|
Date
|
Latin name |
Common name |
Notes |
Citation |
3/25/08
|
Osplimenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius
|
wavyleaf basketgrass
|
Populations of this grass
were found in Baltimore and PG County MD after its initial siting in
Patapsco State Park. MD Dept. of Natural Resources is using this
as a test case for early detection/rapid response protocols.
|
www.mdinvasivesp.org
Invader of the Month.
|
3/25/08
|
Phalaris arundinacea
|
reed canary grass
|
Reed canary grass had
higher genetic diversity and heritable phenotypic variation in
its invasive range compared to its native range. It was
introduced multiple times and has recombined to form novel
genotypes. This may allow it to adapt rapidly to climate change
and invade new habitats.
|
Lavergne, S. and J.
Molofsky. 2007. PNAS 104:3883-3888.
|
3/25/08
|
Phragmites australis
|
common reed
|
Researchers at University
of Delaware have found that the invasive strain of Phragmites secretes
a gallic acid that disintegrates structural proteins in the roots of
neighboring plants.
|
T. Rudrappa, J. Bonsall, J. L.
Gallagher, D. M. Seliskar and H. P. Bais.
2007.
Root-secreted Allelochemical in the Noxious Weed Phragmites
australis Deploys a Reactive Oxygen Species Response and
Microtubule Assembly Disruption to Execute Rhizotoxicity. J.
Chem. Ecol. 33:1573-1561.
|
3/25/08
|
Hydrilla verticillata
|
hydrilla
|
In the Potomac River,
hydrilla appears to have beneficial effects on the river stabilizing
the bottom, slowing currents and growing with native plants.
|
Pelton, Tom. July
30, 2007. "Invader might be a savior" Baltimore Sun.
|
3/25/08
|
Polygonum sachalinense
|
giant knotweed
|
The US Forest Service
Northeastern Area Invasive plant website has many "Weed of the Week"
fact sheets with identification and control tips.
|
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/
|
3/21/08
|
Phalaris arundinacea
|
reed canary grass
|
Reducing nitrogen
availability in a wetland enabled a native sedge to reduce the biomass
of reed canary grass.
|
Perry, L. G., S. M.
Galatowitsch and C. J. Rosen. 2004. J. Appl. Ecol.
41:151-162.
|
3/21/08
|
Centaurea diffusa
|
diffuse knapweed
|
Grasslands can resist
invasion by diffuse knapweed, but their resistance can be lowered
through reduced competition and increased soil nutrient levels.
|
Seastedt, T. R. and K. N.
Suding. 2007. Biotic constraints on the invasion of diffuse
knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)
in North American grasslands. Oecologia 151: 626-636.
|
3/21/08
|
Buddleja
davidii
|
butterfly bush
|
In a study in Germany,
butterfly bush had several physiological traits that would make it more
efficient at using N in photosynthesis compared to 5 native
species. This could facilitate its ability to invade.
|
Feng, Y., H. Auge, S.K.
Ebeling. 2007. Invasive Buddleja
davidii allocates more nitrogen to its photosynthetic machinery
than five native woody species. Oecologia 153:501-510.
|
3/21/08
|
Cuscuta japonica
|
Japanese dodder
|
In CA and TX infestations
of Japanese dodder have appeared. The parasitic plant looking
like orange spaghetti can engulf small trees. There are also many
native species of dodder and they are difficult to distinguish.
Japanese dodder may have arrived on imported nursery plants or as seed
that is used in traditional Hmong herbal medicine.
|
Sullivan, Ron and
Joe Eaton. "The Dirt: Beware the Invasive Japanese Dodder"
10/17/07 www.sfgate.com
|
3/21/08
|
Acer platanoides
|
Norway maple
|
A field experiment in New
Jersey showed reduced growth of red maple saplings in stands with a
high proportion of Norway maple compared to native stands of forest
trees.
|
Galbraith-Kent, S. L. and
S. N. Handel. 2008. Invasive Acer platanoides inhibits native
sapling growth in forest understorey communities. J. Ecol. 96
(2): 293-302.
|
3/21/08
|
Buddleja spp.
|
butterfly bush
|
Evaluation of 14 cultivars
of Buddleja for seed
germination. All cultivars produced seed. Germination
required light with highest germination rates at 74%.
|
Wilson, S. B., M.
Thetford, L. K. Mecca, J. S. Raymer and J. A. Gersony.
2004. Evaluation of 14 butterfly bush taxa grown in Western and
Southern Florida: II. seed production and germination.
Hort. Tech. 14 (4):612
|
| 3/28/07 |
Ailanthus altissima |
tree of heaven |
A wilt fungus has been killing
tree-of-heaven in the northeastern US and could be useful as a
biocontrol agent for the tree. |
Jianqing Ding, Yun Wu, Hao Zheng, Weidong
Fu, Richard Reardon, Min Liu. 2006. Assessing potential biological
control of the invasive plant, tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima.
Biocontrol Science and Technology 16: 547-566 |
| 3/28/07 |
Arum italicum |
Italian Lords and Ladies |
Watch list: Noticed spreading in
Alexandria, VA park and in Rock Creek Park in DC in moist soils |
MA-EPPC listserve |
| 3/28/07 |
Lonicera maackii |
Amur honeysuckle |
Amur honeysuckle not only reduces plant
diversity in hardwood forests, but it also significantly reduces tree
growth and diameter of previously established trees. |
McCarthy, B. 2006. Hardwood forest invasion
by a non-indigenous shrub (Amur honeysuckle) negatively affects
overstory productivity. North Central Weed Science Society Proceedings.
61:182 |
| 3/28/07 |
Mahonia spp. |
grape holly |
Watch list: Oregon grape holly (M.
aquifolium) native to the western US, and M. bealei, an Asian Mahonia
are naturalizing and spreading in natural areas in the Mid Atlantic
region. No studies have been done on potential effects. Plants were
removed from Sligo Creek Park, Silver Springs, MD |
Native Plants East listserve |
| 3/28/07 |
Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius |
wavy leaf basketgrass |
Very recently noticed spreading rapidly in
Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland and a site north of the park.
Native to Europe and southeastern Asia. |
Peterson, P. 1999 |
| 3/28/07 |
Phalaris arundinaceae |
reed canarygrass |
Interbreeding of multiple introductions of
reed canarygrass has led to super-successful strains invading natural
areas in North America. |
Lavergne, S. and J. Molofsky. 2007.
Increased genetic variation and evolutionary potential drive the
success of an invasive grass. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences 10:1073 |
| 3/28/07 |
Ulex europaeus |
gorse |
In New Zealand a study found that nitrate
levels in water leaching out of stands of gorse was significantly
higher than water from surrounding areas. This could lead to water
quality problems in surrounding lakes and rivers. |
G. Magesan, H. Wang, P. Clinton, and J. McIntosh. 2006.
Nitrate leaching from gorse - a study from New Zealand. 18th World
Congress of Soil Science, Philadelphia, PA
|