the early Mesozoic. Here, we describe new specimens of sooty molds associated with conifer leaves from Jurassic hot spring deposits of Patagonia, Argentina. Thin sections of chert samples from the La Matilde Formation, Deseado Massif (Santa Cruz, Argentina) were observed using light microscopy. The fungi occur on the surface and axils of leafy twigs with podocarpaceous affinities, forming dense subicula comprised by opaque moniliform hyphae. Additionally, several asexual and sexual reproductive structures are observed. On the basis of vegetative (i.e., dense subicula composed of moniliform hyphae; hyphae composed of opaque cells deeply constricted at the septa) and reproductive characters (i.e., poroconidial and sympodioconidial asexual stages and diverse spores), two morphotypes were identified with affinities within lineages of the subphylum Pezizomycotina that encompass the ecological group of sooty molds, and a third morphotype was within the phylum Ascomycota. This finding extends the fossil record of sooty molds to the Jurassic and their geographic fossil range to the South American continent. In particular, their association with podocarpaceous conifers is shown to be ancient, dating back to the Jurassic. This new record provides an additional reference point on the diversity of interactions that characterized Jurassic forests in Patagonia.

Pinus leptokrempfii, an Oligocene Relative of the Flat-Needled Pine PINUS krempfii (Pinaceae) from China: Implications for Paleogeographic Origin

Premise of research. The geographic origin of Pinus krempfii Lecomte, an unusual pine endemic to Vietnam, is unknown, as are the fossil relatives of this species. Its affinity and classification are also problematic. Morphological and systematic studies have shown that this species differs from all other pines in its falcate, lanceolate, and flat needles. Fossils can provide evolutionary and systematic clues for such extant species.Methodology. Fossil leafy twigs were discovered in the early Oligocene Wenshan flora, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. The morphological variation of these fossils was compared with the morphology of extant species in the genus Pinus. On the basis of these comparisons, the close affinity of the fossils to the extant P. krempfii is discussed.Pivotal results. The Chinese fossils were assigned to P. leptokrempfii sp. nov., which is interpreted as most closely related to extant P. krempfii on the basis of morphological similarities such as falcate and flat needles. It differs from the extant species, which possesses only two-needled fascicles, by possessing two- or three-needled fascicles and longer, narrower needles.Conclusions. Relatives of P. krempfii occurred in the early Oligocene in subtropical mixed mesophytic forests that covered an area corresponding to present-day eastern Asia and eastern and western North America. Since the early Oligocene, global cooling and the monsoon climate in southern China may have induced the southward expansion and differentiation of P. leptokrempfii. The needles of P. krempfii, which are shorter and broader than those of P. leptokrempfii, may have evolved to adapt to the warmer, more humid climate in present-day Vietnam.

Ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal values of Loranthaceae used to treat human diseases by local ethnic Agni Sanwi from Aboisso and Maferé in Côte d'Ivoire

Loranthaceae are hemiparasitic vascular plants that develop on other woody species. They are used in traditional medicine to treat various pathologies. The present study is a contribution to the knowledge of the medicinal potential of Loranthaceae used in care by Agni Sanwi of Aboisso and Maferé, in the South-East of Côte d'Ivoire. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted with 50 herbalists and 17 traditional healers using semi-structured interviews. Three (3) species (Globimetula braunii, Phragmanthera capitata and Tapinanthus bangwensis) divided into 3 genera used to treat 35 diseases were identified. They have been cited in the formulation of several remedies. Malaria, typhoid fever, diarrhea and fontanelle were the most commonly reported conditions. Leaves and leafy twigs are the main organs used. The decoction has been predominant in the acquisition of remedies. The drink was the most cited as a method of administering treatments. The Frequency of Citations (FC) of the Loranthaceae employed in the care and medicinal Informant Agreement Ratio (med.IARs) of the respondents were determined. T. bangwensis had the highest FC (95.52%) and med.IARs (0.73). The therapeutic potentials of Loranthaceae have been highlighted and deserve to be popularized through complementary phytochemical investigations.

