EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 01 - 2007 Num. article: 2007/016

Pathway analysis: aquatic plants imported in France


In order to better understand the importance of traded aquatic plants as a pathway for introducing invasive alien plants, import data provided by the French NPPO has been analyzed. During phytosanitary inspections carried out at the Charles de Gaulle international airport (Paris, France), all information provided on phytosanitary certificates is stored in a database. Useful information about imported aquatic plants can be extracted from this source. In 2006, a total of 369 consignments of aquatic plants were introduced from Singapore (283), Indonesia (45), Thailand (8), Morocco (30) and Guinea (3). These consignments arrive regularly and all year-round, with an average of 31 consignments per month. The table below displays the aquatic plant species which have been imported over one month (April 2006). In April 2006, there were 5 consignments from Indonesia (ID), 5 from Morocco (MA), 26 from Singapore (SG), 2 from Thailand (TH) and none from Guinea. Each of these consignments was composed of several plant species. For each species, their family, whether they are native or exotic in the EPPO region, their presence in the wild in the EPPO region and imported quantities in terms of numbers of plants are given. The status of each species in the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW) is given, to indicate their invasive behaviour elsewhere in the world.

Species
Family
Situation in Europe
Occurs in EPPO region
GCW
status*
Country of origin
Total
ID
MA
SG
TH

Acorus calamus
Acoraceae
Native
yes
EW
10
;
;
;
10
Acorus gramineus cv. "Variegatus", cv. "Pusillus"
Acoraceae
Exotic
no
/
35
950
20
;
1005
Alternanthera reineckii cv "Cardinalis", cv. "Lilacina", cv. "Roseafolia"
Amaranthaceae
Exotic
no
/
15
;
230
65
310
Alternanthera ficoidea cv. "Bettzickiana", cv. "Ocipus"
Amaranthaceae
Exotic
no
GE
26
;
50
60
136
Alternanthera reineckii (also given as Ludwigia rosefolia?)
Amaranthaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
190
;
190
Alternanthera sessilis
Amaranthaceae
Exotic
no
QW, NW
14
;
;
50
64
Ammania gracilis
Lythraceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
;
60
60
Ammania senegalensis
Lythraceae
Exotic
no
W
;
;
10
10
20
Anubias sp.
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
26
;
;
10
36
Anubias hastifolia
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
5
;
;
;
5
Anubias barteri var. nana
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
5
;
55
10
70
Aponogeton crispus
Aponogetonaceae
Exotic
no
/
8
;
;
;
8
Aponogeton henkelianus
Aponogetonaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
10
;
10
Aponogeton natans
Aponogetonaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
;
;
300
;
300
Aponogeton ulvaceus
Aponogetonaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
550
;
550
Aponogeton undulatus
Aponogetonaceae
Exotic
no
/
39
;
;
;
39
Aponogeton rigidifolius
Aponogetonaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
5
;
;
;
5
Bacopa amplexicaulis
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W
20
;
;
;
20
Bacopa caroliniana
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
155
;
470
;
625
Bacopa crenata
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
;
;
;
60
60
Bacopa monnieri
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W
13
;
90
60
163
Bacopa myriophylloides
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
100
;
100
Bacopa rotundifolia
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W
15
;
15
;
30
Baldellia ranunculoides (given as E. baldolia)
Alismataceae
Native
yes
/
;
425
;
;
425

Species
Family
Situation in Europe
Occurs in EPPO region
GCW
status*
Country of origin
Total
ID
MA
SG
TH

