Invasive plants are those that are not native to the northeastern United States but have established themselves to such an extent that they out compete native plants for sunlight, water, and soil nutrients. An example is the invasion of the oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) which has supplanted the American bittersweet (C. scandens) in many places. Our goal is to inventory and describe the invasive plants of the WLT/Zofnass Family Preserve so they can be recognized and controlled. The most important preventative in keeping invasive plants under control is to identify and remove them when they are seen at trail heads because once they get established in the interior of the preserve they are extremely difficult to eliminate.
ADOXACEAE
Linden viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum). Formerly placed in the Caprifoliaceae.
BERBERIDACEAE
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii).
BRASSICACEAE
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).
Narrowleaved bittercress (Cardamine impatiens)
CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Japanese lonicera (Lonicera japonica).
CELASTRACEAE
Burning bush (Euonymus alatus).
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus).
OLEACEAE
Border ligustrum (Ligustrum obtusifolium).
POLYGONACEAE
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
POACEAE
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum).
RHAMNACEAE
European alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)
ROSACEAE
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
Oriental photinia (Photinia villosa)
SAPINDACEAE
Norway maple (Acer platanoides). The Aceraceae are now placed in the Sapindacee (Stevens, 2001).
SIMAROUBACEAE
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissimus).
VITACEAE
Porcelain-berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata).