appendix 2 » Missouri Prairie Foundation

APPENDIX 2: EXOTIC SPECIES TABLE

This table lists all 92 species of exotic plants documented from MPF sites, with comments on the habitat and ecology of each taxon. Common names are provided in Appendix 1. As discussed in the Exotic Species section of the text (p. 16), each weed has been assigned one of five weed classes:

Class 1 - accidentals

Class 2 - obligate ruderals

Class 3 - potentially persistent ruderals

Class 4 - weak to moderate grassland competitors

Class 5 - aggressive grassland invaders

Weed name Class Comments

Abutilon theophrasti 2 casual weed of new ground and crop fields

Agrostis alba 4 nearly cosmopolitan on disturbed Missouri prairies, especially on mesic to dry-mesic sites

Allium vineale 3 confined to severely disturbed areas; capable of persisting in but not invading native vegetation

Amaranthus retroflexus 2 cropland weed occasionally in open, usually high-nutrient, soil

Anthoxanthum odoratum 1 rare meadow weed in Missouri; known from a single small population at Gayfeather Prairie

Arctium minus 3 invasive weed in rich open soil and severely disturbed woods; will not persist in prairie restorations

Arenaria serpyllifolia 3 inoffensive weed in disturbed uplands, in open low vegetation

Asparagus officinalis 1 casual accidental; not persistent or spreading except along weedy fencerows and roadsides

Barbarea vulgaris 2 common but seldom abundant, in disturbed sites, particularly among Old World grasses

Belamcanda chinensis 3 surprisingly invasive in low shaded ground at Gayfeather Prairie; not typically a problem weed in Missouri

Bidens bipinnata 2 uncommon opportunistic weed of previously degraded, somewhat mesic or moist sites with sparse vegetation

Brassica kaber 2 casual weed of newly disturbed soil

Bromus inermis 4 deep-rooted perennial grass; sometimes problematical once established but not capable of invading native prairie this far south

Bromus japonicus 3 common in disturbed weedy grasslands and along thicket edges where partial shading reduces prairie vigor

Bromus racemosa 3 common in disturbed weedy grasslands and along thicket edges where partial shading reduces prairie vigor

Bromus tectorum 3 locally abundant in newly disturbed soil; yielding in time to perennial vegetation

Broussonetia papyrifera 1 uncommon tree in thickets and fencerows

Capsella bursa-pastoris 2 restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas

Cerastium brachypetalum 2 common in compacted soils with sparse low vegetation, such as along roadsides and parking areas

Cerastium vulgatum 2 uncommon in established weedy areas, usually with Old World grasses

Chenopodium album 3 uncommon in brush piles and in soil mounds

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum 2 field and meadow weed with a tendency to proliferate in unburned prairies and hay meadows

Commelia communis 3 weak weed of newly disturbed, typically shaded, ground

Conium maculatum 2 known only from a small area of LaPetite Gemme Prairie; not invasive in healthy vegetation, but capable of forming dense stands that preclude successional recovery - extremely toxic

Dactylis glomerata 3 Occasional in weedy grasslands; never abundant

Daucus carota 3 common in disturbed open areas; but not competitive with diverse native perennial vegetation unless there is ongoing site disturbance

Dianthus armeria 3 occasional innocuous (and attractive) weed in degraded prairies, pastures, and old fields

Digitaria ciliaris 2 restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas

Digitaria sanguinalis 2 restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas

Draba verna 2 uncommon vernal weed of open ground or sparse low vegetation

Echinochloa crusgalli 3 common in disturbed, open, at least seasonally moist areas, but not problematical in sites with conservation management

Eleusine indica 2 restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas

Eragrostis cilianensis 2 uncommon casual weed of new ground

Festuca elatior 5 SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS

Galium pedemontanum 3 common but never dominant small weed of exposed dry soils in low vegetation

Hordeum pusillum 2 locally common but not persistent in newly or perennially disturbed soils

Hypericum perforatum 3 uncommon in weedy meadow vegetation and along roadsides

Lactuca serriola 2 frequent short-lived weed of newly disturbed sites

Lamium amplexicaule 2 cropland weed known only from farm fields at Schwartz Prairie

Lamium purpureum 2 weakly persistent weed of disturbed woodlands, thickets, and streambanks

Lespedeza cuneata 5 SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS

Lespedeza stipulacea 4 common low weed capable of thriving in some prairie vegetation; formerly overseeded in some prairies