Blyxa aubertii
Hydrocharitaceae
Exotic
no
W
11
;
;
;
11
Blyxa japonica
Hydrocharitaceae
Exotic
yes
W, QW
2
50
5
;
57
Cabomba aquatica
Cabombaceae
Exotic
yes
QW
120
;
11335
4000
15455
Cabomba asiatica (= C. caroliniana ?)
Cabombaceae
Exotic
yes
/
5
;
10
;
15
Cabomba caroliniana (= C. pulcherrima)
Cabombaceae
Exotic
yes
W, QW, NW, EW
6320
;
2410
10
8740
C. furcata (= Cabomba piauhyensis)
Cabombaceae
Exotic
no
QW
690
;
180
;
870
Caladium sp.
Araceae
Exotic
no
;
5
;
;
;
5
Cardamine lyrata
Brassicaceae
Exotic
no
W
60
;
20
;
80
Ceratophyllum demersum
Ceratophyllaceae
Native
yes
S, SW, QW, NW, NaW, EW
106
200
700
10
1016
Ceratopteris thalictroides
Parkeriaceae
Exotic
no
W, NW
25
;
;
;
25
Ceratopteris siliquosa
Parkeriaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
25
;
25
Cladophora aegagrophila
Cladophoraceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
100
;
100
Chlorophytum bichettii
Asparagaceae
Exotic
no
/
1007
;
;
25
1032
Codiaeum sp. (= Croton sp.)
Euphorbiaceae
Exotic
no
/
16
;
;
;
16
Codiaeum variegatum cv. "Exotica" (= Croton exotica)
Euphorbiaceae
Exotic
no
/
10
;
;
;
10
Cordyline fruticosa cv. "Red Edge", cv. "Compacta"
Asparagaceae
Exotic
no
W, CE
17
;
5
;
22
Crassula helmsii
Crassulaceae
Exotic
yes Inv.
W, NW, EW
17
;
;
;
17
Crinum thaianum
Amaryllidaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
115
;
115
Cryptocoryne ciliata
Araceae
Exotic
no
W
4
;
10
;
14
Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
10
;
;
;
10
Cryptocoryne beckettii, C. beckettii cv. "Petchii"
Araceae
Exotic
no
EW
44
;
100
;
144
Cryptocoryne lucens (= C. x-willisii)
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
30
;
10
;
40
Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia (also given as Echinodorus pontederiifolia)
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
39
;
480
;
519
Cryptocoryne walkeri
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
30
;
30
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Araceae
Exotic
no
-
80
;
45
;
125
Cryptocoryne x-willisii (= C. lucens)
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
4
;
30
;
34
Cyperus helferi
Cyperaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
10
;
10
Cyperus papyrus
Cyperaceae
Native
yes
W, NW
;
70
;
;
70
Didiplis diandra (= Peplis diandra)
Lythraceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
15
60
75
Dieffenbachia picta
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
6
;
;
;
6
Dracaena fragrans (= D. deremensis)
Dracaenaceae
Exotic
no
/
29
;
15
;
44

Species
Family
Situation in Europe
Occurs in EPPO region
GCW
status*
Country of origin
Total
ID
MA
SG
TH

Dracaena sanderiana, D. sanderiana cv. "Variegatus"
Dracaenaceae
Exotic
no
/
65
;
870
50
985
Echinodorus bleheri (= E. amazonicus)
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
230
;
595
;
825
Echinodorus argentinensis
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
22
;
20
10
52
Echinodorus x-barthii
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
2
;
;
;
2
Echinodorus horizontalis (= E. muricatus = E. radicans horizontalis)
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
56
;
5
;
61
Echinodorus grisebachii
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
2
;
;
;
2
Echinodorus bleheri (= E. paniculatus auct. = E. parviflorus = E. panicultus bleheri = E. puriensis, also given as E. mitcheii)
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
48
;
1670
60
1778
Echinodorus longiscapus (given as E. grandifolius)
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
20
50
70
Echinodorus martii (= E. major)
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
12
;
60
50
122
Echinodorus palaefolius var. latifolius
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
22
;
10
;
32
Echinodorus radicans (= E. cordifolius)
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
W, SW, QW, GE, EW
31
;
;
;
31
Echinodorus tenellus (= Sagittaria microfolia)
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
/
45
;
30
;
75
Eichhornia crassipes (also given as Eleocharis crassipes)
Pontederiaceae
Exotic
yes Inv.
W, QW, NW, GE, EW, CE
1
650
875
;
1526
Egeria densa (= Elodea densa)
Hydrocharitaceae
Exotic
yes Inv.
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
2548
;
20610
210
23368
Egeria najas (= Elodea najas)
Hydrocharitaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
55
50
105
Eleocharis parvula
Cyperaceae
Native
yes
W
;
;
5
;
5
Eleocharis vivipara
Cyperaceae
Exotic
no
/
2
;
;
;
2
Fittonia ;verschaeffelti var. argyroneura
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
/
5
;
;
;
5
Glossostigma elatinoides
Phrymaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
35
;
35
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides
Asteraceae
Exotic
no
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
11
;
125
;
136
Hemigraphis alternata, H. alternata cv. "Exotica" (= H. colorata = H. exotica)
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
/
2
;
;
;
2
Hemigraphis repanda
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
W
;
;
;
50
50
Heteranthera zosterifolia
Pontederiaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
;
50
50
Hottonia sp.
Primulaceae
Exotic
no
/
11
;
;
;
11
Hydrocleys nymphaeoides
Limnocharitaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW, EW
;
80
70
;
150
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Apiaceae
Exotic
no
W
70
;
200
50
320

