PURPOSE OF THE LIST:
To focus attention on —
FLEPPC List Definitions:
Exotic - a species introduced to Florida, purposefully or accidentally, from a natural range outside of Florida.
Native – a species whose natural range includes Florida.
Naturalized exotic – an exotic that sustains itself outside cultivation (it is still exotic; it has not "become" native).
Invasive exotic – an exotic that not only has naturalized, but is expanding on its own in Florida native plant communities.
Abbreviations:
Government List (Gov. List): |
 |
|---|---|
P = Prohibited aquatic plant by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services |
|
N = Noxious weed listed by Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services |
|
U = Noxious weed listed by U.S. Department of Agriculture |
|
Regional Distribution (Reg. Dist.): |
|
N = North Florida |
|
C = Central Florida |
|
S = South Florida |
Category I
Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. This definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic range of the problem, but on the documented ecological damage caused.
Species names below are linked to corresponding pages in Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas (first edition), by Ken Langeland and Kathy Craddock Burks, eds. 1998. University of Florida, Gainesville, 165 pp.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Gov. List | Reg. Dist. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abrus precatorius | rosary pea | N | C, S |
| Acacia auriculiformis | earleaf acacia | C, S | |
| Albizia julibrissin | mimosa, silk tree | N, C | |
| Albizia lebbeck | woman’s tongue | C, S | |
| Ardisia crenata (=A. crenulata misapplied) | coral ardisia | N, C, S | |
| Ardisia elliptica (=A. humilis misapplied) | shoebutton ardisia | N | C, S |
| Asparagus aethiopicus (=A. sprengeri; A. densiflorus misapplied) | asparagus-fern | N, C, S | |
| Bauhinia variegata | orchid tree | C, S | |
| Bischofia javanica | bishopwood | C, S | |
| Calophyllum antillanum (=C. calaba and C. inophyllum misapplied) | santa maria (names "mast wood", "Alexandrian laurel" used in cultivation) | S | |
| Casuarina equisetifolia | Australian-pine, beach sheoak | P, N | N, C, S |
| Casuarina glauca | suckering Australian-pine, gray sheoak | P, N | C, S |
| Cinnamomum camphora | camphor tree | N, C, S | |
| Colocasia esculenta | wild taro | N, C, S | |
| Colubrina asiatica | lather leaf | N | S |
| Cupaniopsis anacardioides | carrotwood | N | C, S |
| Deparia petersenii | Japanese false spleenwort | N, C | |
| Dioscorea alata | winged yam | N | N, C, S |
| Dioscorea bulbifera | air-potato | N | N, C, S |
| Eichhornia crassipes | water-hyacinth | P | N, C, S |
| Eugenia uniflora | Surinam cherry | C, S | |
| Ficus microcarpa (F. nitida and F. retusa var. nitida misapplied) | laurel fig | C, S | |
| Hydrilla verticillata | hydrilla | P, U | N, C, S |
| Hygrophila polysperma | green hygro | P, U | N, C, S |
| Hymenachne amplexicaulis | West Indian marsh grass | C, S | |
| Imperata cylindrica (I. brasiliensis misapplied) | cogon grass | N, U | N, C, S |
| Ipomoea aquatica | water-spinach | P, U | C |
| Jasminum dichotomum | Gold Coast jasmine | C,S | |
| Jasminum fluminense | Brazilian jasmine | C, S | |
| Lantana camara (= L. strigocamara) | lantana, shrub verbena | N, C, S | |
| Ligustrum lucidum | glossy privet | N, C | |
| Ligustrum sinense | Chinese privet, hedge privet | N, C, S | |
| Lonicera japonica | Japanese honeysuckle | N, C, S | |
| Ludwigia peruviana | Peruvian primrosewillow | N, C, S | |
| Lumnitzera racemosa | kripa; white-flowered mangrove; black mangrove | S | |
| Luziola subintegra | Tropical American water grass | S | |
| Lygodium japonicum | Japanese climbing fern | N | N, C, S |
