Invasive alien plants in the EPPO region
The EPPO Panel on Invasive Alien Species, on the basis of questionnaires returned by member countries and data compiled by the Secretariat, has now made a preliminary evaluation of invasive plants potentially important for the EPPO region. It has distinguished between plants which are already present in many countries, where national measures are needed to suppress and contain them, and those which are only present in very few countries, so that limiting spread to other countries by internationally agreed measures is the major issue. A first categorization of terrestrial invasive plants is as follows:
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National measures
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International measures
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Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Bidens frondosa
Fallopia japonica and related species
Helianthus tuberosus
Heracleum mantegazzianum
Impatiens glandulifera
Impatiens parviflora
Lupinus polyphyllus
Prunus serotina
Rhododendron ponticum
Solidago canadensis
Solidago gigantea
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Ailanthus altissima
Amelanchier spicata
Cyperus esculentus
Heracleum sosnowskyi
Panicum capillare
Panicum dichotomiflorum
Senecio inaequidens
Solanum elaeagnifolium
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A first categorization of aquatic invasive plants indicated that those considered are practically all of restricted distribution in the EPPO region, so that international measures are relevant. The Panel also stressed the greater immediate risk from these aquatic species:
Azolla filiculoides
Crassula helmsii
Elodea nuttallii
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Lagarosiphon major
Lemna minuta and L. turionifera
Ludwigia peploides and L. uruguayensis
Myriophyllum aquaticum
Since the first lists included few species of special concern for Mediterranean countries, the Panel will concentrate its further analysis on that region. All the above species will be subjected to PRA, with a view to proposing specific EPPO-recommended measures. As a first step, Crassula helmsii and Hydrocotyle ranunculoides are added to the EPPO Alert List.
Sources
EPPO Panel on Invasive Alien Species, 2004-03.