WeedWeed Alerts!Alerts! 20092009

Joe DiTomaso UC Davis AquaticsAquatics Smooth frogbit or South American spongeplant Limnobium laevigatum Smooth frogbit or West Indian spongeplant (Limnobium laevigatum)

• Hydrocharitaceae • Native to tropical and subtropical Central and New location • Reported by Pat Akers and Mary McClanahan • First infestation in Redding (2002). August 2007, scattered patches along 10-15 miles of the San Joaquin River in Fresno. Later in 2007 it appeared in the Sacramento Delta. February 2008, another infestation near the Kings River southeast of Fresno. Redding infestation Wakame or Japanese kelp Undaria pinnatifida Wakame or Japanese kelp (Undaria pinnatifida) • Native to Southeast Asia and Japan • Reported by Ted Grosholz and Chela Zabin. Also was a 2002 Weed Alert. • Used for food in Japan • Was in southern Calif and Monterey for years with no change in distribution, now moving northward quickly and has been found in several locations in the SF Bay. • Ted indicated this is the most significant marine algal invasion since Caulerpa. PerennialPerennial grassesgrasses Reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)

• Poaceae • Native to Europe • Reported by Athena Demetry • Not yet included in Cal-IPC inventory • Considered native to California, but undoubtedly the European biotypes are present and hybridizing with the natives. • Managed extensively in other NW and northern states. • Spreading in Sierra Nevada. “Continental-scale genetic variation occurring in reed canarygrass’ European range has been reshuffled and recombined within North American introduced populations, giving rise to a number of novel genotypes.”

“Reed canarygrass had higher genetic diversity and heritable phenotypic variation in its invasive range relative to its native range. The resulting high evolutionary potential of invasive populations allowed for rapid selection of genotypes with higher vegetative colonization ability and phenotypic plasticity.” Lavergne, S. and J. Molofsky. 2007. PNAS 104:3883-3888. Hairy oatgrass Danthonia pilosa Hairy wallabygrass, hairy oatgrass (Danthonia pilosa, =Rytidosperma pilosum)

• Poaceae • Reported by Tim Hyland and Peter Warner • Native to Australia • Mainly in northern California, becoming dominant in coastal terrace prairie and upland grasslands of coastal counties. • Competing with native Danthonia californica. BroadleafBroadleaf speciesspecies Glasswort Salsola soda Glasswort (Salsola soda) • Chenopodiaceae • Reported by Sarah Estrella • Native to southern Europe • Populations hand pulled in Suisun Marsh for years. This summer it expanded dramatically, covering over 2 acres. • Displacing native Salicornia (pickleweed) Watsonia Watsonia meriana Watsonia (Watsonia meriana, =Watsonia bulbillifera) • Iridaceae • Reported by Peter Warner • Native to South Africa • Continues to spread north and south, with patches coalescing and spreading into marshes, woodlands, grasslands adjacent to roads. • Primarily in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, and probably further north. Rosy sandcrocus Romulea rosea var. australis Rosy sandcrocus (Romulea rosea var. australis) • Iridaceae • Reported by Peter Warner • Native to South Africa • Appeared for years to be restricted to disturbed areas and roads in Central Coast. Now large populations in coastal and interior grasslands have been found in Sonoma County. Other species reported from many others

Species Common Family Location Reported b y name Acer palmatum Japanese maple Aceraceae Carmel Cheryl McCormick‐ Rote

Rhus lancea African sumac Anacardiaceae San Diego Larry Hendrickson

Dittrichia graveolens Stinkwort Asteraceae Bay Area Andrea Williams, Tracy Cline, Bob Neale, and Tim Hyland (2004 WA) Senecio quadridentatus Cotton fireweed Asteraceae Santa Wayne Chapman (=Erechtites Barbara quadridentatus) Erigeron karvinskianus Latin American Asteraceae Bay Area Andrea Willliams fleabane Symphyotrichum Saltmarsh aster Asteraceae Suisun David Keil subulatum City Calendula arvensis Field marigold Asteraceae Bay Area Tim Hyland Carthamus lanatus Woolly distaff Asteraceae SLO coast Tim Hyland (2004 WA) thistle Crupina vulgaris Common crupina Asteraceae Sonoma Peter Warner Other species reported from many others

Species Common Family Location Reported b y name Gazania linearis Treasureflower Asteraceae SF, Ft. Ord Susan Hubbard, Jo Kitz (2008 WA) Picris echioides Bristly oxtongue Asteraceae Central John Anderson Valley Conium maculatum Poison hemlock Apiaceae Russian Wikle River Cynoglossum officinale Houndstongue Boraginaceae Lassen Co. Alan Uchida (2002 WA)

Malcolmia africana African mustard Brassicaceae Nevada Ann Howald (2008 WA)

Lobularia maritima Sweet alyssum Brassicaceae Sonoma, Peter Warner Mendocino cos., SF Catalpa speciosa Northern catalpa Bignoniaceae San Joaquin Mary McClanahan River Maytenus boaria Mayten Celastraceae East Bay , Roy Leggitt (1997 WA) GGNRA Euphorbia oblonata Oblong spurge Euphorbiaceae Santa Cruz, Peter Warner, Tim Sonoma, Hyland (2001 WA) Napa cos. Euphorbia terracina Carnation spurge Euphorbiaceae LA Co. Tim Hyland Other species reported from many others

Species Common Family Location Reported b y name Lathyrus latifolia Everlasting Fabaceae North Coast Peter Warner peavine range Lathyrus tingitanus Tangier pea Fabaceae North Coast Peter Warner range Melilotus albus White Fabaceae Eastern Sierra Sue Weis sweetclover Nevada Crocosmia x Crocosmia, Iridaceae Marin Co. Robert Katz crocosmiflora montbretia Iris foetidissima Stinking iris Iridaceae East Bay Barbara Ertter Kniphofia uvaria Redhot poker Liliaceae Sonoma, Peter Warner Mendocino coast Ficus carica Fig Moraceae San Joaquin Mary McClanahan River Passiflora tarminiana Banana poka Passifloraceae SF Jennifer Erskine Ogden (2004 WA) Phytolacca americana Pokeweed Phytolaccaceae Napa Co. Chris Sauer

Muehlenbeckia complexa Maidenhair Mendocino Bill Maslach coast Other species reported from many others

Species Common Family Location Reported b y name Brachypodium Slender false Poaceae Santa Cruz? Steven Daniel (2003 sylvaticum brome WA) Ehrharta erecta Erect Poaceae Central coast Tim Hyland veldtgrass Nassella manicata (=N. Tropical Poaceae Sonoma coast Peter Warner formicarum) needlegrass Nassella tenuissima Mexican Poaceae Topanga St. Michael O’Brien and needlegrass Beach Sally Davis (2000, 2004, and 2005 WA) Puccinellia distans? Weeping Poaceae SF Ingrid Hogle alkaligrass Acaena novae‐zelandiae Biddy‐biddy Rosaceae Sonoma Coast Tim Hyland Rubus hybrid Blackberry Rosaceae Putah Ck, Yolo Rich Maravich Co.

Kickxia elatine Fluvellin Scrophulariaceae Central Valley John Anderson

Centranthus ruber Red valerian Valerianaceae Bay Area Andrea Williams