Species
Family
Situation in Europe
Occurs in EPPO region
GCW
status*
Country of origin
Total
ID
MA
SG
TH

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Apiaceae
Exotic
yes
W
;
;
;
50
50
Hydrotriche hottoniiflora
Scrophulariaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
10
;
10
Hygrophila sp.
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
/
307
;
;
;
307
Hygrophila corymbosa cv. "Siamensis"
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
W
150
;
665
60
875
Hygrophila costata (= H. lacustris)
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
NW
9
;
250
;
259
Hygrophila difformis (= Synnema triflorum)
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
W, SW, EW
1488
;
1330
110
2928
Hygrophila polysperma, H. polysperma cv. "Rosanervis"
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
W, NW, QW, EW
884
;
1120
120
2124
Hygrophila pusilla (given as Nomaphila pusillus)
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
5
50
55
Hygrophila salicifolia, H. salicifolia var. angustifolia (= Nomaphila angustifolia)
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
W
39
;
500
60
;
Hygrophila siamensis (= Nomaphila siamensis)
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
/
662
;
5
;
667
Hygrohpila stricta (= Nomaphila stricta)
Acanthaceae
Exotic
no
-
39
;
25
100
164
Iris japonica
Iridaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
60
;
;
60
Iris pseudacorus
Iridaceae
Native
yes
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
;
;
10
;
10
Lagarosiphon major (= Elodea crispa)
Hydrocharitaceae
Exotic
yes Inv.
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
28
450
10
;
488
Limnophila sp.
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
200
;
;
200
Limnophila aquatica
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
/
28
;
55
;
83
Limnophila aromatica (= L. hippuroides)
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W
105
;
90
10
205
Limnophila heterophylla
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
;
;
;
60
60
Limnophila sessiliflora
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW, NW
203
;
685
;
888
Lindernia rotundifolia
Linderniaceae
Exotic
no
-
29
;
15
;
44
Lobelia cardinalis
Campanulaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
35
;
130
;
165
Ludwigia arcuata
Oenotheraceae
Exotic
no
/
21
;
;
70
91
Ludwigia inclinata
Oenotheraceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
20
60
80
Ludwigia natans x palustris
Oenotheraceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
420
;
420
Ludwigia natans (= L. repens)
Oenotheraceae
Exotic
yes
QW
100
;
375
50
525
Ludwigia palustris
Oenotheraceae
Native
no
W, GE, EW
20
;
155
;
175
Ludwigia peruensis (= L. peruviana = L. grandiflora)
Oenotheraceae
Exotic
yes Inv.
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
100
;
170
;
270
Lysimachia nummularia
Primulaceae
Native
yes
W, EW, CE
7
;
65
10
82
Marsilea crenata
Marsileaceae
Exotic
no
W
1
;
;
;
1
Mayaca fluviatilis
Mayacaceae
Exotic
no
QW
131
;
525
;
656

Species
Family
Situation in Europe
Occurs in EPPO region
GCW
status*
Country of origin
Total
ID
MA
SG
TH

