bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nopalea cochenillifera (cochineal cactus).
Authors: Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine
Published: April 2021

Nopalea cochenillifera is a shrub or tree species reported as native to Mexico, but known from cultivation for centuries. It was introduced into tropical and subtropical areas after the Spanish colonisation of Mexico, to raise cochineal insects to produce red dyes commercially. Although this industry declined with the introduction of synthetic dyes, the species is still used for this purpose at a smaller scale. N. cochenillifera is now mainly used as an ornamental, a fodder/forage species and a vegetable. It is reported as a potential noxious weed due to its ease of reproducing vegetatively through plant fragments. It is reported as invasive in Hawaii (USA), Cuba, Guatemala and French Polynesia. However, no details about its impacts on other species or habitats have been recorded.
Albizia adinocephala (cream albizia).
Authors: Ventosa-Febles Eduardo A.
Published: April 2021

Albizia adinocephala is a perennial forest tree native to south Mexico and Central America used for timber and fuel and as a shade tree. It can spread rapidly due to its early seed production and animals dispersing seed after eating the pods. A. adinocephala is naturalized in Puerto Rico and considered invasive in Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Gomphrena serrata (arrasa con todo).
Authors: Ventosa-Febles Eduardo
Published: April 2021

Gomphrena serrata is a herbaceous annual to perennial plant native to the Americas. The precise limits of its native range in the Americas are not well defined as it has been introduced to countries in North and South America outside of its native range. It has also been introduced in India and Guam. It is a common weed of disturbed places and is reported growing in corn crops in Mexico. It has been reported as invasive in India, Guam and Ecuador.
Oldenlandia lancifolia (calycose mille graines).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Oldenlandia lancifolia is a herbaceous plant that behaves as an agricultural and environmental weed. It produces large amounts of tiny seeds that can be easily dispersed by water, animals and vehicles, or as a contaminant in soil and agricultural produce. It tolerates waterlogged conditions and can be found growing as an aquatic and semi-aquatic herb. Under suitable environmental conditions, it can form dense tangled mats that outcompete native plant species and can also alter the aquatic and riverine ecology of colonized areas.
Echinochloa crus-pavonis (gulf cockspur grass).
Authors: Kaufman Sylvan
Published: April 2021

Echinochloa crus-pavonis is a clump forming grass native to the Americas that is now found in Africa, Asia, Oceania and Europe. It is likely its spread was facilitated by rice cultivation around the world, as it is a frequent contaminant of rice grains. It listed as invasive and a weed of agriculture. E. crus-pavonis is widely documented as a significant weed of rice fields. It is an 'occasional weed of cultivation' in Australia. It is considered invasive in Cuba, Paraguay, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Italy and California, USA.
Helenium amarum (bitterweed).
Authors: Dube Shruti
Published: April 2021

Helenium amarum is an annual herbaceous plant native to North America. It is native to some states in America, but introduced in California, Connecticut, Maryland and Massachusetts. It has also been introduced in Queensland, Australia. H. amarum is potentially weedy in many of the areas in which it grows. It is an opportunistic colonizer that will quickly spread into areas when taller vegetation is removed, and has the potential to become abundant in open fields, roadsides and wastelands. It is poisonous to most mammals, and if eaten by cows will cause their milk to become bitter and unusable. Helenium amarum is classed as an invasive weed in the USA, where it has spread widely in its native range and now covers a substantial portion of the grazing land in Texas. In Queensland, Australia is is considered an environmental weed and subject to control efforts. It was reported as eradicated in 2002 but has since been identified as present in low numbers.
Euphorbia tithymaloides (devil's backbone).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Euphorbia tithymaloides is a succulent, perennial shrub widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. Native to the Americas, this species has been introduced in Africa, Asia and Oceania, occurring on rocky soils in dry, sunny habitats such as hillsides, wastelands and roadsides. Currently it is listed as invasive in New Caledonia, Wake Island, the British Indian Ocean Territory and Cuba. Despite being classified as high risk in the Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment, its environmental impact on native species and habitats is unknown.
Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean).
Authors: Ventosa Febles Eduardo A.
Published: April 2021

Canavalia ensiformis is a vine native to South and Central America that has been introduced in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. It is grown for food, fodder and as a cover crop or green manure. It can grow on depleted soils under harsh environmental conditions and become established in disturbed areas. It is listed in a database of invasive plants in Taiwan and has been identified as a transformer species with the potential to become invasive in Cuba.
Coriandrum sativum (coriander).
Authors: Datiles Marianne Jennifer
Published: April 2021

