air potato Dioscorea bulbifera INVASIVE

air potato Dioscorea bulbifera

• Air potato is a terrestrial climbing vine with a ractive heart shape leaves

• Air potato is native to tropical Asia an non native an invasive in lori a

• ew plants spro t rom potato li e b lbils which are o n between the stem an the lea he plant sprea s when the b lbils all to the gro n n a ition large t bers grow n ergro n an store n trients or the plant

• he air potato is not nown to be eaten b an native animals altho gh a beetle has been importe or biological control p rposes t eats the leaves o air potato vines Air potato t bers are s all bi er an poisono s

• his plant ten s to inva e open areas or ist rbe lan

• t can grow p to eight inches a a le t

nmanage it can ic l grow over gar ens trees an even b il ings causing them to be completel covere

• eople li e to grow this plant because o the pre tropical loo ing leaves

PROS CONS

INVASIVE

UF/

IFA

S C

AIP

This information card is part of the natural resource activity developed by the Florida Invasive Plant Education Initiative Copyright 2012 University of Florida

American alligator Alligator mississippiensis

• Alligators are sometimes calle living ossils because their species has survive on earth or million ears

• Alligators are top pre ators in the oo chain he eat sh bir s turtles sna es an amphibians

• he American alligator is native to the outheastern t resi es almost e clusivel in reshwater rivers

la es swamps an marshes

• A mother alligator e en s the nest rom pre ators an helps her hatchlings get to the water once the are born he will provi e protection or about a ear i the o spring sta in the area

• Alligator meat is e ible especiall meat rom the tail section

• n lori a some alligators are grown on arms eat an pro ucts ma e rom their hi e leather wallets belts boots etc generate about million each ear he arms help protect wil alligator populations

• he largest alligator ever recor e in lori a was eet inches meters accor ing to the vergla es ational ar website

PROS CONS

NATIVE

UF/

IFA

S p

hoto

by

Tom

Wrig

ht


Ski

p S

now

, Bug

woo

d 53

6965

3

• he urmese p thon is a giant non venomous constrictor sna e that can grow up to poun s an over eet long t is not native to lori a an is now sprea ing rapi l in the wil

• urmese p thons are rom n ia to lower hina the ala eninsula an islan s o the ast n ies

• he are e cellent swimmers an climbers an hunt in both a uatic an terrestrial environments n the

vergla es p thons ee on native alligators sh eer an wa ing bir s limp ins an white ibises he have also been oun in the lori a e s pre ing on en angere e argo woo rats

• othing pre s on urmese p thons e cept the occasional large alligator thon eggs are sometimes eaten b other animals

• urmese p thons compete for space an foo with native sna es li e the eastern

iamon bac an the eastern in igo

• thons are no longer allowe as pets owever lori ians can now hunt p thons in il life anagement Areas if the obtain a permit

• cientists pre ict that urmese p thons coul survive throughout lori a

Burmese python

PROS CONS

INVASIVE


• ana ian waterwee is a submerse plant t lives entirel un erwater with the e ception of small white owers that bloom at the surface an are a ache to the plant b elicate stal s

• t provi es habitat for man a uatic insects an provi es cover for oung sh frogs an turtles

aterfowl especiall uc s beaver an mus rat eat this plant

• n parts of urope Australia Africa Asia an ew

ealan waterwee has create a signi cant problem an is now consi ere a no ious wee

• aterwee loo s similar to h rilla an other invasive plants sol in the a uarium tra e ecause it is noninvasive in lori a it is a goo substitute for these plants

• t is economicall important as an a uarium plant owever it is consi ere an invasive species in regon an is illegal to sell there

Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis

PROS CONS

UF/

IFA

S p

hoto

by

Will

iam

Hal

ler

NATIVE


cat-tails Typha species

• at tails are among the most common of all a uatic an wetlan plants an provi e i eal habitat for man bir s frogs an insects

