Recognition caRds invasive and non-native Plants You

Recognition caRds

invasive and non-native Plants You should Know

a creation of the Florida invasive Plant education initiative

Botanical consultations:Kenneth A. Langeland*David W. HallJeff Schardt

Produced by Amy Richard and (the late) Vic RameyCopyright 2007 University of FloridaCenter for Aquatic and Invasive Plantshttp://plants.ifas.ufl.edu

With additional support from: Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionBureau of Invasive Plant Managementhttp://www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/invaspec/index.htm

Photography:Ann MurrayVic RameyAmy RichardColette JaconoKen LangelandSteve Ausmus

invasive and non-native Plants You should Know

graphic design and desktop Production:Ian Richard JS Design Studio

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu

cover illustration:Mark Poole

*Plant identification text from: Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas by K.A. Langeland and K. Craddock Burks, Eds. (1998). University of Florida, IFAS, SP 257

By using these recognition cards, you are about to become familiar with a number of non-native plant species that are currently targeted for control in public waters and conservation lands of Florida, by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

They are being controlled or “managed” because:

> they have already altered native plant communities by displacing native species (demonstrating ecological and/or economic harm).

oR

> they are increasing in abundance and frequency in natural areas throughout the state.

UF/IFAS is evaluating these and other plants for their potential invasiveness in various regions of the state. For the latest evaluations, see the UF/IFAS Assessment of the Status of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas.

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/assessment

P = Prohibited* some of the plants in this guide are officially prohibited by federal or state law.

native plant – a plant species that occurs naturally in a geographic region or area (indigenous plant); it has not been introduced by humans, intentionally or unintentionally.

invasive plant – a non-native plant species that develops self-sustaining populations outside of cultivation and causes environmental or economic harm.

non-native plant – a plant species that is present in a region outside its original, historic range due to intentional or unintentional introduction; not necessarily invasive. Also referred to as non-indigenous or exotic.

Learn more: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/guide/invplant.html

*Class I Prohibited Aquatic Plants (Rule 62C-52.004, F.A.C) or Class II Prohibited Aquatic Plants (s. 581.031, 581.131, and 581.145, F.S.)

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, Larry R. Arrington, Director, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, publishes this information to further the purpose of the May 8 and June 30, 1914 Acts of Congress; and is authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and insti-tutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual ori-entation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. Information on copies for purchase is available from IFAS-Extension Bookstore, University of Florida, PO Box 110011, Gainesville, FL 32611-0011 or visit our Web site at: ifasbooks.ufl.edu. June 2007.

UF/IFAS Publication Number SP 4311.800.226.1764

$35 for full set. Regional sets available.

Call for pricing: 352.392.1799

[email protected]


Plants by scientific nameAbrus precatorius

Acacia auriculiformis

Albizia julibrissin

Albizia lebbeck

Aleurites fordii

Alternanthera philoxeroides

Ardisia crenata

Ardisia elliptica

Asparagus densiflorus

Bauhinia variegata

Bischofia javanica

Broussonetia papyrifera

Calophyllum antillanum

Casuarina equisetifolia

Cinnamomum camphora

Colocasia esculenta

Colubrina asiatica

Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Cyperus prolifer

Dioscorea alata

Dioscorea bulbifera

Eichhornia crassipes

Elaeagnus pungens

Eugenia uniflora

Ficus microcarpa

Hydrilla verticillata

Hygrophila polysperma

Hymenachne amplexicaulis

rosary pea

earleaf acacia

mimosa tree

woman’s tongue

tongue oil tree

alligator weed

coral ardisia

shoebutton ardisia

asparagus fern

orchid tree

bishopwood

paper mulberry

Santa Maria

Australian pine

camphor tree

wild taro

lather leaf

carrotwood

dwarf papyrus

winged yam

air-potato

water hyacinth

silverthorn

Surinam cherry

laurel fig

hydrilla

East Indian hygrophila

West Indian marsh grass

Imperata cylindrica

Ipomoea aquatica

Jasminum dichotomum

Jasminum fluminense

Lantana camara

Leucaena leucocephala

Ligustrum lucidum

Ligustrum sinense

Limnophila sessiliflora

Lonicera japonica

Lygodium japonicum

Lygodium microphyllum

Macfadyena unguis-cati

Manilkara zapota

Melaleuca quinquenervia

Melia azedarach

Mimosa pigra

Myriophyllum spicatum

Nandina domestica

Nephrolepis cordifolia

Neyraudia reynaudiana

Nymphoides cristata/N. indica

Paederia cruddasiana

Paederia foetida

Panicum repens

Pistia stratiotes

Psidium cattleianum

cogon grass

water spinach

Gold Coast jasmine

Brazilian jasmine

lantana

lead tree

glossy privet

Chinese privet

limnophila

Japanese honeysuckle

Japanese climbing fern

Old World climbing fern

cat’s claw vine

sapodilla

melaleuca

Chinaberry

catclaw mimosa

Eurasian water-milfoil

nandina

tuberous sword fern, Boston fern

silk reed

crested floating-heart

sewer vine

skunk vine

torpedo grass

water-lettuce

strawberry guava

Plants by scientific name

Psidium guajava

Pueraria montana

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa

Ricinus communis

Ruellia tweediana

Salvinia minima

Salvinia molesta

Sansevieria hyacinthoides

Sapium sebiferum

Scaevola sericea

Schefflera actinophylla

Schinus terebinthifolius

Senna pendula

Sesbania punicea

Solanum tampicense

Solanum viarum

Syngonium podophyllum

Syzygium cumini

Thespesia populnea

Tradescantia fluminensis

Tradescantia spathacea

Urena lobata

Urochloa mutica

Wedelia trilobata

Wisteria sinensis

guava

kudzu

downy rose-myrtle

castor bean

Mexican petunia

water fern

giant salvinia

bowstring hemp

Chinese tallow

half-flower

schefflera

Brazilian pepper

Christmas senna

Spanish gold

wetland night shade

tropical soda apple

nephthytis, American evergreen

java plum

seaside mahoe

small-leaf spiderwort

oyster plant

Caesar’s weed

pará grass

wedelia

Chinese wisteria

Plants by scientific name Plants by common nameair-potato

alligator weed

asparagus fern

Australian pine

bishopwood

bowstring hemp

Brazilian jasmine

Brazilian pepper

Caesar’s weed

camphor tree

carrotwood

castor bean

cat’s claw vine

catclaw mimosa

Chinaberry

Chinese privet

Chinese tallow

Chinese wisteria

Christmas senna

cogon grass

coral ardisia

crested floating-heart

downy rose-myrtle

dwarf papyrus

earleaf acacia

East Indian hygrophila

Eurasian water-milfoil

giant salvinia

Dioscorea bulbifera

Alternanthera philoxeroides

Asparagus densiflorus

Casuarina equisetifolia

Bischofia javanica

Sansevieria hyacinthoides

Jasminum fluminense

Schinus terebinthifolius

Urena lobata

Cinnamomum camphora

Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Ricinus communis

Macfadyena unguis-cati

Mimosa pigra

Melia azedarach

Ligustrum sinense

Sapium sebiferum

Wisteria sinensis

Senna pendula

Imperata cylindrica

Ardisia crenata

Nymphoides cristata

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa

Cyperus prolifer

Acacia auriculiformis

Hygrophila polysperma

Myriophyllum spicatum

Salvinia molesta

glossy privet

Gold Coast jasmine

guava

half-flower

hydrilla

Japanese climbing fern

Japanese honeysuckle

java plum

kudzu

lantana

lather leaf

laurel fig

lead tree

limnophila

melaleuca

Mexican petunia

mimosa tree

nandina

nephthytis, American evergreen

Old World climbing fern

orchid tree

oyster plant

paper mulberry

pará grass

rosary pea

Santa Maria

sapodilla

schefflera

Ligustrum lucidum

Jasminum dichotomum

Psidium guajava

Scaevola sericea

Hydrilla verticillata

Lygodium japonicum

Lonicera japonica

Syzygium cumini

Pueraria montana

Lantana camara

Colubrina asiatica

Ficus microcarpa

Leucaena leucocephala

Limnophila sessiliflora

Melaleuca quinquenervia

Ruellia tweediana

Albizia julibrissin

Nandina domestica

Syngonium podophyllum

Lygodium microphyllum

Bauhinia variegata

Tradescantia spathacea

Broussonetia papyrifera

Urochloa mutica

Abrus precatorius

Calophyllum antillanum

Manilkara zapota

Schefflera actinophylla

Plants by common nameseaside mahoe

sewer vine

shoebutton ardisia

silk reed

silverthorn

skunk vine

Spanish gold

strawberry guava

Surinam cherry

tongue oil tree

torpedo grass

tropical soda apple

tuberous sword fern, Boston fern

water fern

water hyacinth

water spinach

water-lettuce

wedelia

West Indian marsh grass

wetland night shade

white-flowered wandering jew

wild taro

winged yam

woman’s tongue

Thespesia populnea

Paederia cruddasiana

Ardisia elliptica

Neyraudia reynaudiana

Elaeagnus pungens

Paederia foetida

Sesbania punicea

Psidium cattleianum

Eugenia uniflora

Aleurites fordii

Panicum repens

Solanum viarum

Nephrolepis cordifolia

Salvinia minima

Eichhornia crassipes

Ipomoea aquatica

Pistia stratiotes

Wedelia trilobata

Hymenachne amplexicaulis

Solanum tampicense

Tradescantia fluminensis

Colocasia esculenta

Dioscorea alata

Albizia lebbeck

Plants by common name

Flower Parts stems

Roots Leaf shapes

Leaf Margins

Leaf Bases

Leaf attachments

Leaf arrangements

Habit

alternate (leaf arrangement) – adj. leaves occurring one at a node; one after another, not opposing.

axil – n. the angle found between any two organs or structures, as between the stem and a leaf.

axillary – adj. in an axil, growing in an axil, as buds.

bi-sexual – adj. an individual flower with both male and female parts.

blades – n. the leaf of a plant, especially grass; the flat or expanded portion of a leaf; lamina.

bract – n. a modified leaf, growing at the base or on the stalk of a flower; usually differs from other leaves in shape or color.

branchlet – n. a small usually terminal branch.

compound – adj. composed of two or more similar and united parts (as a leaf with 2 or more leaflets).

cordate (leaf base) – adj. with an indentation and rounded lobes at the base; the overall outline is usually ovate or heart–shaped.

deciduous – adj. that which falls down; losing foliage with change of seasons.

dioecious – adj. male and female flowers on separate plants.

drupe – n. a fleshy or pulpy fruit with the inner portion of the pericarp hard or stony and enclosing the seed.

elliptic (leaf shape) – adj. having the form of an oval or ellip-sis; widest in the middle, similar to the outline of a football.