Coriandrum sativum is a culinary and medicinal herb which can become weedy outside cultivation. It is listed as "agricultural weed, casual alien, cultivation escape, garden thug, naturalised, sleeper weed, weed" in the Global Compendium of Weeds (Randall, 2012) and is listed as a weed in Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, and Taiwan (Holm et al., 1979). It is known to have escaped from cultivation in Puerto Rico, California (USA), and parts of the United Kingdom (Liogier and Martorell, 2000; Randall, 2012). The species spreads by seeds, which have been globally traded for both medicinal and food purposes since ancient Egyptian times. Considering that the species readily naturalises in introduced habitats (Forzza et al., 2010; Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012) as well as its long history of repeated introductions and known weediness, it can be regarded as potentially invasive, but is not currently recorded as an invasive species.
Cordia dentata (white manjack).
Authors: Ventosa-Febles Eduardo A. , Acevedo-Rodriguez Pedro
Published: April 2021

Cordia dentata is an evergreen tree native to the Americas, from Mexico to the north of South America, including a number of Caribbean islands. It is grown as an ornamental, and cultivated for fruit and wood. It has been introduced in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. Because it can grow on poor soils it is used for reforestation of denuded areas. It has not been reported as invasive within or outside its native range, but its ability to colonize infertile, disturbed areas may allow it to become invasive in the right conditions.
Crotalaria spectabilis (showy rattlepod).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

C. spectabilis is native to tropical Asia and has been widely introduced in many tropical countries around the world. It has escaped from cultivation and can now be found naturalized principally in open and disturbed sites. This species is a serious weed in agricultural land and natural habitats (Randall, 2012). The potential invasiveness of C. spectabilis is very high mainly because this species spreads predominantly as a contaminant in agricultural equipment, crop seeds, forages and hay (Maddox et al., 2011). In the United States, it is listed as a noxious weed in many Mid-South states (e.g., Arkansas), and it has spread rapidly throughout the Southeastern states where it is now considered an invasive species (Maddox et al., 2011; USDA-NRCS, 2015). C. spectabilis is also listed as invasive in Cuba, Australia, New Caledonia and many other islands in the Pacific Ocean (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012; PIER, 2015; Weeds of Australia, 2015).
Noronhia emarginata (Madagascar olive).
Authors: Duenas-Lopez Manuel Angel
Published: April 2021

Noronhia emarginata is a slow-growing evergreen tree native to Madagascar. The species has been introduced to several tropical and subtropical countries as an ornamental. It is widely but sporadically cultivated in tropical regions, primarily as an ornamental tree, and sometimes grown in various tropical botanical gardens. A very tough tree with a high tolerance for salt and wind, N. emarginata is well suited to coastal and seaside locations. The species has been recorded as invasive in Hawaii, but further evaluation was required based on the weed risk assessment. It is considered a highly invasive species in Bermuda, but no details on its impact are available. The species is not considered to be a weed which causes disturbance in gardens, nor does it impact any agricultural, forestry or horticultural activities. The species has not been documented in any undisturbed natural areas in Florida.
Emilia sonchifolia (red tasselflower).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Emilia sonchifolia is an annual herb believed to be native to China and South-East Asia. Since spreading from its natural range, E. sonchifolia now has a pan-tropical distribution and is naturalized elsewhere in Asia, as well as in Australia, the Pacific Islands, Africa and the Americas. This species has been reported as a weed for a number of crops and has been shown to reduce yields and act as a reservoir for crop pathogens. Currently it is listed as invasive in India, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Madeira, Réunion, Hawaii and on many other islands in the Pacific Ocean. Mechanical control has been shown to be effective, and chemical control has been effective in some annual and perennial crops.
Entada gigas (sea-bean).
Authors: Dube Shruti
Published: April 2021

Entada gigas is a flowering liana native to Central America, the Caribbean, northern South America and Africa. It is one of the main invasive woody plant (creeper) species on Mohéli and Mayotte on the Comoros Archipelago. Creepers like E. gigas invade mainly disturbed or open areas forming monospecific carpets. E. gigas along with other species of creepers are one of the main threats to the biodiversity of the Comoros archipelago. This species can grow extremely quickly towards light and has the ability to entangle trees. In Gabon, an individual E. gigas liana with a stem diameter of over 30 cm used 13 canopy trees to reach gaps covering a distance of several hundred metres. This phenomenon is common in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and other West African countries. E. gigas is also reported to be invasive in Cuba with evidence of impact; no further details are given.
Eragrostis amabilis (Japanese lovegrass).
Authors: Duenas-Lopez Manuel Angel
Published: April 2021