• everal parts of the plant can be eaten inclu ing the un ergroun stems an the leaf base he ower spi e can even be eaten li e corn on the cob hese plants were a common foo source for the ative Americans

• arl Americans also use the absorbent u from the cat tail see hea s for iapers

• o a scientists are e perimenting with cat tail see u to see if it can be use in cleaning up oil spills

• at tails also are being consi ere as a crop

• ometimes cat tails are unpopular because the can grow li e wee s in la es or stormwater retention pon s his happens mostl in urban la es where there are a lot of e tra nutrients from rainwater runo or in areas where the lan has been isturbe

• uring long perio s of r weather cat tails can be an important foo for ca le that are luc enough to have access to these plants growing near a pon or la e

PROS CONS

NATIVE

UF/

IFA

S C

AIP


coconut palm Cocos nucifera

• he coconut palm tree is wi esprea throughout the tropics an believe to be native to the ala Archipelago or the outh aci c t is terrestrial normall foun along san shorelines

• oconut palm trees are an important foo source he e ible ber insi e the coconut or see is tast

an nutritious o is the water li ui insi e the nut

• oconut mil is ma e b coo ing grate coconut in water or mil

• an useful pro ucts can be ma e from coconut palm tree materials eaves can be use for brooms bas ets or even roo ng material he hus an shells can be use for fuel or to ma e charcoal heir trun s can be use as buil ing materials

• n lori a coconut palms are valuable ecorative plants

• he can tolerate salt habitats which is wh the are often foun growing near the ocean owever coconut palms can t tolerate col weather he can be amage or ille b free ing weather

• he are great sha e trees as long as a coconut oesn t fall on ou alling coconuts have been nown to in ure people

PROS

NON-NATIVE

Sea

favo

rites

.com

CONS


duck potato• uc potato is an emerse a uatic plant foun along

shorelines of pon s la es stormwater rainage itches an in shallow wetlan s

• uc s li e to eat the see s of this plant eavers an mus rats li e to eat the whole plant inclu ing the burie tubers

• his plant has an a ractive white ower that pro uces pollen an nectar for bumblebees an haw moths

• uc potato pro uces starch un ergroun tubers that were an important foo source for ative Americans ears ago t is still harveste an eaten to a the tubers taste li e chestnuts or potatoes

• n parts of urope an Australia it is consi ere an invasive plant

• he plant provi es habitat along la eshores for oung

sh an waterfowl uc s

PROS CONS

NATIVE

UF/

IFA

S C

AIP


eel-grass Vallisneria americana

• el grass is a submerse a uatic plant commonl foun in la es streams an springs throughout

lori a t can even tolerate brac ish salt water ts leaves are about one inch wi e an can grow to

several feet long

• t is becoming har er to n now that h rilla has been intro uce to man lori a waters ater clarit is also re uce in some la es an rivers because of se imentation an this is impacting eel grass

• el grass forms tall un erwater mea ows that are beautiful to see when swimming or snor eling

ecause of its long tape li e leaves it is sometimes calle tape grass

• el grass provi es valuable habitat for all in s of freshwater sh snails turtles an a uatic insects li e

ragon larvae t is also an important foo source for native lori a apple snails an turtles

• his plant is important to the a uarium in ustr as one of the top selling a uarium plants

PROS CONS

NATIVE

by J

oe R

icha

rd, S

eafa

vorit

es.c

om


fragrant water lily Nymphaea odorata

• he fragrant water lil is an a uatic oating leave plant he leaves also calle pa s oat on the surface ts long leaf stal s are a ache to rhi omes roots own in the mu

• his water lil can be foun in pon s la es an slow owing streams aroun lori a

• ts leaves or pa s are almost circular with a notch that reaches to the center he provi e ualit habitat for frogs which li e to sun themselves on top of the pa s ass li e to lur beneath the pa s when searching for foo an sha e

• t has a show white ower nown for its fragrance t also pro uces an abun ance of pollen that a racts

small bees ies an beetles hese insects are important elements of the a uatic habitat