emersed – adj. rooted in shallow water and having most of the vegetative growth above the water.

entire (leaf margin) – adj. having a margin devoid of any indentations, teeth, or lobes.

glaucous – adj. bluish green; covered with a pale green bloom.

glossary of Plant and Flower Parts

gland – n. a depression that secretes a substance (from a plant surface).

globose – adj. rounded; almost spherical; globular.

herb – n. any seed plant whose stem withers away to the ground after each season’s growth; a seed plant with a green, non–woody stem. Example: lyre–leaf sage.

herbaceous (plants) – adj. soft, grassy, non–woody plants that according to season (autumn) lose their above–ground growth but leave intact roots and produce new growth in the new season (spring).

inflorescence – n. the characteristic cluster of flowers (of a plant).

leaf axil – n. the angle found between the leaf and the stem.

leaflet – n. individual blades found in a compound leaf.

legume – n. bearing seeds along the ventral suture; a leguminous plant.

linear (leaf shape) – adj. long and slender with parallel or nearly parallel sides.

marginal – adj. on the boundary line; on the edge (of a leaf).

node – n. a small bulge on the stem of a grass, at the base of a sheath

opposite (leaf arrangement) – adj. leaves or bracts on opposite sides of the stem/twig; occurring two at a node, directly across from one another.

ovate (leaf shape) – adj. egg–shaped and with the broader end towards the base.

ovoid – adj. egg–shaped.


panicle – n. (a tuft of plants) a branched racemose inflorescence often applied more widely to any branched inflorescence.

perennial – adj. a plant that grows for 3 or more years and usually flowers each year.

perfect (flower) – adj. with both male and female parts; bisexual.

petiole – adj. the slender stalk or stem of a leaf (small foot); also called a leaf stalk.

pinna – n. a leaflet or a primary division of a compound leaf (L. pinna, feather). Pinnae (or pinnas) – plural of pinna.

raceme – n. an inflorescence with many flowers arranged along an axis.

sepal – n. a lobe or segment of a flower’s calyx; part of the outer floral leaves, usually green.

sessile (leaf attachment) – adj. sitting directly on a main stem or branch without the support of a leaf stalk.

sprawling (leaf habit) – adj. spread out in different directions.

trailing – adj. plants laying flat on the ground, on the surface, or on other vegetation.

twice compound – adj. leaflets that are again divided into leaflets.

twining – adj. winding around an object or another plant.

woody (plants) – adj. have woody stems and grow continuously throughout the year, many years in a row, without losing their above–ground growth with change of seasons.


Bibliography

1. Brown, KP; Keeler, W. “The History of Tung Oil.” Wildland Weeds. Winter 2005, v. 9, no. 1. pp. 4-6.

2. Burks, KC. 2002. Nymphoides cristata: A Recent Adventive Expanding as a Pest Plant in Florida. Castanea; v. 67, no. 2. pp. 206-211.

3. Dressler, RL; Hall, DW; et al. 1988. Identification Manual for Wetland Plant Species of Florida. IFAS Publication, University of Florida, Gainesville, 267pp.

4. FNA Editorial Staff. 1993. Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume 2, Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford. 475pp.

5. FNA Editorial Staff. 2002. Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume 23, Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford. 608pp.

6. FNA Editorial Staff. 2002. Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume 26, Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford. 726pp.

7. Hall, DW. 1993. Illustrated Plants of Florida and the Coastal Plain. Maupin House, Gainesville, Florida. 431pp.

8. Hammer, R. 1999. Prohibited Plant Species. Department of Environmental Resources Management, Miami-Dade, Florida. 33pp.

9. Hammerton, JL. 2002. Invasive Alien Plants to Look Out For. Bahamas Journal of Science. 11: 2-22.

10. Langeland, KA and K. Craddock Burks. 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas, IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville. 165pp.

11. Tarver, DP, et al. 1978. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Florida. Bureau of Aquatic Plant Management, Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee. 127pp.

12. Tobe, JD, Burks, KC, Cantrell, RW, Garland, MA, et al. 1998. Florida Wetland Plants – An Identification Manual. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee, FL. University of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville. 598pp.

13. Wunderlin, RP. 1998. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. 816pp.

14. Nelson, Gil. 1996. The Shrubs and Woody Vines of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide. Pineapple Press, Sarasota, Florida. 391pp.

FLePPc = Florida exotic Pest Plant council

FLePPc category i Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. This definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic range of the problem, but on the documented ecological damage caused.

FLePPc category ii Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species. These species may become ranked Category I, if ecological damage is demonstrated.

Watch for the 2007 Exotic Plant List http://www.fleppc.org

Field Notations


Field Notations


Abrus precatorius rosary pea Abrus precatorius rosary pea

ABRUPREC/ABPR3

Distribution: C, SW, SE

Appearance: High-climbing, twining, or trailing woody vine with slender herbaceous branches.

Leaves: Alternate, petioled, 5-13 cm (2-5 in) long, even-pinnately compound with 5-15 pairs of leaflets, these oval to oblong, to 1.8 cm (< 1 in) long, with margins entire.

Flowers: Shaped like pea flowers, white to pink or reddish, small, in shortstalked dense clusters at leaf axils.

Fruit: A short, oblong pod, splitting before falling to reveal 3-8 shiny hard seeds, 6-7 mm (< 1 in) long, scarlet with black bases.

Ecological threat:Has invaded undisturbed pinelands and hammocks, including the globally imperiled pine rocklands of Dade County. FLEPPC Category I

Field Notations


Field Notations


Acacia auriculiformis earleaf acacia Acacia auriculiformis earleaf acacia

Appearance: Evergreen, unarmed tree to 15 m (50 ft) tall, with compact spread, often multi-stemmed; young growth glaucous.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, reduced to flattened blade-like phyllodes slightly curved, 11-20 cm (5-8 in) long, with 3-7 main parallel veins and a marginal gland near the base; surfaces dark green.

Flowers: Loose, yellow-orange spikes at leaf axils or in clusters of spikes at stem tips; flowers mimosa-like, with numerous free stamens.

Fruit: Flat, oblong pod, twisted at maturity, splitting to reveal flat black seeds attached by orange, string-like arils.

Ecological threat:Has invaded pinelands, scrub, and hammocks in south Florida, displaces native vegetation, and threatens to shade out rare plants. FLEPPC Category I

ACACAURI/ACAU

Field Notations

Distribution: SW, SE

Field Notations


Field Notations


Albizia julibrissin mimosa tree Albizia julibrissin mimosa tree

Appearance: Perennial shrub or tree up to 10 m (13 ft) tall, spreading.

Leaves: Alternate, twice divided, pinnae 6–30, leaflets 10–40; 10–17 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long.

Flowers: Perfect; petals 5, 6–8 mm (0.25–0.35 in) long, distinct, pinkish-colored; numerous stamens, 2-3 cm (0.75–1 in) long, looks like a pink powderpuff due to the many long stamens.

Fruit: A long, flat pod, 8-15 cm (3–6 in) long, about 2 cm (0.75 in) wide.

Ecological threat:Category I—Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. FLEPPC Category I

ALBIJULI/ALJU

Field Notations

Distribution: NW, NE, C, SW

Field Notations


Field Notations


Albizia lebbeck woman’s tongue Albizia lebbeck woman’s tongue

Appearance: Deciduous, unarmed tree to 20 m (65 ft) tall, with a rounded, spreading crown and pale bark.

Leaves: Alternate, twice compound, with 2-5 pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 3-10 pairs of leaflets; leaflets elliptic-oblong, 2-4 cm (1-2 in) long, usually asymmetrical at base, dull green above, paler green below.

Flowers: Mimosa-like, in showy, rounded clusters near stem tips, 5-6 cm (2-2.5 in) across, cream or yellowish-white, each flower with numerous long stamens.

Fruit: Flat, linear pod, to 30 cm (1 ft) long, with many seeds; dried pods persistent after leaf-fall, often heard rattling in the wind.

ALBILEBB/ALLE

Ecological threat:Invading tropical hammocks in the Florida Keys and the somewhat disturbed pinelands of Everglades National Park. Also invading pine rocklands and canopy gaps in the rockland hammocks in Dade County. FLEPPC Category I


Field Notations


Field Notations


Aleurites fordii tongue oil tree Aleurites fordii tongue oil tree

Ecological threat:Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communi-ties to the extent shown by Category I species. FLEPPC Category II

Appearance: Deciduous, smooth bark. Horizontal to semi-erect branches, often in whorl-like clusters.

Leaves: Glossy, dark green, alternate, long petioled. Blades are broadly ovate, 7–33 cm (3–13 in) wide, entire with a cordate base and sharp point or usually with 3 lobes. Two reddish-brown glands occur on the upper side where the petiole and blade.

Flowers: Petals are white tinged with red and yellow, darker at the base with dark red-branched lines running lengthwise. Flowers range from 2.5 to almost 8 cm (1–3 in) in diameter. Petals range in number from 4–9.

Fruit: Most fruits oblong to ovoid, some are nearly spherical; 2.5–8 cm (1–3 in) in diameter, dark green, turning brown upon maturity. Fruit contains 3-7 large seeds, ranging in size from 1.5–3 cm (5/8 to 1-1/4 in) long. Toxic if ingested.

ALEUFORD/ALFO


Field Notations


Field Notations


Alternanthera philoxeroides alligator weed

PAlternanthera philoxeroides alligator weed

ALTEPHIL/ALPH

Appearance: Sprawling herb, usually in water, often in row crops and gardens. Stems pinkish, can become hollow when larger, to 1 m (3.3 ft) long.

Leaves: Opposite, narrowly elliptic or spatulate, occassionally a few indistinct teeth on margin, to 9 cm (3.5 in) long.

Flowers: Reduced, bisexual in round white heads on long stalks from upper leaf axils; each flower with 4-5 thin, papery bracts, 5 stamens, 1 pistil.

Fruit: Tiny, one-seeded, thin-walled.

Ecological threat:FLEPPC Category II—Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species.

Distribution: NW, NE, C, SW, SE

Field Notations

Ardisia crenata coral ardisia Ardisia crenata coral ardisia

Appearance: Evergreen subshrub to 1.8 m (6 ft) tall growing in multi-stemmed clumps.

Leaves: Alternate, to 21 cm (8.3 in) long, dark green above, waxy, glabrous, with crenate (scalloped) margins and calluses in the margin notches.

Flowers: White to pink in stalked axillary clusters, usually drooping below the foliage. Flowers small, bisexual, with petaloid parts pinkish white and anthers yellow.

Fruit: A bright red, globose, 1-seeded drupe, to 8 mm (0.33 in) in diameter.

Ecological threat:May reach densities of greater than 100 plants per m2. Native plant species richness substantially lower in its presence, regardless of its density or the site history; Shades out native seedlings and displaces small native ground cover. FLEPPC CAT I

ARDICREN/ARCR80


Field Notations

http://plants.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://plants.ifas.ufl.edu

Field Notations


Field Notations


Ardisia elliptica shoebutton ardisia Ardisia elliptica shoebutton ardisia

Ecological threat:Abundant in hammocks, old fields, disturbed wetlands, andtree islands in marshes, form-ing dense single-species stands in forest understories andcrowding out native plants. Also invading cypress and mangrove areas along the New River in Broward County. FLEPPC Category I

ARDIELLI/AREL4


Appearance: Evergreen, glabrous shrub or small tree to 5 m (17 ft) tall, with smooth stems and new foliage often reddish.

Leaves: Alternate, to 20 cm (8 in) long, oblong to oval, fleshy, leathery, gland-dotted below, with margins entire.

Flowers: Axillary clusters, star shaped, 13 mm (0.5 in) wide, with mauve-colored petals.

Fruit: Rounded drupe, 6 mm (< 1 in) wide, red turning to black when ripe, with white juicy flesh.

Field Notations


Field Notations


Asparagus densiflorus asparagus fern Asparagus densiflorus asparagus fern

Appearance: Evergreen perennial herb from a crown of tuberous roots, to 60 cm (2 ft) in height, with stems stiff or spreading-arching to 2 m (6 ft) long.

Leaves: Larger branches usually bearing minute axillary spines. Branchlets (cladophylls) flat, needle-like, light bright green, to 2.5 cm (1 in) long, clustered at branch nodes. Leaves tiny, scalelike, at bases of branchlets.

Flowers: Small, white to pinkish, and fragrant.

Fruit: Bright red berry about 8 mm (< 1 in) in diameter; 3 seeds per fruit.

Ecological threat:Found in large colonies, displacing native ground cover and understory shrubs. Has escaped into tropical hammocks in Palm Beach County, overtopping young native plants such as wild coffee. FLEPPC Category I

ASPADENS/ASDE12


Field Notations


Field Notations


Bauhinia variegata orchid tree Bauhinia variegata orchid tree

Appearance: Semi-deciduous tree to 15 m (50 ft) tall, with a spreading crown.

Leaves: Alternate, long petioled, to 3 cm (1.25 in) long, thin-leathery, simple but deeply cleft at apex, forming 2 large rounded lobes; lower surfaces downy, especially at top of petiole; blades with 11-13 veins extending from heart-shaped or rounded base.

Flowers: Showy, fragrant, in few-flowered clusters near stem tips; 5 petals, clawed, overlapping, pale magenta to indigo (occasionally white), with dark red and yellow also on upper petal; 5 stamens (rarely 6).

Fruit: A flat, oblong pod, to 30 cm (1ft) long, 10-15-seeded.

Ecological threat:Noted as occasional across south Florida; invading dis-turbed areas and displacing native vegetation in hammock margins and occasionally in globally imperiled pine rock-lands. FLEPPC Category I

BAUHVARI/BAVA


Field Notations


Field Notations


Bischofia javanica bishopwood Bischofia javanica bishopwood

Appearance: Evergreen tree commonly 12-18 m (35-60 ft) in height, with dense, rounded head, smooth branches, and milky sap.

Leaves: Alternate, long-petioled, trifoliolate (3 leaflets); leaflets shiny, bronze-toned, oval-elliptic, 15-20 cm (6-8 in) long, with margins small toothed.

Flowers: Tiny, without petals, greenish-yellow, in many flowered clusters (racemes) at leaf axils; male and female flowers on separate plants (dioecious).

Fruit: Pea-sized, berry-like, fleshy, to 9 mm (0.33 in) in diameter, brown or reddish or blue-black, 3-celled.

Ecological threat:Common in old fields and disturbed wetland sites; invading intact cypress domes and tropical hardwood hammocks, where it displaces native vegetation and alters the structure of the plant community. FLEPPC Category I

BISCJAVA/BIJA


Field Notations


Field Notations


Broussonetia papyrifera paper-mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera paper-mulberry

Appearance: Small, thicket-forming shrub or small deciduous tree from stolons, sap milky to about 15 m (45 ft) tall; stems hairy.

Leaves: Alternate, opposite, or whorled on the same plant, simple, hairy, 6–20 cm (2.5–8 in) long, 5–15 cm (1.5–6 in) wide; toothed and sometimes lobed margins; upper surfaces of mature blades rough to the touch; petioles 4–15 cm (1.5–6 in) long.

Flowers: Female flowers form in round, hanging clusters; male flowers appear in spring and form in drooping, elongated clusters.

Fruit: Orange to red; aggregated into globular clusters, diameter 2–3 cm (0.8–1 in).


BROUPAPY/BRPA4


Field Notations


Field Notations


Calophyllum antillanum Santa Maria Calophyllum antillanum Santa Maria

Appearance: Straight-trunked tree typically 12 m (40 ft) tall. Young stems green, 4-angled, minutely hairy, becoming gray with age.

Leaves: Opposite, simple, petioled, elliptic, 10-15 cm (4-6 in) long; blades very shiny, with numerous parallel veins at right angles to midvein; margins entire; blade tips rounded to minutely notched.

Flowers: Small, in few-flowered racemes at leaf axils, white, fragrant, with many yellow stamens.

Fruit: One-seeded, hard-shelled drupe; brown, globose, about 2.5 cm (1 in) wide.

Ecological threat:Invades mangrove forests and other coastal areas. Dense stands of seedlings and saplings also observed along fringes of buttonwood forests and occasionally in inland hardwood forests. FLEPPC Category I

CALOANTI/CAAN22


Field Notations

Casuarina equisetifolia Australian pine

PCasuarina equisetifolia Australian pine

CASUSPEC/CASUA

Appearance: Evergreen tree to 46 m (150 ft) tall, single-trunked; reddish brown to gray bark, rough, brittle, peeling.

Leaves: Tiny scales, whorled around long, grayish-green branchlets (resemble pine needles), scales 1-3 mm (0.11 in) long, 6-8 per whorl.

Flowers: Unisexual, inconspicuous, female contained in cylindrical to almost round cone-like clusters, to 2 cm (<1 in) long, 1.3 cm (0.5 in) wide, male in small terminal spikes.

Fruit: Tiny, 1-seeded, winged nutlet contained in the cone.

Ecological threat:Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. FLEPPC Category I

*Other members of the Casuarina species are listed on FLEPPC’s List of Invasive Species as Category II invasive exotics.*


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Cinnamomum camphora camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora camphor tree

Appearance: Evergreen tree up to 20 m (65 ft). Twigs green or reddish green; all vegetative parts glabrous; cut stems and bruised leaves giving off a strong aroma of camphor.

Leaves: Simple, alternate; blades entire but may have wavy margins, mostly ovate, 4-10 cm (1.5-4 in) long and 2-5 cm (0.8-2 in) wide; glossy green above, duller green below, with impressed glands below at major veins.

Flowers: Small, greenish-white to cream, in loose panicles on branchlets of season; 6 petaloid parts; 12 stamen parts, usually 5-9 fertile stamens plus smaller sterile staminodes.

Fruit: Small, subglobose drupes; black, seated on persistent floral tubes.

Ecological threat:Primarily in drier disturbed areas such as roadsides andfencerows, but has invaded natural areas such as mesic hammocks, upland pine woods, and scrubland. FLEPPC Category I

CINNCAMP/CICA


Field Notations


Field Notations


Colubrina asiatica lather leaf Colubrina asiatica lather leaf

Appearance: Glabrous, evergreen, scrambling shrub with diffuse, slender branches to 5 m (16 ft) long; in older plants, stems to 15 m (49 ft) long.

Leaves: Alternate, with slender petioles to 2 cm (3/4 in) long; blades oval, shiny dark green above, 4-9 cm (1.6-3.5 in) long and 2.5-5 cm (1-2 in) wide, with toothed margins and producing a thin lather when crushed and rubbed in water.

Flowers: Small, greenish white, in short branched, few-flowered clusters at leaf axils; each with a nectar disc, 5 sepals, 5 hooded petals, and 5 stamens.

Fruit: A globose capsule, green and fleshy at first and turning brown upon drying, about 8 mm (1/3 in) wide, with 3 grayish seeds.

Ecological threat:Forms a thick mat, growing over and shading out native vegetation. Invades marly coastal ridges, tropical ham-mocks, buttonwood and mangrove forests, tidal marshes and disturbed coastal road-sides. Threatens a number of rare, listed native plant species. FLEPPC Category I

COLUASIA/COAS3


Field Notations

Colocasia esculenta wild taro Colocasia esculenta wild taro

Appearance: Perennial herb to 1.5 m (4 ft) tall, with thick shoots from a large corm; slender stolons also often produced, along with offshoot corms.

Leaves: Blades to 60 cm (24 in) long and 50 cm (20 in) wide, arrowhead shaped, with upper surface dark green and velvety; leaves peltate (stalked from back of blade).

Flowers: Flowers tiny, densely crowded on upper part of fleshy stalk, with female flowers below and male flowers above.

Fruit: A small berry, in clusters on the fleshy stalk.

Ecological threat:Considered an “aggressive weed” in parts of the Southeast; forms dense growth along river and lake shores, displacing native shoreline vegetation. FLEPPC Category I

COLOESCU/COES


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Cupaniopsis anacardioides carrotwood Cupaniopsis anacardioides carrotwood

Appearance: Slender evergreen tree, usually single-trunked, to 10 m (33 ft) tall, with dark gray outer bark and often orange inner bark.

Leaves: Alternate, once compound (usually even-pinnate), with petioles swollen at the base; 4-12 leaflets, stalked, oblong, leathery, shiny yellowish green, to 20 cm (8 in) long and 7.5 cm (3 in) wide, with margins entire and tips rounded or slightly indented.

Flowers: Numerous, white to greenish yellow, up to 0.8 cm (0.4 in) wide, in branched clusters to 35 cm (14 in) long at leaf axils; 5 petals; 6-8 stamens.

Fruit: A short-stalked, woody capsule, to 2.2 cm (0.9 in) across, with 3 distinctly ridged segments; yellow orange when ripe, drying to brown and splitting open to expose 3 shiny oval black seeds covered by a yellow-red crust (aril).

Ecological threat:Invades spoil islands, beach dunes, marshes, tropical hammocks, pinelands, mangrove and cypress swamps, scrub habitats, and coastal strands; greatly altering understoryhabitat. FLEPPC Category I

CUPAANAC/CUAN4


Field Notations


Field Notations


Cyperus prolifer dwarf papyrus Cyperus prolifer dwarf papyrus

CYPEPROL/CYPR17

Appearance: Herbaceous, perennial. Grows in tufts or clumps; rhizomatous. Culms 20-100 cm (8–39 in) x 2-6 mm (0.08–0.25 in); soft, glabrous.

