Database of alien plants in Ireland
The database of Alien Plants in Ireland contains detailed information on 715 alien plant species currently occurring in (semi)natural habitats in Ireland (both the Republic of Ireland and Northern-Ireland) as casual, naturalized or invasive. It gives information on the invasiveness, reproduction, morphology, traits and habitats. In this database, invasive plants means “Naturalized plants that produce reproductive offspring, often in very large numbers, at considerable distances from parent plants, and thus have the potential to spread over a considerable area”. In addition, information is available for 198 extinct alien species (not recorded after 1970).
The 65 following species are considered invasive in Ireland. The status of each species in the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW) is given, to indicate their invasive behaviour elsewhere in the world. Abundance was ranked as rare (the invasive plant occurs in less than 900 km²), occasional (between 1000 and 4900 km²) or common (occurs in ; 5000 km² and in at least five different vice-counties). The year of first record and mode of introduction are also given.
|
Species
|
Family
|
Origin
|
GCW status
|
Abundance
|
History
|
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Acaena nova-zelandiae
|
Rosaceae
|
Australia, New Zealand
|
W, N, NW, EW
|
Rare, 600 km²
|
1952, accidentally introduced with wool, planted for ornamental purposes
|
|
Acer pseudoplatanus
|
Aceraceae
|
Eurasia
|
W, GE, EW
|
Common, 90,500 km²
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1610, ornamental and forestry
|
|
Acorus calamus
|
Araceae
|
Asia
|
W, EW
|
Occasional, 1,000 km²
|
1744, ornamental and medicinal purposes
|
|
Allium carinatum
|
Liliaceae
|
Eurasia
|
W
|
Rare, 900 km²
|
1825, ornamental and food
|
|
Allium triquetrum
|
Liliaceae
|
Medit.
|
N, GE, EW
|
Common, 11,300 km²
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1890, ornamental
|
|
Anisantha diandra
|
Poaceae
|
Medit.
|
/
|
Rare, 500 km²
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1894, accidentally introduced with wool and grain and cultivated
|
|
Buddleja davidii
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Buddlejaceae
|
Asia
|
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
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Common, 25,300 km²
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1857, ornamental
|
|
Calystegia pulchra
|
Convolvulaceae
|
Asia
|
/
|
Common, 8,800 km²
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1885, ornamental
|
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Centranthus ruber
|
Valerianaceae
|
Medit., Asia
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W, GE, EW
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Common, 31,200 km²
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1866, ornamental
|
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Cornus sericea
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Cornaceae
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N-Am.
|
/
|
Common, 9,400 km²
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1858, ornamental
|
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Coronopus didymus
|
Brassicaceae
|
Trop. S-Am.
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W, EW
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Common, 27,700 KM²
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1879, ballast
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Cotoneaster integrifolius
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Rosaceae
|
Asia
|
/
|
Common, 190,200 km²
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1902, ornamental
|
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Cotoneaster simonsii
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Rosaceae
|
Asia
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W, QW, GE, EW
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Common, 10,800 km²
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1934, ornamental
|
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Crepis vesicaria
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Asteraceae
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Medit, Asia
|
/
|
Common, 23,500 km²
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1866, accidental introduction with grass seeds
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Croscomia x croscomiifolia
(= Tritonia x croscomiifolia)
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Iridaceae
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S-Af., Hort.
|
/
|
Common, 66,700 km²
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1834, ornamental
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Cymbalaria muralis
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Scrophulariaceae
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Medit.
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W, GE, EW
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Common, 52,900 km²
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1866, ornamental
|
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Elodea canadensis
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Hydrocharitaceae
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N-Am.
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W, SW, QW, N, GE, EW
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Common, 38,000 km²
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1836, ornamental
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Elodea nuttallii (EPPO List of IAS)
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Hydrocharitaceae
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N-Am.
