Invasion Pathways for Invasive
Species: Case Studies from Florida
Lyn Gettys, PhD
University of Florida FLREC and CAIP
[email protected]
Florida’s environment
Plant introductions
Distribution
Expansion and spread
Some of Florida’s worst aquatic weeds
Waterhyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae)
Brazil, S. America
FL Prohibited Aquatic Plant
Plant height to 3’
Leaves 5”, round
Leathery/rubbery
Spongy petioles; basal
Roots dark, feathery
Showy purple flowers
Waterhyacinth
Waterlettuce
Pistia stratiotes (Araceae)
S. America, Africa (SE US???)
FL Class 2 Prohibited Aquatic Plant
Plant width to 2’
Leaves to 1’, scalloped
Thick, dull green, sessile
Roots light, feathery
Inconspicuous flowers
Waterlettuce
Hydrilla
Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae)
Multiple origins – Korea, India* (FL: dioecious ♀)
Federal Noxious Weed
Plant height to 25’
Leaves strap-shaped, 0.5”
Coarse serrations
Verticillate (4 to 8)
Rooted; tubers, turions
White flower to 0.25”
Long peduncle
Hydrilla
Crested floatingheart
Nymphoides cristata (Menyanthaceae)
Asia
FL Noxious Weed
Leaves 6”, cordate
Dark red markings
Smooth
Ridged white flowers
~5 petals
Spikey ramet
Crested floatingheart
Yellow floatingheart
Nymphoides peltata (Menyanthaceae)
Asia
FL Noxious Weed
Leaves 4”, round to cordate
~ purple lower
~ scalloped margin
Flat papery yellow flowers
5 petals
Small/no ramets
Copious seed production
Yellow floatingheart
Giant salvinia
Salvinia molesta (Salviniaceae)
Brazil
Federal Noxious Weed
Fronds to 4 cm
Upper fronds round/oval
Joined in pairs
“Egg-beater” hairs
Lower fronds = “roots”
Giant salvinia
Rotala
Rotala rotundifolia (Lythraceae)
Asia
FLEPPC Cat 2
Plant height to 8” emergent, 12+’ submersed
Leaves simple, smooth margins, opposite or whorled
Emergent round, to 0.5”
Submersed elliptic, to 1”
Bright red to green stems
Spike of bright pink flowers
Rotala
Some of Florida’s worst upland weeds
Brazilian pepper
Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae)
Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil
FL Noxious Weed
Plant height to 30’
Leaves compound
3-13 oblong leaflets 2”
~ Serrate; red midrib
Alternate
White flowers, red berries
Brazilian pepper
Chinese tallow
Triadica (Sapium) sebifera (Euphorbiaceae)
E. Asia (Taiwan, Japan, China)
FL Noxious Weed
Plant height to 30’
Leaves simple, 2 x 3”
Rhomboid/ovate
Alternate
Yellow spike
Brown capsule with white fruit
Chinese tallow
Melaleuca, punk tree, paperbark
Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae)
Australia
FL Noxious Weed
Plant height to 100’
Leaves simple, 5”
Elliptic, smooth margins
Alternate
Papery bark
White bottlebrush flowers
Melaleuca
Downy rosemyrtle
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae)
Asia, India, Philippines
FL Noxious Weed
Plant height to 10’
Leaves simple, 3”
Elliptic, smooth margins
Marginal vein
Opposite
Showy pink/fuchsia flowers
Dark purple fruit
Downy rosemyrtle
Climbing ferns
Lygodium japonicum, L. microphyllum (Lygodiaceae)
Japanese: E Asia, E Indies, Australia
Old Word: Africa, Asia, Australia
Both: FL Noxious Weeds; OWCF: Federal
Plant height to 100’
Stems underground
Fronds compound
Multiple opposite pinnae
Twining rachis
Spores
Japanese climbing fern
Old World climbing fern
Importance as vectors
Waterhyacinth
Hydrilla
Giant salvinia
Rotala
Crested floatingheart
Yellow floatingheart
Brazilian pepper
Melaleuca
Chinese tallow
Downy rosemyrtle
Japanese climbing fern
Waterlettuce
Old World climbing fern
Be a steward of natural resources
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Report invaders
Control infestations early
Dispose of invasive species properly
Clean/drain/dry!!!
Plant natives
More info:
www.fleppc.org
plants.ifas.ufl.edu
Questions?
Thank You!
[email protected]