• reshwater turtles fee on the leaves stems an see s of water lilies

us rats an beavers also fee on the plant an its roots hitetaile eer can occasionall be seen eating the leaves of water lilies

PROS CONS

NATIVE

UF/

IFA

SC

AIP


Flor

ida

Fish

and

Wild

life

Con

serv

atio

n C

omm

issi

on

Gambian pouch rat Cricetomys gambianus

• he ambian pouch rat is a large ro ent that weighs about ilograms poun s he have been nown to weigh as much as nine poun s he measure to

inches long from the hea to the tip of the tail heir tails can be to inches long

• ambian pouch rats are mostl active at night nocturnal he are terrestrial an climb well but spen more time on the groun

• he are native to Africa an non native to lori a everal of these rats escape in rass e in the lori a e s an are now bree ing

• he can grow to the si e of a small raccoon or cat his is much larger than our native rats which inclu e the

e argo woo rat co on rat an silver rice rat

• ambian pouch rats eat mostl fruit an grains but the have been nown to eat insects crabs an snails

re ators such as cats an large bir s avoi these rats ue to their large si e

• cientists worr the coul inva e the vergla es an cause great ecological amage

• As fruit eaters the coul also amage farm crops in outh lori a

• f the ma e their wa to iami the will eep our garbage cans an umpsters free of ro ing fruit

• hese rats carr a isease calle on e po that can a ect people

PROS CONS

INVASIVE


Pho

to b

y M

atth

ew J

. Are

sco

gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus

• he gopher tortoise lives in all counties of lori a owever their numbers are win ling fast an the

are now an en angere species

• he are terrestrial an live uplan in forests pastures an ar s

• opher tortoises are herbivores he eat mostl grasses especiall wiregrass he also consume berries an other fruit an scavenge ea meat if the can n it

• he are having trouble surviving in our mo ern age the are s uashe b cars an poache for meat an their homes are estro e when lan is

evelope

• onservations e orts inclu e nancial rewar s to evelopers

who n new homes for gopher tortoises before buil ing

• accoons gra fo es stripe s un s arma illos ogs sna es an raptors bir s of pre fee on

gopher tortoises or their eggs

• opher tortoises are a e stone species meaning other animals rel on their burrows for shelter inclu ing gopher frogs sna es an some small mammals li e the co on mouse

• he can live from to ears in the wil

PROS CONS

NATIVE


hibiscus Hibiscus species

• ibiscus plants are native to warm temperature subtropical an tropical regions of the worl inclu ing ala sia the hilippines an n ia

he are grown for their show owers an use as lan scape shrubs he grow best in the warm temperatures of outh lori a but are not tolerant of salt spra

• ibiscus is a primar ingre ient in man herbal teas A A stu showe that consuming the tea can help re uce high bloo pressure

• ibiscus is use as a foo source for several t pes of bu er an moth

• ne species of hibiscus nown as enaf ibiscus cannabinus is e tensivel use in

paperma ing

• rie hibiscus is e ible an is consi ere a elicac in e ico

• he hibiscus ower is tra itionall worn b women in the aci c slan s t is the state ower of awaii

• here are more than species of hibiscus

PROS CONS

UF/

IFA

S p

hoto

by

Mar

isol

Am

ador

NON-NATIVE


UF/

IFA

S C

AIP

hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata

• rilla is a submerse a uatic plant thought to be from outheast Asia hen h rilla starts to grow in la es pon s rivers or canals it provi es cover habitat for sh

• rilla can grow in a few inches of water or in water more than feet eep t can eventuall ll up the whole water bo leaving li le room for sh his can also cause oo ing

• rilla sha es out other submerse a uatic plants re ucing sunlight an preventing them from growing

• hen large amounts of h rilla begin to ie an eca the use up much of the

o gen in the water an can cause a large number of sh to su ocate an ie

• ecause of its thic growth h rilla can ma e it impossible to swim boat or sh in a la e ome swimmers have rowne b becoming entangle in h rilla plants

