Native, Invasive, and Other Plant-Related Definitions
Native, Invasive, and Other Plant-Related Definitions
Native Plant
A plant that is a part of the balance of nature that has developed over
hundreds or thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem. Note: The
word native should always be used with a geographic qualifier (that is, native
to New England [for example]). Only plants found in this country before
European settlement are considered to be native to the United States.
Invasive Plant
A plant that is both non-native and able to establish on many sites, grow
quickly, and spread to the point of disrupting plant communities or
ecosystems. Note: From the Presidential Executive Order 13112 (February 1999):
'An invasive species is defined as a species that is 1) non-native (or alien)
to the ecosystem under consideration and 2) whose introduction causes or is
likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.' In
contrast to item 2) of the Executive Order, which includes plants invasive in
agricultural settings, the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group lists
non-native plants as invasive only if they invade minimally managed (natural)
areas.
Non-Native Plant
A plant introduced with human help (intentionally or accidentally) to a new
place or new type of habitat where it was not previously found. Note: Not all
non-native plants are invasive. In fact, when many non-native plants are
introduced to new places, they cannot reproduce or spread readily without
continued human help (for example, many ornamental plants).
Naturalized Plant
A non-native plant that does not need human help to reproduce and maintain
itself over time in an area where it is not native. Notes: Even though their
offspring reproduce and spread naturally (without human help), naturalized
plants do not, over time, become native members of the local plant community.
Many naturalized plants are found primarily near human-dominated areas; and,
sometimes, naturalized is used (confusingly) to refer specifically to
naturally reproducing, non-native plants that do not invade areas dominated by
native vegetation. However, since invasive plants also reproduce and spread
without human help, they also are naturalized � invasives are a small, but
troublesome, sub-category of naturalized plants.
Exotic Plant
A plant not native to the continent on which it is now found. (Plants from
Europe are exotic in North America; plants from North America are exotic in
Japan.)
Translocated Plant
A plant not native to the portion of the continent where it is now found.
(California Poppies in New England are an example of a translocated species.)
Opportunistic Native Plant
A native plant that is able to take advantage of disturbance to the soil or
existing vegetation to spread quickly and out-compete the other plants on the
disturbed site.
Weed
Common Usage - A weed is a plant (native or
non-native) that is not valued in the place where it is growing (USDA Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)). Definition
- Any plant that poses a major threat to agriculture and/or natural
ecosystems within the United States.
Noxious Weed
Common Usage - A plant that is particularly
troublesome. Legal Context (Federal Plant
Protection Act) - Any plant or plant product that can directly or indirectly
injure or cause damage to crops (including nursery stock or plant products),
livestock, poultry or other interests of agriculture, irrigation, navigation,
the natural resources of the United States, the public health, or the
environment. Note: USDA APHIS maintains a list of
federally-recognized noxious weeds. It is illegal to import Federally listed
noxious weeds or transport them across state lines. Some states or counties
maintain lists and have passed laws regarding responsibilities for their
control (not applicable in Connecticut). Connecticut laws ban the sale or
transport of noxious weed seeds.
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Plants in Connecticut