Eragrostis amabilis is an annual terrestrial grass with pan-tropical distribution, naturalized elsewhere in the neo-tropics, that is used as an ornamental grass and for lawns. It is a common weed in disturbed, open areas, such as those close to forest margins and along roadsides, and often grows as a weed in upland rice crops in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is listed as invasive in the Pacific Islands, Central America and Cuba, but no further information is available about its impacts or invasiveness in natural or semi-natural habitats in its non-native range.
Angiopteris evecta (king fern).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Angiopteris evecta is often cultivated as an ornamental in gardens, parks, and botanical gardens for its large rhizomes and gigantic fronds. It has repeatedly escaped from cultivation and has the potential to easily colonize new ecosystems. It is currently listed as invasive in Hawaii, Jamaica and Costa Rica where it can be found naturalized and spreading mostly in wet valleys and on slopes in montane and lowland rainforests. In Cuba it is considered an invasive species with the potential to "transform" natural ecosystems.
Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed).
Authors: Shaw Dick
Published: April 2021

F. japonica is an extremely invasive weed despite its lack of extensive sexual reproduction in most of its introduced range. It is included on various lists of invasive weeds and is one of the 100 worst invasive species as identified by the IUCN. It is a potential contaminant of soil, and its ability to tolerate a remarkable range of soil types and climates means that it has the potential to spread much further than it has to date. It has gained a fearsome reputation for breaking through hard structures in the built environment and being almost impossible to eradicate once it has taken hold and is often recognized as one of the most pernicious weeds in any recipient country.
Gomphrena globosa (globe amaranth).
Authors: Ventosa-Febles Eduardo
Published: April 2021

Gomphrena globosa is an annual herb native to Central America now cultivated worldwide as an ornamental, as well as having uses in traditional medicine and as a source of betacyanins for use in the food and cosmetic industry. It has escaped cultivation in gardens and is now found waste grounds and disturbed sites in tropical and subtropical countries. It is listed as an invasive species by CeNBIO, and classified as an invasive plant in Cuba, Hawaii and Costa Rica.
Gossypium barbadense (Gallini cotton).
Authors: Dube Shruti
Published: April 2021

Gossypium barbadense is a cultivated cotton plant native to Peru and Ecuador that has been widely introduced in cultivation. It has escaped and become naturalized in Africa, Australia, Oceania, and parts of the Caribbean and is categorized as invasive on a number of Pacific Islands. Although reported as a weed, its impacts are not detailed, but large clumps have been reported growing on Pacific Islands. It is capable of hybridization with other Gossypium species, so weedy, feral populations can contaminate the gene pool of native Gossypium. It may re-sprout after cutting.
Allamanda blanchetii (purple allamanda).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Allamanda blanchetii is a shrubby climbing species with showy purple to pink flowers that has been cultivated as an ornamental in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is a fast-growing species that spreads rapidly by layering. Native to Brazil, A. blanchetii is listed as invasive in Anguilla and in Australia where it is considered a weed. A. blanchetii is also listed as a potentially invasive cultivated species in Hawaii. It is included in the Global Compendium of Weeds.
Hibiscus elatus (blue mahoe).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Due to its rapid growth rate and valuable wood, H. elatus has been introduced and grown in experimental and forestry plantations. It has been also introduced in tropical and warm temperature areas to be used as an ornamental and shade tree (Weaver and Francis, 1989). This early successional tree has escaped from cultivation and can be found naturalized in disturbed sites, secondary montane forests and foothills (Francis and Liogier, 1991; Graveson, 2012). Currently, H. elatus is listed as invasive only in Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago Biodiversity, 2016), but it is spreading and becoming abundant on many Caribbean islands such as Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Grenada and St Lucia (Francis and Liogier, 1991; Kairo et al., 2000; Salazar and Soihet, 2001; Graveson, 2012). A risk assessment for Hawaii gave the species a low risk score of 5 (PIER, 2016).
Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

