Invasive Plants

Identifying and understanding the plants that are changing the North American landscape forever. Full-color photographs make identification simple.

An easy-to-use, wide-ranging guide to invasive plants in North America. Features full-color photos and descriptions of more than 250 alien species—both terrestrial and aquatic—that are in some cases changing the landscape to an almost unimaginable degree. Accompanying text describes the plant's environmental and economic impacts as well as management techniques used to control it. Also includes an explanation of what an invasive is and a step-by-step identification key. An essential guide to understanding this unprecedented environmental challenge.

Contents

Acknowledgments

part I.

About Invasive Plants—Definitions, Issues, History, and Management Options

The Invasive Species Challenge

Using This Book

Chapter 1.
The Aliens Landed Long Ago and Keep Arriving
A definition and introduction to why, in some areas of wild America, over 70

percent of the plants are not natives but invited and uninvited immigrants.

Chapter 2.
Invasives Changing Wild America
What immigrant plants have done to and for their new land. A brief survey of the

major hot spots and critical problems.

Chapter 3.
Managing the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
A primer on the basic approaches to controlling and resolving problems, from

prevention to eradication.

Chapter 4.
A Quick Key to Identifying Major Species of Invasive Plant Groups
A step-by-step guide in the familiar biology key format.

part II.

Alert List……………………………………………………

A Field Guide to Individual Species

Terrestrial Plants

Trees and Shrubs

Evergreen

Needles or inconspicuous leaves

Alternate leaves

Trees

Shrubs

Opposite or whorled leaves

Trees

Shrubs

Vines

Evergreen

Alternate leaves

Opposite leaves

Deciduous

Alternate leaves

Opposite leaves

Herbaceous Plants

Rosette or basal leaves only

Alternate leaves

Leaves entire

Leaves toothed or lobed

Leaves divided

Opposite or whorled leaves

Leaves entire

Leaves toothed

Leaves divided

Grasses and sedges

Leaves angular in cross section (sedges)

Leaves not angular (grasses)

Plants form distinct clumps, usually over 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall

Plants not in distinct clumps or growing along creeping stems

Over 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall

Under 4 ft. (1.2m) tall

Ferns

Aquatic Plants

Rosette only

Alternate leaves

Opposite or whorled leaves

Other aquatic plants (ferns, grasses, irises)

Part III.

More information

Bibliography

Glossary

Photo Credits

Index