Invasive plants of Asian origin established in the USA
The two volumes of “Invasive plants of Asian origin established in the United States and their natural enemies” prepared by USDA provide useful information on plants of Asian origin which have been introduced into the USA and are now established. For each species, the family, habitats within the native range, broad climatic range, plant uses and natural enemies are indicated. For the EPPO region, these publications also provide useful information on plant species which are already invasive in the Euro-Mediterranean region or which may present a threat in the future. Of particular interest for climatic prediction are the distribution maps of these species in China (area of origin) and in the USA (invaded area). As the use of the species is indicated (e.g. ornamental, forage, wood, medicinal), this also suggests possible pathways of introduction into/within the EPPO region.
The EPPO Secretariat has summarized this information in the following tables:
- Species which are also indigenous within the EPPO region,
- Species which are already included in the EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants and the EPPO Alert List
- Species which may present a risk if introduced as ornamentals from China,
- Species which may present a risk if introduced for other purposes (e.g. wood, forage) from China.
Each species has been checked against the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW) in order to indicate its invasive behaviour elsewhere in the world, as well as in Flora Europaea, Invasive Plant Species of the World and EPPO databases to determine its occurrence and invasiveness within the EPPO region. This later information remains only indicative, and “/” indicates that no further information could be found.
Species of Asian origin which are also indigenous in the EPPO region:
|
Species
|
Family
|
Habitat in China
|
Climatic area
|
Uses, introduction
|
GCW
|
EPPO region
|
|
Agrostis tenuis (= A. capillaris)
|
Poaceae
|
Wetlands
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental, erosion control, fodder
|
W, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Artemisia vulgaris
|
Asteraceae
|
Pastures, forest edges, wastelands, roadsides
|
Temperate, subtropical
|
Medicinal, forage
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Carduus nutans
|
Asteraceae
|
Valleys, croplands, grasslands
|
Tropical to temperate
|
;
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Cirsium arvense
|
Asteraceae
|
Ditches, lakesides, cropfields, wastelands
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Weed
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Convolvulus arvensis
|
Convolvulaceae
|
Disturbed areas, roadsides, grassy slopes
|
Temperate, subtropical
|
Weed
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Elytrigia repens
|
Poaceae
|
Plains, oases, hillsides, roadsides, field margins
|
Cold temperate
|
Forage
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Euphorbia esula
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Roadsides, hillsides, dunes, grasslands, wastelands
|
Temperate, tropical
|
;
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous in parts of the EPPO region
|
|
Gypsophila paniculata
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
Grasslands, rocky slopes, fixed dunes, floodplains, cropfields
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous in AT BG CZ HU SE PL RO RU, naturalized in GR
|
|
Lepidium latifolium
|
Brassicaceae
|
Field margins and salt marshes, roadsides, slopes
|
Temperate
|
Medicinal, food
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Lotus corniculatus
|
Fabaceae
|
Grasslands, cropfields, riverbanks
|
Medit.
|
Forage
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Lythrum salicaria
|
Lythraceae
|
Along riverbanks, lakes, ditches, moist grasslands
|
Temperate, subtropical
|
Ornamental
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Phalaris arundinacea
|
Poaceae
|
Forests and moist grasslands
|
Temperate
|
Forage, papermaking, erosion control, ornamental
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Phleum pratense
|
Poaceae
|
Broadleaf forests, forest margins, valley grasslands and prairies
|
Cold temperate
|
Forage, erosion control
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Phragmites australis
|
Poaceae
|
Edge of rivers, lakes, swamps, moist areas and wetlands
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Forage, papermaking, erosion control
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Populus alba
|
Salicaceae
|
Along rivers
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Wood, ornamental
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous, except in N-Eur.
|
|
Potamogeton crispus
|
Potamogetona-ceae
|
Lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, paddy fields, freshwater marshes
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Aquatic weed
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Rhamnus catharticus
|
Rhamnaceae
|
Valleys, hillside thickets
|
Temperate
|
Medicinal
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Rhamnus frangula (= Frangula alnus)
|
Rhamnaceae
|
Forest margins, riverbanks
|
Temperate
|
Medicinal
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Rumex acetosella
|
Polygonaceae
|
Forest margins, gravels, roadsides
|
Temperate
|
Forage
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Rumex crispus
|
Polygonaceae
|
Riversides, wetlands, roadsides
|
Temperate
|
Weed
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Stellaria media
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
Moist croplands, roadsides, grasslands near streams
|
Temperate
|
Weed
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Tamarix chinensis
|
Tamaricaceae
|
Alluvial plains, seashores, floodplains, moist and saline areas
|
Arid, semi-arid
|
Erosion control, ornamental
|
W, NW, EW
|
Indigenous in E-Eur.