Lespedeza striata 4 common low weed capable of thriving in some prairie vegetation; formerly overseeded in some prairies

Lespedeza thunbergii 1 accidental established in an area of LaPetite Gemme; capable of persisting and spreading in eastern states

Ligustrum ovalifolium 1 bird-disseminated shrub capable of becoming problematical in unburned areas

Lonicera japonica 5 SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS

Lychnis alba 1 uncommon weed of previously disturbed sites; not capable of persisting or invading prairies

Maclura pomifera 5 SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS

Melilotus alba 3 problematical in sites with previous intensive disturbance, especially in alkaline or neutral soils; persistent seed bank can impede prairie restoration efforts

Melilotus officinalis 3 occasional weed in severely disturbed areas

Mollugo verticillata 2 innocuous weed of open, typically sandy soils; sometimes considered a weak native weed

Morus alba 3 tough, bird-disseminated tree of fencerows and weedy thickets

Pastinaca sativa 2 infrequent in established weedy vegetation along roadsides previously disturbed areas

Perilla frutescens 2 weed of shaded open moist ground along streams and in depressions

Phalaris caroliniana 3 uncommon in moist degraded prairies

Phleum pratense 4 common, sometimes locally abundant grass of degraded prairies; easily managed with fire

Plantago lanceolata 4 common in recently or regularly disturbed areas, but otherwise not persistent in competition with prairie vegetation

Poa annua 2 occasional small weed of moist open ground

Poa compressa 4 ubiquitous, often unnoticed weed of disturbed prairies and hay meadows; potentially problematical and persistent

Poa pratensis 4 ubiquitous, often unnoticed weed of disturbed prairies and hay meadows; potentially problematical and persistent, aggressive in light dry soils

Polygonum aviculare 2 restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas

Polygonum persicaria 2 weed in open ground and newly disturbed soil

Potentilla recta 3 occasional in disturbed open areas, usually among other weeds

Prunus mahaleb 1 accidental and sporadic shrubby tree

Pyrus communis 1 accidental escape from discarded fruit; seldom proliferating

Robinia pseudoacacia 3 potentially aggressive tree capable of forming dense thickets once established, but not invasive in native grasslands

Rosa multiflora 4 aggressive invasive shrub in disturbed, unburned grasslands, weedy thickets, and disturbed woods

Rumex acetosella 3 occasional in acidic, well-drained sites with sparse or low vegetation, often persistent once established

Rumex crispus 2 seldom abundant, but widespread, in disturbed ground, usually among fescue and other weeds

Rumex obtusifolius 2 uncommon in moist low areas along streams, typically in shade

Setaria faberii 2 flushing in newly disturbed ground such as old crop fields, but yielding in 3-5 years to other vegetation

Setaria glauca 2 occasional in disturbed weedy turf, newly exposed soil, and around parking areas

Setaria viridis 2 uncommon in newly exposed soil

Sida spinosa 3 surprisingly uncommon in MPF sites, considering its ubiquity in disturbed open areas in Missouri

Solanum rostratum 2 weed of severely disturbed ground known only from a rocky berm at Golden Prairie; problematical westward

Solanum sarachoides 2 rare weed of disturbed areas and around brush piles

Sorghum halapense 5 SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS

Sorghum vulgare 1 accidental escape from cultivation; not persistent

Stellaria meadia 3 ubiquitous weed of moist or shaded, disturbed sites, particularly in low thickets or along shaded floodplains, where it can form dense carpets and dominate the ground cover

Taraxacum officinale 2 widespread but seldom abundant in disturbed open vegetation

Torilis japonica 3 frequent in sandy or rocky disturbed sites, where it can be abundant and pre-emptive, but not spreading into intact prairie vegetation

Tragopogon dubius 2 Uncommon in rank weedy turfs and severely degraded prairie vegetation; never abundant

Trifolium campestre 3 common in weedy areas and disturbed ground

Trifolium pratense 3 occasional in weedy turfs

Trifolium repens 3 common in mowed areas, compacted soil, waste ground, and along disturbed streambanks

Ulmus pumila 1 sporadic scraggly trees seldom long persistent at a site

Verbascum blattaria 2 uncommon in waste ground and recently disturbed soil

Verbascum thapsus 3 frequent in weedy turfs and disturbed rocky ground

Veronica arvensis 3 ubiquitous, inconspicuous plant of disturbed ground throughout; yields to establishing tallgrass vegetation

Viola rafinesquii 3 common in disturbed openings in prairies, especially in sandy or rocky soils