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W, EW
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Occasional, 1,500 km²
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1984, ornamental
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Epilobium brunnescens
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Onagraceae
|
New Zealand
|
/
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Common, 38,400 km²
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1933, ornamental
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Erica terminalis
|
Ericaceae
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Medit
|
/
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Rare, 100 km²
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Ornamental
|
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Fagus sylvatica
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Fagaceae
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Eur.
|
/
|
Common, 70,500 km²
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1866, forestry, ornamental?
|
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Fallopia balduschianica
|
Polygonaceae
|
Asia
|
/
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Rare, 900 km²
|
1973, ornamental
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Fallopia japonica (EPPO List of IAS)
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Polygonaceae
|
Asia
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QW, N, EW
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Common, 72,600 km²
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1902, ornamental
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Fallopia x bohemica (EPPO List of IAS)
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Polygonaceae
|
Asia
|
/
|
Occasional, 1,200 km²
|
1975, ornamental, hybrid
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|
Fuchsia magellanica
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Onagraceae
|
S-Am.
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W, GE, EW
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Common, 47,600 km²
|
1907, ornamental, fodder
|
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Gaultheria mucronata
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Ericaceae
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S-Am.
|
/
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Occasional, 1700 km²
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1920, ornamental
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Gaultheria shallon
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Ericaceae
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N-Am.
|
/
|
Rare, 600 km²
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1962, food and cover
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Geranium pyrenaicum
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Geraniaceae
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Medit, Asia
|
/
|
Common, 10,800 km²
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1866, ornamental
|
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Gunnera tinctoria
|
Gunneraceae
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S-Am.
|
SW, QW, EW
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Common, 5,300 km²
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1935, ornamental
|
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Halogaris micrantha
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Halogaraceae
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Asia, Australia, New Zealand
|
/
|
Rare, 100 km²
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Unknown
|
|
Hebe x franciscana
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Scrophulariaceae
|
Hort.
|
/
|
Occasional, 3,500 km²
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1904, ornamental
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Heracleum mantegazzianum (EPPO List of IAS)
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Apiaceae
|
Asia
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QW, N, EW
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Common, 14,200 km²
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1860, ornamental
|
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Hippophae rhamnoides
|
Elaeagnaceae
|
Eurasia
|
/
|
Occasional, 4,300 km²
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1835, soil stabilisation
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Hordeum murinum
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Poaceae
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Medit, Asia
|
/
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Occasional, 4,200 km²
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1750, wool
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Hyacinthoides hispanica
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Liliaceae
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Euromed.
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/
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Occasional, 7,500 km²
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1887, ornamental
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Hyacinthoides non-scripta x H. hispanica
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Liliaceae
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Euromed.
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/
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Common, 8,000 km²
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1887, ornamental
|
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Hydrocotyle ranunculoides (EPPO A2 List)
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Apiaceae
|
N-Am.
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QW, N, EW
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Rare
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2002, ornamental
|
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Impatiens parviflora
|
Balsaminaceae
|
Asia
|
/
|
Common, 22,600 km²
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1906, ornamental
|
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Juncus planifolius
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Juncaceae
|
S-Am. Oceania
|
/
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Rare, 300 km²
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Unknown
|
|
Lagarosiphon major (EPPO List of IAS)
|
Hydrocharitaceae
|
S-Af.
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QW, N, EW
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Rare, 700 km²
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1966, ornamental
|
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Lagurus ovatus
|
Poaceae
|
Medit.
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W, GE, EW
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Rare, 200 km²
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1874, ballast, ornamental
|
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Lemna minuta
|
Lemanceae
|
Am.
|
QW
|
Rare, 500 km²
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1933, ornamental
|
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Leycesteria formosa
|
Caprifoliaceae
|
Asia
|
W, GE, EW
|
Common, 12,100 km²
|
1955, ornamental
|
|
Libertia chilensis
|
Iridaceae
|
S-Am.
|
/
|
Rare, 600 km²
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1960, ornamental
|
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Lysichiton americanus (EPPO A2 List)
|
Iridaceae
|
N-Am.
|
/
|
Occasional, 2,100 km²
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1930, ornamental
|
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Matricaria discoidea
|
Asteraceae
|
Asia
|
/
|
Common, 88,900 km²
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1894, grain
|
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Mimulus guttatus
|
Scrophulariaceae
|
N-Am.