|
|
Tribulus terrestris
|
Zygophyllaceae
|
Sandy areas, wastelands, hillside slopes
|
Tropical, subtropical
|
Weed of pastures, cotton, crops
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Verbascum thapsus
|
Scrophu-lariaceae
|
Grassy slopes, grasslands near river banks
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Indigenous
|
|
Viburnum opulus
|
Caprifoliaceae
|
Valley forest
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, EW
|
Indigenous
|
* Abbreviations for the Global Compendium of Weeds column:
W: weed; SW: sleeper weed; NW: noxious weed; AW: Agricultural Weed; EW: Environmental Weed.
Species of Asian origin which are already included in the EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants or in the EPPO Alert List:
|
Species
|
Family
|
Habitat in China
|
Climatic area
|
Uses, introduction
|
GCW
|
EPPO region
|
|
Ailanthus altissima (EPPO List of IAP)
|
Simaroubaceae
|
Disturbed areas
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Reforestation, ornamental, timber
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in almost the whole EPPO region
|
|
Buddleia davidii (EPPO List of IAP)
|
Buddleiaceae
|
Thickets, hillsides
|
Tropical to temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in AT, CH, DE, FR, PO, GB
|
|
Humulus scandens (EPPO Alert List)
|
Cannabaceae
|
Wastelands, forest margins, thickets along streams
|
;
|
;
|
W, AW
|
EPPO Alert List, invasive in FR, HU, IT
|
|
Pueraria montana var. lobata (EPPO A2 List)
|
Fabaceae
|
Dense or sparse forests, roadsides
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Erosion control, ornamental
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in CH, IT
|
|
Polygonum perfoliatum (EPPO Alert List)
|
Polygonaceae
|
Along rivers, roadsides, forest margins and stream banks
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Naturalized in TR
|
|
Reynoutria japonica (= Fallopia japonica) (EPPO List of IAP)
|
Polygonaceae
|
Roadsides, wetlands
|
Temperate
|
Medicinal
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in many countries
|
* Abbreviations for the Global Compendium of Weeds column:
W: weed; SW: sleeper weed; NW: noxious weed; AW: Agricultural Weed; EW: Environmental Weed.
Species originating from China which may present a risk if introduced as ornamentals:
|
Species
|
Family
|
Habitat in China
|
Climatic area
|
Uses, introduction
|
GCW
|
EPPO region
|
|
Acer ginnala
|
Aceraceae
|
Forests
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
NW, EW
|
Planted,/
|
|
Akebia quinata
|
Lardizabalaceae
|
Forest margins, streams
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, EW
|
Cultivated, naturalized in FR, possibly in C-Eur.
|
|
Albizia julibrissin
|
Fabaceae
|
Hillsides, valleys, plains
|
Tropical, subtropical
|
Ornamental, landscaping
|
W, EW
|
Planted, /
|
|
Ampelopsis heterophylla var. brevipedunculata
|
Vitaceae
|
Forests, valleys
|
Tropical
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Berberis thunbergii
|
Berbericaceae
|
/
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in C-Eur.
|
|
Bischofia javanica
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Humid valley forests
|
Temperate, tropical
|
Ornamental, wood
|
W, NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Broussonetia papyrifera
|
Moraceae
|
Roadsides, ditch banks, crop field margins, forests
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, EW
|
Invasive in IT
|
|
Caesalpinia decapetala
|
Fabaceae
|
Bushy hillsides, streams
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Planted, /
|
|
Celastrus orbiculatus
|
Celastraceae
|
Thickets on hillsides
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, NW, EW
|
Occurs in the GB
|
|
Cinnamomum camphora
|
Lauraceae
|
Valleys, mountain slopes
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, wood, oil
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Occurs in S-Eur.
