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Problems develop with exotic plants when they spread into the surrounding
ecosystems and displace the native plants. The exotic plant in question may have
an aggressive growth habit that leaves the native plants unable to compete with it,
or it may not have any natural enemies to keep it in check. To the casual observer
there is seldom anything to see that would indicate an invasion of exotic plants
is taking place. They often go undetected until widespread ecological damage has
already occurred. At this point, effective control becomes expensive and laborious.
Plants can sometimes be removed by hand, especially where invasions are freshly started.
Hand removal seems to work the best from the outside of the population inward, forcing
the invader into a smaller and smaller perimeter. Sometimes the plants resist hand
removal due to a pervasive root structure or to their ability to re-root from small
fragments. One such plant is the Skunk vine (Paederia foetida). If you pull the plant,
bits and pieces break off and re-root. If the root itself is not removed it will
re-sprout. It can be removed by manual labor, but this is not possible for multi-acre
invasions. One answer seems to be chemical. Herbicide use may be dangerous, but there
are seldom viable alternatives with the limited labor pools and finances of the conservation
organizations.
For more information on exotic pest plants and the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
visit their web site at:
http://www.fleppc.org, or contact them at:
FEPPC
Allen Dray (Treasurer)
3205 College Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314.
If you would like a complete copy of the FEPPC's 1997 List of Florida's
Most Invasive Exotic Plant Species ask for it at our information table at the next
meeting.
Category I Exotic Pest Plants
Abrus precatorius
Acacia auriculiformis
Albizia lebbeck
Ardisia crenulata
Ardisfa elliptica
Asaragus densiflorus
Bauhinia variegata
Bischofia javanica
Brachiaria mutica
Calophyllum calaba
Cassia coluteoides
Casuarina equisetifolia
Casuarina glauca
Cestrum diurnum
Cinnamomum camphora
Colocasia esculenta
Colubrina asiatica
Cupaniopsis anacardioides
Dioscorea alata
Dioscorea bulbifefa
Eiohornia crassipes
Eugenia uniflora
Ficus microcarpa
Hydrilla verticillata
Hygrophila polysperma
Hymenachne amplexicaulis
Imperata brasiliensis
Ipomoea aquatica
Jasminum dichotomum
Jasminum fluminense
Lantana camara
Ligustrum sinense
Lonicera japonica
Lygodium japonicum
Lygodium micropyllum
Macfadyena unguis-cati
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Melia azedarach
Mimosa pigra
Nandina domestica
Nephrolepis cordifolia
Neyraudia reynaudiana
Paederia foetida
Panicum repens
Pennisetum purpureum
Pistia sratiotes
Psidium cattleianum
Psidium guajava
Pueraria montana
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa
Rhoeo spathacea
Sapium sebiferum
Scaevola taccada var. sericea
Schefflera actinophylla
Schinus terebinthifolius
Solanum tampicense
Solanum tovum
Solanum viarum
Syzygium cumin)
Tectaria incisa
Thespesia populnea
Tradescantia fiuminiensis |
Rosary pea
Earleaf acacia
Woman's tongue
Coral ardisia
Shoebatton ardisia
Asparagus fern
Orchid tree
Bischofia
Para grass
Mast wood
Christmas senna
Australian pine
Suckering Australian pine
Day jasmine
Camphor tree
Wild taro
Lather leaf
Carrotwood
Winged yam
Air potato
Water hyacinth
Surinam cherry
Laurel fig
Hydrilla
Green hygro
West Indian marsh grass
Cogon grass
Water spinach
Gold coast jasmine
Jasmine
Lantana
Hedge privet
Japanese honeysuckle
Japanese climbing fern
Old World climbing fern
Cats claw
Melaleuca
Chinaberry
Catclaw mimosa
Nandina, heavenly bamboo
Sword fern
Burma reed, Cane grass
Skunk vine
Torpedo grass
Napier Grass
Water lettuce
Strawberry guava
Guava
Kudzu
Downy myrtle
Oyster plant
Chinese tallow
Beach naupaka
Schefflera
Brazilian pepper
Aquatic soda apple
Turkey berry
Tropical soda apple
Jambolan, java plum
Incised halberd fern
Seaside mahoe
White-flower wandering jew |
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