Invasive Species List/Terrestrial Plants

This page contains information on terrestrial plant species on the Invasive Species List. For more general information about the event, see Invasive Species.

Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)
Identification Tips:
 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Monocots; Order-Dioscoreales; Family-Dioscoreaceae; Genus-Dioscorea; Species-D. bulbifera

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Heart shaped;


 * Flowers: Small and fragrant;


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds:


 * Misc/General: Sprouting vines, more than 60ft; all leaf veins arising from leaf base


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Originally cultivated as a possible food crop and ornamental in the 1800s; first observed in the U.S. in Alabama in the 1770s; first introduced to Florida in 1905


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction: Asexual; reproduce through aerial tubers (bulbils)


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: Tropical Asia


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Hand pull, dig up roots, cut stem; glyphosate


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Dense vines smother native plants and trees

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Rosales; Family-Elaeagnaceae; Genus-Elaeagnus; Species-E. umbellata

Identification Tips: Distinctive silvery scaly undersides of leaves

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: alternate and elliptically shaped with a slightly wavy margin (5-10 cm in length)


 * Flowers: 4 petalled cream to pale yellow flowers bloom in early spring; found in clusters of 1-8


 * Fruit: Abundance of pink to red berries dotted with scales


 * Seeds:


 * Misc/General: Root nodules fix atmospheric nitrogen; can harm native plants adapted to low nutrient levels


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: 1830 as ornamental; promoted in 1950s as a good way to provide wildlife habitat and erosion control;


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: China, Japan, Korea


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat: Moderately shade tolerant; spreads rapidly in old fields, open woods, forest edges, roadsides, dunes

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Mechanical removal


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Shades out native species

Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Lamiales; Family-Lamiaceae; Subfamily-Viticoideae; Genus-Vitex; Species-V. rotundifolia

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves:


 * Flowers:


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds:


 * Misc/General:


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when:


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness:


 * Damage (why it’s a problem):

Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Sapindales; Family-Anacardiaceae; Genus-Schinus; Species-S. terebinthifolia

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Alternately arranged with 1-2 inch long elliptic, finely tuned leaflets;


 * Flowers: White, 5 petals and 2-3 inches long clusters with similar looking male and female flowers; Sep-Nov


 * Fruit: Clusters initially green and become bright red when ripe; usually mature by December


 * Seeds: Dark brown, 0.3 mm in diameter; viable up to 2 months


 * Misc/General: Reaches over 30 feet in height; short trunk hidden in branches;


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Ornamental; sometimes around 1842-49 in Florida


 * How spread: Birds; flowing water;

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Bromacil, diuron, and hexazinone are root absorbed, but act slowest and have most residual effects, and oaks, maples, and other hardwoods can be damaged; mechanically removing roots; glyphosate/triclopyr


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Shades out other plants

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Asterales; Family-Asteraceae; Tribe-Cynareae; Genus-Cirsium; Species-C. arvense

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Lance-shaped; irregular lobes with spiny/toothed margins; single and alternate


 * Flowers: Rose-purple, lavender, white; June-October; rounded umbrella shaped clusters


 * Fruit: Small; dry; single-seed; called ACHENES; have feathery structure attached to seed base; 1-1 ½ inches long


 * Seeds: Bristly plumed; germinate within a year;


 * Misc/General: Has fibrous taproot;


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Contamination of crop seeds;


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?: Regenerates from tiny bits of root;

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat: Barrens, glades, meadows, prairies, fields, pastures, waste places; disturbed upland areas; wet areas with fluctuating water levels like streambank sedge meadows and wet prairies

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Hand cutting; mowing; controlled burning; glyphosate;


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Reduces grazing for livestock; reduces area for crops

Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Malpighiales; Family:-Euphorbiaceae; Subfamily-Euphorbioideae; Tribe-Hippomaneae; Subtribe-Hippomaninae; Genus-Triadica; Species-T. sebifera

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Oval; pointed


 * Flowers: Yellow;


 * Fruit: Nearly round 3-lobed brown capsules, 1/2 inch in diameter, when mature the outer part splits revealing 3 white waxy seeds, matures in late summer to early fall, earning it common name popcorn tree


 * Seeds: An average of 100,000 seeds; spread by birds and water


 * Misc/General: Bark light reddish-brown to gray-brown, fissured with flat-topped ridges


 * Adaptive anatomy: Leaves and fruit contain toxic sap

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Brought from China by Ben Franklin; tallow on top used to make soap and candles; ornamental (colorful fall foliage)


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?: Can reach reproductive age at 3 years; can produce 100,000 seeds annually

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: China and Japan


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Triclopyr; using in soaps, candles, etc.


