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Water soldier Emerging Invasive Species: Credit: © Ruud de Block Report Your Findings! Threats to Pennsylvania If you find any of the 12 invasive species highlighted in this An invasive species is introduced brochure, please report your findings by doing the outside its native range and known to following: cause harm to the economy,  Take a photo that includes the plant’s identifying environment, or human health. characteristics (e.g., leaf structure, fruits, flowers, etc.) Unfortunately, many invasive species are exceptionally difficult and costly  Note the date of your finding. to control. Ideally, newly arrived

 Record your location with a GPS unit.

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species would be eliminated before Prevention: The Key to Success primrose

f f - an infestation spreads and Large  Consider collecting and depositing a specimen in a eradication is no longer feasible. When introduced into a new region, plant species can regional herbarium (i.e., an institution that stores To aid in early detection efforts, staff become invasive if there are no herbivores or collections of dried plants for scientific study). pathogens present to keep populations in balance. from the Pennsylvania Natural Once you’ve collected the above information, report your Heritage Program initiated a project Aggressive invasive species can rapidly cause findings to the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives database, in 2016, funded by the Wild degradation of habitats and the decline of native a free online program that accepts reports for invasive Resources Conservation Program, to species. Curbing the spread of an invasive species can plants, animals, and insects. Here’s how: determine invasive plants likely to be challenging, but by far, the most effective means of arrive in the Commonwealth over the controlling an invasive species is to prevent it from  Request a free PA iMapInvasives account: next 10 years. arriving in the first place. http://login.imapinvasives.org/paimi/request_login_account/

After combing through information Stopping an invasive species before it becomes  Create an observation record using your mobile phone about invasive species in North established can save millions of dollars in treatment or a desktop computer: America, many of which are not yet costs and allow land mangers more time to work on Phone: https://www.paimapinvasives.org/mobile-app known to occur in Pennsylvania, other stewardship-related priorities. 12 species were identified as Computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj2GnxLxKew emerging threats. These species Along with prevention, early detection and rapid  Questions? Contact the PA iMapInvasives were chosen based on invasive response are crucial components in the fight against administrator: https://www.paimapinvasives.org/contact Water primrose characteristics, proximity to or rarity invasive species. Early detection refers to the finding of Credit: Keith Bradley © in Pennsylvania, and the ability to a new invasive species not previously known to exist in colonize habitats in Pennsylvania. a particular region, state, or locality. Once found, the Asian spiderwort intent is to prevent its establishment by rapidly Credit: © Larry R. Lynch By using this new information about potential plant responding with appropriate management techniques to invaders, land managers, invasive species coordinators, ensure effective control and potential eradication. and citizen scientists can refine their invasive species survey priorities. These individuals can then be on the As a concerned citizen, you can help prevent the lookout for these emerging species so that action can be spread of invasive species too. Here’s how: taken if any are discovered in Pennsylvania. With the help  Learn how to identify invasive species and pull or of many, we can preserve the future of Pennsylvania’s safely treat those that you find. native ecosystems for the benefit and enjoyment of all.  Never purchase an invasive species for use in your To view a more complete list of emerging invasive species lawn, garden, or aquarium. and a full report on this project, visit the “Be on the Lookout!” page of the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives website  Consider planting native species or those with long at https://www.paimapinvasives.org/be-on-the-lookout. histories of use without invasive tendencies.

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Produced by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program Program Heritage Natural Pennsylvania the by Produced

http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/

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 PlayCleanGo.org > Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks: Tracks: Your In Species Invasive Stop > PlayCleanGo.org

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species - https://seagrant.psu.edu/topics/invasive

 Pennsylvania Sea Grant > Invasive Species: Species: Invasive > Grant Sea Pennsylvania

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Emerging Invasive Species Invasive Emerging

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an Be Hardy Kiwi Vine (Actinidia arguta) Asiatic Sand Sedge (Carex kobomugi) Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)