Xanthium strumarium 2 occasional in newly disturbed ground or along streams; requires continual disturbance to be persistent at a site

Yucca smalliana 1 uncommon, but surprisingly tough, escape from cultivation

Weed name	Class	Comments
Abutilon theophrasti	2	casual weed of new ground and crop fields
Agrostis alba	4	nearly cosmopolitan on disturbed Missouri prairies, especially on mesic to dry-mesic sites
Allium vineale	3	confined to severely disturbed areas; capable of persisting in but not invading native vegetation
Amaranthus retroflexus	2	cropland weed occasionally in open, usually high-nutrient, soil
Anthoxanthum odoratum	1	rare meadow weed in Missouri; known from a single small population at Gayfeather Prairie
Arctium minus	3	invasive weed in rich open soil and severely disturbed woods; will not persist in prairie restorations
Arenaria serpyllifolia	3	inoffensive weed in disturbed uplands, in open low vegetation
Asparagus officinalis	1	casual accidental; not persistent or spreading except along weedy fencerows and roadsides
Barbarea vulgaris	2	common but seldom abundant, in disturbed sites, particularly among Old World grasses
Belamcanda chinensis	3	surprisingly invasive in low shaded ground at Gayfeather Prairie; not typically a problem weed in Missouri
Bidens bipinnata	2	uncommon opportunistic weed of previously degraded, somewhat mesic or moist sites with sparse vegetation
Brassica kaber	2	casual weed of newly disturbed soil
Bromus inermis	4	deep-rooted perennial grass; sometimes problematical once established but not capable of invading native prairie this far south
Bromus japonicus	3	common in disturbed weedy grasslands and along thicket edges where partial shading reduces prairie vigor
Bromus racemosa	3	common in disturbed weedy grasslands and along thicket edges where partial shading reduces prairie vigor
Bromus tectorum	3	locally abundant in newly disturbed soil; yielding in time to perennial vegetation
Broussonetia papyrifera	1	uncommon tree in thickets and fencerows
Capsella bursa-pastoris	2	restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas
Cerastium brachypetalum	2	common in compacted soils with sparse low vegetation, such as along roadsides and parking areas
Cerastium vulgatum	2	uncommon in established weedy areas, usually with Old World grasses
Chenopodium album	3	uncommon in brush piles and in soil mounds
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum	2	field and meadow weed with a tendency to proliferate in unburned prairies and hay meadows
Commelia communis	3	weak weed of newly disturbed, typically shaded, ground
Conium maculatum	2	known only from a small area of LaPetite Gemme Prairie; not invasive in healthy vegetation, but capable of forming dense stands that preclude successional recovery - extremely toxic
Dactylis glomerata	3	Occasional in weedy grasslands; never abundant
Daucus carota	3	common in disturbed open areas; but not competitive with diverse native perennial vegetation unless there is ongoing site disturbance
Dianthus armeria	3	occasional innocuous (and attractive) weed in degraded prairies, pastures, and old fields
Digitaria ciliaris	2	restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas
Digitaria sanguinalis	2	restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas
Draba verna	2	uncommon vernal weed of open ground or sparse low vegetation
Echinochloa crusgalli	3	common in disturbed, open, at least seasonally moist areas, but not problematical in sites with conservation management
Eleusine indica	2	restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas
Eragrostis cilianensis	2	uncommon casual weed of new ground
Festuca elatior	5	SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS
Galium pedemontanum	3	common but never dominant small weed of exposed dry soils in low vegetation
Hordeum pusillum	2	locally common but not persistent in newly or perennially disturbed soils
Hypericum perforatum	3	uncommon in weedy meadow vegetation and along roadsides
Lactuca serriola	2	frequent short-lived weed of newly disturbed sites
Lamium amplexicaule	2	cropland weed known only from farm fields at Schwartz Prairie
Lamium purpureum	2	weakly persistent weed of disturbed woodlands, thickets, and streambanks
Lespedeza cuneata	5	SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS
Lespedeza stipulacea	4	common low weed capable of thriving in some prairie vegetation; formerly overseeded in some prairies
Lespedeza striata	4	common low weed capable of thriving in some prairie vegetation; formerly overseeded in some prairies
Lespedeza thunbergii	1	accidental established in an area of LaPetite Gemme; capable of persisting and spreading in eastern states
