Alien trees and shrubs of Latvia
An updated list of invasive alien trees and shrubs has been published for Latvia. The list includes 178 taxa of which those in table 1 are considered the highest risk species. Most of the 178 alien taxa introduced in Latvia are native to North America (46 taxa, 26%), and Europe (39 taxa, 22%). The results showed that 89 % of the identified invasive plants dispersed from horticulture, 6 % as edible plants, including herbs and plant seeds, fruits and other plant parts, 3 % human food and 2 % wood production (timber).
Table 1. Trees and shrubs which are threatening or likely to threaten natural habitats in Latvia.
Species | Family | Native range | Status in Latvia |
Acer negundo | Sapindaceae | N. America | Invasive |
Acer pseudoplatanus | Sapindaceae | Eurasia | Invasive |
Acer pseudoplatanus 'Purpurascens’ | Sapindaceae | Invasive | |
Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala | Sapindaceae | Eurasia | Casual |
Amelanchier x spicata* | Rosaceae | Invasive | |
Caragana arborescens | Fabaceae | East Asia | Invasive |
Celastrus orbiculatus** | Celastraceae | East Asia | Casual |
Cornus alba | Cornaceae | Asia | Invasive |
Cotoneaster lucidus | Rosaceae | Asia | Invasive |
Elaeagnus commutata | Elaeagnaceae | N. America | Invasive |
Hippophae rhamnoides | Elaeagnaceae | Eurasia | Invasive |
Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vitaceae | N. America | Invasive |
Physocarpus opulifolius | Rosaceae | N. America | Invasive |
Populus laurifolia | Salicaceae | Asia | Invasive |
Populus trista | Salicaceae | N. America | Invasive |
Prunus cerasifera var. divaricata | Rosaceae | Europe/Asia | Invasive |
Prunus cerasus | Rosaceae | Europe/N. America | Invasive |
Prunus domestica var. instititia | Rosaceae | Europe | Invasive |
Prunus tomentosa | Rosaceae | East Asia | Casual |
Rosa pendulina | Rosaceae | Invasive | |
Rosa rugosa | Rosaceae | East Asia | Invasive |
Rosa spinosissima | Rosaceae | Europe | Invasive |
Salix alba | Salicaceae | Europe | Native & introduced |
Salix daphnoides | Salicaceae | Europe | Established |
Salix × fragilis | Salicaceae | Established | |
Salix x fragilis f. vitellina | Salicaceae | Casual/Established? | |
Spiraea alba | Rosaceae | N America | Invasive |
Spiraea × billardii | Rosaceae | Invasive | |
Spiraea × rosalba | Rosaceae | Invasive | |
Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus | Caprifoliaceae | N America | Invasive |
* EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants; ** EPPO A2 List | |||
Sources
Evarte-Bundere G, Evarts-Bunders P, Mežaka A, Bojāre A (2022) Alien trees and shrubs of Latvia - evaluation of current status and invasiveness. Forest studies Metsanduslikud Uurimused 76, 1-20.