Traditional knowledge and cultural importance of Gardenia erubescens Stapf & Hutch. in Sudanian savanna of Burkina Faso

BackgroundTraditional knowledge (TK) on the different uses of under-valued fruit tree species including Gardenia erubescens Stapf & Hutch.—a plant species of least concern (LC) based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification yet considered threatened due to overharvesting by a National Assessment in addition to 59 other species in Burkina Faso. This study aimed to collect and synthesize information on traditional knowledge and cultural importance of G. erubescens. This information will contribute to document traditional knowledge systems that are fast eroding due to the lack of transmission of the knowledge and will also highlight G. erubescens as a priority species for conservation given that this species is widely used among householders in rural areas in Burkina Faso.MethodsThis study assesses TK on the uses and cultural importance (CI) of G. erubescens, among 514 randomly selected respondents across 15 villages bordering three community forest areas located in Eastern and Centre-Western Regions of Burkina Faso through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Additionally, the uses and CI of G. erubescens were evaluated in relation to informant’s gender, ethnicity, generation, and location. Ethnobotanical indices (relative frequency of citation, relative use value, and CI) were computed using generalized linear models, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests.ResultsResults indicated 30 specific uses of G. erubescens of which food values recorded the highest uses as reported by 58.97% respondents followed by medicine (17.22%) with a very low 0.23% for magical uses. Food and medicinal uses were the most important for women while men valued more the species for constructions, cultural, and magical uses. The fruit is the most preferred and marketable part of the plant while the leaves, fruits, roots, leafy twigs, and bark are mainly harvested for pharmacopeia and psycho-magical problems.ConclusionsTraditional knowledge on the uses of G. erubescens varied significantly in relation to gender, ethnicity, generations, and case study locations. Despite the importance of G. erubescens for food and other livelihood values, this specie is of LC to the IUCN; yet, a National Assessment considers it as threatened. The multiple uses of this specie based on TK systems for uses such as food, income, medicine, etc. is an indication that G. erubescens if sustainable managed could form an important safety net especially for rural households in Burkina Faso that are highly dependent on trees and forest resources.

(2685) Proposal to conserve the name Eristophyton against Ullmannites (fossil Spermatophyta, Pityales)

(2685) Proposal to conserve the name <i>Eristophyton</i> against <i>Ullmannites</i> (fossil <i>Spermatophyta, Pityales</i>)

Ficus pongumphaii (Moraceae), a new species from Thailand, compared with the ambiguous species F. talbotii

A deciduous shrub previously included in Ficus talbotii for many years, is now regarded as a new species, Ficus pongumphaii. It is morphologically distinct from F. talbotii with as typical characters the densely brown pubescent to tomentose or villous on leafy twig; the elliptic, suborbicular to obovate leaf blades that are brown tomentellous on the upper surface and brown floccose tomentose to villous underneath; the pedunculate figs are obovate, brown floccose or villous outside and have internal hairs. The leaf anatomy shows a multiple epidermis on both surfaces; enlarged lithocysts on both sides of the lamina, which are more abundant adaxially and with very few abaxially. The species, endemic to Thailand, is named after the great Thai dendrologist, Associate Professor Somnuek Pongumphai.

Whole-Plant Reconstruction and Updated Phylogeny of Austrohamia acanthobractea (Cupressaceae) from the Middle Jurassic of Northeast China

Premise of research. Discovery of abundant leafy twigs with attached pollen cones and seed cones of Austrohamia acanthobractea from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Lagerstatte in Inner Mongolia, North...

A New Species of Marskea Florin (Pinopsida) from the Middle Jurassic of the Irkutsk Coal Basin (East Siberia)

The study of conifer twigs from the Middle Jurassic deposits of the Irkutsk Coal Basin, previously described as Sequoia and Taxocladus, shows their morphology and epidermal characters to be similar to those of Marskea leaves. A new species Marskea heeriana N. Nosova et Kiritch. is described. A new combination, Marskea latifolia (Kiritch.) N. Nosova, comb. nov., is proposed for leafy twigs from the Early Cretaceous of the Lena Basin, originally described as Florinia latifolia Kiritch.

Agathistrees of Patagonia's Cretaceous‐Paleogene death landscapes and their evolutionary significance

The fossil record of Agathis historically has been restricted to Australasia. Recently described fossils from the Eocene of Patagonian Argentina showed a broader distribution than found previously, which is reinforced here with a new early Paleocene Agathis species from Patagonia. No previous phylogenetic analyses have included fossil Agathis species. We describe macrofossils from Patagonia of Agathis vegetative and reproductive organs from the early Danian, as well as leaves with Agathis affinities from the latest Maastrichtian. A total evidence phylogenetic analysis is performed, including the new Danian species together with other fossil species having agathioid affinities. Early Danian Agathis immortalis sp. nov. is the oldest definite occurrence of Agathis and one of the most complete Agathis species in the fossil record. Leafy twigs, leaves, pollen cones, pollen, ovuliferous complexes, and seeds show features that are extremely similar to the living genus. Dilwynites pollen grains, associated today with both Wollemia and Agathis and known since the Turonian, were found in situ within the pollen cones. Agathis was present in Patagonia ca. 2 million years after the K-Pg boundary, and the putative latest Cretaceous fossils suggest that the genus survived the K-Pg extinction. Agathis immortalis sp nov. is recovered in a stem position for the genus, while A. zamunerae (Eocene, Patagonia) is recovered as part of the crown. A Mesozoic divergence for the Araucariaceae crown group, previously challenged by molecular divergence estimates, is supported by the combined phylogenetic analyses including the fossil taxa.