Native Range: NE Asia. Native Range : Coastal areas of NE Asia. Native Range: Eastern Mediterranean Habitat: Terrestrial. Found in forests, Habitat: Terrestrial. Inhabits sand dunes region. shrublands, meadows, and cultivated in and other sandy sites along coastal areas. Habitat: Terrestrial. Prefers to inhabit open landscaped settings. History: First recorded on the west coast areas such as plains, rangelands, and History: Introduced from cuttings in 1886 near Portland, Oregon in 1907, Asiatic sand forested benchlands with light, dry, and as a horticultural plant; cultivars were sedge was later found in New Jersey in porous soils. selected for fruit characteristics and have 1929. This species was widely planted to History: First discovered in North America recently become popular. stabilize sand dunes on the eastern seaboard until the 1980s. in 1907 in an alfalfa field in Washington state. Presumably Ecological Impact: Forms dense mats of intertwining vines Ecological Impact: Asiatic sand sedge invades the habitats distributed in contaminated seed. that can severely overwhelm other vegetation, including trees. of native species including at least one federally listed plant, Ecological Impact: Once established, this aggressive forb In winter, tree trunks and branches supporting hardy kiwi vines seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus). It outcompetes can create monotypic stands which deplete soil and water will break under excess weight caused by snow and ice. This native plants by forming low dense mats and makes dunes resources, displace native species, and reduce biodiversity. species can tolerate cold temperatures (-25°F or lower) and is more vulnerable to wind blowouts and storm erosion. Rare It produces an allelopathic chemical that inhibits root growth able to grow 20 feet or more per year. animal species, such as the piping plover (Charadrius of desirable species. A single knapweed plant can produce up Look-Alikes: Other species of melodus), are also negatively impacted. Salt-tolerant seeds to 18,000 seeds, some of which can remain dormant in the Actinidia, including the most may be able to spread long soil for several years. familiar, the fuzzy kiwifruit distances by ocean currents. Look-Alikes: Spotted knapweed (Actinidia deliciosa). Look-Alikes: Other sedges (Centaurea stoebe) and other Nearby Locations: Reported in including certain Carex species species of Centaurea. and Cyperus species. Ontario, Maine, Massachusetts, Nearby Locations: Found in New York, New Jersey, Nearby Locations: Occurs in states directly north, east, and Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In maritime areas from west of Pennsylvania, as well as Pennsylvania, it has only been Massachusetts to North Carolina. several Canadian provinces. reported in Philadelphia County.

Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre) Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii) Reed Mannagrass (Glyceria maxima)

Native Range: Europe and Siberia. Native Range: Australia and New Zealand. Native Range: Europe and temperate Asia. Habitat: Wetland. Prefers areas of moist, Habitat: Aquatic. Can grow in still and Habitat: Wetland. Grows in wet areas acidic ground including marshes, bogs, flowing water; also mud. including riverbanks, swamps, ponds, and fens, wet fields, stream sides, and forest History: First discovered in 1956 in a pond wet pastures. edges. in Great Britain, and is known to be History: In 1975, reed mannagrass was first History: The spread of marsh thistle is problematic in other European countries. discovered in the U.S. in Racine County, linked to the spread of human agriculture Not currently known from North America. Wisconsin. from the mid-Holocene era or before. Ecological Impact: This succulent plant smothers native Ecological Impact: Outside its native range, this tall grass Ecological Impact: Forms dense thickets that can crowd out vegetation by forming dense “carpets”. Because it does not go crowds out native species, often forming monospecific stands. native species. Considered a prolific seed producer, this thistle dormant, it has a competitive advantage over native species. Its ability to degrade wetland habitats causes these areas to can yield up to 2,000 wind-borne seeds per plant. Resulting Dense infestations block drainage channels and cause be unsuitable for nesting and provides little nutrition for impacts to native habitats include a decline in biodiversity and flooding. C. helmsii depletes water oxygen levels which result wildlife. Localized flooding is caused from the plant’s ability to compromised ecological integrity. In areas where rare species in population declines of fish, frogs, and invertebrates. Spread trap sediment and clog small waterways. If used as forage, exist, marsh thistle poses a significant threat. to new locations is facilitated by its ability to form new plants young shoots are known to cause cyanide poisoning in cattle. vegetatively from small fragments. Look-Alikes: Canada thistle Look-Alikes: American (Cirsium arvense), bull thistle Look-Alikes: Water pygmyweed mannagrass (Glyceria grandis), (Cirsium vulgare), plumeless thistle (Crassula aquatica); also species rattlesnake mannagrass (Glyceria (Carduus acanthoides), and of Callitriche and Elatine. canadensis), and reed canary swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum). Nearby Locations: C. helmsii has grass (Phalaris arundinacea). Nearby Locations: Found in the not been documented as Nearby Locations: Reed higher latitudes of North America, naturalized in North America. mannagrass has been found in including Pennsylvania, where it Regulation in a number of states Ontario, Quebec, Massachusetts, has been reported in Clinton has led to the misconception that Connecticut, Wisconsin, and County. the species occurs in those states. Illinois.