|
|
Colubrina asiatica
|
Rhamnaceae
|
Forested areas
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, AW
|
/
|
|
Commelina communis
|
Commelinaceae
|
Forest edges, wet areas, crop fields, orchards, ditches, roadsides
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, weed, medicinal
|
W, AW, EW
|
Invasive in SE, LT
|
|
Cotoneaster microphyllus
|
Rosaceae
|
Rocky mountain slopes, thickets, river valleys
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, EW
|
/
|
|
Cotoneaster pannosus
|
Rosaceae
|
Mountainous scrub land, rocky areas, wastelands
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, EW
|
Naturalized in the GB, IR
|
|
Elaeagnus angustifolia
|
Elaeagnaceae
|
Mountainous areas, plains, sands and desert
|
Subtropical, temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in some countries
|
|
Elaeagnus pungens
|
Elaeagnaceae
|
Hilly slopes, roadsides
|
Subtropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, EW
|
/
|
|
Elaeagnus umbellata
|
Elaeagnaceae
|
Forest edges, thickets, hillside wastelands, streambanks
|
Subtropical, temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Euonymus alatus
|
Celastraceae
|
Deciduous broadleaf forests, ditches
|
Warm subtropical to temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Euonymus fortunei
|
Celastraceae
|
Hillsides, forests, forest margins, riverbanks
|
Warm subtropical to temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, EW
|
/
|
|
Ficus altissima
|
Moraceae
|
Mountains, plains
|
Tropical, subtropical
|
Ornamental
|
W, NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Ficus microcarpa
|
Moraceae
|
/
|
Tropical, subtropical
|
Ornamental
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Ligustrum sinense
|
Oleaceae
|
Mixed forest, scrublands, ravines, streams
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, SW, NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Lonicera fragrantissima
|
Caprifoliaceae
|
Scrublands
|
Temperate and subtropical
|
Ornamental
|
W, SW, EW
|
/
|
|
Lonicera japonica
|
Caprifoliaceae
|
Riparian areas
|
Temperate and subtropical
|
Ornamental
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in CH, ES, FR, IT, SL, etc.
|
|
Lygodium japonicum
|
Schizaeaceae
|
Roadsides, forests, forest margins, crop field margins
|
Tropical and subtropical
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Lygodium microphyllum
|
Schizaeaceae
|
Streambank, roadsides
|
Tropical and subtropical
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Melia azedarach
|
Meliaceae
|
Open fields, roadsides, sparse forests
|
Tropical and subtropical
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Naturalized in ES, FR, GR, IS, SE
|
|
Miscanthus sinensis
|
Gramineae
|
Mountainous areas, highlands, wastelands
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, wood
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Planted, present in S-Eur.
|
|
Morus alba
|
Moraceae
|
Forests
|
Temperate, temperate
|
Ornamental, food
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in many countries: ES, FR, SE
|
|
Paederia foetida
|
Rubiaceae
|
Forests
|
Tropical
|
Ornamental, weed
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Paulownia tomentosa
|
Scrophulariaceae
|
/
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, SW, NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Quercus acutissima
|
Fagaceae
|
Pure or mixed forests
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Ornamental, wood
|
W, EW
|
/
|
|
Rosa multiflora
|
Rosaceae
|
Thickets, forest margins, roadsides, streams
|
Subtropical to cold temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Naturalized in the GB
|
|
Rubus ellipticus var. obcordatus
|
Rosaceae
|
Roadsides, sparse forests
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental, medicinal
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Spiraea japonica
|
Rosaceae
|
/
|
Temperate, subtropical
|
Ornamental
|
W, EW
|
Cultivated, /
|
|
Tamarix ramosissima
|
Tamaricaceae
|
Hillside slopes, stream banks, stream beds
|
Arid, semi-arid
|
Ornamental, erosion control
|
W, NW, EW
|
Invasive in IT
|
|
Taxus cuspidata
|
Taxaceae
|
Acidic soils in cold, humid habitats
|
Temperate
|
Ornamental, wood, medicinal
|
SW, EW
|
/
|
|
Wisteria sinensis
|
Leguminosae
|
Valleys, mountain forest
|
Tropical to temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, EW
|
Planted, naturalized in FR
|
|
Wisteria floribunda (= W. multijuga)
|
Leguminosae
|
/
|
Tropical to temperate
|
Ornamental
|
W, EW
|
Planted, /
|
* Abbreviations for the Global Compendium of Weeds column:
W: weed; SW: sleeper weed; NW: noxious weed; AW: Agricultural Weed; EW: Environmental Weed.
