Invasive plants tend to grow rapidly within an environment and use their vines or leaves to crowd out a native plant from sunlight. This is done to make sure the invasive plant redeems more photosynthesis than the competing plants around them. The characteristics involved with an invasive plant are fast growth, rapid reproduction, high-speed production and dispersal ability, tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions, aggressive, and prolific vegetation reproduction, and association with humans or human activities which include land management activities. Also, invasive plants in most cases do not have natural predators in the region which allows them to grow unchecked (McReynolds, n.d.).
English Ivy is an example of a fast-growing invasive plant that can overcome native species at a rapid pace. This is done through the pant producing a ground cover of a white flower with a greenish tent. The English Ivy will rapidly grow along the ground and smother everything in its path including trees. The vines of the English Ivy can creep up pine trees and overtake their canopy taking away the sunlight and effectively killing the tree (Clark, n.d.).
Sexual reproduction of the taxa of knotweed is an example of invasive plant rapid reproduction. The taxa of knotweed has a rapid dispersal rate through the seedlings growing quickly and flowering within a single growing season. Rapid reproduction is achieved through self-reproduction. This is done by vegetative reproduction in Europe which helps the taxa of knotweed spread faster (Krajsek, Koce, 2015).
The Giant Hogweed is an example of high seed production and dispersal ability. River banks are where the Giant Hogweed is found and it grows up to five meters tall. High seed production of the Giant Hogweed and its dispersal ability allows it to take over riverbanks of native vegetation that stop erosion. Once the Giant Hogweed has overcome the native vegetation erosion sets in and makes this plant an environmental nightmare (Thomson, 2019). The Giant Hogweed’s successful rapid seed production is done by producing 20,000 to 100,000 seeds which over 90% will germinate. The seeds are dispersed by humans/animals, and this can create a significant dispersal rate and territory (Welsh Government, 2016).
The Russian Olive is an example of how an invasive species can have a tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions. In the southwest United States, the Russian Olvie has become an invasive species that had to evolve to survive the drought conditions observed in these locations. The Russian Olive used the Tamarisk and cottonwood plants as a canopy to overcome the heat. Another aspect of the Russian Olvie is it can rely on topsoil water for fifteen years before having to depend on groundwater. Because the Russian Olive can sustain itself in low moisture conditions and dense shade it has overcome the wide range of environmental conditions to be a prolific invasive species in the desert southwest of the United States (Reynolds, Cooper, 2010).
Land management of the invasive Giant Hogweed is done through different control techniques such as root cutting, mowing, and umbel removal. Death of the Giant Hogweed occurs after two to three treatments per year (USDA, n.d.).
Bermuda grass was established in Oklahoma and the USA in 1751 by seeding as a forage base for livestock enterprises. It is originally from the Savannas of Africa. Bermuda grass produces ecological/economic harm to agricultural production, competes with aquatic vegetation, and clogs waterways. It can also harm cattle through skin lesions and liver damage. Management of the Bermuda grass by human means is done through aquatic herbicides and physical removal (Elmore, Hickman, Holmes, 2017).
The Callery Pear tree is another invasive plant that was established in Oklahoma through the 1800s. This plant was brought to Oklahoma from China to compete with the fire blight of the common pear. Ecological problems are developed because the callerly pear develops thickets that shade out other vegetation from sunlight such as grasslands. It competes with native Oklahoma trees for sunlight, water, minerals, and space. The economic problem of the Callery Pear is that it destroys other fruit and nut-producing trees in Oklahoma (Donnell, 2020). Management activities of Callery Pear are to uproot it and use herbicides to control the invasive species (Ok Invasives, 2020).
References:
McReynolds, K. (n.d.). Invasive Plants. Basics of Invasive Species.
Basics of Invasive Species | Rangelands Gateway
Clark, J. (n.d.). Invasive Flowers.
14 Invasive Flowers that Will Take Over Your Garden (tipsbulletin.com)
Krajsek, S., Koce, J. (January 2015). Sexual reproduction of knotweed (Fallopia sect. Reynoutria) in Slovenia.
(PDF) Sexual reproduction of knotweed (Fallopia sect. Reynoutria) in Slovenia (researchgate.net)
Thomson. (May 13, 2019). Top Five Invasive Plants Encountered by Developers.
Top five invasive plants encountered by developers - Thomson EC
Welsh Government. (2016). Giant Hogweed.
Giant hogweed: Public information on invasive species in Wales (gov.wales)
Reynolds, L., Cooper, D.. (July 1, 2010).
USDA. (n.d.).Invasive Plant Control Giant Hogweed.
Elmore, D., Hickman K., Holmes K. (Feb. 2017). Problem Horticultural Plants.
Problem Horticultural Plants | Oklahoma State University (okstate.edu)
Donnell, J. (July 1, 2020). The Primarily Problematic Callery Pear Tree.
Ok Invasives. (2020). The Invasive Callerly Pear.
cb7fd3_3f59bad06f3945c79bdf73a1c70cb5ae.pdf (okinvasives.org)