H. verticillata is a submerged fast-growing aquatic herb. It has a highly effective survival strategy that makes it one of the most troublesome aquatic weeds of water bodies in the world. It has the potential to alter fishery populations, cause shifts in zooplankton communities and affect water chemistry. It forms dense masses, outcompeting native plants and interfering with many uses of waterways. It is readily dispersed by movement of plant fragments and can produce up to 6,000 tubers per m2. Tubers can remain viable for several days out of water or for over 4 years in undisturbed sediment. They are not impacted by most management activities, and a small percentage can sprout throughout the year making the species very difficult to manage or eradicate. It can be spread by water flow, waterfowl and recreational activities and is sold as an aquarium plant. Currently, this species is considered as one of the most aggressive invasive species in aquatic habitats. In the USA it has been listed as a Federal Noxious Weed since 1976, and is regarded as one of the worst invasive aquatic weed problems in Florida and much of the country. Its import is prohibited in Western Australia and Tasmania, and it is on the EPPO alert list.
Jatropha integerrima (peregrina).
Authors: Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine
Published: April 2021

Jatropha integerrima is a shrub to small tree native to Cuba, which has been introduced into tropical and subtropical areas worldwide as an ornamental species. Although it has become naturalized in some areas, it is not listed as an invasive species. The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health only lists J. integerrima for comparison with other Jatropha species. J. integerrima can occasionally escape from cultivation in disturbed areas in Florida, and sometimes occurs in warmer parts of Australia. The species has little to no invasive potential in North America and a low invasion risk in Hawaii, USA.
Lawsonia inermis (Egyptian privet).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

L. inermis is a shrub or small tree widely cultivated as an ornamental and hedge plant and for the commercial production of henna, a dye extracted from its leaves (Oyen, 1991; Orwa et al., 2009; PROTA, 2017; USDA-ARS, 2017). This species has often become naturalized, particularly on alluvial soils along rivers. In some African regions (e.g., Madagascar) this species has become so common that there is no need for cultivation (PROTA, 2017). It is listed as invasive in Cuba (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012) and Singapore (Chong et al., 2009).
Lepidium virginicum (Virginian peppercress).
Authors: Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine
Published: April 2021

L. virginicum is an annual herb that has been reported as capable of causing ecological or economic damage in the Pacific Islands, the Western USA and as spreading in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands (GISD, 2016). It is a noxious weed causing economic losses in cultivated fields due to reduced crop yields (Romm, 1938; Jones Jr. and Davis, 1963; Coelho et al., 2009), and is a weed of turf in the USA. It is invasive in Cocos Island, China, Philippines, Hawaii (USA), Cuba, Ecuador, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau and Tonga (Kim and Ewing, 2006; Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012; PIER, 2016). It is specifically listed as an invasive species of the sand dunes in South Korea (Kim and Ewing, 2006). In China it is a Group II Species, referring to species that occupy a large area and/or have a strong negative influence over the habitat (Liu et al., 2006). In Cuba it is invasive in citrus orchards, being one of the most problematic weeds (Otero-Pujol et al., 2015). A Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawaii gave the species a High Risk score of 17 (PIER, 2016).
Cucumis dipsaceus (hedgehog gourd).
Authors: Dube Shruti
Published: April 2021

Cucumis dipsaceus is an annual climbing herb native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula that has become invasive in many regions around the world where it spread or was introduced. In Mexico, this species is possibly expanding and is classified as an invasive. In the Galapagos Islands C. dipsaceus has invaded a large area and is affecting the natural ecosystem by altering community composition and threatening native species.
Stictocardia tiliifolia (spottedheart).
Authors: Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine
Published: April 2021

Stictocardia tiliifolia is a climbing shrub with a pantropical distribution. It has occasional use as an ornamental. It has been reported as invasive in Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, Mayotte, Fiji, Palau and French Polynesia. It is regarded as potentially invasive in Cuba. No further details are given about the invasiveness of S. tiliifolia or its impacts on other species or habitats. The inability of the species to produce seeds in some parts of its range lessens its weedy potential.
Medicago lupulina (black medick).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Medicago lupulina is an annual or short-lived perennial herb with a wide native range across Africa, Asia and Europe. It is a common weed in disturbed areas, wastelands, roadsides, abandoned pastures and forest margins. It is a nitrogen-fixing species cultivated for forage and used as a soil improver; it is also a seed contaminant of other crops. Currently, it is listed as invasive in the Philippines, Hawaii, New Zealand and a small number of islands in Oceania. However, there is limited information available about its environmental impact in these locations.
Merremia umbellata (hogvine).
Authors: Areces-Berazain Fabiola
Published: April 2021

