INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANTS

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INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANTS

• HIGHLY INVASIVE EXOTIC SPECIES SEVERELY DISRUPT
  NAVTIVE ECOSYSTEMS. THEY MAY TOTALLY DISPLACE
  NATIVE SPECIES.
• SOME EXAMPLES OF VERY INVASIVE PLANTS ARE
  MELALEUCA , AIR POTATO VINE, CHINESE PRIVET,
  BRAZILLIAN PEPPER, CORAL VINE, WEDIELIA, AND,
  KUDZU.

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EXOTICSWHAT CAN YOU DO?

• BECOME INFORMED, AND SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
• LEARN HOW TO TELL INVASIVE PLANTS FROM LESS
  DANGEROUS SPECIES.
• SUPPORT BIO-CONTROL PROGRAMS.
• VOLUNTEER TO REMOVE EXOTICS FROM NATRUAL AREAS.

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WHY ARE EXOTIC PLANTS BAD?

• THEY MAY ELIMINATE OR SEVERELY CHANGE HABITAT FOR
  WILDLIFE BY DIS- PLACING FOOD PLANTS OR ALTERING
  THE STRUCTURE OF THE ECOSYSTEM. EXOTIC PLANTS CAN
  AND HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED ACCIDENTIALLY AND
  INTENTIONTALLY BY PRIVATE COMPANIES AS WELL AS BY
  THE U.S.GOVERNMENT.