• rilla provi es foo for uc s an some sh grass carp

• ew h rilla plants can grow from fragments from bu s calle turions or from tubers in the mu rilla can grow up to inch per a in i eal con itions

• ach ear in lori a millions of ollars are spent to eep h rilla growth un er control with herbici es an

mechanical harvesters

PROS CONS

INVASIVE


iguana Iguana iguana

• he green tree iguana is from entral an outh America an grows up to feet long

• n outh lori a these li ar s are nown for falling out of trees on chill mornings he can t tolerate col temperatures an thus have trouble moving or balancing

• guanas are popular pets owever the become i cult to han le as the grow larger f the

aren t hel ever a the become aggressive hen this happens man pet owners release them

into the wil

• guanas eat leaves owers an fruit ometimes this causes problems in people s ar s where escape li ar s eat e pensive lan scaping or vegetable gar en plants

• guanas are terrestrial but are often foun near water an are goo swimmers

• he have been nown to amage the foun ations of houses an seawalls when the buil tunnels an nests un ergroun

• hese li ar s will not tr to sell ou car insurance but the ma e goo watch ogs as the can ma e scar noises

PROS CONS

INVASIVE

UF/

IFA

S p

hoto

by

Tom

Wrig

ht


island apple snail Pomacea insularum

he islan apple snail is an invertebrate that can grow to the si e of a baseball he are native to

outh America an non native to lori a he are proving to be invasive in lori a ntro uce from a uariums islan apple snails can be sprea b

oo ing storms bir s shing an boating

he islan apple snail has a large appetite for all t pes of a uatic vegetation an can evour native plants important to ecos stem functions

slan apple snails are a rich foo source for an en angere bir the snail ite owever the also threaten the native lori a apple snail slan apple snails live longer repro uce faster an are more abun ant than our native snails urrentl no control a empts have been successful

f snail ite populations increase because of the islan apple snail it coul bene t the local communit b a racting tourists bir watchers

ut if h rilla is not manage where islan apple snails an snail ites occur there coul be negative economic impacts such as ecrease shing an other recreational opportunities an re uce propert values

PROS CONS

INVASIVE

Pho

tos

by J

ess

Van

Dyk

e, B

ugw

ood

5389

860

and

5389

845

(sna

il eg

gs)


largemouth bass• ative to lori a the largemouth bass is in the

sun sh famil t is the most popular freshwater game sh in orth America t can grow up to poun s or more an puts up a tremen ous ght when hoo e b anglers he state recor is poun s

• argemouth bass are foun in most la es an rivers aroun vegetation or un erwater structures but schooling bass are also foun in the mi le of la es

oung bass epen on submerse plants as habitat to hi e from pre ators owever if there is too much vegetation in the water o gen is use up an this can negativel impact bass an other sh

• Young largemouth bass eat microscopic animals that

rift in the water ooplan ton A ult bass eat a variet of sh frogs

insects an crustaceans such as shrimp an craw sh

• Alligators other sh an water bir s fee on larval an uvenile largemouth bass

• ecreational freshwater shing generates more than billion ever ear in lori a the ishing apital

of the orl

Micropterus salmoides

PROS CONS

NATIVE

Gle

n La

u (p

rofe

ssio

nal p

hoto

grap

her)

; per

mis

sion

gra

nted

by

FWC


• he manatee is lori a s state marine mammal although it is also commonl foun in freshwater rivers springs la es an brac ish coastal waters

• emale manatees aren t able to repro uce until the are ve to nine ears ol he give birth to one calf ever

two to ve ears owever the can live to be ears ol

• anatees are an en angere species ollisions with boats an barges are the lea ing human relate cause of eath

• anatees eat more than species of plants

inclu ing eel grass mangrove leaves algae an even non native plants li e water h acinth an h rilla

• he grow to an average of feet long an weigh poun s An a ult manatee spen s si to eight hours eating an the rest of the a resting or traveling