Leaves: Blades reduced to sheath.

Flowers: Inflorescence-rays 100-250, 5-16 cm (2–6 in); spikelets 1-30, linear, ellipsoid, reddish brown.

Fruit: Achenes brown, obovoid, 0.4 x 0.2 mm, surfaces finely reticulate (latticed).


Distribution: C, SW

Field Notations


Field Notations


Dioscorea alata winged yam Dioscorea alata winged yam

Appearance: Vigorously twining herbaceous vine, from massive underground tuber.

Leaves: Long petioled, opposite (often with only 1 leaf persistent); blades to 20 cm (8 in) or more in length, narrowly heart shaped, with basal lobes often angular.

Flowers: Small, occasional, male and female arisingfrom leaf axils on separate plants (i.e., a dioecious species); male flowers in panicles to 30 cm (1 ft) long, female flowers in smaller spikes.

Fruit: A 3-parted capsule; seeds winged.

Ecological threat:Some stands forming blankets of shingled leaves over native vegetation and able to cover even mature trees. FLEPPC Category I

DIOSALAT/DIAL2


Field Notations

Dioscorea bulbifera air-potato Dioscorea bulbifera air-potato

Appearance: Vigorously twining herbaceous vine, with small or absent underground tubers. Aerial tubers (bulbils) freely formed in leaf axils.

Leaves: Long petioled, alternate; blades to 20 cm (8 in) or more long, broadly heart shaped, with basal lobes usually rounded.

Flowers: Rare (in Florida), small, fragrant, male and female arising from leaf axils on separate plants (i.e., a dioecious species), in panicles or spikes to 11 cm (4 in) long.

Fruit: a capsule; seeds partially winged.

Ecological threat:Can quickly engulf native vegetation, climbing high into mature tree canopies. Produces large numbers of aerial tubers, which accelerate its spread. FLEPPC Category I

DIOSBULB/DIBU


Field Notations


Field Notations

Eichhornia crassipes water hyacinth

PEichhornia crassipes water hyacinth

Appearance: Floating aquatic herb, rooting in mud if stranded, usually in dense mats with new plantlets attached on floating green stolons.

Leaves: Formed in rosettes; petioles to 30 cm (12 in) or more, spongy, usually inflated or bulbous, especially near base; leaf blades roundish or broadly elliptic, glossy green, to 15 cm (6 in) wide.

Flowers: Lavender-blue with a yellow blotch, to 5 cm (2 in) wide, somewhat 2-lipped; 6 petals, 6 stamens.

Fruit: A 3-celled capsule with many seeds.

Ecological threat:Grows at explosive rates exceeding any other tested vascular plant; doubles its populations in as little as 6-18 days. In large mats, degrades water quality and dramatically alters native plant and animal communities. FLEPPC Category I

EICHCRAS/EICR


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Elaeagnus pungens silverthorn Elaeagnus pungens silverthorn

ELAEPUNG/ELPU2

Appearance: Thorny, evergreen shrub with long shoots to about 6 m (18 ft) tall; branches sometimes appearing vine-like.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic to oval, 3-10 cm (1.2–4 in) long, 2-5 cm (1–2 in) wide; lower surface covered with silvery to ashy-white scales.

Flowers: Tiny, brown, about 1 cm long, borne in clusters in the leaf axils, appearing in fall and early winter.

Fruit: Oblong, drupelike, to about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long, borne on a short stalk, 5-8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, changing from green to pinkish brown and covered with fine dots.



Field Notations


Field Notations


Eugenia uniflora Surinam cherry Eugenia uniflora Surinam cherry

Appearance: Evergreen, multibranched shrub or small tree to 10 m (30 ft) tall, usually shrub size in Florida; young stems often with red hairs and dark red new foliage.

Leaves: Opposite, simple, short petioled, oval to lance shaped, 2.5-8 cm (1-3 in) long, shiny dark green above, paler below; margins entire.

Flowers: White, fragrant, about 13 mm (0.5 in) across, with many stamens; occurring solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3 at leaf axils.

Fruit: A fleshy, juicy, orange-red berry to 4 cm (1.5 in) wide, depressed-globose, conspicuously 8-ribbed, with 1-3 seeds.

Ecological threat:Invading hammocks in south-central and south Florida including national wildlife refuges and rare scrub habitat. FLEPPC Category I

EUGEUNIF/EUUN2


Field Notations


Field Notations


Ficus microcarpa laurel fig Ficus microcarpa laurel fig

Appearance: Evergreen tree to 15 m (50 ft) or more in height, with a rounded dense crown, smooth gray bark, milky sap, and long, thin, dangling aerial roots.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, leathery, deep glossy green, oval-elliptic to diamond-shaped, to 13 cm (5 in) long, with short pointed, ridged tips.

Flowers: Tiny, unisexual, numerous, hidden within the “fig,” a fleshy, specialized receptacle that develops into a multiple fruit (syconium).

Fruit: Green turning to yellow or dark red when ripe; sessile, in pairs at leaf axils; small, to 1 cm (0.5 in) in diameter.

Ecological threat:Began spreading by seed in the1970s, following apparently accidental introduction of species-specific pollinating wasps. Found in various tropical hammocks. FLEPPC Category I

FICUMICR/FIMI2


Field Notations

Hydrilla verticillata hydrilla

PHydrilla verticillata hydrilla

Appearance: Submersed, usually rooted, aquatic perennial herb with slender ascending stems to 9m (30 ft) long; heavily branched.

Leaves: Whorled, 3-8 per whorl, 2-4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and 6–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) long, bearing coarse (visible) teeth along the margins and usually 1-4 small conical bumps along underside of midrib, which is often red.

Flowers: Male flowers detached and free floating at maturity, with 3 sepals and 3 petals, white to reddish brown, about 2 mm (0.7 in) long, releasing floating pollen from stamens when flower pops open at water surface.

Fruit: N/A

Ecological threat:Competitively displaces native submersed plant communities. In dense stands, alters fisheries populations, causes shifts in zooplankton communities, and affects water chemistry. FLEPPC Category I

HYDRVERT/HYVE3


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Hygrophila polysperma East Indian hygrophila

PHygrophila polysperma East Indian hygrophila

Appearance: Perennial aquatic herb with squarish stems ascending to creeping, mostly submersed, usually rooted in substrate; also roots freely at floating nodes.

Leaves: Opposite, to 8 cm (3 in) long; (aerial leaves smaller and to 2 cm (0.8 in) wide, usually broader toward tip; sessile, with bases joined at node by ciliated flanges of tissue, the cilia (hairs) easily observed, to 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long.

Flowers: Small, solitary in uppermost leaf axils, nearly hidden by leaves; calyx 5-lobed; corolla bluish white, 2-lipped; 2 fertile stamens.

Fruit: A narrow capsule, splitting length-wise to release tiny round seeds.

Ecological threat:Able to expand a population rapidly and difficult to control. Reported as an expanding problem in south Florida canals in 1980. Now replacing the well-known hydrilla as the most serious weed in these waterways, clogging irrigation and flood-control systems and interfering with navigation. FLEPPC Category I

HYGRPOLY/HYPO3


Field Notations


Field Notations


Hymenachne amplexicaulis West Indian marsh grass Hymenachne amplexicaulis West Indian marsh grass

Appearance: Robust perennial grass from stolons. Stems floating, creeping, or ascending to 1m (3 ft) or more in height, sparingly branched, rooting at the lower nodes; stems pithy, not hollow.

Leaves: Sheaths glabrous but with hairs on upper margins; ligule a membrane. Leaf blades flat, to 35 cm (14 in) long and to 4 cm (1.6 in) wide, cordate at the base and clasping the stem (amplexicaul); glabrous but with long hairs on lower margins.

Flowers: In a spike-like, densely flowered panicle, to 26 cm (10 in) long and ~1 cm (0.4 in) wide; spikelets short-stalked.

Fruit: 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long.

Ecological threat:Displacing maidencane communities, colonizing, and becoming difficult to control along drainage canals of south central Florida. FLEPPC Category I

HYMEAMPL/HYAM2


Field Notations

Imperata cylindrica cogon grass Imperata cylindrica cogon grass

Appearance: Perennial grass growing in loose or compact tufts, from stout, extensively creeping, scaly rhizomes with sharp-pointed tips.

Leaves: Sheaths relatively short, glabrous or pubescent; ligule a membrane, 0.5–1 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. Blades erect, narrow and pubescent at base, flat and glabrous above, to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall and to 2 cm (< 1 in) wide, with whitish midvein noticeably off-center; blade margins scabrous, blade tips sharp pointed.

Flowers: In a plume-like, silky panicle, to 21 cm (8 in) long and 3.5 cm (1.4 in) wide; several per branch, base circled by long hairs.

Fruit: 3.5–4.3 mm (0.14–0.17 in)

Ecological threat:Considered one of the top ten worst weeds in the world. Has invaded dry to moist natural areas, including habitats of federally listed endangered and threatened native plant species. FLEPPC Category I

IMPECYLI/IMCY


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


water spinachIpomoea aquatica

Pwater spinachIpomoea aquatica

Appearance: Herbaceous trailing vine with milky sap. Stems hollow, rooting at nodes, floating in aquatic situations.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, with glabrous petioles 3-14 cm (1-6 in) long; blades generally arrowhead shaped but variable, glabrous or rarely pilose, to 17 cm (7 in) long, with tips pointed; blades held above water when stems floating.

Flowers: Showy, funnelform like morning glory blooms, solitary or in few-flowered clusters at leaf axils; petals white or pink-lilac.

Fruit: An oval or spherical capsule, woody at maturity, about 1 cm (1/2 in) wide, holding 1-4 grayish seeds, these often short, hairy.

Ecological threat:Forms dense floating mats of intertwined stems over water surfaces, shading out native submersed plants and compet-ing with native emergents. FLEPPC Category I

IPOMAQUA/IPAQ

Distribution: C, SW

Field Notations


Field Notations


Jasminum dichotomum Gold Coast jasmine Jasminum dichotomum Gold Coast jasmine

Appearance: Scrambling shrub or woody climber, ever-green, to 8 m (26 ft) tall, with climbing stems longer; stems glabrous.

Leaves: Opposite, appearing simple (unifoliolate), oval to roundish oblong; glossy, leathery, 5-7 cm (2-4 in) long, with short-pointed tips.

Flowers: White (pink in bud), quite fragrant, opening at night, in clusters at leaf axils; petals fused into a narrow tube to 2.5 cm (1 in) long, with 5-9 terminal lobes about 1.3 cm (0.5 in) long, spreading in star-shaped fashion.