| Lygodium microphyllum | Old World climbing fern | N | C, S |
| Macfadyena unguis-cati | cat's claw vine | N, C, S | |
| Manilkara zapota | sapodilla | S | |
| Melaleuca quinquenervia | melaleuca, paper bark | P, N, U | C, S |
| Melinis repens (= Rhynchelytrum repens) | Natal grass | N, C, S | |
| Mimosa pigra | catclaw mimosa | P, N, U | C, S |
| Nandina domestica | nandina, heavenly bamboo | N, C | |
| Nephrolepis cordifolia | sword fern | N, C, S | |
| Nephrolepis brownii (= N. multiflora) | Asian sword fern | C, S | |
| Neyraudia reynaudiana | Burma reed, cane grass | N | S |
| crested floating heart | C, S | ||
| Paederia cruddasiana | sewer vine, onion vine | N | S |
| Paederia foetida | skunk vine | N | N, C, S |
| Panicum repens | torpedo grass | N, C, S | |
| Pennisetum purpureum | Napier grass | N, C, S | |
| Phymatosorus scolopendria | serpent fern, wart fern | S | |
| Pistia stratiotes | water-lettuce | P | N, C, S |
| Psidium cattleianum (=P. littorale) | strawberry guava | C, S | |
| Psidium guajava | guava | C, S | |
| Pueraria montana var. lobata (=P. lobata) |
kudzu | N | N, C, S |
| Rhodomyrtus tomentosa | downy rose-myrtle | N | C, S |
| Rhynchelytrum repens (=Melinis repens) |
Natal grass | N, C, S | |
| Ruellia brittoniana (= R. tweediana misapplied) |
Mexican petunia | N, C, S | Salvinia minima | water spangles | N, C, S |
| Sapium sebiferum (=Triadica sebifera) | popcorn tree, Chinese tallow tree | N | N, C, S |
| Scaevola taccada (=Scaevola sericea, S. frutescens) |
scaevola, half-flower, beach naupaka | N | C, S |
| Schefflera actinophylla (=Brassaia actinophylla) | schefflera, Queensland umbrella tree | C, S | |
| Schinus terebinthifolius | Brazilian pepper | P, N | N, C, S |
| Scleria lacustris | Wright's nutrush | N, C, S | |
| Senna pendula var. glabrata (=Cassia coluteoides) |
climbing cassia, Christmas cassia, Christmas senna | C, S | |
| Solanum tampicense (=S. houstonii) | wetland nightshade, aquatic soda apple | N, U | C, S |
| Solanum viarum | tropical soda apple | N, U | N, C, S |
| Syngonium podophyllum | arrowhead vine | N, C, S | |
| Syzygium cumini | jambolan plum, Java plum | C, S | |
| Tectaria incisa | incised halberd fern | S | |
| Thespesia populnea | seaside mahoe | C, S | |
| Tradescantia fluminensis | small-leaf spiderwort | N, C | |
| Urena lobata | Caesar’s weed | N, C, S | |
| Urochloa mutica (= Brachiaria mutica) |
Para grass | C, S |
Category II
Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species. These species may become ranked Category I, if ecological damage is demonstrated.
Species names below are linked to corresponding pages in Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas (first edition), by Ken Langeland and Kathy Craddock Burks, eds. 1998. University of Florida, Gainesville, 165 pp.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Gov. List | Reg. Dist. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adenanthera pavonina | red sandalwood | S | |
| Agave sisalana | sisal hemp | C, S | |
| Aleurites fordii (=Vernicia fordii) | tung oil tree | N, C | |
| Alstonia macrophylla | devil tree | S | |
| Alternanthera philoxeroides | alligator weed | P | N, C, S |
| Antigonon leptopus | coral vine | N, C, S | |
| Ardisia japonica | Japanese ardisia | N | |
| Aristolochia littoralis | calico flower | N, C, S | |
| Asystasia gangetica | Ganges primrose | C, S | |
| Begonia cucullata | wax begonia | N, C, S | |
| Blechum pyramidatum | green shrimp plant, Browne’s blechum | N, C, S | |
| Broussonetia papyrifera | paper mulberry | N, C, S | |
| Bruguiera gymnorrhiza | large-leaved mangrove | S | |
| Callisia fragrans | inch plant, spironema | C, S | |
| Callistemon viminalis | bottlebrush, weeping bottlebrush | S | |
