RedRed AlertAlert InvasiveInvasive WeedsWeeds of Inland Mendocino County

California Noxious : A and Q rated

California Noxious Weeds are plants designated as pests by Originally introduced the California Department of Food and Agriculture. A-rated as an ornamental, weeds have a limited distribution and are targeted for purple loosestrife invades riparian areas eradication. Q-rated weeds are newly-listed pests that are Image of Purple Loosestrife treated as A-rated pending further study. Besides those (streambanks) and pictured here, A/Q-rated weeds of concern include spotted other wetlands. knapweed, Dyer's woad and oblong spurge. It displaces habitat For more information, see cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/ and forage for wildlife. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Rush Skeleton weed is found in roadsides, Red sesbania was croplands, rangelands introduced as an ornamental but has Image of Skeleton Weed and residential landscapes. escaped into riparian Image of Red Sesbania It reduces forage areas (streambanks) value and crop and ditches. yields. Its foliage, twigs and Rush Skeleton Weed (Chondrilla juncea) fruits are toxic to wildlife. Red sesbania ( Sesbania punicea)

Cal-IPC Red Alerts At our Borders

The California Invasive Plant Council conducts assessments of These weeds are some of the many weeds that may be brought non-native plant species to determine their potential for into Mendocino County in forage. Inspections at state and invasiveness and for environmental impact. The species shown county lines may catch some contaminated shipments, but not below are considered high risk for establishing in our area and all. If you see these weeds anywhere in Mendocino County, causing significant environmental and/or economic harm. please notify the Mendocino County Department of For more information, see cal-ipc.org Agriculture at 463-4208.

Patterson's curse is found in grasslands Woolly distaff thistle and roadsides. It is invades roadsides and grasslands.Its spiny Image of Pattersons Curse highly toxic to most grazing animals. Image of Distaff Thistle leaves, stem and Cost of this weed in flower have no forage Australia is estimated value and it displaces at $30 million desirable forage annually. consumed by wildlife Patterson's curse (Echium plantagineum) Woolly distaff thistle (Carthamus lanatus) and livestock.

Purple starthistle Little robin invades riparian grows on heavy, (streambank) and woodland fertile soils such as areas. It displaces native bottomlands. vegetation, degrading wildlife Image of little robin Similar to yellow Image of Purple Starthistle habitat. The similar species starthistle except in herb-robert (Geranium color, it displaces robertianum) is also of concern. desirable forage for wildlife and Little robin (Geranium purpureum) Purple starthistle (Centaurea calcitrapa) livestock.

Meadow knapweed Parrot's feather is an has invaded aquatic weed found grasslands in Oregon. in ponds, lakes and Image of parrotsfeather It is unpalatable to ditches. It degrades Image of meadow knapweed grazing animals. the habitat for aquatic It is similar in wildlife and clogs appearance to spotted water pumps. knapweed, another Red Alert weed. Parrot's feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) Meadow knapweed (Centaurea debeauxii ssp. thuillierii)

For more information, contact Mendocino Tara Athan County IMCWMA Coordinator Fire Safe (707)485-1198 Mendocino County Council [email protected] Farm Bureau or visit us on the web imcwma.org ©2007 IMCWMA Preparation and printing of this poster were partially funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Mendocino County Fire Safe Council.