Essential oil composition of Pentzia incana (Asteraceae), an important natural pasture plant in the Karoo region of South Africa

Pentzia incana is one of the most important of all natural pasture plants in the dry interior (Karoo) region of South Africa. This highly aromatic shrub is thought to be responsible for the distinctive flavour of Karoo lamb (a registered geographical indication), yet the essential oil is here characterised for the first time. Leafy twigs are traditionally chewed for relief of stomach ache. Essential oil is associated with numerous small, multicellu- lar glands. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of 17 essential oil samples from five populations showed considerable variation in both yield (0.12% to 0.88% dry weight) and composition. Of interest was the presence of one major biosynthetic group comprising yomogi alcohol (to 38.9%), artemisia alcohol (to 26.1%), artemisia ketone (to 35.0%) and artemisyl acetate (to 9.4%). High levels of fragranol (26.9%) and fragranyl acetate (27.1%) were observed only in a single specimen. Other main compounds were 1,8-cineole (to 16.7%), santolina alcohol (to 11.3%), camphor (to 47.9%), linalyl acetate (to 17.4%) and bicyclogermacrene (to 11.8%). Six of the 10 major compounds were isolated and their identities confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance. The volatile compounds may possibly be linked to the medicinal use of P. incana, as well as the flavour profile of Karoo lamb.

Cupressaceous Pollen Cones from the Early Cretaceous of Vancouver Island, British Columbia: Morinostrobus holbergensis gen. et sp. nov.

Premise of research. Four small pollen cones bearing pollen have been found attached to a leafy twig in a calcareous concretion from the Valanginian Apple Bay locality, northern Vancouver Island, B...

The fossil flip-leaves (Retrophyllum, Podocarpaceae) of southern South America.

The flip-leaved podocarp Retrophyllum has a disjunct extant distribution in South American and Australasian tropical rainforests and a Gondwanic fossil record since the Eocene. Evolutionary, biogeographic, and paleoecological insights from previously described fossils are limited because they preserve little foliar variation and no reproductive structures. We investigated new Retrophyllum material from the terminal Cretaceous Lefipán, the early Eocene Laguna del Hunco, and the early/middle Eocene Río Pichileufú floras of Patagonian Argentina. We also reviewed type material of historical Eocene fossils from southern Chile. Cretaceous Retrophyllum superstes sp. nov. is described from a leafy twig, while Eocene R. spiralifolium sp. nov. includes several foliage forms and a peduncle with 13 pollen cones. Both species preserve extensive damage from sap-feeding insects associated with foliar transfusion tissue. The Eocene species exhibits a suite of characters linking it to both Neotropical and West Pacific Retrophyllum, along with several novel features. Retrophyllum araucoensis (Berry) comb. nov. stabilizes the nomenclature for the Chilean fossils. Retrophyllum is considerably older than previously thought and is a survivor of the end-Cretaceous extinction. Much of the characteristic foliar variation and pollen-cone morphology of the genus evolved by the early Eocene. The mixed biogeographic signal of R. spiralifolium supports vicariance and represents a rare Neotropical connection for terminal-Gondwanan Patagonia, which is predominantly linked to extant Australasian floras due to South American extinctions. The leaf morphology of the fossils suggests significant drought vulnerability as in living Retrophyllum, indicating humid paleoenvironments.

A new conifer from the Upper Triassic of southern Poland linking the advanced voltzialean type of ovuliferous scale with Brachyphyllum-Pagiophyllum-like leaves

The Triassic is an exceptionally interesting period from the point of view of conifer evolution. The oldest representatives of some modern families appear in the fossil record in the Upper Triassic and all recent conifer families probably originated during this time. The stages whereby the primitive Voltziales transformed into the evolutionarily advanced families of modern conifers in the Triassic are yet to be fully documented. A newly discovered Upper Triassic (Norian) locality in Patoka (SW Poland, Upper Silesia) with a unique fossil record offers us a rare opportunity to fill this gap. In this paper, we describe the very well preserved remains of a new conifer from this locality. We have been able to reconstruct the whole plant and propose a new taxon, Patokaea silesiaca gen. et sp. nov., on the basis of organic attachment and similar cuticular details on leaves, ovuliferous cones, seed scale-bract complexes, ovules and mature seeds as well as polliniferous cones containing pollen grains of the Enzonalasporites type in situ. This plant combines shoots bearing Brachyphyllum-Pagiophyllum-type leaves with a new type of seed scale-bract complex clearly derived from evolutionary advanced Voltziales and polliniferous cones somewhat similar to the Cheirolepidiaceae (Classostrobus) type. Based on this distinctive and hitherto unique combination of features, a new conifer family – Patokaeaceae – has been proposed. The ovuliferous cones of this conifer are lax and borne singly at the end of leafy twigs. Ovule-bearing scales are stalked and trilobate with two lateral oval lobes, each bearing one ovule, and one sterile reduced lobe between them, all in one plane. The bract is small and leaf-like. Polliniferous cones are simple with helically arranged microsporophylls. Five to seven pollen sacs are arranged around the microsporophyll stalk. Polliniferous cones are borne singly at the end of leafy twigs. This is also the first evidence of a relationship between Enzonalasporites pollen and the parent plant. The pollen occurs in the polliniferous cones, in the micropyle inside the ovule and in the micropylar region inside the seed of this new conifer. This plant expands our view of voltzialean conifer diversity at the roots of modern conifer families.

