Invasive plants: what are and examples of species

To be able to define properly What are invasive plantsbefore we have to talk about alóctonian species. The alóctonian or exotic species They are those that, either intentionally or accidentally, have been introduced by man in places outside of his natural environment.

The most common in these cases is that the species fails to prosper or adapt given the differences in the environment, but sometimes they do so. Sometimes, in fact, they adapt so well that they begin to spread and multiply at high speed, and endanger local biodiversity. These are the calls invasive plants.

It is also possible that an alóctona species adapts to the new medium but does it in a less aggressive and more controlled way: in this case they are called naturalized speciessince they do not endanger the rest of the ecosystem.

Invasive species tend to share some general characteristics, which are usually the cause of their uncontrolled expansion:

• They do not have predators or natural enemies, so they multiply without a controlling factor.
• They are rapid growth and multiplication. Their high reproduction rates allow them to extend much faster.
• Its seeds are long longevity, so they can be maintained in a vegetative state for years before germinating when the right conditions occur.

In short, it’s about species with great adaptation capacity and some may even produce substances that avoid the growth of other species in their territory.

To learn more about this topic, we recommend reading this other ecology article in which we talk about the introduction of exotic species, its causes and consequences.

Given its High ecological impactthese invasive species can extinguish other native species or force them to move, thus reducing biodiversity. In addition, they compete with local species due to the advantage over pollinating insects, which in turn reduce the reproduction of these species, and sometimes they can change the same composition of the soil, allowing the arrival of new pests or diseases. In the case of crops, they can have a strong economic impact, for forcing control and eradication plans.

In short, the most negative impact of invasive plants is that They reduce native biodiversity and transform ecosystems. Here you can learn more about the loss of biodiversity: causes and consequences.

Here are some Examples of invasive plants And in the following sections we deepen the characteristics of some of them.

• Cat nail (Carpobrotus)
• Camalote or Jacinto de Agua (Eichhornia Crassipes)
• Killer algae (Caulerpa Taxifolia)
• Ailanto or Tree of heaven (Ailanthus Altissima)
• Mimosas (Acacia spp.)
• Fern mosquito (Azolla spp.)
• Butterfly bush (Buddleja Davidii)
• Pampa or duster grass (Hemp Cortaderia.)
• Robinia or false acacia (Robinia Pesudoacacia)
• Cañizo or cane (Arundo Donax)
• Pita (American Agave)

This plant, which is really two species (Carpobrotus edulis and Carpobrotus acinaciformis), extended throughout the Spanish coast due to its popularization as Ornamental plant. The threat of cat nail It consists of growing by forming such a dense mantle that prevents the growth of any other species in that area that occupies, seriously altering the local ecosystem.

Also called Bora flower (Eichhornia Crassipes)this plant has its Origin in South America. It is a species that tends to colonize water courses such as rivers or springs, occupying them with a great speed of growth and reproduction and arriving them to obstruct. In Spain it can be found in Mérida, since this invasive species has caused great damage to the Guadiana basin.

In this other article we talk more about Camalote, a very invasive plant.

The Caulerpa Taxifolia is one of the 100 most harmful invasive species in the world According to IUCN. This algae reached the Mediterranean because of an accident in the Monaco Aquarium and, since then, it has extended at high speed colonizing the meadows of Oceanic Posidonia. There are cases of humans intoxication due to the consumption of a fish that feeds on Calerpa.

Scientific name Ailanthus Altissimathis tree is originally from China. This Invasive plant species It has the ability to produce toxins in its cortex and its leaves that, when accumulated in the soil in sufficient quantity, prevent the development of other species. It is very resistant and rapid expansion and its roots have enough strength to damage sidewalks and foundations.

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