• ome earl e plorers thought manatees were mermai s the ma have ha poor e esight

• lori a has the largest population of manatees ourists come from aroun the worl to see these a uatic mammals which is great for our econom n there were more than manatees living in lori a waters

manatee Trichechus manatus latirostrus

PROS CONS

NATIVE

Flor

ida

Fish

and

Wild

life

Con

serv

atio

n C

omm

issi

on


monk parakeet• he mon para eet is a member of the parrot famil

an native to parts of outh America east of the An es mountains from olivia to central Argentina n other regions it has proven to be an agricultural pest

• on para eets have been living in the wil in iami lori a since the were reporte in

states hese colorful bir s are about inches tall an ver nois

• heir abilit to survive col climates allows them to live as far north as ew Yor llinois onnecticut hio an even southwestern ashington

• heir large stic nests are often built on electrical transmission structures an have been

nown to cause power outages Removal of these nests can be

angerous an costl

• hese bir s are bree ing an growing in numbers he have been foun in more than counties in lori a an are thought to number in lori a

alone

• he ten to live in suburban areas or in cit par s often fee ing in large oc s at fee ers or on lawns he fee on see s fruits berries nuts owers an leaf bu s

• n agricultural areas mon para eets forage for corn wheat an other see s farmers worr mon para eets ma become agricultural pests if their numbers continue to increase

PROS CONS

INVASIVE


isto

ckph

oto.

com

Old World climbing fern Lygodium microphyllum

• l orl climbing fern is an a ractive terrestrial plant native to Asia an Australia

• he fern s structure is somewhat unusual A single fron or leaf can grow to feet long

• his climbing fern has the abilit to re sprout from almost an where along each climbing leaf t also sprea s to new locations through tin spores carrie b the win

• ecause it is a climbing fern it is able to reach the tops of trees nce this happens the plant is able to bloc sunlight that normall reaches the trees an the plants growing in the un erstor below altering the habitat

• l orl climbing fern can completel cover tall trees causing them to ie t also allows small brush res from the groun to travel up into the tree canopies which can ill the trees

• his fern is covering hun re s of acres even small islan s in the lori a vergla es

• l orl climbing fern is costl to manage as it re uires regular inspection to ensure control

PROS CONS

INVASIVE

Pho

to b

y Ta

bith

a A

nn B

iehl


orange tree Citrus sinensis

• range trees are terrestrial an non native to lori a he are thought to be from outheast Asia an are

wi el grown in tropical an subtropical climates

• range trees are an important crop in lori a n the citrus crop was worth over one billion

ollars

• lori a is the largest pro ucer grower of oranges in the nite tates an the secon biggest in the worl

ra il is the rst

• range tree owers are also an important source of nectar foo for bees an insects

• People eat large uantities of oranges

which are a source of vitamin an important nutrient for human health

• Raccoons opossums s un s an man other animals fee on the fruit when it falls to the groun

• u er ies en o the uice of the ro ing fruit

PROS CONS

NON-NATIVE

UF/

IFA

S


peanut plant Arachis hypogaea

• he peanut plant is a legume native to outh America

• Peanuts are an e cellent high protein foo source

• he plants a nitrogen to the soil which ma es it possible to grow more crops in the future

• Peanut shells are also use as a high ualit mulch for gar ens

• Peanut shells can be burne in power plants to pro uce electricit

• he peanut is a reliable crop in hot climates t is an important agricultural crop in the outheastern nite tates an provi es over

one billion ollars to our econom each ear

• Peanuts are a favorite bir foo in bac ar bir fee ers uirrels love them too

• Americans eat an average of nearl seven poun s of peanuts per person per ear

PROS


NON-NATIVE

CONS

UF/

IFA

S

PROS CONS

UF/

IFA

S C

AIP

pickerelweed Pontederia cordata NATIVE


• Pic erelwee is an emerse a uatic plant foun along la e shorelines in pon s an even roa si e

itches ven though the wor wee is part of its common name this native plant provi es man functions in a uatic an wetlan habitats