|
EW
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Occasional, 3,600 km²
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1866, ornamental
|
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Mimulus x robertsii
|
Scrophulariaceae
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Hort.
|
/
|
Common, 11,500 km²
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1865, ornamental
|
|
Mycelis muralis
|
Asteraceae
|
Eurasia
|
/
|
Common, 7,500 km²
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1866, ornamental
|
|
Nymphoides peltata
|
Menyanthaceae
|
Eurasia
|
W, QW, EW
|
Occasional, 1,000 km²
|
1866, ornamental
|
|
Oenothera glazioviana
|
Oenotheraceae
|
N-Am.
|
W, EW
|
Occasional, 1,600 km²
|
1873, ornamental
|
|
Orobanche minor
|
Orobanchaceae
|
Eurasia
|
W, N, EW
|
Common, 6,800 km²
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1866, clover seeds
|
|
Petasites fragrans
|
Asteraceae
|
Medit.
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N, EW
|
Common, 52,000 km²
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1866, ornamental
|
|
Poa palustris
|
Poaceae
|
Cosm.
|
W
|
Rare, 600 km²
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1886, wool, grain, fodder
|
|
Prunus cerasus
|
Rosaceae
|
Asia
|
W, EW
|
Common, 20,000 km²
|
1866, food, ornament
|
|
Rhododendron ponticum (EPPO List of IAS)
|
Ericaceae
|
Eurasia
|
W, SW, EW
|
Common, 46,100 km²
|
1800, ornamental, shelter
|
|
Rubus spectabilis
|
Rosaceae
|
N-Am.
|
/
|
Common, 13,600 km²
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1931, ornamental
|
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Sarracenia purpurea
|
Saraceniaceae
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N-Am.
|
/
|
Rare, 500 km²
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1905
|
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Selaginella kraussiana
|
Selleginaceae
|
Af.
|
W, QW, GE, EW
|
Occasional, 1,900 km²
|
1955, ornamental
|
|
Senecio cineraria
|
Asteraceae
|
Medit. Asia
|
W
|
Rare, 800 km²
|
1898, ornamental
|
|
Sisyrinchium californicum
|
Iridaceae
|
N-Am.
|
/
|
Rare, 100 km²
|
1896, ornamental
|
|
Spartina anglica
|
Poaceae
|
Eur.
|
W, QW, N, EW
|
Common, 6,900 km²
|
1925, soil stabilisation
|
|
Stratiotes aloides
|
Hydrocharitaceae
|
Eurasia
|
W, QW, N, EW
|
Rare, 700 km²
|
1805
|
|
Symphoricarpos albus
|
Caprifoliaceae
|
N-Am.
|
W
|
Common, 69,000 km²
|
1903, ornamental, game cover
|
|
Verbena officinalis
|
Verbenaceae
|
Eur.
|
W, GE, EW
|
Occasional, 3,800 km²
|
1866, medical
|
Abbreviations for the Global Compendium of Weeds column:
W: weed; NW: noxious weed; N: naturalized; QW: quarantine weed; GE: garden escape; EW: environmental weed; SW: sleeper weed; /: not quoted in the GCW.
Many of these species are considered invasive aliens in Ireland while they are native from other nearby EPPO countries. Species such as Impatiens parviflora and Elodea canadensis are recorded as invasive in almost all countries of the temperate and Mediterranean EPPO countries.
Some other species are also recorded as alien invasive in a few other EPPO countries:
- Acaena nova-zelandae is recorded as invasive in the United Kingdom (University of Liverpool Website),
- Buddleja davidii is recorded in the United Kingdom (University of Liverpool Website), France (Muller, 2005), Switzerland (Wittenberg, 2005), Germany (Neoflora website), Spain (San Elorza et al., 2004), Italy (Lazio, L Celesti-Grapow et al., pers. comm.) and potentially invasive in Austria (Essl ; Rabitsch, 2004).