Mayaca sellowiana (= Rotala najean)
Mayacaceae
Exotic
no
/
115
;
60
;
175
Micranthemum orbiculatum
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
/
1
;
;
;
1
Micranthemum umbrosum
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
QW
;
;
;
10
10
Microcarpaea minima
Plantaginaceae
Exotic
no
W
;
;
10
;
10
Microsorium pteropus
Polypodiaceae
Exotic
no
/
26
;
1658
70
1754
Myriophyllum aquaticum (=M. proserpinacoides)
Haloragaceae
Exotic
yes Inv.
W, QW, NW, EW, GE, CE
28
;
;
;
28
Myriophyllum matogrossense
Haloragaceae
Exotic
no
/
313
;
415
;
728
Myriophyllum pinnatum (= M. scabratum)
Haloragaceae
Exotic
no
/
13
;
560
;
573
Myriophyllum propinquum
Haloragaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
20
;
20
Nelumbo nucifera cv. "Baiwanlian" (given as N. Lu Shan Bai Lian)
Nelumbonaceae
Exotic
no
W
;
;
4
;
4
Nesaea sp.
Lythraceae
Exotic
no
/
5
;
30
;
35
Nuphar sagittifolia
Nymphaeaceae
Exotic
no
/
5
;
;
;
5
Nuphar japonica
Nymphaeaceae
Exotic
no
W
;
;
200
;
200
Nymphaea sp.
Nymphaeaceae
Exotic
no
W, CE
;
1210
;
35
1245
Nymphaea alba (= N. venusta)
Nymphaeaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
;
17
;
17
Nymphaea lotus
Nymphaeaceae
Exotic
no
W, NW
15
;
1100
;
1115
Nymphaea nouchali (= N. stellata)
Nymphaeaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
;
;
300
;
300
Nymphaea pubescens (= N. rubra)
Nymphaeaceae
Exotic
no
W
53
;
;
;
53
Ophiopogon sp.
Asparagaceae
Exotic
no
/
;
100
120
;
220
Ophiopogon jaburan cv. "Variegatus"
Asparagaceae
Exotic
no
-
75
;
;
;
75
Ophiopogon japonicus
Asparagaceae
Exotic
yes
W
56
;
605
100
761
Pistia stratiotes
Araceae
Exotic
yes
W, QW, NW, Nat W, GE, EW, CE
2
2600
5
;
2607
Polygonum pedunculare
Polygonaceae
Exotic
no
/
50
;
;
;
50
Pontederia cordata
Pontederiaceae
Exotic
yes
W, QW, NW, EW, GE
;
80
20
;
100
Pontederia lanceolata
Pontederiaceae
Exotic
no
W
;
;
10
;
10
Potamogeton gayii
Potamogetonaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
20
;
;
;
20
Potamogeton octandrus (= P. javanicus)
Potamogetonaceae
Exotic
no
/
5
;
;
;
5
Potamogeton perfoliatus
Potamogetonaceae
Native
yes
W, QW, EW
;
;
10
;
10
Pogostemon stellatus (= Eusteralis stellata)
Lamiaceae
Exotic
no
W
17
;
;
;
17
Rhizophora apiculata (given as R. raviculata)
Rhizophoraceae
Exotic
no
/
6
;
;
;
6
Riccia flutans
Ricciaceae
Exotic
no
/
1
;
;
;
1

Species
Family
Situation in Europe
Occurs in EPPO region
GCW
status*
Country of origin
Total
ID
MA
SG
TH

