First record of Hydrocotyle verticillata in Israel
During the field trip of the EPPO Panel on Invasive Alien Species held on 2010-05-05 in Israel, Hydrocotyle verticillata (Apiaceae) was observed growing profusely in the river Yarkon, near the city of Tel Aviv. This is the first record of this species in Israel. The identity of the species was confirmed by M. van Valkenburg from the Plant Protection Service of the Netherlands. H. verticillata probably escaped from a garden where it was present as an ornamental aquatic plant.
This species, originating from North America, is also recorded as present in Spain and in the United Kingdom. It is regulated in Japan and in Western Australia. A study about the species competitiveness has been conducted in New Zealand and concluded that it was unlikely that H. verticillata would become a significant weed under New Zealand conditions. It was found that H. verticillata was able to slowly spread and form monospecific mats, but it did not displace other species.
The behavior of this species could nevertheless be monitored in the EPPO countries where it is recorded.
Sources
Tuvia Yaacoby, Plant Protection ; Inspection Services, E-mail: tobyy@moag.gov.il
Johan van Valkenburg, Plant Protection Service of the Netherlands, E-mail: j.l.c.h.van.valkenburg@minlnv.nl
CABI Invasive Species Compendium http://www.cabi.org/isc/
Champion PD, Hofstra DE, Clayton JS(2007) Border control for potential aquatic weeds. Stage 3. Weed risk management. Science for Conservation 271. 41 pp.
Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe (DAISIE) http://www.europe-aliens.org/
Sanz-Elorza M, Dana Sánchez ED, Sobrino Vesperinas E (2004) Atlas de las plantas aloctonas invasoras en España,;Direccion General para la Biodiversidad, Madrid, Spain, 378 pp.