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Replacing native vegetation; leaves and fruit are toxic

Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Monocots; (Unranked)-Commelinids; Order-Poales; Family-Poaceae; Genus-Imperata; Species-I. cylindrica

Identification Tips: Whitish midrib on leaf that is off-center; no apparent stem; a lot of thatch around base; spread out; leaves appear to grow right from ground;

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Up to 6 feet long; about 1 inch wide; off-center midrib; yellowish-green


 * Flowers: Cylindrical; silvery-white; late March to mid June; can also flower after disturbances such as frost, fire, mowing and tillage


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds: Silver/whitish hairs attached to seeds;


 * Misc/General: Produces several underground rhizomes, which can root at each node and produce a separate stem


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Planted for pastures and erosion control; Mobile, Alabama;


 * How spread: Wind dispersal

Life Cycle:


 * Seed: Will begin to produce rhizomes 4 weeks after emergence


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?: Extensive, dense rhizome systems underground

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat: Non cultivated areas such as pastures, orchards;

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Glyphosate; mowing and burning;


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Crowds out native species

Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Rosales; Family-Rhamnaceae; Genus-Rhamnus; Subgenus-Rhamnus; Species-R. cathartica

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Simple, dark green leaves, toothed margins, 3-4 pairs of upcurved veins


 * Flowers: Small, green/yellow four petaled flowers clustered in 2-6 along stem; May/June


 * Fruit: Abundant small, round fruits that ripen from green to purplish black; only produced on female plants


 * Seeds:


 * Misc/General:


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Ornamental; 1880;


 * How spread: Widely dispersed by animals;

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction: Dioecious; produces only either male or female flowers (never both)


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?: Fruits possess laxative-like properties, promoting spread through animals such as birds and mice

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Mechanical methods;


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Dense thickets crowd out native shrubs

Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Dipsacales; Family-Caprifoliaceae; Genus-Dipsacus; Species-D. fullonum

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves:


 * Flowers: Flowers are light purple to white and tend to grow in bands or rings on large, egg-shaped, spiny heads


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds: Seeds are small and are dispersed by the wind after the seed-head has dried


 * Misc/General:


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: 1700s;


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Mechanical methods


 * Damage (why it’s a problem):

Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Lamiales; Family-Plantaginaceae; Genus-Linaria; Species-L. dalmatica

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Barely any; waxy and heart shaped; blueish green


 * Flowers: Yellow with orange markings and elongate spurs; occur in simple racemes on the stems; look like snapdragon


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds: Seed capsules are ½-inch long pods and bear an average of 140 to 250 small black to brown seeds with wings


 * Misc/General:


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Ornamental;


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat: Dry, coarse soil;

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness:


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Outcompetes native species

Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Asterales; Family-Asteraceae; Tribe-Cynareae; Genus-Centaurea; Species-C. diffusa

Identification Tips: Terminal spine; diffusely branched above ground; ball-shaped;

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Small; reduced in size near flowerheads;


 * Flowers: Mostly white; sometimes pink-purple; urn-shaped; bracts enclose flowerhead and are divided like comb teeth, tipped with distinct slender spine


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds: Viable up to 8 years;


 * Misc/General:


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Accidentally, through contaminated seed of alfalfa; 1880s


 * How spread: Seeds stick to vehicles; travel as tumbleweeds

Life Cycle:


 * Seed: Produce up to 18,000 seeds a year


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: Eastern Mediterranean


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Do not drive through knapweed so tires won’t pick up seeds; hand-pulling; burning; glyphosate; picloram


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Crowd out native plants; will become dominant in wasteland and vacant area; affects wild animals

Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Monocots; (Unranked)-Commelinids; Order-Poales; Family-Poaceae; Genus-Bromus; Species-B. tectorum

