Participation of the nursery industry in controlling invasive alien plants: a booklet of substitute plants for southern France
In France, collaboration has been initiated between the ‘Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen’ of Porquerolles and the nursery industry to prevent the introduction of invasive alien plants, essentially by proposing substitute plants. A Panel of representatives from the nursery and landscaping industries was established and issued in 2003 a booklet presenting the 15 most invasive plants in the Mediterranean area and their corresponding substitute plants. ;Descriptions of the morphology, biology, habitats, history of introduction, impacts, management and use of the plants are provided for the following invasive plants, and substitute plants are proposed:
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Invasive species
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Substitute species
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Acacia dealbata (Fabaceae)
(EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants)
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For dry areas: Colutea arborescens, Coronilla glauca, Callicotome spinosa, Fabaceae originating from the Mediterranean Basin.
For ornamental purposes: Sophora microphylla and S. tetraptera, Fabaceae originating from New Zealand.
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Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae)
(EPPO List of IAP)
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For dry areas: Colutea arborescens, Coronilla glauca, Callicotome spinosa, Fabaceae originating from the Mediterranean Basin.
For ornamental purposes: Fraxinus angustifolia (Oleaceae) and Celtis australis (Ulmaceae) originating from the Mediterranean area.
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Amorpha fruticosa (Fabaceae)
(EPPO List of IAP)
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In humid environments, indigenous species from the Mediterranean area such as Populus alba (Salicaceae), Fraxinus angustifolia (Oleaceae), Salix alba (Salicaceae), Alnus glutinosa (Betulceae) and Cornus sanguinea (Cornaceae) can be used.
On dry dunes, Juniperus phoeniceae (Cupressaceae) is recommended for sand stabilization.
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Baccharis halimifolia (Asteraceae)
(EPPO List of IAP)
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For embankments: the Mediterranean Atriplex halimus (Chenopodiaceae).
For ornamental purposes: Leucophyllum frutescens (Scrophulariaceae), originating from North and Central America and Xanthoceras sorbifolia (Sapindaceae) originating from China.
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Buddleia davidii (Buddlejaceae)
(EPPO List of IAP)
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For ornamental purposes: Syringa persica (Oleaceae).
Note: the hybrid Buddleja “Lochinch” (B. davidii x B. fallowiana) was recommended but has been recorded as escaping (see RSE 2005/131).
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Carpobrotus acinaciformis and C. edulis
(EPPO List of IAP)
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For dunes, a mixture of spontaneous species is recommended.
For ornamental purposes, Armeria maritima (Plumbaginaceae) originating from Southern Europe can be used.
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Cortaderia selloana (Poaceae)
(EPPO List of IAP)
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Saccharum ravennae (Poaceae) originating from the Mediterranean Basin can be used for ornamental and re-vegetation purposes.
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Lippia canescens (Verbenaceae)
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Frankenia laevis (Frankeniaceae), Thymus ciliatus and Thymus serpillum var. albus are creeping plants originating from the Mediterranean Basin.
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Ludwigia grandiflora and L. peploides (Onagraceae)
(EPPO List of IAP)
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Ranunculus aquatilis (Renonculaceae) from Europe and Hottonia palustris (Primulaceae) from Eurasia.
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Opuntia spp.
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To constitute defensive hedges: Calicotome spinosa (Fabaceae), originating from the Mediterranean Basin.
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Robinia pseudoacacia (Fabaceae)
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For dry areas: Colutea arborescens, Coronilla glauca, Callicotome spinosa, Fabaceae originating from the Mediterranean Basin.
For ornamental purposes: Sorbus domestica (Rasaceae) originating from Central and Southern Europe.
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Other invasive alien plants which are not commercialized are described: Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asteraceae) (EPPO List of IAP), Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminaceae) (EPPO List of IAP), Reynoutria japonica and R. sachalinensis (Polygonaceae) (EPPO List of IAP) and Senecio inaequidens (Asteraceae) (EPPO List of IAP).
This collaboration has lead to local initiatives, such as in the city of Sète, where Francis Brot, who is in charge of landscaping, has coordinated the eradication of Carpobrotus acinaciformis, Ailanthus altissima and Opuntia spp. and has drafted a list of invasive alien plants which should not be used in landscaping projects.
Sources
Agence Méditerranéenne de l'Environnement, Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen de Porquerolles, 2003 – Plantes envahissantes de la région méditerranéenne. Agence Méditerranéenne de l’Environnement.
Agence Régionale Pour l’Environnement Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. 48 pp. http://www.ame-lr.org/plantesenvahissantes/
Agence Régionale Pour l’Environnement Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. 48 pp. http://www.ame-lr.org/plantesenvahissantes/
Contacts: Isabelle Mandon, Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen de Porquerolles, Montpellier – France. i.mandon@cbnmed.org and Francis Brot, Ville de Sète – France. brot@ville-sete.fr