Species originating from China which may present a risk if introduced for other purposes (e.g. wood, forage) or as contaminants:
|
Species
|
Family
|
Habitat in China
|
Climatic area
|
Uses, introduction
|
GCW
|
EPPO region
|
|
Abutilon theophrasti
|
Malvaceae
|
Along roadsides, ditches, riverbanks, disturbed areas and crop fields
|
Tropical and subtropical
|
Fibre and oil, weed
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in many countries
|
|
Arthraxon hispidus
|
Poaceae
|
Moist areas of grasslands, hillsides, along streams
|
Tropical, subtropical
|
Forage
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Arundo donax
|
Poaceae
|
Sandy soil along riverbanks and roadsides
|
Tropical and subtropical
|
Forage, building material
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Naturalized in E-Eur., Invasive in S-Eur.
|
|
Carex kobomugi
|
Cyperaceae
|
Along riverbanks and sandy lakeshores
|
Temperate
|
Papermaking
|
NW, EW
|
/
|
|
Dioscorea batatas
|
Dioscoreacea
|
Forest, scrubland, forest, rivers, roadsides, disturbed areas
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Medicinal
|
W, EW
|
/
|
|
Lespedeza cuneata
|
Fabaceae
|
Roadsides, slopes, ridges, stream banks, ravines, crop field margins
|
Tropical to temperate
|
Medicinal, forage
|
W, SW, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Microstegium vimineum
|
Poaceae
|
Forest edges, moist grasslands, wetlands, margin of crop field, ditch banks, ravines
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Forage
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Only recorded in TR
|
|
Murdannia keisak
|
Commelinaceae
|
Wet places such as ditch sides, flooded field margins, shaded roadsides
|
Tropical, subtropical, temperate
|
Weed
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Perilla frutescens
|
Lamiaceae
|
Along roadsides, ditches, forest margins, hillsides
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Oil, medicinal
|
W, AW, EW
|
Naturalized in RU
|
|
Phellodendron amurense
|
Rutaceae
|
Forested areas, along rivers
|
Temperate
|
Wood, medicinal
|
W, NW, EW
|
Naturalized in BG, RO
|
|
Rottboellia exaltata
|
Poaceae
|
Crop fields, roadsides
|
Tropical, subtropical
|
Weed
|
W, NW, AW
|
/
|
|
Rubus niveus
|
Rosaceae
|
Hillside slopes, sparse forests, valleys, flood land, streamsides
|
Temperate
|
Food
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Rubus phoenicolasius
|
Rosaceae
|
Roadsides, valleys, forests
|
Temperate
|
Medicinal
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Sapium sebiferum
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Open areas, edges of crop fields, sparse forests, bodies of water
|
Tropical
|
Medicinal
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
/
|
|
Setaria faberi
|
Poaceae
|
Hill slopes, roadsides; crop fields, orchards, wastelands
|
Tropical, temperate
|
Erosion and water control
|
W, NW, AW, EW
|
Invasive in DE, NL
|
|
Ulmus pumila
|
Ulmaceae
|
Hillside, valleys, plains, dunes
|
Subtropical, temperate
|
High quality wood, reforestation
|
W, NW, EW
|
Cultivated in S-Eur.
|
* Abbreviations for the Global Compendium of Weeds column:
W: weed; SW: sleeper weed; NW: noxious weed; AW: Agricultural Weed; EW: Environmental Weed.
Sources
A Global Compendium of Weeds ;http://www.hear.org/gcw/alpha_select_gcw.htm
Tutin TG, Heywood VH, Burges NA, Moore DM, Valentine DH, Walters SM and Webb DA (1964/80) Flora Europeaea, Vol 1-5. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (GB).
Weber, E (2003) Invasive Plant Species of the World. CABI Publishing Wallingford, (GB) pp. 548.
Zheng H, Wu Y, Ding J, Binion D, Fu W, Reardon R (2006) Invasive plants of Asian origin established in the United States and their natural enemies. Volume 1. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, United States Department of Agriculture, USDA Forest Service, 147 pp.
Zheng H, Wu Y, Ding J, Binion D, Fu W, Reardon R (2006) Invasive plants established in the United States that are found in Asia and their associated natural enemies. Volume 2. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, United States Department of Agriculture, USDA Forest Service, 175 pp.