M. umbellata is a climbing weed widely distributed in tropical regions throughout the world. It is one of the commonest and most widespread species of Merremia. Due to its attractive yellow flowers, it has been introduced as an ornamental in several countries where has become naturalized. It is typically found in disturbed areas and as a weed in agricultural crops and plantations, but little is known about its environmental impact. The PIER website (PIER, 2016) lists it as invasive in Hawaii, Fiji, Micronesia, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and the Galápagos Islands, although regional floras and reports (see references in the distribution table) do not explicitly indicate so. It is also considered invasive in Cuba (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012) and American Samoa (Speith and Harrison, 2012).
Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Melilotus officinalis is a herbaceous legume species, native to parts of Asia and possibly Europe (sources differ on this), that has been extensively introduced to be used as a forage and nitrogen-fixing crop. It has escaped from cultivation and become an invasive weed in many temperate and tropical regions; it can also be toxic to livestock. It is a prolific seeder, and its seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years. It is fast-growing and can grow in a wide range of environmental conditions. Like other nitrogen-fixing legumes, M. officinalis has the potential to alter soil conditions and nutrient cycling. It is allelopathic and so forms dense monospecific stands that displace and inhibit the establishment of native vegetation. In North America, infestations reduce the occurrence of natural fires and degrade native grassland communities that depend on frequent fires. In Alaska and Canada, this species is a serious problem on waterways because it is invading glacial river floodplains. Currently, it is recognized as a conservation problem in North America because it is invading critical natural areas such as national parks and protected lands.
Manilkara zapota (sapodilla).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa , Praciak Andrew
Published: April 2021

M. zapota, commonly known as sapodilla, is an evergreen tree, 5-20 m tall, with a round, dense crown. Its native range encompasses Central America, Mexico and the West Indies, but it is now widely cultivated for its fruit to a greater or lesser extent in tropical and subtropical lowlands worldwide. It is an important fruit tree all over South-East Asia, grown in home gardens, orchards and plantations. The largest producers of sapodilla fruit are India, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia, but it is also grown commercially elsewhere in Asia, South and Central America, and Florida in the USA. Escapes from plantations have caused the species to be classed as a moderately invasive weed in the tropics (Binggeli et al., 1998), although in the USA it is of particular concern in southern and central Florida, where it is classed as a Category I invasive displacing the native flora (Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2001). It is also listed as invasive in Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago Biodiversity, 2017). Trees cast dense shade, making it difficult for other plants to survive in the understorey. Seedlings also grow very densely, inhibiting the establishment of native plant species.
Alocasia cucullata (Chinese taro).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Alocasia cucullata is a clumping evergreen herbaceous plant that is grown as a food plant and as an ornamental in areas within and outside its native distribution range of tropical and temperate Asia. This species spreads by seed and vegetatively by root suckers, rhizomes and corm fragments. It is listed as invasive in Cuba, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Micronesia and French Polynesia. It is also listed in the Global Compendium of Weeds. A. cucullata is considered an invasive species with the potential to colonize and become naturalized in the understorey of rainforests and moist areas along streams and riverbanks.
Opuntia stricta (erect prickly pear).
Authors: Pasiecznik Nick , Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Opuntia stricta is a cactus species native to the Americas that has been introduced worldwide as a popular ornamental. This species escaped from cultivation and has become invasive in many countries across Africa and Australia, but also more recently in the Mediterranean basin. Large and serious invasions have been reported in Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Yemen, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and lately also Spain and some North African countries. It has also become naturalized in many other regions (primarily in Africa and Asia) where it has not yet been recorded as a pest. In South Africa and Namibia large infestations have been reported, mainly in dry savanna bushlands, while in Australia all states are invaded with widespread populations invading southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. Successful biological control programmes have, however, severely reduced the spread of this species in many areas where introduced, though there continues to be a risk of further introduction through the nursery trade.
Paspalum conjugatum (buffalo grass).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Paspalum conjugatum is a vigorous, creeping perennial grass with long stolons and dense culms that may grow up to 1 m tall. It has been extensively introduced as a forage and lawn grass and it can now be found naturalized across tropical and subtropical regions. P. conjugatum tolerates high levels of disturbance and pollution, grows vigorously under partial shade, spreads easily by seeds and stolons, and can withstand acidic and low-nutrient soils. Once established, this grass behaves as an aggressive weed in active pastures and agricultural lands, but also in disturbed and undisturbed natural forests and grasslands. It forms a dense ground cover that competes with and inhibits the establishment of other plant species, including other grasses and crops. In the Pacific region, it has been stated that some native forests have become extinct due to this grass pest.
Pachira aquatica (pachira nut).
Authors: Areces-Berazain Fabiola
Published: April 2021