Identification Tips: Fine haired; droopy; yellowish-green;

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Flat and pubescent


 * Flowers: During spring;


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds:


 * Misc/General:


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Packing materials; ship ballast; contaminant of crop seed; Denver, Colorado, 1800s


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: Mediterranean region


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Rabbits; mice; glyphosate


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Crowds out vegetation; spikes injure animals

Fig Buttercup (Ficaria verna)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; Order-Ranunculales; Family-Ranunculaceae; Genus-Ficaria; Species-F. verna

Identification Tips: Low growing, mounded basal rosettes; dense vegetation; forming carpets

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Fleshy; shiny dark green; stem leaves smaller; tender, succulent, stalked kidney- to heart-shaped


 * Flowers: Yellow flower with darker center; 3-4 pouch-like sepals; 7-26 petals, but typically 8-12


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds:


 * Misc/General: Tiny cream colored bulblets are produced in stem axils and become apparent later in the flowering period; fingerlike tubers are visible when pulled up


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: As ornamental; 1867;


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: Europe; Northern Africa


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat): Northeastern US; Pacific NW


 * Characteristics of new habitat: Open woods, floodplains, meadows and waste places, occurs most commonly on moist soil and other wet areas

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Glyphosate; digging up


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Crowds out native species; forms a solid green blanket that native species are unable to penetrate

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Brassicales; Family-Brassicaceae; Genus-Alliaria; Species-A. petiolata

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Dark green; kidney shaped with scalloped margins


 * Flowers: Tiny white flowers with 4 petals; occur only on second year plants


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds: Flowers develop into seed pods called siliques; are at first green but turn tan then ripened; each contains one row of oblong dark brown to black seeds


 * Misc/General: Crushed leaves smell like garlic; tap roots are white and slender; top typically as an S shaped bend as it emerges from ground


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Long Island, 1868; use in medicine;


 * How spread:

Life Cycle: 2 years


 * Seed: ~500 seeds per plant


 * Adult First-year plants form low rosettes of 4-8 leaves at ground level. Second-years are erect-stemmed, from a few inches to 4 feet tall, and often are multiple-stemmed

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Hand pulling


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Crowds out native species

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Apiales; Family-Apiaceae; Genus-Heracleum; Species-H. mantegazzianum

Identification Tips: 8 - 14 ft tall; umbrella shaped heads

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Sharp and unevenly lobed, 3 leaflets. Shiny leaves make it distinguishable from cow parsnip. Leaves can reach up to 5 ft in width


 * Flowers:


 * Fruit: Large elliptical dry fruits marked with brown swollen resin canals, up to 1 mm in diameter


 * Seeds:


 * Misc/General: Stems have purple streaks, blotches, or spots, with stiff hairs


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when:


 * How spread:

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness:


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Outcompetes desirable native species; contains sap that makes skin sensitive to UV light, causing blisters, burns

Hairy Whitetop (Lepidium appelianum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Brassicales; Family-Brassicaceae; Genus-Lepidium; Species-L. appelianum

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Alternate; long and slender; covered with short, white hairs


 * Flowers: Numerous; densely packed clusters; April-July; 4 petals


 * Fruit: Globe-shaped;


 * Seeds: Ovoid; reddish brown; viable up to 3 years; 4 per pod


 * Misc/General: Deep taproots;


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Accidentally with contaminated alfalfa seed; 1919


 * How spread: Wind; water; animals; root fragments

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Pulling out by hands; flooding; glyphosate


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Crowds out native species and crop; low quality forage

Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-(unplaced); Family-Boraginaceae; Genus-Cynoglossum; Species-C. officinale

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Rough, hairy; up to 12 inches long, 3 inches wide


 * Flowers: Reddish-purple; sometimes white; five petals; early summer, droop slightly along long coiled stems


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds: 2000 seeds; viable up to 3 years; seed pods covered with hooked spines to aid in dispersal on fur and clothing


 * Misc/General: Can grow up to 4 ft tall, entire plant covered in short hairs, rough in texture


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Contaminated seeds; 1893;


 * How spread: Dispersing on fur, clothes;

Life Cycle: Biennial


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: Eurasia


 * Characteristics of said habitat: Gravelly, alkaline soil

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Hand-pulling; metsulfuron; root-mining flea beetle Longitarsus quadriguttatus and Mogulones cruciger, glyphosate