• t has vertical purple blooms that pro uce lots of nectar an pollen for bees wasps an bu er ies

• t provi es habitat for small sh an insects in shallow water

• Pic erelwee see s are a foo source for wil uc s such as mallar s woo uc s an teal

• he roun tail mus rat a lori a native eats the roots rhi omes an the base of this plant

• Pic erelwee re uces shoreline erosion in la es an pon s b stabili ing the soil an re ucing wave action from win an boats

• t is sometimes consi ere a wee because it grows so abun antl

poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans

• Poison iv is a native terrestrial plant normall foun in woo e areas in open el s an as a vine on tree trun s t is eas to recogni e ach leaf has three smaller lea ets an the lea ets often have

thumbs A goo rh me to remember eaves of three let it be

• his plant is ver unpopular because its oil can cause serious allergic reactions in some people inclu ing swelling an blisters ne tin rop of oil can be enough to ma e people itch

• Poison iv berries are gra ish white an are a favorite winter foo for some bir s an small animals li e mice

• ir s help isperse the see s b eating them ing to another location an releasing them in their waste hat s wh poison iv is often foun growing along fence rows where bir s li e to sit an sing

• i e the cat tail plant poison iv is consi ere a wee in some parts of the nite tates

• n innesota an ichigan it has been nown to cover large areas of lan

PROS CONS

NATIVE

UF/

IFA

S C

AIP


Pes

t and

Dis

ease

s Im

age

Libr

ary,

Bug

woo

d 53

1404

5

Solenopsis invicta

• he re importe re ant is a si legge insect from outh America

• Re importe re ants are invasive an currentl infest over million acres in states in the an Puerto Rico he are foun in all of lori a s counties

• ire ants are omnivorous he fee on carboh rates hone ew sugars

s rups proteins insects ea animals

an fats grease lar see oil

• Arma illos insects spi ers mice sh li ar s bir s bears an co otes eat re ants

• he re importe re ant behaves i erentl from our native tropical re ant hen importe re ant moun s are isturbe ants emerge aggressivel to bite an sting the intru er ultiple stings can ill small animals eer groun nesting bir s ro ents sna es an li ar s are efenseless to stings uring an after birth or hatching n some areas re importe re ants have almost completel eliminate groun nesting bir s such as the bobwhite uail

• hese invasive ants also cause hun re s of millions of ollars in crop losses an control costs ever ear

PROS CONS

INVASIVE


Pho

to b

y Tr

avis

Tut

en/F

WC

Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus

• ail n cat sh are popular a uarium sh that were brought here from entral an outh America he are often use to control algae in sh tan s

• ith more than species the are the largest famil of cat sh in the worl hese same sh are also calle suc ermouth cat sh or armore cat sh Pleco is another common name

• n lori a the were probabl intro uce as escapees from tropical sh farms or from a uarium releases

heir impact along with other intro uce cat shes is being investigate

• ail n cat sh eat organic material algae mu an tin fragments of woo

• Alligators bigger sh an bir s

eat sail n cat sh when the can catch them

• ail n cat sh repro uce uic l an can grow to be over cm long inches cientists who have observe these sh worr the ma be re ucing the foo base in a uatic habitats an are therefore negativel impacting native sh communities

• esting burrows ma e b these cat sh can cause increase erosion of the shoreline that is e pensive to

an also ecreases propert values

PROS CONS

INVASIVE


small duckweed Lemna valdiviana

• mall uc wee is the common name for a tin oating a uatic plant about inch long ach

plant has at least two shoe shape leaves oine at the base A single root hangs below the plant

• uc wee is usuall foun in areas where the water is calm or still hese native plants can grow so close together that the form oating mats that completel cover the water he provi e habitat for tin insects micro invertebrates