Pachira aquatica is a tree of seasonally inundated plains of Central and South America. It is often cultivated as an ornamental and has been introduced for this purpose in the USA, the Antilles, Paraguay and many Old World countries, where it is sold mostly as an indoor plant under the name "money tree". Currently listed as invasive only in Dominican Republic and the south of Brazil, although its impact is not known (Kairo et al., 2003; Randall, 2012; Iabin, 2017). Reported as naturalized in the island of Pohnpei of the Federated States of Micronesia (Randall, 2012).
Albizia niopoides (silk tree).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Albizia niopoides is a pioneer species often planted as an ornamental and shade tree. It is also used for forage and to improve soil conditions in disturbed areas. This species is a prolific seeder and seeds can germinate after being in storage for 1 to 2 years. Currently, A. niopoides is listed as invasive in Hawaii, India and Cuba, and can be found naturalized in Madagascar, Nigeria and Mauritius. It is an aggressive colonizer of abandoned pastures, roadsides, and other highly disturbed sites.
Thymophylla tenuiloba (Dahlberg daisy).
Authors: Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine
Published: April 2021

Thymophylla tenuiloba is a small annual or short-lived perennial herb native to Texas and northern Mexico. It is used as an ornamental species and has escaped from cultivation in some parts of its distribution range. It is reported as invasive in the Bahamas, Hawaii and in some of the US states bordering the Gulf Coast. No details are available on its invasiveness and its effect over other species or habitats. T. tenuiloba is listed as an alien species in Anguilla, Cuba and parts of the USA; it is included in the Global Invasive Species Database but with no further information and also listed as a species of concern to Pacific ecosystems. T. tenuiloba is considered to be potentially invasive in Saba and Curaçao and listed as an environmental weed in Queensland, Australia.
Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle).
Authors: Klein Michael
Published: April 2021

The Japanese beetle was first discovered in New Jersey, USA in 1916. It probably entered the USA as grubs with iris bulbs before 1912 when plant materials were first examined. Although not a pest in Japan, extensive, well-watered, turf, and a lack of parasites, allowed populations to rapidly build up and spread steadily west to the Mississippi River. The loss of the chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, and the end of the Federal quarantine on nursery stock, has allowed beetles to move into western states at a rapid rate. Beetles are pests of quarantine concern in the western USA and Europe. P. japonica was found on Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal in the 1980s. Again, extensive turf allowed establishment of beetles, population explosions, the infestation of that island, and subsequently of three more of the Azorean Islands. Beetles have moved considerably outside of the climatic conditions in their native Japan.
Parthenium hysterophorus (parthenium weed).
Authors: Weyl Philip , Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine , Shabbir Asad , Parker Chris
Published: April 2021