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Has pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are toxic to livestock

Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; Division-Pteridophyta; Class-Polypodiopsida/Pteridopsida (disputed); Order-Schizaeales; Family-Lygodiaceae; Genus-Lygodium; Species-L. japonicum

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Fronds: Fern fronds opposite; triangular; hair on lower surface;


 * Flowers:


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds:


 * Misc/General: Thin, wiry, green, orange, or black stem;


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Ornamental; Florida ~1932;


 * How spread: Spores and rhizomes; wind; water

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: Japan; Eastern Asia; tropical Australia


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat: Southern US (Gulf Coast)

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Glyphosate


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Displaces native species; fire fuel;

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Dipsacales; Family-Caprifoliaceae; Genus-Lonicera; Species-L. japonica

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Oblong to oval; short stalks; pairs


 * Flowers: Tubular; five fused petals; white to pink; yellow with age; fragrant; pairs along leaf junctures on stem; late April through July


 * Fruit: Autumn; 2-3 seeds


 * Seeds: Oblong; dark brown; about ¼ inch across


 * Misc/General: Perennial, grows by twisting around vertical structures such as tree trunks


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: As ornamental; erosion control; wildlife cover; early to mid 1800s


 * How spread: Birds

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction:


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: Japan, Korea


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Hand pulling; glyphosate


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Blocks sunlight; suffocates plants it coils around

Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Core eudicots; Order-Caryophyllales; Family-Polygonaceae; Genus-Fallopia; Species-F. japonica

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Simple; alternate; broad; 15 cm long; 12 cm wide; pointed tip; flat base;


 * Flowers: Numerous; small, creamy white to pink flowers; in spikes near end of arching stems; bloom in late summer


 * Fruit:


 * Seeds: Dark; glossy; not all fertile; triangular


 * Misc/General: Perennial; stalks resemble bamboo;


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Ornamental;


 * How spread: Wind; water; birds;

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


 * General Reproduction: Reproduces through both seeds and rhizomes; underground rhizomes remain viable through winter


 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

Ecology:


 * Behavior:


 * Niche:


 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat:


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat: Moist soil; stream banks, springs, roadsides;

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Imazapyr; glyphosate kills foliage but not root system;


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Crowds out native vegetation; increases erosion

Japanese Spiraea (Spiraea japonica)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Rosales; Family-Rosaceae; Genus-Spiraea; Species-S. japonica

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


 * Leaves: Egg-shaped; 1-3 inches long; toothed margins; alternating


 * Flowers: Rosy pink; tips of branches


 * Fruit: Small brown follicles about 1/8 inch borne in flat-top terminal clusters;


 * Seeds: 1/10 inches long; in small lustrous capsules


 * Misc/General: Stems brown to reddish-brown; sometimes hairy; perennial


 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when: Ornamental landscape plant; Northeastern states around 1870


 * How spread: Through water and dirt transportation;

Life Cycle:


 * Seed:


 * Adult

Reproduction:


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 * What makes it so good at reproducing?:

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 * Trophic Level:

Native habitat: Japan, Korea, China


 * Characteristics of said habitat:

Where it’s a problem (“new” habitat):


 * Characteristics of new habitat:

Preventative measures:


 * Laws and effectiveness:


 * Control measures and effectiveness: Glyphosate and triclopyr


 * Damage (why it’s a problem): Outcompetes native species; takes over disturbed areas

Japanese Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Monocots; (Unranked)-Commelinids; Order-Poales; Family-Poaceae; Subfamily-Panicoideae; Tribe-Andropogoneae; Genus-Microstegium; Species-M. vimineum

Identification Tips:

Anatomy:


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 * Adaptive anatomy:

Introduction:


 * How introduced: Where/when:


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Native habitat:


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 * Damage (why it’s a problem):

Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Monocots; (Unranked)-Commelinids; Order-Poales; Family-Poaceae; Genus-Sorghum; Species-S. halepense

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 * Damage (why it’s a problem):

Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Fabales; Family-Fabaceae; Subfamily-Faboideae; Tribe-Phaseoleae; Genus-Pueraria; Species-P. montana; Variety-P. m. lobata