| Casuarina cunninghamiana | river sheoak, Australian-pine | P | C, S |
| Cecropia palmata | trumpet tree | S | |
| Cestrum diurnum | day jessamine | C, S | |
| Chamaedorea seifrizii | bamboo palm | S | |
| Clematis terniflora | Japanese clematis | N, C | |
| Cocos nucifera | coconut palm | S | |
| Cryptostegia madagascariensis | rubber vine | C, S | |
| Cyperus involucratus (C. alternifolius misapplied) | umbrella plant | C, S | |
| Cyperus prolifer | dwarf papyrus | C, S | |
| Dactyloctenium aegyptium | Durban crowfootgrass | N, C, S | |
| Dalbergia sissoo | Indian rosewood, sissoo | C, S | |
| Elaeagnus umbellata | silverberry, autumn olive | N | Elaeagnus pungens | silverthorn, thorny olive | N, C |
| Epipremnum pinnatum cv. 'Aureum' | pothos | C, S | |
| Ficus altissima | false banyan, council tree | S | |
| Flacourtia indica | governor’s plum | S | |
| Hemarthria altissima | limpo grass | C, S | |
| Hibiscus tiliaceus (=Talipariti tiliaceum) | mahoe, sea hibiscus | C, S | |
| Hyparrhenia rufa | jaragua | N, C, S | |
| Ipomoea fistulosa (=I. carnea ssp. fistulosa) | shrub morning-glory | P | C, S |
| Kalanchoe pinnata | life plant | C, S | |
| Koelreuteria elegans ssp. formosana (=K. formosana; K. paniculata misapplied) | flamegold tree | C, S | |
| Leucaena leucocephala | lead tree | N | N, C, S |
| Landoltia punctata (= Spirodela punctata) | Spotted Duckweed | N, C, S | |
| Limnophila sessiliflora | Asian marshweed | P, U | N, C, S |
| Livistona chinensis | Chinese fan palm | C, S | |
| Melia azedarach | Chinaberry | N, C, S | |
| Melinis minutiflora | Molassesgrass | C,S | |
| Merremia tuberosa | wood-rose | S | |
| Mikania micrantha | mile-a-minute vine | N, U | S |
| Murraya paniculata | orange-jessamine | S | |
| Myriophyllum spicatum | Eurasian water-milfoil | P | N, C, S |
| Panicum maximum (=Urochloa maxima, Megathyrsus maximus) | Guinea grass | N, C, S | |
| Passiflora biflora | two-flowered passion vine | S | |
| Pennisetum setaceum | green fountain grass | S | |
| Phoenix reclinata | Senegal date palm | C, S | |
| Phyllostachys aurea | golden bamboo | N, C | |
| Pittosporum pentandrum | Philippine pittosporum, Taiwanese cheesewood | S | |
| Pteris vittata | Chinese brake fern | N, C, S | |
| Ptychosperma elegans | solitaire palm | S | |
| Rhoeo spathacea (see Tradescantia spathacea) | |||
| Ricinus communis | castor bean | N, C, S | |
| Rotala rotundifolia | roundleaf toothcup, dwarf Rotala | S | |
| Sansevieria hyacinthoides | bowstring hemp | C, S | |
| Sesbania punicea | purple sesban, rattlebox | N, C, S | |
| Solanum diphyllum | two-leaf nightshade | N, C, S | |
| Solanum torvum | susumber, turkey berry | N, U | N, C, S |
| Sphagneticola trilobata (=Wedelia trilobata) | wedelia | N, C, S | |
| Stachytarpheta cayennensis (=S. urticifolia) | nettle-leaf porterweed | S | |
| Syagrus romanzoffiana (=Arecastrum romanzoffianum) | queen palm | C, S | |
| Syzygium jambos | Malabar plum, rose-apple | N, C, S | |
| Talipariti tiliaceum (= Hibiscus tiliaceus) | mahoe, sea hibiscus | C, S | |
| Terminalia catappa | tropical-almond | C, S | |
| Terminalia muelleri | Australian-almond | C, S | |
| Tradescantia spathacea (=Rhoeo spathacea, Rhoeo discolor) | oyster plant | S | |
| Tribulus cistoides | puncture vine, burr-nut | N, C, S | |
| Vitex trifolia | simple-leaf chaste tree | C, S | |
| Washingtonia robusta | Washington fan palm | C, S | |
| Wedelia (see Sphagneticola above) | |||
| Wisteria sinensis | Chinese wisteria | N, C | |
| Xanthosoma sagittifolium | malanga, elephant ear | N, C, S | |
Citation example:
FLEPPC. 2011. List of Invasive Plant Species. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Internet: http://www.fleppc.org/list/11list.htm or Wildland Weeds Vol. 14(3-4):11-14. Summer/Fall 2011.