Fruit: A small, fleshy, roundish, black, 2-lobed berry.

Ecological threat:Vigorously invades intact, undisturbed hardwood forests; can climb high into the tree canopy of mature forests, completely enshrouding native vegetation and reducing native plant diversity. FLEPPC Category I

JASMDICH/JADI2


Field Notations


Field Notations


Jasminum fluminense Brazilian jasmine Jasminum fluminense Brazilian jasmine

Appearance: Evergreen, climbing, woody vine, with young stems densely hairy and mature stems glabrous.

Leaves: Opposite, trifoliolate, leaf and leaflets stalked; terminal leaflet larger, to 7 cm (4 in) long with a stalk to 5 cm (2 in) long; leaflets broadly ovate, pubescent above and below with pointed tips.

Flowers: White, quite fragrant, opening at night, in broad, branched clusters at leaf axils; petals fused into a narrow, slightly curved tube to 2.5 cm (1 in) long, with 5-7 terminal lobes shorter than the tube, spreading in star-shaped fashion.

Fruit: A small, fleshy, roundish, black, 2-lobed berry.

Ecological threat:An aggressive, troublesome, difficult-to-control weed; can climb high into the tree canopy of mature forests, completely enshrouding native vegetation and reducing native plant diversity. Has vigorously invaded intact, undisturbed hardwood forests in south Florida. FLEPPC Category I

JASMFLUM/JAFL


Field Notations


Field Notations


Lantana camara lantana Lantana camara lantana

Appearance: Grows profusely. Multistemmed, deciduous shrub, to 2 m (6 ft) or more, with stems square, covered with bristly hairs when green, often armed as well withscattered small prickles.

Leaves: Opposite, simple, with petioles to 2 cm (0.8 in) long; blades oval, rough hairy, to 15 cm (6 in) long and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide, with margins blunt-toothed and blade bases broad, squared off (truncate); leaves strongly aromatic.

Flowers: Small, multicolored; in stalked, dense, flat-topped clusters to 4 cm (1.5 in) across; corolla a narrow tube with 4 short spreading lobes; flowers in a single cluster maybe white to pink or lavender, yellow to orange or red, changing color over time.

Fruit: A round, fleshy, 2-seeded drupe, about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide, green turning purple then blue-black.

Ecological threat:Commonly invades disturbed sites such as roadsides, spoil islands, pastures, citrus groves, and cultivated woodlands. Also frequent in well-drained undisturbed habitats such as native pinelands, hammocks, and beach dunes. FLEPPC Category I

LANTCAMA/LACA2


Field Notations


Field Notations


lead treeLeucaena leucocephala lead treeLeucaena leucocephala

LEUCLEUC/LELE10

Appearance: Shrub or small tree to 4 m (12 ft) tall. Young twigs hairy.

Leaves: Alternate, twice pinnate; leaf 10–30 cm (4–11 in) long; pinnae in four to eight pairs, each with 11–17 pairs of opposite, oblong leaflets, 6–14 mm (0.24–0.5 in) long.

Flowers: Borne in yellowish-white to white rounded. stalked heads, to about 2 cm (0.8 in) in diameter; petals to 6 mm (0.25 in) long.

Fruit: A flat, reddish-brown to brown pod, 8–20 cm (3–8 in) long, 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) wide, often borne in dense, hanging clusters.



Field Notations


Field Notations


Ligustrum sinense Chinese privet Ligustrum sinense Chinese privet

Appearance: Semi-deciduous shrub or small tree to 4 m (12 ft) tall or more;twigs densely pubescent.

Leaves: Opposite, simple (on long twigs, at first glance, may appear compound); all green (in cultivation usually variegated, cream-white and green); leaf blades to 4 cm (1.5 in) long and 2 cm (0.75 in) wide, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, with tips blunt, margins entire, and pubescence persistent on midvein below; petioles short, pubescent.

Flowers: Many, white, small, somewhat unpleasantly fragrant, on slender pubescent stalks in narrow, conical panicles, terminal on branchlets.

Fruit: Dark blue or bluish-black drupes, ellipsoid to subglobose, mostly 4-5 mm (0.2 in) long.

Ecological threat:Occurs in open disturbed areas, but also invades less disturbed upland hammocks, pinelands, river and stream floodplains, lake shores, and edges of swamps and marshes. Has moved into undisturbed relict slope hammock, threatening to displace the globally endan-gered Miccosukee gooseberry. FLEPPC Category I

LIGUSINE/LISI


Field Notations


Field Notations


Limnophila sessiliflora limnophila

PLimnophila sessiliflora limnophila

Appearance: Submersed and emersed leaves and stems. It can grow in a variety of aquatic habitats.

Leaves: Emersed leaves in whorls, more-or-less lance-shaped, and margins appear to be torn irregularly. Submersed leaves finely divided and feathery, about one inch long, and in whorls about the stem.

Flowers: Rare; single flowers grow on the emersed part of the stem and are blue, violet, pink, or lavender.

Fruit: A 4-parted, sessile capsule, widest at base, tapering upwards.

Ecological threat:Can become dominant in warm still waters of lakes and impoundments crowding out or shading native species. FLEPPC Category II

LIMNSESS/LISE3


Field Notations


Field Notations


Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle

LONIJAPO/LOJA

Appearance: Perennial, trailing and/or high climbing, semi-woody vine. Stems hairy or smooth.

Leaves: Evergreen, opposite, simple, entire, elliptic to ovate; apices with a tiny point at the tip; 2-8 cm (0.8–3 in) long; margins often bearing tiny hairs. Leaves on new shoots often lobed.

Flowers: Paired, slender, tubular, fragrant; sepals minute; petals 2.5-5 cm (1–2 in) long, white, pink or yellow; abruptly spreading into two lips and exposing several curving stamens.

Fruit: Roundish berries 5-6 mm (0.2–0.25 in) in diameter, black.

Ecological threat:FLEPPC Category I—Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displac-ing native species, changing community structures or eco-logical functions, or hybridiz-ing with natives.


Field Notations

Lygodium japonicum Japanese climbing fern Lygodium japonicum Japanese climbing fern

Appearance: Fern with climbing, twining fronds of indeterminate growth, to 30 m (90 ft) long; main rachis wiry, stemlike.

Leaves: Leafy branches off main rachis (constituting the pinnae) are compound, triangular in overall outline, 10-20 cm (4-8 in) long and about as wide. Leaflets (pinnules) lobed, stalked, with terminal lobes often dissected. Basal lobes irregularly lobed or dissected; leaf-blade tissue pubescent below with short, curved hairs.

Spores: Sporangia on the margins of the fertile part of the leaf (pinnule). Wind- and water-dispersed.

Ecological threat:Can form tangled masses over ground cover and shrubs; its dense canopy eliminating the underlying vegetation. Reportedly forming sun-blocking “walls” of fern in tributary floodplains of the Apalachicola River, and smothering seedlings of overstory tree species. FLEPPC Category I

LYGOJAPO/LYJA


Field Notations


Field Notations

Lygodium microphyllum Old World climbing fern Lygodium microphyllum Old World climbing fern

Appearance: Fern with dark brown, wiry rhizomes and climbing, twining fronds of indeterminate growth, to 30m (90 ft) long; main rachis (leaf stalk above petiole) wiry, stemlike.

Leaves: Leafy branches off main rachis (constituting the pinnae) are once compound, oblongish in overall outline, 5-12 cm (2-5 in) long. Leaflets (pinnules) usually unlobed, stalked, articulate (leaving wiry stalks when detached); leaf-blade tissue usually glabrous below; fertile leaflets of similar size, fringed with tiny lobes of enrolled leaf tissue covering the sporangia along the leaf margin.

Spores: Sporangia on the margins of the fertile part of the leaf (pinnule). Can germinate in 6–7 days; 5-month-old spores can have 80% germination rate. Wind- and water- dispersed.

Ecological threat:Blankets entire tree islands and even climbs over sawgrass in standing water. Poses management problems for both wildfires and prescribed burns because growth into canopy creates an avenue for fire to spread. FLEPPC Category I

LYGOMICR/LYMI


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Macfadyena unguis-cati cat’s claw vine Macfadyena unguis-cati cat’s claw vine

Appearance: High-climbing woody vine, with stems to 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter and roots becoming elongate-tuberous with age. Branches and runners with aerial roots.

Leaves: Opposite, compound, with 2 leaflets and a terminal 3 forked tendril; tips of tendril forks stiffly hooked, clawlike. Leaflets mostly 3-7 cm (1-3 in) long, oval to lance shaped, with margins entire.

Flowers: Showy, trumpet shaped, to 7 cm (3 in) long and 10 cm (4 in) across, solitary or in few-flowered clusters at leaf axils; petals joined into yellow floral tube with orange lines in the throat.

Fruit: A linear, flat capsule, to 50 cm (20 in) long, with oblong, winged seeds.

Ecological threat:Increasingly spreading into natural areas in northern Florida; has become dominant ground cover in undisturbed hammocks by Lake George; extremely difficult to control tuberous roots. Also reported as rapidly spreading in four hammock preserves in Dade County. FLEPPC Category I

MACFUNGU/MAUN3


Field Notations


Field Notations


Manilkara zapota sapodilla Manilkara zapota sapodilla

MANIZAPO/MAZA

Appearance: Evergreen tree to about 20 m (66 ft) high with stout trunk. Branchlets brownish-hairy.

Leaves: Alternate and often crowded at end of branchlets; young leaves are downy and brownish beneath.

Flowers: White on long stalks from leaf axils, tubular, tube up to 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 6-lobed.

Fruit: Brown with rough skin, up to 8 cm (3 in) across; brownish, mealy pulp; containing hard black seeds.

Ecological threat:FLEPPC Category I—Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives.


Field Notations

Melaleuca quinquenervia melaleuca

PMelaleuca quinquenervia melaleuca

Appearance: Evergreen tree to 33m (100 ft) tall, with a slender crown and soft, whitish, many-layered, peeling bark.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, grayish green, narrowlylance shaped, to 10 cm (4 in) long and 2 cm (3/4 in) wide, with a smell of camphor when crushed.

Flowers: Creamy white “bottle brush” spikes to 16 cm (6 in) long.

Fruit: A round, woody capsule, about 3 mm (3/8 in) wide, in clusters surrounding young stems, each capsule holding 200-300 tiny seeds.

Ecological threat:Grows extremely fast, producing dense stands that displace native plants, diminish animal habitat, and provide little food for wildlife. Has become abundant in pine flatwoods, sawgrass marshes, and cypress swamps of south Florida. FLEPPC Category I

MELAQUIN/MEQU


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Mimosa pigra catclaw mimosa

PMimosa pigra catclaw mimosa

Appearance: Sprawling, often thicket-forming shrub to 6 m (20 ft) tall, with hairy stems bearing numerous re-curved prickles to 7 mm (0.3 in) long.