Rotala indica
Lythraceae
Exotic
yes
W, QW
162
;
180
10
352
Rotala macrandra
Lythraceae
Exotic
no
/
159
;
165
;
324
Rotala rotundifolia
Lythraceae
Exotic
no
W, SW, QW, EW
;
;
20+60
;
0
Rotala wallichii
Lythraceae
Exotic
no
/
10
;
85
35
130
Sagittaria lancifolia (= S. platyphylla hort.)
Alismataceae
Exotic
yes?
W, NW, QW, EW
114
;
840
10
964
Sagittaria subulata (= S. natans)
Alismataceae
Exotic
no
W, QW, EW
117
;
290
10
417
Salvinia natans (other species such as S. molesta could be traded under this name)
Salviniaceae
Native
yes
W, QW, NW
;
;
70
;
70
Samolus valerandii (given as S. elantoides)
Theophrastaceae
Exotic
no
W, GE, EW
1
;
;
;
1
Saururus cernuus
Saururaceae
Exotic
yes
W, QW
6
;
;
;
6
Selaginella willdenowii
Selaginellaceae
Exotic
no
W, GE
55
;
1185
;
1240
Spathiphyllum sp.
Araceae
Exotic
no
W
;
;
50
;
50
Spathiphyllum wallisii
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
21
;
20
;
41
Syngonium podophyllum cv. "Albolineatum"
Araceae
Exotic
no
/
1
;
;
;
1
Syngonium podophyllum
Araceae
Exotic
no
W, GE, EW, Cult E
51
;
160
;
211
Trapa natans
Trapaceae
Native
yes
W, QW, NW, EW
;
;
1060
;
1060
Vallisneria americana, V. americana cv. "Rubra" (= V. asiatica = V. gigantea hort. = V. rubra)
Hydrocharitaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW, Nat W, EW
526
50
4120
10
4706
Vallisneria spiralis cv. "Torta"
Hydrocharitaceae
Native
yes
W, EW
156
750
2940
10
3856
Vesicularia dubyana
Hypnaceae
Exotic
no
W, QW
46
;
2
20
68
Total
;
;
;
;
18850
7925
65941
6250
98966

* Abbreviations for the Global Compendium of Weeds column:
W: weed;; NW: noxious weed; NatW: native weed; QW: quarantine weed; GE: garden escape; Cult E: Cultivation Escape; /: not quoted in the GCW; "-": no sign of invasiveness

Taxonomy
On phytosanitary certificates, botanical names were often mispelt or erroneous (e.g. species mentioned did not exist or did not correspond to the true imported species). For instance, Cabomba asiatica is quoted but does not exist in any flora. The genus Cabomba is endemic from the New World, only C. caroliniana is recorded as present in Asia. It is therefore hypothezised that C. asiatica is a wrong appellation for C. caroliniana (JM Tison, pers. comm.). Salvinia molesta and some other Salvinia spp. were not recorded in the list of imported plants but it is likely that they have been introduced under the name Salvinia natans. Ludwigia rosefolia is mentioned as imported from Singapore, but this may have been a confusion with Alternanthera reineckii cv "Roseafolia". It is also hypothesised that the plant given as Nelumbo Lu Shan Bai Lian may be Nelumbo nucifera cv. "Baiwanlian".

Species already present in the wild in the EPPO region
Among the imported species which are present in the wild in the EPPO region, some are already invasive: Cabomba caroliniana (EPPO list of Invasive Alien Plants), Crassula helmsii (EPPO list of IAP), Egeria densa (EPPO list of IAP), Eichhornia crassipes, Lagarosiphon major (EPPO list of IAP), Myriophyllum aquaticum (EPPO list of IAP). Others might become invasive in the future and these species deserve further investigation:Pistia stratiotes, Pontederia cordata, Saururus cernuus, Salvinia molesta.

Species not present in the wild in the EPPO region
Among imported species which are not recorded in the wild in the EPPO region, the following ones would deserve investigation as they are recorded as invasive elsewhere in the world according to the Global Compendium of Weeds: Echinodorus cordifolius, Gymnocoronis spilanthoides, Hygrophila difformis, Hygrophila polysperma, Limnophila sessiliflora, Rotala rotundifolia, Sagittaria lancifolia, Syngonium podophyllum, Vallisneria americana.

Further questions
Eleocharis parvula, indigenous in Europe and in North America, is recorded as imported from Singapore. This plant is rare and is becoming extinct in Europe. In France, it was declared extinct during the last 20 years but has recently been rediscovered in the wild. This raises the question of the origin of this species found in the wild, and there might be a genetic pollution of the species with the traded taxon (JM Tison, pers. comm.). The species not being indigenous in Asia, it would be interesting to know the origin of the plant which was used to initiate the production (coming from Europe or from North America) and how it was multiplied.

Any additional information about imports of aquatic plants collected by inspection services or any other body is welcome and can be sent to the EPPO Secretariat.

Sources

List of species gathered thanks to Franck Gueudre from the Charles De Gaulle airport inspection services and compiled by the EPPO Secretariat and Jean-Marc Tison.
A Global Compendium of Weeds. http://www.hear.org/gcw/alpha_select_gcw.htm