Parthenium hysterophorus is an annual herb that aggressively colonizes disturbed sites. It is considered as one of the '100 most invasive species in the world' by the IUCN (GISD, 2018). Native to the New World, it has been accidentally introduced into several countries and has become a serious agricultural and rangeland weed in parts of Australia, Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. It is reported as a major weed in field crops in more than 45 countries (Bajwa et al., 2016; Shabbir et al., 2019), with yield losses estimated in millions of dollars in Australia (Kaur et al., 2014). It grows on any type of soil and in a wide range of habitats. It affects the production of crops, animals, human and animal health, and biodiversity. Several characteristics, such as wide adaptability, photo- and thermo-insensitivity, lack of natural enemies in non-native regions, drought tolerance, strong competition and allelopathy, high seed production ability, longevity of seeds in soil seed banks, and small and light seeds that are capable of long distance travel via wind, water, birds, vehicles, farm machinery and other animal traffic, contribute to its rapid introduction world-wide, cutting across national boundaries and climate barriers (Kaur et al., 2014; Bajwa et al., 2016). The genetic diversity found among different populations and biotypes are also strongly contributing to its invasion success (Bajwa et al., 2018). The species is reported as invasive in various countries in Asia, Africa, and Oceania (Gnanavel, 2013; EPPO, 2018; GISD, 2018; PIER, 2018). In the Americas, it is reported as invasive in Cuba, and in Trinidad and Tobago. In Cuba it is considered as one of the most noxious species (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012). Although listed as introduced by various sources it is also listed as native by others (USDA-ARS, 2018). In Trinidad and Tobago it is a predominant weed of industrial areas, crops, orchards, ornamentals and greenhouses (Bridgemohan et al., 2015).
Sechium edule (chayote).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Sechium edule is a vine native to Mexico that has been widely introduced and cultivated for human consumption. The fruits, tubers, seeds and young shoots are edible and widely commercialized. This species has escaped from cultivation and now grows spontaneously on abandoned agricultural lands and disturbed sites near villages and roadsides. Under favorable environmental conditions, S. edule grows copiously and can form dense colonies. The climbing stems may be several meters in length and may ascent high into forest canopies, engulfing native vegetation and shading-out plants in the understory. S. edule can also suffocate and breakdown trees and shrubs that support it due to its heavy weight. Currently, it is listed as invasive in Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico, New Caledonia, Reunion, Bismarck Archipelago and Hawaii.
Solanum quitoense (naranjilla).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Solanum quitoense is a perennial shrub, native to the montane forests of Colombia and Ecuador. It is widely cultivated for its fruit in areas within and outside its native distribution range. It has escaped from cultivation to establish weedy populations mainly in disturbed open sites, secondary forests and along roadsides and trails. Once established, this species grows as a weed and has the potential to rapidly colonize and dominate large areas in the understory affecting the germination and establishment of native vegetation. Currently it is listed as invasive in the Galapagos Islands and in the Dominican Republic. There is some concern that this species could also become an invasive weed in other tropical areas where it has been introduced.
Tecoma capensis (cape honeysuckle).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

T. capensis is an evergreen vine-like shrub that is widely cultivated in tropical areas and in warm temperate regions of the world as an ornamental and hedge plant (Orwa et al., 2009; USDA-ARS, 2016). T. capensis spreads by wind-dispersed seeds, but also by cuttings and rooted suckers which are traits that have helped it to escape from cultivation and become naturalized in secondary forests, forest margins and ruderal sites (Mutshinyalo and Notten, 2016; PIER, 2016; PROTA, 2016; Weeds of Australia, 2016). Currently, it is listed as invasive in Cuba, the Azores, Madeira, Australia and New Zealand, mainly due to its scrambling habit and the capability to form dense thickets that smother other plants (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012; DAISIE, 2016; ISSG, 2016; Weeds of Australia, 2016).
Cascabela thevetia (yellow oleander).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Cascabela thevetia is a fast-growing woody species native to tropical North and South America that has been extensively introduced as an ornamental. It behaves as an aggressive weed that grows to form large and dense thickets, especially in low-lying areas and along watercourses, that displace native vegetation and alter successional processes. In addition, all parts of the plant are extremely toxic and can be fatal to humans and other animals if consumed. Currently, it is included in the Global Invasive Species Database and has been listed as invasive and as a noxious weed in East Timor, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Australia, Anguilla, Cuba, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Fiji and other islands in the Pacific region.
Clitoria ternatea (butterfly-pea).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

C. ternatea is a pasture legume also commercialized as a garden ornamental that has been widely introduced in agroforestry systems in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Traits such as its high growth-rates, drought tolerance and adaptation to heavy clay soils suggest that this species could be used to improve natural grasslands (Staples, 1992). However, these traits have also helped this species to escape from cultivation and become an invasive species in river banks, creek lines, the margins of waterholes, irrigation channels, disturbed sites, roadsides and disturbed open woodlands and grasslands in Australia, Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, Fiji, and on many islands in the Pacific region (Smith, 1985; Wagner et al., 1999; PIER, 2016; Weeds of Australia, 2016). C. ternatea is an aggressive colonizer of disturbed sites and open areas with the capability to displace and completely outcompete native vegetation (Weeds of Australia, 2016). Past risk assessments have given it a score of 7 (reject) for Australia and 9 (high risk) for the Pacific (PIER, 2016).
Yucca aloifolia (Spanish bayonet).
Authors: Kaufman Sylvan
Published: April 2021