Leaves: Alternate, twice compound, sensitive to touch; leaf petiole and rachis to 20 cm (8 in) long, prickles at junctions, 5-12 pairs of pinnae; each pinna with 24-31 pairs of leaflets, these to 8 mm (0.3 in) long, often with threadlike hairs on margins.

Flowers: Small, mauve to pink, in stalked, dense, spherical heads, about 1 cm (0.5 in) across, with about 100 flowers per head; 8 stamens.

Fruit: A brown-bristly, segmented, flat pod to 8 cm (3 in) long and 1.4 cm (0.5 in) wide, with the 9-24 segments breaking free individually, each containing a seed; pods in clusters, or “hands” (of usually 7) at stem tips.

Ecological threat:Has formed dense understories in swamps, shading out native tree seedlings and altering bird, reptile, and vegetation communities. FLEPPC Category I

MIMOPIGR/MIPI


Field Notations

Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian water-milfoil

PMyriophyllum spicatum Eurasian water-milfoil

Appearance: Submersed; stems are reddish-brown to whitish-pink, branched and commonly grow to lengths of 2–2.75 m (6–9 ft).

Leaves: Deeply divided, soft and feather-like; about two inches long; arranged in whorls of three to six leaves about the stem.

Flowers: Reddish and very small, held above the water on an emersed flower spike that is several inches long.

Fruit: 4-lobed, bumpy; separating into 4 nutlets.


MYRISPIC/MYSP2


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Nandina domestica nandina Nandina domestica nandina

Ecological threat:Forms dense groves displacing native vegetation, including the Florida-endangered red columbine and the rare (in the wild) oak-leaf hydrangea. FLEPPC Category I

Appearance: Evergreen glabrous shrub to 1.8 m (6 ft) tall, growing in multistemmed clumps and perennating by rhizomes.

Leaves: Alternate, large, 2-3 times oddpinnately com-pound, usually with 3 primary divisions from petiole, having a somewhat lacy appearance and turning red in cool season. Leaflets 2-6 cm (1-2 in) long, narrowly ovate to lanceolate, tips with long acute taper, upper surfaces dark green (in growing season), sublustrous.

Flowers: Small, bisexual, with petaloid parts pinkish white and anthers yellow.

Fruit: A bright red, 2-seeded globose berry, 6-12 mm (0.25–0.5 in) in diameter.

NANDDOME/NADO


Field Notations


Field Notations


Nephrolepis cordifoliatuberous sword fern,

Boston fern

Appearance: Epiphytic, epilithic (on rock), or terrestrial in habit. Rhizomes suberect, with spreading, orange-brown to pale brown linear scales, these with hairlike tips; wiry, straw colored, scaly stolons usually present in great num-bers, often producing small, scaly underground tubers.

Leaves: To 1 m long; petioles to 20 cm (8 in) long, with spreading, pale-brown scales; leaflets (pinnae) many, 40-100 on each side of rachis (main stalk of frond); each leaflet (pinna) oblong-lanceolate with a deltoid lobe (auricle) on upper side of blade base that usually overlaps rachis.

Spores: Sporangia in a single row on each side of mid-vein. Natural dispersal of spores and accidental movement of stolons, tubers and rhizomes, particularly by dumping yard refuse.

Ecological threat:Can spread aggressively in the landscape, tending to formdense stands that displace native ground cover. FLEPPC Category I

NEPHCORD/NEPHR


tuberous sword fern, Boston fernNephrolepis cordifolia

Field Notations


Field Notations


Neyraudia reynaudiana silk reed Neyraudia reynaudiana silk reed

Appearance: Robust, reed-like perennial to 3 m (10 ft) tall, forming clumps from short, coarse rhizomes. Stems often branched and filled with soft pith.

Leaves: Sheaths 10-25 cm (4-10 in) long, smooth, shining, clasping, woolly at the top with a line of collar hairs and ligule of hairs. Blades linear, flat or involute, 20-100 cm (8-39 in) long and 8-25 mm (0.3-1 in) wide, glabrous below, sparsely short-hairy above, with margins smooth or rough and midvein inconspicuous; blades often deciduous from sheaths.

Flowers: In a large, terminal, hairy, branched panicle; spike-lets with 5-10 florets; florets hairy, with a short awn between two terminal teeth.

Fruit: 1.5-3 mm long, narrowly elliptic.

NEYRREYN/NERE


Ecological threat:Able to colonize marginal and undisturbed habitats once established in an area. Now well established in the globally rare pine rockland habitats of Dade County and viewed as a threat to rare species there, especially since its high flammability promotes frequent fires, enhancing its spread. FLEPPC Category I

Field Notations


Field Notations


Nymphoides cristata crested floating-heart

N. indica water snowflake

NYMPCRIS/NYCR

Appearance: Floating stems from a buried rootstock; single leaf with a short petiole at tip of each stem; slender tuberous roots dangle from the stem-leaf node.

Leaves: Heart-shaped leaves with cordate bases; margins smooth.

Flowers: White with wide membranous margins, glabrous; 0.75-2.4 cm (0.3–0.9 in) wide; petal lobes crested with an erect fold of tissue along upper midvein.

Fruit: An oblong capsule; seeds rounded, smooth.

Ecological threat:FLEPPC Category II—Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant com-munities to the extent shown by Category I species.


Nymphoides cristata crested floating-heart

Field Notations


Field Notations


Paederia cruddasiana sewer vine sewer vinePaederia cruddasiana

PAEDCRUD/PACR15


Appearance: Semiwoody, climbing, twining vine, sometimes shrubby.

Leaves: Opposite, broadly lanceolate to elliptic, with relatively long petioles and smooth margins.

Flowers: Tubular, 7-11 mm long, pinkish to pale lilac with a purple throat, 5-lobed.

Fruit: A flattened, orange to yellow, papery berry, to approx. 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter; seeds winged.

Ecological threat:Dangerous to native species as it can out compete and shade out even large trees. Spreads readily by seeds and by rooting at stem nodes. Stems often run beneath leaves and surficial duff, rooting as it goes. FLEPPC Category I

Field Notations

Paederia foetida skunk vine Paederia foetida skunk vine

Appearance: Perennial twining vine from woody rootstock; stems to 7 m (23 ft) or more, climbing, or prostrate and rooting at the nodes.

Leaves: Opposite (rarely in whorls of three), with conspicuous stipules; petioles commonly to 6 cm (2.4 in) long; blades entire, oval to linear-lanceolate, 2–11 cm (1–4.3 in) long, hairy or glabrous, often lobed at base; leaves and stems with disagreeable odor, especially when crushed.

Flowers: Small, grayish pink or lilac, in broad or long “leafy” curving clusters, terminal or at leaf axils; corolla densely hairy, tubular with five (usually) spreading lobes.

Fruit: A shiny brown, nearly globose capsule, to 0.7 cm (0.3 in) wide with two black, roundish seeds, these often dotted with white raphides.

Ecological threat:Invades various native plant communities, including sandhill, floodplain, and upland mixed forest. Can create dense canopies leading to damage or death of native vegetation. FLEPPC Category I

PAEDFOET/PAFO3


Field Notations


Field Notations

Panicum repens torpedo grass Panicum repens torpedo grass

Appearance: Perennial grass to 1 m (3 ft) tall, from sturdy, vigorous, widely creeping or floating rhizomes with over-lapping brownish to white scales and rigid sharp-pointed(torpedo-like) growing tips.

Leaves: Aerial stems erect or leaning, lower portions oftenwrapped in bladeless sheaths. Upper leaf sheaths glabrous or hairy, usually at least with hairs on upper margins; ligule a short-ciliate membrane; leaf blades stiff, linear, flat orfolded, to 26 cm (10 in) long and 5.3 mm (0.3 in) wide.

Flowers: In an open panicle with spreading branches; spikelets stalked, whitish, 2.2–2.8 mm (0.75–1 in) long, smooth.

Fruit: 1.8–2.7 mm (0.4–1 in) long, broadly ellipsoid.

Ecological threat:Quickly forms monocultures that displace native vegetation, particularly in or near shallow waters. FLEPPC Category I

PANIREPE/PARE3


Field Notations


Field Notations

Pistia stratiotes water-lettuce

PPistia stratiotes water-lettuce

Appearance: Floating herb in rosettes of gray-green leaves rosettes occurring singly or connected to others by short stolons.

Leaves: Often spongy near base, densely soft pubescent with obvious parallel veins, slightly broader than long, wid-est at apex, to 15 cm (6 in) long.

Flowers: Inconspicuous, clustered on small fleshy stalk nearly hidden in leaf axils, with single female flower below and whorl of male flowers above.

Fruit: Arising from female flower as a many-seeded green berry.

Ecological threat:Capable of forming vast mats that disrupt submersed plant and animal communities and interfere with water movement and navigation. Also serves as host for at least two genera of mosquitoes. FLEPPC Category I

PISTSTRA/PIST2


Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Psidium cattleianum strawberry guava Psidium cattleianum strawberry guava

Ecological threat:Forms thickets and shades out native vegetation in forests and open woodlands. Also serves as a major host for the naturalized Caribbean fruit fly, which occasionally spreads to commercial citrus crops. FLEPPC Category I

Appearance: Evergreen shrub or small tree to 8 m (25 ft) tall, with gray to reddish-brown peeling bark and young branches round, pubescent.

Leaves: Opposite, simple, entire, glabrous, elliptic to oblong, to 8 cm (3 in) long.

Flowers: To 2.5 cm (1.2 in) wide, borne singly at leaf axils, with white petals and a mass of white and yellow stamens.

Fruit: A globose berry, 3-6 cm (1.2-2.4 in) long, purple-red, with whitish flesh usually sweet-tasting when ripe; seeds numerous.

PSIDCATT/PSCA


Field Notations


Field Notations


Psidium guajava guava Psidium guajava guava

Ecological threat:Forms thickets and has a serious impact in native forests and open woodlands. Along with the strawberry guava and the Surinam cherry, also serves as a major host for the naturalized Caribbean fruit fly, which occasionally spreads to commercial citrus crops. FLEPPC Category I

Appearance: Evergreen shrub or small tree to 9 m (30 ft) tall, with scaly greenish-brown bark and young branches 4-angled, pubescent.

Leaves: Opposite, simple, short-stalked, entire, oval to oblong-elliptic, to 15 cm (6 in) long, pubescent below, withveins impressed above and conspicuously raised below.

Flowers: White, fragrant, to 4 cm (1.6 in) wide, borne singly or a few together at leaf axils; many stamens.

Fruit: An oval or pear-shaped berry, 3-10 cm (1-4 in) long, yellow at maturity, with yellow or dark pink flesh somewhat dull in taste; seeds numerous.