- Cornus sericea is considered invasive in Switzerland (Wittenberg, 2005).
- Coronopus didymus is considered invasive in Italy (Lazio, L Celesti-Grapow et al., pers. comm.) and in Greece (E Arvanitakis, pers. comm.).
- Croscomia x croscomiifolia is also recorded as invasive in the United Kingdom (University of Liverpool Website) and in Spain (San Elorza et al., 2004).
- Fallopia balduschianica shows invasive behaviour in France (JM Tison, pers. comm.), in Italy (Lazio, L Celesti-Grapow et al., pers. comm.), in Spain (San Elorza et al., 2004) and in Slovenia (Nejc Jogan, pers. comm.).
- Fuschia magellanica is recorded as invasive in the UK (University of Liverpool Website).
- Gaultheria shallon is recorded as invasive in the United Kingdom (University of Liverpool Website) and in Scotland (The Wildlife and Countrysite Act 1981).
- Hyacinthoides hispanica threatened Hyacinthoides non-scripta by competition and hybridization in the UK (University of Liverpool Website) and in Scotland (The Wildlife and Countrysite Act 1981).
- Lemna minuta is recorded as invasive in Belgium (Invasive Species in Belgium Website), the Netherlands (Plant Protection Service, pers. comm.), the United Kingdom (University of Liverpool Website) and France (Muller, 2005).
- Matricaria discoidea is recorded as invasive in Germany (Federal Biological Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, pers. comm.), the Netherlands (Plant Protection Service, pers. comm.), Czech Republic (National Plant Protection Service, pers. comm.), the United Kingdom (University of Liverpool Website) and Serbia (Danijela Stesevic et al.; pers. comm.).
- Mimulus guttatus is present in many countries but is recorded as invasive in Czech Republic (Pyšek et al., 2002) and in Poland (W Solarz, pers. comm.).
- Oenothera glazioviana is recorded as invasive in Spain (San Elorza et al., 2004).
- Symphoricarpos albus is recorded as invasive in Germany (Federal Biological Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, pers. comm.), Czech Republic (Pyšek et al., 2002) and the United Kingdom (University of Liverpool Website).
Some other species are newly recorded as invasive for the region: Calystegia pulchra, Cotoneaster integrifolius, Cotoneaster simonsii, Epilobium brunnescens, Gaultheria mucronata, Halogaris micrantha, Hebe x franciscana, Juncus planifolius, Leycesteria formosa, Libertia chilensis, Mimulus x robertsii, Prunus cerasus, Rubus spectabilis, Sarracenia purpurea, Selaginella kraussiana, Sisyrinchium californicum and Stratiotes aloides.
Sources
Database of the alien plants in Ireland. http://www.biochange.ie/alienplants
Essl F, Rabitsch W (2002) Austrian action plan on invasive alien species. Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. Vienna. 15 pp.;http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/fileadmin/site/umweltthemen/naturschutz/Neobiota_Engl.pdf
Invasive Species in Belgium Website. http://ias.biodiversity.be/?searchterm=invasive
Muller S (Coord.) (2005) Plantes invasives en France. (Patrimoines naturels, 62). Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. 168 p.
Neoflora website (Germany). http://www.floraweb.de/neoflora/
Pyšek P, Sádlo J, Mandák B (2002) Catalogue of alien plants of the Czech Republic. Preslia, Praha, 74: 97-186.
San Elorza M, Dana Sanchez E D, Sobrino Vesperinas E (eds.) (2004) Atlas de las plantas aloctonas invasoras en Espana. Direccion para la biodiversidad. Madrid, 384 pp.
University of Liverpool – Invasive Non Native Species in the UK. http://138.253.199.114/IAAP
Wittenberg R (ed.) (2005) An inventory of alien species and their threat to biodiversity and economy in Switzerland. CABI Bioscience Switzerland Centre report to the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape. http://www.umwelt-schweiz.ch/buwal/fr/fachgebiete/fg_biotechnologie/news/2005-09-26-00893/index.html
The Wildlife and Countrysite Act 1981. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2005/20050308.htm