Non-Native Invasive Plants Identification Cards EMPACTS Project Plant Biology, Fall 2013 Kurtis Cecil, Instructor Northwest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR EMPACTS Team - Justin Klippert, Holly Crowe, Chaz Nelson and Mike Bryant
Johnson Grass Sorghum halapense
Warm- Season grass that forms large colonies Grows from rhizomes and develops an extensive rhizome system Numerous, erect, pinkie-sized stems grow 5 to 6 tall and are topped with purplish seeds Coarse leaves and stems Ribbed leaf sheath Conspicuous midrib Characteristics
Giant Foxtail Grass Setaria Faberi
Characteristics Grass has prominent nodes on the stems Often branches near the base and produces multiple stems that are erect to ascending Grows 2 to 2 1/2 tall Grows from rhizomes Clump-forming Seedheads resemble foxtails Seedheads droop when mature Alternate leaves up to 15 long and 3/4 across Leaves have many hairs on upper surface Leaves are light to medium green, linear in shape, rather floppy and drooping
Wild Privet Ligustrum vulgare
Characteristics grows to 10 to 15 in height with 8 to 15 spread evergreen leaves up to 2 long opposite leaves are oval to lanceolate, dark green in color, pointed tip roots develop where stems touch the ground densely branched understory shrub
Tall Fescue Schedonorus phoenix
Characteristics: stays green during winter coarse-textured, medium to dark green in color leaves rolled in a bud leaf blades are 1/8 to 1/2 wide and 4 to 24 long distinct veins run the length of the leaf leaf margin is rough distinct collar between leaf blade and leaf sheath or stem collar is broad, hairless and yellow-green to cream in color extensive root system bunch-type growth habit seedhead is loosely branching panicle
Callery Pear Pyrus calleryana
Characteristics: small to medium-sized tree with compact, symmetrical, pyramidal or columnar shape which becomes oval with age alternate, simple leaves leaves generally oval up to 3 long with rounded teeth leaves are broadest near the rounded base and tapering to the tip leaves are glossy green with orange, gold, red, pink and/or purple color in fall gray-brown bark, smooth on young trees, splitting into scales with age large thorns on twigs bark is typically light gray in color
Russian Thistle Salsola spp. (Chenopodiaceae)
Characteristics: large, bushy, noxious broadleaf plant slender, flexible stems cotyledons (seed leaves) and first true leaves are long and thin, like pine needles later leaves are soft and fleshy with a weak spine at the tip leaves are alternate along the stem, but may appear opposite because of short length between stem joints generally grow to approximately 3 in height flowers from July through October are produced in junction between leaf base and stem (axils)
Lespedeza (Bi-Color) Lespedeza bicolor
Characteristics: loose, open deciduous shrub grows to 5 to 10 tall and wide clover-like flowers trifoliate, alternate dark green leaves with elliptic leaflets up to 2 long yellow fall color upright stems are gray to green in color small seed pods with a single black seed appear from August to March
Ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Characteristics:
Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica
Characteristics: sprawling, climbing semievergreen vine can climb 33 or more in height opposite, simple oval leaves 1 1/4 to 3 in length and 3/4 to 1 1/4 broad tubular, white, fragrant flowers with five fused petals occurring in pairs from May-June small, black 2-3 seeded fruits
Beefsteak Plant (Japanese Perilla Mint) Perilla frutescens
Characteristics: upright, bushy habit related to coleus and basil grows to 1 to 3 tall opposite leaves with long petioles leaves can be purple to green or a combination of both colors and are aromatic leaves are wide at the base, narrow to a tip and 3 to 7 long leaf margins are saw-like, with sharp, serrated edges hairy stems can grow to 3 tall and are dark green to purple in color square stem identifies it as a member of the mint family white to purple flowers bloom from July to October