PSIDGUAJ/PSGU


Field Notations


Field Notations


Pueraria montana kudzu Pueraria montana kudzu

Ecological threat:Forms large impenetrable masses, growing over woody vegetation and able to com-pletely engulf unwooded areas. Can completely envelop a tree, killing it by shutting out all light. FLEPPC Category I

Appearance: High-climbing, trailing, twining deciduous woody vine, with tuberous roots and rope-like, dark brown stems to 20 m (65 ft) long; herbaceous stems markedly hairy.

Leaves: Alternate, long petioled, with 3 leaflets (trifolio-late); leaflets dark green, hairy on both surfaces, to 15 cm (5.4 in) long; lateral leaflets unequal at base, 1- or 2-lobed; terminal leaflet usually equal at base and 3-lobed.

Flowers: Pea-like, reddishpurple, fragrant, 2-2.5 cm (0.7-0.9 in) across, in short-stalked, elongate clusters at leaf axils, to 20 cm (7 in) long.

Fruit: A dark brown pod, flat but bulging over seeds, densely covered in long golden-brown hairs, to 8 cm (3 in) long and 0.8 cm (0.3 in) wide.

PUERMONT/PUMO


Field Notations


Field Notations


Rhodomyrtus tomentosa downy rose-myrtle Rhodomyrtus tomentosa downy rose-myrtle

Appearance: Evergreen shrub to 2 m (6 ft) tall, with dense, short, soft hairs on young stems.

Leaves: Opposite, simple, entire, elliptic-oval, to 7 cm (3 in) long, glossy green above, densely soft-hairy below (tomentose), with 3 main veins from blade base.

Flowers: Rose-pink, to 2.5 cm (1 in) across, in one- to few-flowered clusters at leaf axils; 5 sepals, hairy; 5 petals; many stamens, with pink filaments.

Fruit: A globose, few-seeded berry to 1.3 cm (0.5 in) across, dark purple, with sweet, aromatic flesh.

Ecological threat:Readily invades pinelands, displacing native vegetation with dense one-species thickets in the understory. Threatens to become worse than Brazilian pepper in central Florida. FLEPPC Category I

RHODTOME/RHTO


Field Notations


Field Notations


Ricinus communis castor bean Ricinus communis castor bean

RICICOMM/RICO3

Appearance: Many-branched, annual or perennial shrub, tree or herb, 1-5 m (3.3–16.5 ft) tall.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, coarse, to 40 cm (15.5 in) wide; 7-9 coarsely serrate palmate lobes, with long petiole at-tached near center of lower leaf surface.

Flowers: Conspicuous, upright spikes; sepals 5; petals 0; male flowers yellow; female flowers pink to pinkish red; appearing nearly year-round.

Fruit: A red, green, or bluish spiny capsule, 1-2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) in diameter, with white to tan. Very poisonous seeds.



Field Notations


Field Notations


Ruellia tweediana Mexican petunia Ruellia tweediana Mexican petunia

Appearance: Erect or ascending; herbaceous (somewhat woody) perennial up to 1m (3.3 ft) tall.

Leaves: Opposite, linear to linear-elliptic, 10-30 cm (4-11 ft) long, 1 cm wide, narrowed at base to a short petiole.

Flowers: Bisexual, up to 5 cm (2 in) across with five fused, violet to purple petals.

Fruit: Elongated capsule to 2.5 cm (1 in) long with brown seeds, 2 mm (0.8 in) wide.


RUELBRIT/RUBR


Field Notations


Field Notations


Salvinia minima water fern Salvinia minima water fern

Appearance: Free-floating fern; stems rootless, hairy, about 10 cm (4 in) long.

Leaves: Borne in 3s, appear 2-ranked, but with 3rd leaf finely dissected and dangling, resembling roots; rounded to somewhat broadly elliptic, 1-1.5 cm (0.4–1 in) long, with cordate base, upper surface with 4-pronged hairs, lower surface hairy.

Spores: In a nutlike sporocarp, trailing beneath.

Ecological threat: Spreads prolifically into a monoculture which can shade out underwater natives, leaving large bare bottom areas.

Distribution: Throughout Florida.

SALVSPP/SAM17

Field Notations


Field Notations


Salvinia molesta giant salvinia

PSalvinia molesta giant salvinia

SALVMOLE/SAM05

Appearance: Free floating fern; stems rootless, hairy, about 10 cm long.

Leaves: Borne in 3s, appear 2-ranked, but with 3rd leaf finely dissected and dangling, resembling roots; rounded to somewhat broadly elliptical, to 2 cm long, with cordate base, upper surface with 4-pronged hairs joined at the tips (resembling an egg beater), lower surface hairy.

Spores: In a nutlike sporocarp, trailing beneath.

Ecological threat:Spreads rapidly and prolifically into a monoculture which can shade out underwater natives, leaving large bare bottom areas.

Distribution: C, SW

Field Notations


Field Notations


Sansevieria hyacinthoides bowstring hemp Sansevieria hyacinthoides bowstring hemp

SANSHYAC/SAHY2

Appearance: Erect, herbaceous perennial, from thick rhizomes, to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall.

Leaves: Basal, tufted, flat, erect, waxy, thick, 0.4-1 m (1–3 ft) long, mottled with light- and dark-green cross bands, margins yellowish to orange-red.

Flowers: Greenish-white; about 4 mm (0.02 in) long; in a cylindrical spike-like raceme.

Fruit: A roundish, fleshy berry, to 8 mm (0.3 in) in diameter; red.



Field Notations

Sapium sebiferum Chinese tallow Sapium sebiferum Chinese tallow

Appearance: Deciduous tree to 16 m (52 ft), commonly to 10 m (33 ft). Sap milky.

Leaves: Simple, alternate; blades entire, broadly ovate, 3-6 cm (1–2.5 in) wide, with broadly rounded bases and abruptly acuminate tips tapering to a slender point. Petiolesslender, 2–5 cm (1–2 in) long.

Flowers: Small, yellow, borne on spikes to 20 cm (8 in)long with 2–3 sepals (petals absent), 2–3 stamens or 3 styles (plants monoecious).

Fruit: A 3-lobed capsule, 1 cm (0.5 in) wide, turning brown and splitting open at maturity to reveal 3 dull white seeds, which remain attached for a time.

Ecological threat:Tends to take over large areas,thrives in areas where the soil stays wet but also in upland, well-drained areas and inundisturbed areas such as closed canopy forests, in bot-tomland hardwood forests, shores of waterbodies, and sometimes on floating islands. FLEPPC Category I

SAPISEBI/SASE5


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Field Notations


Scaevola sericea half-flower Scaevola sericea half-flower

Appearance: Large, bushy shrub to 5 m (16 ft) tall, often forming dense hemispherical mounds.

Leaves: Simple, closely alternate, crowded at stem tips; blades thick, shiny green, wider near tips, to 21 cm (8.3 in) long, glabrous to hairy on both sides, margins revolute, light green becoming yellow with age; leaf axils with tufts of pale hairs.

Flowers: White to pale lilac, several in short clusters at leaf axils; 5 petals, partially fused, split to base on upper side so that petal lobes spread fanlike into a lower lip.

Fruit: A fleshy, subspherical drupe, green then white, 8-12 mm (0.3-0.5 in) long, with sepal lobes persistent at tip.

Ecological threat:Appears to be supplanting native coastal vegetation and has begun to displace rare native beach plants, such as the inkberry, and the Florida endangered sea lavender. FLEPPC Category I

SCAESERI/SCSE6


Field Notations


Field Notations


Schefflera actinophylla schefflera Schefflera actinophylla schefflera

Appearance: Evergreen tree to12 m (40 ft) tall, with single or multistemmed trunks and greenish bark.

Leaves: Alternate with petioles to 61 cm (2 ft) long; palmately compound with mostly 7-16 leaflets, these shiny, light green, oblanceolate, to 30 cm (12 in) long, with margins entire (or sparsely toothed when young).

Flowers: 25 mm (1 in) across, borne in dense clusters that form a large, red, showy inflorescence at stem tipsabove foliage.

Fruit: A purplish black, round, fleshy drupe to 7 mm (1/4 in) in diameter.

Ecological threat:Invading endangered remnants of scrub habitat, where it is shading out listed rare plants such as the Florida-threatened scrub pinweed. Extremely inva-sive in undisturbed tropicalhardwood hammocks of Dade County. FLEPPC Category I

SCHEACTI/SCAC2


Field Notations

Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper

P Appearance: Evergreen shrub or tree to 13 m (43 ft) tall, often with multi-stemmed trunks and branches arching and crossing, forming tangled masses.

Leaves: Alternate, odd-pinnately compound with 3–11 (usually 7–9) leaflets, these elliptic-oblong, 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) long, with upper surfaces dark green, lower sur-faces paler, and leaflet margins often somewhat toothed. Leaves aromatic when crushed, smelling peppery or like turpentine.

Flowers: Unisexual (dioecious), small, in short-branched clusters at leaf axils of current-season stems; 5 petals, white to 2 mm (0.07 in) long.

Fruit: A small, bright-red spherical drupe.

Ecological threat:Forms dense thickets of tangled woody stems that completely shade out and displace native vegetation. Has displaced some populations of rare listed species. Produces certain agents, which appear to suppress other plants’ growth. FLEPPC Category I

SCHITERE/SCTE


Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper

Field Notations


Field Notations


Field Notations


Senna pendula Christmas senna Senna pendula Christmas senna

Ecological threat:Described as fast and rank in its growth. Displaces native vegetation in disturbed and undisturbed areas of Florida’s tropical hammocks, coastal strands, and canal banks. FLEPPC Category I

Appearance: Sprawling evergreen shrub to 4 m (13 ft) tall (or wide), with somewhat zigzag, sparsely hairy stems.

Leaves: Alternate, stalked, even-pinnately compound, with 3–6 pairs of leaflets, larger ones at leaf tip; leaflets to 4 cm (1.6 in) long, oblong with rounded tips. Petioles with gland above, between lowermost leaflets (and occasionally between others).

Flowers: Yellow or yellow-green, 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) across, in 3– to 12–flowered racemes near stem tips; stamens with prominent, curved filaments.

Fruit: A brown slender pod, cylindric, glabrous, 7–12 cm (3–5 in) long.

SENNPEND/SEPE4


Field Notations


Field Notations


Sesbania punicea Spanish gold Sesbania punicea Spanish gold

SESBPUNI/SEPU7

Appearance: Erect, deciduous, perennial shrub, 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft) tall.

Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, once divided; leaflets in 10–17 pairs, leaflets 1–3 cm long, to 1 cm (0.4 in) wide, margins entire. Overall leaf length is 16–85 cm (6–33 in).