• uc wee is high in protein an is use as sh foo especiall on sh farms

• t can absorb harmful chemicals from the water an is also use to pro uce a number of me icines

• here are other species of

uc wee in lori a ot all of them are native

• mall uc wee is an important foo source for uc s

• People also eat these tin plants especiall in Asia

PROS CONS

NATIVE

UF/

IFA

S C

AIP


snail kite Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus

he snail ite is a native bir of pre that lives in the vergla es an some outh an entral lori a la es

an marshes t occurs in no other state within the

he snail ite is fe erall liste as en angere with fewer than in ivi uals as of evelopment an the raining of wetlan s eliminate much of the snail ite s habitat

nail ites normall epen on native lori a apple snails for foo but now must a apt to eat invasive islan apple snails

na es an alligators are the snail ite s pre ators

ecause snail ites are rare bir s local economies bene t from tourism bir watchers owever

isturbances can cause parent bir s to aban on nests ome oung

uvenile snail ites are having trouble eating invasive islan apple snails he shells are too big for oung bir s to hol or brea into with their talons an bea cientists worr this ma result in starvation an fewer bir s reaching maturit

PROS CONS

NATIVE

Pho

tos

by M

artja

n La

mm

ertin

k, C

orne

ll La

b of

Orn

ithol

ogy

(mal

e)

and

Ron

Bie

lefe

ld, F

lorid

a Fi

sh &

Wild

life

Con

serv

atio

n C

omm

issi

on


tuberous sword fern Nephrolepis cordifolia

• he tuberous swor fern is a lan scape plant commonl foun in ar s or growing in woo lan areas t pro uces vertical fron s that can grow to feet high t is often foun growing on the trun s of palm trees

• uberous swor fern can sprea ver uic l ecause it is a true fern it

repro uces from spores housan s of spores can be pro uce b one plant an these can be isperse b win an water n lori a spores are pro uce ear roun

• his fern can also sprea b un ergroun plant parts inclu ing small marble si e tubers

• lori a s native swor fern oes not have tubers

• he swor fern is able to form ense stan s a monoculture t has been nown to cover large areas of groun preventing native plants inclu ing trees from growing

PROS CONS

INVASIVE

UF/

IFA

S C

AIP


UF/

IFA

S C

AIP

water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes

• ater h acinth a oating plant from ra il can ouble its population ever wee s until it covers

of the water surface

• t has the abilit to absorb heav metals an to ins from water

• his plant provi es i eal habitat for several species of mos uitoes which carr isease

• As water h acinth plants ie an eca the can

lower o gen levels in the water an cause large amounts of muc to collect on the bo om of la es

• ater h acinth is foun in la es an rivers an grows so thic it sha es out other a uatic plants t can also create large rafts of plants that prevent boats from moving

through the water

• n lori a millions of ollars use to be spent controlling the sprea of water h acinth Regular management of the plant has greatl re uce that e pense

• ater h acinth is a popular water gar en plant because of its pre laven er owers

PROS CONS

INVASIVE


wild taro Colocasia esculenta

• il taro is an a uatic plant originating in n ia an outheast Asia

• t can grow up to feet tall an is foun in swamps along stream ban s an la e shorelines

• t pro uces tubers that are a popular foo in entral an outh America ubers can be store

for several wee s if refrigerate

• aro was originall intro uce in lori a as a substitute crop for potatoes in

• n lori a wil taro can uic l cover streams an isturbe shorelines

• t can sha e out all other plants aroun it with its large ar green leaves which can grow to feet long

• ometimes wil taro grows so thic along the shoreline that it will brea loose an form oating islan s hese islan s can bloc waterwa s an increase the chance of oo ing in canals

• nce plante taro is ver har to get ri of t ten s to re sprout when treate with chemicals an grows bac even after ver col weather

PROS CONS

INVASIVE

UF/

IFA

S C

AIP


air potato Dioscorea bulbifera INVASIVE

Documents

Transcript of air potato Dioscorea bulbifera INVASIVE