Invasive species


Disturbed land may become infested with alien invasive species: organisms with specific traits that allow them to out-compete native species.

             

Invasive weed species, found in the Park, include Chromolaena odorata (left) and Mimosa pigra (both of which originated in tropical America).


Left: the attractive Candle Bush: Senna (= Cassia) alata is native to Mexico and is an invasive species; it is known to have medicinal properties. It is becoming an increasingly common sight in the Park.

 

In addition, a number of grasses predominate in certain areas due to human disturbance (agriculture, defoliants, logging, etc.):

  • mission grass Pennisetum polystachion (invasive from Africa)
  • elephant grass P. purpureum (invasive from Africa)
  • kans grass Saccharum spontaneum is an invasive from India
  • cogon grass Imperata cylindrica is native, but an indicator of disturbed land
Another attractive invasive species of waterways is the Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, which is native to the Amazon basin.

 


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updated: 16 April 2012 

 
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