Flowers: Irregular, borne from leaf axils in racemes of 5–30 flowers; raceme to about 12 cm (4.7 in) long; petals 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1 in) long, red to orange red.

Fruit: Oblong, four-winged, dark brown pod, 2–8 cm (0.8–3 in) long, 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) wide; wings wavy or notched.



Field Notations


Field Notations


Solanum tampicense wetland night shade Solanum tampicense wetland night shade

Appearance: Straggly and sprawling prickly shrub, woody below; herbaceous above, with prickly green stems to 5 m (16 ft) long and 1.5 cm (0.5 in) in diameter.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, with petioles to 3 cm (1.5 in) long; blades longer than wide, to 25 cm (10 in) long and 7 cm (3 in) wide, with deeply round-indented (sinuate) margins, recurved or straight prickles on veins, and stellate hairs.

Flowers: Small, 3-11 in stalked, branched clusters at leaf axils; petals white, mostly free (fused only at base), spread-ing or often recurved; stamens with yellow anthers held closely and erect in center of flower.

Fruit: A small, spherical, tomato-like berry to 1 cm (0.4 in) wide, shiny solid green turning orange then bright red at maturity, with 10-60 yellowish, flat-round seeds.

SOLATAMP/SOTA3


Ecological threat:Capable of forming large, tangled, monocultural stands. Can dominate the understory of cypress heads, growing over and covering even large plants such as fire flag and pickerelweed. FLEPPC Category I

Field Notations


Field Notations


Solanum viarum tropical soda apple Solanum viarum tropical soda apple

Appearance: Bushy, prickly herbaceous perennial, to 2 m (6 ft) tall, more commonly 1 m (3 ft) tall; stems armed with broad-based, straight or downward-pointing prickles.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, clearly petioled (these also prickly); blades oval-triangular, nearly as broad as long, to 20 cm (8 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) wide, angular-lobed; surfaces dense with fine soft hairs giving blades a velvety sheen (hairs a mix of types as on stems); veins prickly.

Flowers: White, in small terminal clusters; 5 petals white, recurved; stamens with prominent cream-colored anthers.

Fruit: A globose berry, 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) wide, green with dark veining, like a tiny watermelon, when immature, dull medium yellow when ripe; seeds about 400 per berry.

Ecological threat:Outcompetes native plants, crowding or shading them out. Becoming a major concern of agriculture and a serious threat to Florida natural areas. FLEPPC Category I

SOLAVIAR/SOVI2


Field Notations


Field Notations


Syngonium podophyllum nephthytis nephthytisSyngonium podophyllum

SYNGPODO/SYPO

Appearance: High climbing, epiphytic vine, stems 1-1.5 cm (0.5 in) thick, sap milky.

Leaves: Alternate; petioles 10 to 60 cm (4–23 in) long; young leaves heart-shaped, to oblong, to ovate, to triangu-lar, to hastate; mature leaves very deeply lobed (appearing divided), 5- to 11-lobed.

Flowers: In a fleshy spathe, often several spathes clus-tered together; flowers on a round column contained in the spathe; male and female flowers separate; male flowers on upper column and female flowers below; both green.

Fruit: Fruiting spathe turns bright red; fruit a berry.


*Can cause mild to severe poisoning if ingested.


Field Notations


Field Notations


Syzygium cumini java plum Syzygium cumini java plum

Appearance: Evergreen tree to 25 m (80 ft) tall, with young stems grayish white and lower bark coarse and discolored.

Leaves: Opposite, simple, entire, elliptic to broadly oblong, smooth, glossy, somewhat leathery, 5-10 cm (2-5 in) long, short pointed at tips; petioles to 3 cm (1.2 in) long. Leaf midrib prominent, yellowish; blades with many lateral veins closely parallel.

Flowers: White to pinkish, about 1 cm (0.5 in) across, in branched clusters at stem tips; calyx cuplike; 4 petals, fused into a cap; many stamens.

Fruit: An ovoid, 1-seeded berry to 2 cm (0.8 in) long, dark purplish red, shiny, with white to lavender flesh.

Ecological threat:Forms dense canopies that shade out young native trees in wet pinelands, hammocks, andwell drained uplands. FLEPPC Category I

SYZYCUMI/SYCU


Field Notations


Field Notations


Thespesia populnea seaside mahoe Thespesia populnea seaside mahoe

Appearance: Evergreen shrubby tree, commonly to 13 m (40 ft) tall, with young branches minutely brown-scaly.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, with petioles 5-10 cm (2-4 in) long; blades entire, heart shaped (poplar-like), shiny dark green above, 5-20 cm (2 - 8 in) long, with usually 5 main veins from base.

Flowers: Showy, hibiscus-like, single at upper leaf axils, to 8 cm (3 in) across; corolla yellow with a red center, turning maroon by nightfall; stamens united into a column shorter than petals.

Fruit: A leathery, flattened globose, 5-parted capsule, 4 cm (1.5 in) wide, yellow turning black, persisting unopened for a time and bearing several brown hairy seeds.

Ecological threat:Spreading lower branches making “almost impenetrable thickets” and large fruit crops continuously increasing its dense growth. FLEPPC Category I

THESPOPU/THPO3


Field Notations


Field Notations


Tradescantia fluminensis small-leaf spiderwort

Appearance: Creeping, trailing, sub-succulent perennial herb, much branched, with branch tips erect; often forming dense ground cover; prostrate stems rooting freely at nodes.

Leaves: Parallel-veined, alternate, simple, all glossy green or tinged with purple below; leaf blades arising from short, closed sheaths (tops often ciliate); blades to 5 cm (2 in) long and 2 cm (0.75 in) wide, oblong to ovate, with tips pointed; glabrous or with ciliate margins.

Flowers: White, in small clusters at stem tips, subtended by 1-3 leaf-like bracts similar in size and form to stem leaves; 3 sepals and petals, separate; sepals usually with a line of hairs; 6 stamens, white bearded; ovary 3-celled, 6-seeded.

Fruit: Small, 3-parted capsules; seeds black, pitted.

Ecological threat:Forms dense monocultural ground cover, smothering native ground cover and seedlings of overstory species.FLEPPC Category I

TRADFLUM/TRFL


Tradescantia fluminensis small-leaf spiderwort

Field Notations


Field Notations


Tradescantia spathacea oyster plant Tradescantia spathacea oyster plant

Appearance: Perennial herb with short, stout stem nearly hidden by overlapping leaf bases. Forms clumps by offshoots from fleshy rootstock.

Leaves: Spreading-erect, closely overlapping in spiral pattern. Blades broadly linear, sharp-tipped, waxy, stiff, somewhat fleshy, 15-30 cm (6-12 in) long and 2.5-8 cm (1-3 in) wide; upper surfaces dark green or green with pale yellow stripes; lower surfaces usually purple.

Flowers: Small, white, clustered within a folded, boat-shaped bract (spathe) 3-4 cm long, short-stalked from leaf axils. Three petals, 6 stamens with hairy stalks.

Fruit: A 2-seeded capsule, in clusters within the bract.

Ecological threat:Forms dense ground cover and clumps quickly. Has escaped into coastal tropical hammocks, where the dense cover pre-vents seedling growth of native canopy tree species. FLEPPC Category I

TRADSPAT/TRSP8


Field Notations


Field Notations


Urena lobata Caesar’s weed Urena lobata Caesar’s weed

Appearance: Herbaceous or shrubby perennial, 1-3 m (3.3–10 ft) tall; entire plant covered with star-shaped hairs.

Leaves: Alternate, petioles to 3 cm (1 in) long, blades broadly ovate to suborbicular-quadrate, to 10 cm (4 in) long, apex usually shallowly lobed or angled, margin toothed, densely stellate-hairy on the lower surface, less hairy on the upper surface.

Flowers: Solitary or in fascicles from axils; petals pink, to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long.

Fruit: A 5-lobed capsule, 5-6 mm (0.2–0.25 in) long, stellate-hairy, covered with numerous, stiff barbed spines.


URENLOBA/URLO


Field Notations


Field Notations


Urochloa mutica pará grass Urochloa mutica pará grass

Appearance: Perennial grass from widely creeping stolons. Stems reclining at base, rooting at the lower nodes, to 1 m (3 ft) tall when erect, to 3 m (15 ft) long when creeping; nodes swollen, densely hairy.

Leaves: Sheaths with dense stiff hairs below, slightly hairy above; ligule a densely ciliate membrane; leaf blades flat, 10-15 mm (0.4-0.6 in) wide and 25-30 cm (10-12 in) long, glabrous but often with small fine hairs at base above and below.

Flowers: In a panicle with 8-30, spikelike branches; spikelets short-stalked, 2.7-3.0 mm (0.1–.12 in) long, mostly paired, in 2-4 rows, appressed to the branches, purplish to green.

Fruit: 1.8-2 mm (0.07–0.08 in) long, ellipsoid.

Ecological threat:Considered one of the world’s worst weeds; competes aggressively with other plants, with fast growth, high productivity, and allelopathic abilities that allow it to form dense monocultural stands. FLEPPC Category I

UROCMUTI/URMU


Field Notations


Field Notations


Wedelia trilobata wedelia, creeping ox-eye Wedelia trilobata wedelia, creeping ox-eye

Appearance: Creeping herb from shallow rhizomes; stems usually hairy; up to 30 cm (12 in) tall.

Leaves: Opposite, somewhat succulent with three main veins; sessile; irregularly toothed blades, often with a pair of lateral lobes.

Flowers: In solitary heads at or near stem tips; radially symmetrical (disk) flowers orange to yellow; bilaterally symmetrical (ray) flowers orange to yellow, 8-13 florets per head.

Fruit: Achene (hard, dry, 1-seeded fruit that does not open); 4-5 cm (1.6–2 in) long, corky, bumpy, narrowed at top into a short cup-like crown.


WEDETRIL/WETR


*Recently renamed: Sphagneticola trilobata (SPTR6)

Field Notations


Field Notations


Wisteria sinensis Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis Chinese wisteria

WISTSINE/WISI

Appearance: Aggressive, woody, twining, high climbing vine, often growing to the tops of trees; to about 20 m long; frequently sprouting from extensive root system; sometimes trained as a shrub.

Leaves: Alternate, odd-pinnately compound, 7–30 cm (3–12 in) in overall length; leaflets 7-13, broadly lanceolate to elliptic, entire, 4-10 cm (1.6–4 in) long, 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) wide.

Flowers: Bluish-violet, or white or puplish-violet in cultivated forms; borne in long, pendent terminal racemes, to 10-40 cm long; flower 2–2.7 cm (0.8–1 in) long.

Fruit: A densely hairy, woody, knobby, linear pod to about 15 cm (6 in) long.



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Recognition caRds invasive and non-native Plants You