Cape ivy in Berkeley hills (B. Case) |
These Plant Assessment Forms (PAFs) include draft scores and documentation for plants reviewed for the updated California Invasive Plant Inventory (a.k.a. the Cal-IPC weed list). The meaning of each score can be found in the Cal-IPC List Criteria (pdf file). These rankings should be considered preliminary until final comments have been received. To view a summary of scores, documentation levels, and Jepson regions invaded for all reviewed species, see the following spreadsheets:
If you can provide additional information on any species or have other comments regarding the scores, contact Cal-IPC project manager Elizabeth Brusati (edbrusati@cal-ipc.org) by SEPTEMBER 1, 2005. To help us track comments, please include:
- The plant species name
- The number of the question your comment addresses (1.1, 1.2, etc.)
- Specific details for the information you are adding or the score that you think is incorrect
The final draft will be presented at the October 2005 Cal-IPC Symposium and published in late 2005.
Plants are categorized as High, Medium, or Low based on a combination of their documented impacts, potential for spread, and the range of habitats they tolerate. Please be aware that the rankings represent state-wide impacts. Lower-rated species are invasive but may occur in a limited number of regions or habitats within California. For information on plants of concern in your area, see information provided by local Weed Management Areas. Photographs for many species are available through The Nature Conservancy's Invasive Species Initiative webpage. A glossary (pdf) of some of the terms used in the PAFs is available through The Weed Workers' Handbook.
High: These species have severe ecological impacts on ecosystems, plant and animal communities, and vegetational structure. Their reproductive biology and other attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal and establishment. These species are usually widely distributed ecologically, both among and within ecosystems.
Plants Rated High
Medium: These species have substantial and apparent - but generally not severe - ecological impacts on ecosystems, plant and animal communities, and vegetational structure. Their reproductive biology and other attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal, though establishment is generally dependent upon ecological disturbance. Ecological amplitude and distribution may range from limited to widespread.
Plants Rated Medium
Low: These species are invasive but their ecological impacts are minor. Their reproductive biology and other attributes result in low to moderate rates of invasion. Ecological amplitude and distribution are generally limited, but these species may be locally persistent and problematic.
Plants Rated Low
Red Alert: This is an additional designation for some species in either the high or medium category whose current ecological amplitude and distribution are limited. The designation alerts managers to species that are capable of rapidly invading unexploited ecosystems, based on initial, localized observations, and on observed ecological behavior in similar ecosystems elsewhere.
Red Alert Species
Considered But Not Listed: In general, this designation is for species for which information is currently inadequate to respond with certainty to the minimum number of criteria questions (i.e., too many "U" responses), or for which the sum effects of ecological impacts, invasiveness, and ecological amplitude and distribution fall below the threshold for ranking (i.e. the overall rank falls below Low). Many such species are widespread but are not known to have substantial ecological impacts (though such evidence may appear in the future). All species receiving a "D" score for ecological impact (Section1), regardless of what other section scores they receive, are by default placed into this category.
Considered But Not Listed
Inconclusive - Phragmites australis (Common reed) was not listed because global genetic issues make it unclear which strains are non-native in California. It is unclear whether this species was historically present in all regions of California.
Not Reviewed - The committee decided not to review these species because these plants escape into wildlands only in rare circumstances.
- Aeonium spp.
- Aptenia cordifolia (Red apple)
- Araujia sericofera (Bladderflower)
- Brassica oleraceus (Wild cabbage)
- Cercidium floridum (Blue palo verde)
- Chrysanthemum segetum (Corn chysanthemum)
- Colutea arborescens (Bladder-senna)
- Coprosma repens (Mirror plant)
- Cupaniopsis anacardioides (Carrot weed)
- Enchylaena tomentosa (Ruby salt-bush)
- Grindelia squarrosa (Gum plant)
- Kniphofia uvaria (Red hot poker)
- Passiflora caerulea (Blue passionflower)
- Sollya heterophylla (Australian bluebell creeper)
- Ulmas parvifolia (Chinese elm)
- Zoysia spp.
Information related to the Invasive Plant Inventory 2005 Revision:
California Invasive Plant Council
1442-A Walnut St., #462
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 843-3902
fax (510) 217-3500
info@cal-ipc.org