Ligustrum ovalifolium	1	bird-disseminated shrub capable of becoming problematical in unburned areas
Lonicera japonica	5	SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS
Lychnis alba	1	uncommon weed of previously disturbed sites; not capable of persisting or invading prairies
Maclura pomifera	5	SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS
Melilotus alba	3	problematical in sites with previous intensive disturbance, especially in alkaline or neutral soils; persistent seed bank can impede prairie restoration efforts
Melilotus officinalis	3	occasional weed in severely disturbed areas
Mollugo verticillata	2	innocuous weed of open, typically sandy soils; sometimes considered a weak native weed
Morus alba	3	tough, bird-disseminated tree of fencerows and weedy thickets
Pastinaca sativa	2	infrequent in established weedy vegetation along roadsides previously disturbed areas
Perilla frutescens	2	weed of shaded open moist ground along streams and in depressions
Phalaris caroliniana	3	uncommon in moist degraded prairies
Phleum pratense	4	common, sometimes locally abundant grass of degraded prairies; easily managed with fire
Plantago lanceolata	4	common in recently or regularly disturbed areas, but otherwise not persistent in competition with prairie vegetation
Poa annua	2	occasional small weed of moist open ground
Poa compressa	4	ubiquitous, often unnoticed weed of disturbed prairies and hay meadows; potentially problematical and persistent
Poa pratensis	4	ubiquitous, often unnoticed weed of disturbed prairies and hay meadows; potentially problematical and persistent, aggressive in light dry soils
Polygonum aviculare	2	restricted to newly exposed soils or heavily compacted sites, such as along roadsides and parking areas
Polygonum persicaria	2	weed in open ground and newly disturbed soil
Potentilla recta	3	occasional in disturbed open areas, usually among other weeds
Prunus mahaleb	1	accidental and sporadic shrubby tree
Pyrus communis	1	accidental escape from discarded fruit; seldom proliferating
Robinia pseudoacacia	3	potentially aggressive tree capable of forming dense thickets once established, but not invasive in native grasslands
Rosa multiflora	4	aggressive invasive shrub in disturbed, unburned grasslands, weedy thickets, and disturbed woods
Rumex acetosella	3	occasional in acidic, well-drained sites with sparse or low vegetation, often persistent once established
Rumex crispus	2	seldom abundant, but widespread, in disturbed ground, usually among fescue and other weeds
Rumex obtusifolius	2	uncommon in moist low areas along streams, typically in shade
Setaria faberii	2	flushing in newly disturbed ground such as old crop fields, but yielding in 3-5 years to other vegetation
Setaria glauca	2	occasional in disturbed weedy turf, newly exposed soil, and around parking areas
Setaria viridis	2	uncommon in newly exposed soil
Sida spinosa	3	surprisingly uncommon in MPF sites, considering its ubiquity in disturbed open areas in Missouri
Solanum rostratum	2	weed of severely disturbed ground known only from a rocky berm at Golden Prairie; problematical westward
Solanum sarachoides	2	rare weed of disturbed areas and around brush piles
Sorghum halapense	5	SEE DISCUSSION OF CLASS 5 WEEDS
Sorghum vulgare	1	accidental escape from cultivation; not persistent
Stellaria meadia	3	ubiquitous weed of moist or shaded, disturbed sites, particularly in low thickets or along shaded floodplains, where it can form dense carpets and dominate the ground cover
Taraxacum officinale	2	widespread but seldom abundant in disturbed open vegetation
Torilis japonica	3	frequent in sandy or rocky disturbed sites, where it can be abundant and pre-emptive, but not spreading into intact prairie vegetation
Tragopogon dubius	2	Uncommon in rank weedy turfs and severely degraded prairie vegetation; never abundant
Trifolium campestre	3	common in weedy areas and disturbed ground
Trifolium pratense	3	occasional in weedy turfs
Trifolium repens	3	common in mowed areas, compacted soil, waste ground, and along disturbed streambanks
Ulmus pumila	1	sporadic scraggly trees seldom long persistent at a site
Verbascum blattaria	2	uncommon in waste ground and recently disturbed soil
Verbascum thapsus	3	frequent in weedy turfs and disturbed rocky ground
Veronica arvensis	3	ubiquitous, inconspicuous plant of disturbed ground throughout; yields to establishing tallgrass vegetation
Viola rafinesquii	3	common in disturbed openings in prairies, especially in sandy or rocky soils
Xanthium strumarium	2	occasional in newly disturbed ground or along streams; requires continual disturbance to be persistent at a site
Yucca smalliana	1	uncommon, but surprisingly tough, escape from cultivation