The 2011 list was prepared by the FLEPPC Plant List Committee:
Keith A. Bradley – Chair (2006-present), The Institute for Regional Conservation, 22601 SW 152nd Ave., Miami, FL 33170,(305) 247-6547, bradley@regionalconservation.org
Janice A. Duquesnel, Florida Park Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 1052, Islamorada, FL 33036,(305) 664-8455, Janice.Duquesnel@dep.state.fl.us
David W. Hall, Private Consulting Botanist, 3666 NW 13th Place, Gainesville, FL 32605, (352) 375-1370
Roger L. Hammer, Retired Naturalist and Author, 17360 Avocado Drive, Homestead, FL 33030, kaskazi44@comcast.net
Patricia L. Howell, Broward County Parks, Environmental Section, 950 NW 38th St., Oakland Park, FL 33309,(954) 357-8137, phowell@broward.org
Colette C. Jacono, USDA/APHIS/PPQ, 1911 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608, (352) 258-4458, Colette.C.Jacono@aphis.usda.gov
Kenneth A. Langeland, University of Florida-IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, 7922 NW 71st St., Gainesville, FL 32653,(352) 392-9614, gator8@ufl.edu
Chris Lockhart, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, c/o P.O. Box 243116, Boynton Beach, FL 33424-3116, (561) 738-1179, chris@lockharts.org
Gil Nelson, Gil Nelson Associates, 157 Leonard’s Dr., Thomasville, GA 31792, gil@gilnelson.com
Robert W. Pemberton, Research Associate, Florida Museum of Natural History and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 2121 SW 28th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, rpemberton5@gmail.com
Jimi L. Sadle, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034, (305) 242-7806, Jimi_Sadle@nps.gov
Robert W. Simons, 1122 SW 11th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601-7816
Daniel B. Ward, Department of Botany, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611
Richard P. Wunderlin, Institute for Systematic Botany, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, (813) 974-2359, rwunder@cas.usf.edu
FLEPPC Database
The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Database contains over 211,000 sight records of infestations of FLEPPC Category I and Category II species in Florida public lands and waters. 143 species are recorded. Nearly all of the records are from local, state, and federal parks and preserves; a few records document infestations in regularly disturbed public lands such as highways or utility rights-of-way. Natural area managers and other veteran observers of Florida’s natural landscapes submit these records, with many supported further by voucher specimens housed in local or regional herbaria for future reference and verification. New and updated observations can be submitted online at www.eddmaps.org/florida/. This database, along with other plant data resources such as the University of South Florida Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants at www.plantatlas.usf.edu, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory database at www.fnai.org, and The Institute for Regional Conservation Floristic Inventory of South Florida database at www.regionalconservation.org, provides important basic supporting information for the FLEPPC List of Invasive Plant Species.
Images of FLEPPC
may be found at one or more of the following websites: University of South Florida Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, www.plantatlas.usf.edu; the University of Florida Herbarium collection catalog, http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herbarium/cat/, and image gallery, http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herbarium/cat/imagesearch.asp; at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Virtual Herbarium, www.virtualherbarium.org/vhportal.html, The Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium at Florida State University, http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu/index.php; the University of Florida’s IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu, and the USDA PLANTS database, http://plants.usda.gov/. Please note that greater success and accuracy in searching for plant information is likely if you search by scientific name rather than common name. Common names often vary in cultivation and across regions.
Use of the FLEPPC List
The FLEPPC List of Invasive Plant Species is not a regulatory list. Only those plants listed as Federal Noxious Weeds, Florida Noxious Weeds or in local ordinances are regulated by law. FLEPPC encourages use of the Invasive Species List for prioritizing and implementing management efforts in natural areas, for educating lay audiences about environmental issues, and for supporting voluntary invasive plant removal programs. For more information on using the FLEPPC List of Invasive Plant Species, see Wildland Weeds Summer 2002 issue (Vol. 5, No. 3), pp. 16-17, or http://www.fleppc.org/list/list.htm.
NOTE:Not all exotic plants brought into Florida become pest plants in natural areas. The FLEPPC List of Invasive Plant Species represents only about 11% of more than 1,400 exotic species that have been introduced into Florida and have subsequently established outside of cultivation. Most escaped exotics usually present only minor problems in highly disturbed areas (such as roadsides). And there are other exotics cultivated in Florida that are “well-behaved” — that is, they don’t escape cultivation at all.
