Invasive Species

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Invasive Species

• All Around Us!!!

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Invasive Species

• Transported -intentionally or unintentionally-into
  a region outside their native habitat
• Harm or have potential to cause significant harm
  to the environment, economy, and/or human health
• Have adapted and can reproduce in new environment

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Adaptations

• Abundant seeds
• Seeds can go dormant under times of stress
• Can reproduce through root and seeds
• Matures and spreads rapidly
• Prevent other plants from growing
• Thorns to repel animals
• Can retain nutrients in roots
• No natural enemies

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Wetlands

• Common Reed
• Purple Loosestrife
• Japanese Knotweed

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Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
Spreads through rhizomes (roots) that can grow 7
feet deep and 10 feet out.
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Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria )
Produces millions of seeds each year and spreads
through rhizomes. Flowers a long time. Good
nectar!
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Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum )
Rhizomes grow 9 feet deep! Flowers early so
pollinators love it!
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Forest Edges

• Pale Swallow-wort
• Garlic Mustard

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Pale swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum )
Spreads by vines as well as seeds. Deer and other
grazers dont like its taste, can be toxic.
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Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata )
Deer and other grazers dont like the taste!
Comes up early one of the first groundcovers in
the spring.
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Fields and Pastures

• Japanese Honeysuckle
• Multi-flora Rose
• Buckthorn

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Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica )
Birds love the seeds! Attracts pollinators! Can
stay evergreen in mild winters, few natural
enemies.
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Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica )
Birds love the berries and help spread the plant.
Leaves come out early and stay late.
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Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora )
Tolerates many soil types. Produces millions of
seeds a year.
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Likes the neighborhood heads to the forest

• Black Locust
• Norway Maple

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Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia )
Fixes nitrogen and tolerant of nutrient poor
soil. Spreads through roots. Has thorns!
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Norway Maple ( Acer platanoides)
Big leaves shade out other plants. Produces seeds
early. White sap.
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Create Your Own Super Weed!
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Pick a Landscape

• Marsh
• Forest
• Backyard

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Create Your Super Weed!!

• Give it a name
• Draw it in a habitat
• Explain its adaptations

Leaves come out first in spring