Cogon Grass (Imperata Cylindrica)

A perennial grass, this plant originated from southeast Asia. It's identified with it's off-center mid-vein with light-green leaves. It is a category 1 invasive exotic plant on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) due to it's invasive nature, growing in ditches, road-sides, pastures, and forests. Although it can spread to its rhizomes, it also produces seeds attached to white hairs during spring, making it easier to transport by the wind. It was introduced in Florida as a forage plant for cattle and for soil stabilization.

Camphor Tree: (Cinnamomum camphora)

A FLEPPC Category 1 species, it originates in Eastern Asia. It was introduced to Florida 1875 for camphor production. It displaces natives with its fast growing habit and large seed production. It spreads by being sold in garden centers and nurseries and through animal interactions, in which the seeds are eaten by birds. It can be easily identified by crushing the leaves, which gives off a smell similar to menthol.

Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum)

A fast-growing herb originating from South America (southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay), it was introduced in Florida in the 1980s from cattle imported from Brazil who carried undigested seeds. It has thorns and produces fruits with thousands of seeds.

The plant can spread through the movement of its seeds by birds, raccoons, cattle from the consumption of fruits and from human activities. It forms monocultures, out-competing native plants and crowding out the understory of natural forests.

Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)

A native to Japan and Taiwan the deciduous tree was introduced for its fast-growing nature to be used as a shade tree. In its native countries it is used to make paper and from its bark cloth.

The species can invade native habitats from its fruit through wildlife spreading it or through its root system once established.

It is known for its pale brown bark and variable leaves which can be heart shaped or have two to three lobes. The leaves feel soft and hairy on their undersides and the bark produces a milky sap when cut.

For more information:

https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/broussonetia-papyrifera/

Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

A floating plant that largely infests rivers, canals, and lakes. They clog waterways and reduce oxygen levels in the water, effecting marine life. They affect biodiversity blocking sunlight to plants, blocking water ways, and by pushing away plants.

It is debated whether they are native or nonnative since it was described by William Bartram in 1765 when he was in Florida.

For more info:

https://plants-archive.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/pistia-stratiotes/

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/habitat/invasive-plants/weed-alerts/water-lettuce/#:~:text=Because%20of%20its%20aggressive%20growth,Florida%20without%20a%20special%20permit.

Showy Rattlebox (Crotalaria spectabilis Roth)

An annual legume from Tropical Asia, it got its name due to the sound the dried seed pods make when shaken like other rattleboxes. It has yellow flowers and it is spread mostly through seed.

It was introduced as a green manure, for erosion control, and for its nitrogen fixated properties to improve soil. It invades disturbed and natural areas such as forests and mangrove edges and can displace natives.

The seeds are poisonous to livestock, horses, goats, and dogs when eaten which contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Be careful if you have these in your yard and have pets or livestock. It can be removed by hand-pulling or through chemical treatment.

For more information:

https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/16161#toidentity

Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)

Native to tropical Asia, it is an aggressive climbing plant used as an ornamental. Although it is not listed as a highly invasive plant on FLEPCC, it can spread easily due to its tolerance to different soils and from its ability to reproduce through fragmentation. This species can escape cultivation if its cuttings aren't properly disposed of. It can alter native habitats due to its climbing habit where it creates dense thickets and can smother trees.

An interesting fact is that it has a symbiotic relationship with a specific wasp which is located in certain areas. The plant species needs that wasp to pollinate it and that wasp will only lay its eggs in the associated Ficus species. Its fruits when pollinated may be too big for birds to ingest and the plant is mown to be toxic to mammals.

For more information:

https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/24162#tosummaryOfInvasiveness