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Submodule 3: Invasive Plants
Common Invasive Plant Characteristics
Saltcedar (Tamarix ) (photo courtesy
USDA)
As previously described, invasive species have certain characteristics that seem to make them more likely to become invaders. Here is a summary of these characteristics:
- Rapid growth and short life cycle: go from seed to producing seed very rapidly – sometimes within a few weeks!
- Deep root system (especially compared to native species and if early root growth is particularly rapid)
- Prolific flowering
- Able to grow in a wide range of habitats
- High number of seeds produced
- Long seed dormancy and staggered germination
- Efficient method of seed dispersal
- Able to reproduce sexually - by seed - or asexually (vegetative reproduction) by sending out aboveground or belowground “runners” (stolons and rhizomes), or by growing new plants from “cuttings”.
- If reproducing sexually, they are able to make use of insects, birds, bats or other pollinators found in the new environment.
- Often, the timing of the invasive plants growth and reproduction does not coincide with the growth habits of native plants; this can provide an advantage of resource availability for the invasive plant.
- Provide shade, which can be a great detriment for native plants.
- Benefit from allelopathy, which is the release of chemicals into the surrounding soil that prohibit the growth of other plants.
- Resistant to grazing.
Unfortunately, many of these characteristics are the same as those desired in imported ornamental plants. In light of the potential for other imported plants to become invasive, officials need to maintain diligence when determining which plants to allow into the country.
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