The most used medicinal plants by communities in Mahaboboka, Amboronabo, Mikoboka, Southwestern Madagascar

sBackgroundThis paper reports a study undertaken in three remote communities (Mahaboboka, Amboronabo, Mikoboka), located in Sakaraha, Southwestern Madagascar. Not only villages are far away from sanitary infrastructures and doctors but drugs and consulting fees are unaffordable to villagers. They rely essentially on natural resources for health care as for most of rural areas in Madagascar. This paper aims to document medicinal plants used by communities in Sakaraha and to present the most important plant species used in traditional medicine.MethodsSemi – structured interview was conducted within 214 informants in 34 villages of the study area. Different ailments encountered in the site study were classified in various categories. For data analysis, frequency of citation (Fq), Informant Consensus Factor (Fic), Fidelity Level (FL) and Use Value (UV) were assessed to find agreement among informants about the use of plants as remedies. Mann-Whitney, Kruskall-Wallis and Spearman correlation tests were performed to determine use of medicinal plants following social status of informants.ResultsA total of 235 medicinal plant species belonging to 198 genera and 75 families were inventoried. The richest families in species used for medicinal purposes were: Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae. Plant species cited by informants were used to treat 76 various ailments classified in 13 categories. Leaves and leafy twigs were the most used plant parts and decoction was the mostly cited way of preparation of these medicinal plants species. In average, local people cited 6.7 ± 6.03 medicinal taxa among them, Cedrelopsis grevei is the most cited medicinal plants (Fq. 0.28). With Cedrelopsis grevei (UV = 0.48), Henonia scoparia (UV = 0.43) are mostly used species. Leonotis nepetifolia (FL = 96%) and Strychnos henningsii (FL = 92%) are plant species claimed by high percentage of informants to treat the Digestive System Disorder.ConclusionsThis study highlighted that medicinal plants used by people from three communities in the Southwestern Madagascar are diverse. These plants species ensure care to all family members including babies, children, mothers and adult people. Through this study, newly reported medicinal plants were identified for further work.

White-tailed deer browse on an invasive shrub with extended leaf phenology meets assumptions of an apparent competition hypothesis.

It has been hypothesized that invasive plant species with extended leaf phenology (ELP) elevate generalist herbivore populations, increasing herbivory on native plants (apparent competition). This hypothesis assumes that consumption of the invasive is associated with periods of ELP, the invasive is a major component of the herbivore's diet, and that it is more nutritious than native plants during periods of ELP. We tested these assumptions by estimating the proportion of the white-tailed deer diet comprised of Lonicera maackii, an invasive shrub with ELP, quantifying the seasonal pattern of deer browse on this invasive shrub, and comparing its nutritional quality to leafless woody stems. In the Miami University Natural Areas in southwest Ohio we quantified the frequency of leafy twigs of woody species 0.3-2.1 m high in three habitats (deciduous forest, Juniperus virginiana forest, and forest-field edge). Monthly we quantified deer browse on marked L. maackii twigs, and estimated the mass of leaf and stem tissue consumed with allometric relationships using diameter and length of unbrowsed twig portions. We estimated the percent of the annual deer diet comprised of L. maackii by dividing the sum of these estimates by the product of deer abundance (estimated by pellet-based distance sampling) and consumption estimates from the literature. Crude protein of L. maackii stems and leaves was determined by C:N analyser. In each habitat the frequency of L. maackii was greater than all other woody species combined. We estimated L. maackii comprised 14-47 % of the annual deer diet. Deer browsed L. maackii each month, but consumption was high in early spring and late summer. Crude protein of leafy twigs of L. maackii in early spring was 12.9 %, much higher than leafless twigs of native species on-site. These findings support the assumptions of the hypothesis that invasive plants with ELP impact native plants via deer-mediated apparent competition.