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Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Malpighiales; Family-Euphorbiaceae; Genus-Euphorbia;Species-E. esula
 * Habit: perennial herb. Range in height from 6 to 36 in. Have a taproot that can extend up to 15 ft deep and the root system can extend up to 33 ft deep.
 * Appearance:
 * Stems: hairless, blueish-green, and clustered. Are somewhat woody, drying at the end of the season and persisting into the next summer.
 * Leaves: simple, alternate, linear (long and narrow), smooth margins. Are hairless and 1 to 4 inches long. Also occur as heart-shaped bracts that form a cup-like structure near the flowers.
 * Flowers: yellowish-green and arranged in numerous small clusters, subtended by paired, heart-shaped yellow-green bracts. Each flower develops a capsule containing 3 seeds that are 2-2.5 mm in diameter.
 * Habitat: pastures, grasslands, prairies, roadsides, streams, ditches, and waste areas. It grows in full to part sun in a wide range of soil types, from dry to moist. Prefers dry, well-drained soils.
 * Native range: Caucasus region of western Asia.
 * Introduction: The first collection of leafy spurge in the U.S. was in 1827 in Newbury, Massachusetts and was believed to have been introduced by a ballast dump.
 * Reproduction/life cycle:
 * By seed: flowers May-July, though it may occur until frost. Each flower develops a capsule containing 3 seeds. These capsules open explosively when it is hot and capsules are dry, dispersing seed 15-20 feet. A large plant can produce up to 130,000 seeds that remain viable in the soil 7 to 10 years with adequate moisture. Seeds have notably high germination rates (up to 60-80%).
 * Seeds can be transported by water, wildlife, livestock, vehicles and agriculture and construction equipment. Seeds are also dispersed to new sites in mud on boots and impure materials like mulch, forage and feed grains, crop and grass seed, top soil, and gravel.
 * Vegetatively: also can reproduce from crown and adventitious root buds that over-winter under the soil surface. Can spread outwards at several feet per year this way. Pieces of roots on equipment may spread leafy spurge to new sites.
 * Pollination: Leafy spurge is protogynous, and self-fertilization is limited. Because leafy spurge produces sticky pollen, wind pollination of flowers is unlikely. Insects are important to pollination of leafy spurge flowers.
 * Is one of the earliest plants to emerge in the spring and one of the last to enter dormancy in the fall. This early- and late-season growth makes leafy spurge more competitive over native plants.
 * Seedlings have high mortality, but soon become much more competitive with native vegetation (usually by 4 months). Rarely flower the first year. New shoots from roots systems have the advantage of the nutrient reserves of the already-established root systems.
 * Impact:
 * Infestations reduce desirable forage in rangelands (reducing productivity) and crowd out native species. Infestations also limit the ability to move hay, since if it is grown in an infested field it shouldn’t be moved to non-infested areas.
 * Produces milky sap that irritates the mouth and digestive tract of cattle and some wildlife, though it is palatable to goats and sheep. This sap can cause a rash or blistering in humans. It is suspected that leafy spurge also produces allelopathic chemicals.
 * Control:
 * Prevention: clean equipment thoroughly before moving it to an uninfested site. Do not move hay from infested lands.
 * Manual: young, individual seedlings may be hand-pulled before they develop an extensive root system. Gloves should be worn to avoid dermatitis from the sap.
 * Mechanical: mowing and burning is most effective when used several weeks before herbicide application. Other times this is largely ineffective since leafy spurge just resprouts with the aid of an extensive root system.
 * Cultural: maintain native vegetation. If reseeding after control of infestation, choose competitive early-season grasses that can outcompete the spurge before it becomes well-established.
 * Grazing: avoid improper grazing management. When controlling infestations, sheep and goats find leafy spurge palatable. Cattle avoid it, and the sap is a digestive irritant and results in lesions around the eyes and mouth. Seeds may pass through the digestive systems of sheep and goats, so they should be held at the location for long enough for seed to pass through their digestive system.
 * Biological: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has shown success using six natural enemies of leafy spurge imported from Europe. These include a stem and rootboring beetle (Oberea erythrocephala), four root-mining flea beetles (Aphthona spp.) and a shoot-tip gall midge (Spurgia esulae).
 * Chemical: must be treated multiple times each year for several years to be effective. Cost becomes a problem for large infestations. Also may be coordinated with mowing or burning to increase effectiveness of the treatment.
 * Other:
 * The genetic diversity of leafy spurge in North America has led many experts to believe it is a hybrid between two or more Old World spurges. This extreme plasticity results in quick adaptation to local growing conditions and often-inconsistent responses to management.
 * Hybrids: only the tetraploid cypress spurge type is known to hybridize with leafy spurge, resulting in Euphorbia × pseudoesula. This hybrid has been found in several Canadian territories.

Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Monocots; (Unranked)-Commelinids; Order-Poales; Family-Poaceae; Genus-Taeniatherum; Species-T. caput-medusae

Identification Tips:

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 * How introduced: Where/when:


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Mile-A-Minute Weed (Persicaria perfoliata)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Core eudicots; Order-Caryophyllales; Family-Polygonaceae; Genus-Persicaria; Species-P. perfoliata

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Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Rosales; Family-Rosaceae; Genus-Rosa; Species-R. multiflora

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Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Asterales; Family-Asteraceae; Tribe-Cynareae; Genus-Carduus; Species-C. nutans

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Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; Division-Pteridophyta; Class-Polypodiopsida / Pteridopsida (disputed); Order-Schizaeales; Family-Lygodiaceae; Genus-Lygodium; Species-L. microphyllum

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Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Lamiales; Family-Paulowniaceae; Genus-Paulownia; Species-P. tomentosa

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Purple Star Thistle (Centaurea calcitrapa)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Asterales; Family-Asteraceae; Tribe-Cynareae; Genus-Centaurea; Species-C. calcitrapa

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Russian Knapweed (Rhaponticum repens)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids Order-Asterales; Family-Asteraceae; Tribe-Cynareae; Genus-Rhaponticum; Species-R. repens

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Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Rosales; Family-Elaeagnaceae; Genus-Elaeagnus; Species-E. angustifolia

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Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Core eudicots; Order-Caryophyllales; Family-Tamaricaceae; Genus-Tamarix

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St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Malpighiales; Family-Hypericaceae; Genus-Hypericum; Species-H. perforatum

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Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Fabales; Family-Fabaceae; Genus-Cytisus; Species-C. scoparius

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Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Asterales; Family-Asteraceae; Subfamily-Carduoideae; Tribe-Cynareae; Genus-Onopordum; Species-O. acanthium

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Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Asterales; Family-Asteraceae; Tribe-Cynareae; Genus-Centaurea; Species-C. stoebe
 * Appearance:
 * Leaves: rosette leaves are up to about 8 inches long, deeply and alternately lobed. Leaves on the stem are alternate, unstalked, and often hairy, giving them a silvery-gray color. They may be slightly lobed, but are usually unlobed and linear, rarely growing over 3 inches.
 * Flowers: occur in groups of around 25-35 ray flowers in a flower head, usually being pink or purple, and rarely white. Flower heads are up to roughly 0.5 inches in height. Bloom June to October. Bracts of flower heads have short hairs and dark tips, giving a spotted appearance.
 * Impacts:
 * Forms dense monocultures, crowding out native species. May infest rangelands, where it replaces more desirable forage.
 * Decreases infiltration of water into the soil, increasing erosion, and in turn increasing stream sedimentation.

Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Sapindales; Family-Simaroubaceae; Genus-Ailanthus; Species-A. altissima

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Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Solanales; Family-Solanaceae; Genus-Solanum; Species-S. viarum

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Whitetop (Lepidium draba)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Rosids; Order-Brassicales; Family-Brassicaceae; Genus-Lepidium; Species-L. draba

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Witchweed (Striga asiatica)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Lamiales; Family-Orobanchaceae; Genus-Striga; Species-S. asiatica

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Yellow Star Thistle (Centaurea solstitialis)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Asterales; Family-Asteraceae; Tribe-Cynareae; Genus-Centaurea; Species-C. solstitialis

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Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

 * Taxonomy: Kingdom-Plantae; (Unranked)-Angiosperms; (Unranked)-Eudicots; (Unranked)-Asterids; Order-Lamiales; Family-Plantaginaceae; Genus-Linaria; Species-L. vulgaris

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