Policeman’s Helmet (Impatiens glandulifera) Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) Water Primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. hexapetala)

Native Range: Himalayas. Native Range: SE Asia. Native Range: South and Central America and parts of the United States. Habitat: Wetland. Prefers riparian areas Habitat: Terrestrial. Found on the edges of including river edges, moist forests, and swamps and marshes, in river and stream Habitat: Aquatic. Prefers riparian and wet meadows. floodplains, pinelands, lake shores, and lacustrine habitats. woodlands. History: Introduced to North America in the History: In North America, water primrose early 1800s as an ornamental. Has since History: First introduced into North America was first introduced outside its native range escaped cultivation into natural areas. in 1852 as an ornamental. Then began to into Tennessee and Kentucky with the naturalize and spread. Widely established by the 1950’s. collection of specimens occurring in 1968 and 1988 Ecological Impact: This plant outcompetes native species by respectively. creating dense thickets which prevent desirable species from Ecological Impact: This deciduous shrub invades the establishing. It draws away pollinators from nearby native habitats of native species by forming a dense cover, Ecological Impact: Water primrose is a rooted aquatic plants because of prolific nectar production. Its presence in displacing plants in the undergrowth. At least one globally rare species that invades natural areas via stolons (i.e., “runners”) riparian areas often leads to soil erosion. Overarching and federally endangered plant, Schweinitz’s sunflower that spread on land and water surfaces. It rapidly forms a negative impacts include a reduction in biodiversity and a (Helianthus schweinitzii), is under threat due to this species. floating mass that chokes out native flora and clogs decline in the ecological value of land. Chinese privet produces large quantities of fruit which are waterways. Recreational activities are impaired and eaten and dispersed by birds over biodiversity is severely threatened. Look-Alikes: Policeman’s helmet long distances. is not likely to be confused with Look-Alikes: Depending on its life other species in this region. Look-Alikes: Common privet stage, water primrose may be (Ligustrum vulgare). confused with many native floating Nearby Locations: Policeman’s and emergent Ludwigia species. helmet has been reported in Nearby Locations: Chinese privet several Canadian provinces, has been found mainly in the Nearby Locations: Water majority of the New England southern U.S., but also in primrose is found mostly in the states, and other states including New Jersey, New York, southern U.S., but also in New York, Michigan, Indiana, and Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania where it’s been Minnesota. Massachusetts. reported in Berks County.

Asian Spiderwort (Murdannia keisak) Java Dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides)

Native Range: Temperate and tropical Asia. Native Range: East Asia and Native Range: Europe. Habitat: Wetland. Prefers damp soil in Queensland, Australia. Habitat: Aquatic. Found in inlets of places such as pond margins, stream Habitat: Wetland. Grows in moist areas, sheltered bays and large lakes. Prefers banks, freshwater marshes, canals, ditches, along streams, and on the edges of ponds. backwaters, sluggish canals, ponds, and and swamp forests. It prefers slow-moving or stagnant water. ditches. History: First discovered in 1935 in History: Introduced into North America by History: Likely introduced as an ornamental. cultivated rice paddies of South Carolina. the horticultural industry and marketed as In 2008, it was first found outside its native Later it escaped cultivation to become an ornamental wetland plant, an exotic range in the Trent River in Ontario, Canada. established in natural habitats. vegetable, and a medicinal herb. It has escaped from Ecological Impact: This loosely rooted aquatic plant forms Ecological Impact: This herbaceous plant outcompetes cultivation into natural areas. dense mats which crowd out native species and decrease native species by forming dense vegetative mats. It spreads Ecological Impact: This aggressive ground cover can form biodiversity. The sharp serrated leaves are a danger to easily during floods and by wildlife. The plant alters hydrology dense colonies and quickly spread into wetlands. Broken swimmers and others who handle the plant. It can potentially and soils in wetlands, reducing or eliminating populations of fragments are able to form advantageous roots, thus alter water chemistry which may harm phytoplankton and other species that require running water, causing profound changes increasing its chances for spread. It can choke streams once aquatic organisms. to the ecosystem. established in a waterway. Locations impacted by this species Look-Alikes: Upon first glance, Look-Alikes: Climbing dayflower see a decline in ecological integrity water solider may resemble plants (Commelina diffusa) and and decreased recreational value. such as arrowheads, bur-reeds, whitemouth dayflower Look-Alikes: Bishop’s weed or (when submerged) eel-grass; (Commelina erecta). (Aegopodium podagraria), wild however, the sharp serrated leaves Nearby Locations: Asian chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris), and and rosette growing habit should spiderwort has been reported in caraway (Carum carvi). aid observers in distinguishing it many states south of Nearby Locations: Java dropwort from other plants. Pennsylvania as well as in has been found in Virginia, Indiana, Nearby Locations: In N.A., water New Jersey. Missouri, and Georgia. soldier is only found in Ontario.