Y. aloifolia is an evergreen shrub in the Asparagaceae family that grows mainly in the coastal plain of the southern United States and Mexico along dunes, roadsides and in open coastal forests. Some sources also list it as native to islands in the Caribbean (Trelease, 1902; Jones and Goode, 1884; USDA-ARS, 2016). It is widely planted as an ornamental and living fence in temperate and tropical regions around the world and has the ability to spread by seed and vegetatively. It is listed as a transformative species in Plantas Invasoras en Cuba (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012). It is considered an environmental weed in New South Wales, Australia (Weeds of Australia, 2016) and invasive on coastal dunes in Valencia, Spain (Ferrer Marino and Donat, 2011). It has naturalized in scrublands of South Africa (Smith et al., 2012). In the USA it is naturalized in California (LSA Associates, 2010). There is no information on what environmental effects the species has on habitats, ecosystems or populations but since it can form dense stands (Sydney Weeds Committee, 2016), it is likely to compete with native species. The leaves are tipped with very sharp points and can cause an allergic reaction (Kanerva et al., 2001). There is no evidence that it is considered a weed in agricultural systems.
Ziziphus spina-christi (Christ's thorn jujube).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Ziziphus spina-christi is a perennial, drought hardy tree. Despite some uncertainty regarding its native range, most sources suggest it originates from the Sahara and Sahel regions of Africa and the Middle East. It is adapted to grow in water-stressed habitats such as savannas and deserts. It is widely cultivated for its fruit, timber and use as fodder for livestock, as well as providing a stock-proof hedge and living fence, but is also used as a dune stabilizer, because of its very deep taproot and spreading lateral roots and in traditional medicine. Due to its cultivation, it has been introduced to parts of northern and tropical Africa and Madagascar. In 1885, Z. spina-christi was introduced to Curacao in the Caribbean, where it is now considered invasive. It has also been introduced to the neighbouring islands of Aruba and Bonaire. This species is an aggressive colonizer that, forms spiny and impenetrable thickets displacing and outcompeting native flora.
Dichanthium aristatum (angelton bluestem).
Authors: Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine
Published: April 2021

Dichanthium aristatum is a perennial grass native to Asia and parts of India and naturalized in the tropics and subtropics worldwide through its use as a forage/fodder species. It is reported as invasive in USA (Texas and Hawaii) and French Polynesia due to its prolific seed production, a high density of reproductive shoots and its fast growth. D. aristatum is also reported as invasive in heavily grazed grasslands. In Texas it invades and outcompetes native grasses in coastal prairie communities. D. aristatum has been categorized as an F1 (Fundamental Invasiveness Index 1) species: invasive in disturbed and natural habitats; affecting native species and the biodiversity by altering the native vegetation and habitats by outcompeting the native species; or causing economic damage. Although D. aristatum is considered potentially invasive in Cuba, it has been reported that despite naturalization of the species, it is not frequent, and is neither aggressive nor expanding in the country.
Lepidagathis alopecuroidea (Pata de gallina).
Authors: Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine
Published: April 2021

Lepidagathis alopecuroidea is a small perennial herb with a pantropical distribution, not reported as invasive in any of its current range. Although the species is not reported as present in the Pacific Islands, it is considered a threat at high altitudes (PIER, 2020). Oviedo Prieto et al. (2012) list L. alopecuroidea as potentially invasive, including it in the category of species naturalised in some areas with a tendency to proliferate. It is also considered as a potential invasive species for the Lesser Antilles by Meyer and Lavergne (2004) despite most references listing the West Indies as part of its native distribution (Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012).
Helenium quadridentatum (longdisk sneezeweed).
Authors: Dube Shruti
Published: April 2021

Helenium quadridentatum is an annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae. Native to southeastern and south-central USA, Mexico and central America, it is listed as an invasive weed species in Cuba. It has been recorded as a garden plant in the UK and is naturalized in some districts of New Zealand but there is no evidence to suggest that it has impacted the local flora. The plant is toxic to ruminants and the pollen is an irritant to humans.
Balanites aegyptiaca (simple-thorned torchwood).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

B. aegyptiaca is one of the most important tree species for African people because it provides food, medicinal products and fuel-wood valued for subsistence living in arid and semiarid areas (PROTA, 2016). This species is well adapted to grow in a wide range of habitats, soil types (from fine sands to heavy clay) and climatic moisture levels (Janick and Paull, 2008; Orwa et al., 2009). This thorny, long-lived tree has been introduced into cultivation in the Cape Verde islands, the Azores, India, Curacao, Bonaire, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico (Booth and Wickens, 1988; Chothani and Vaghasiya, 2011; Burg et al., 2012; Govaerts, 2016). Currently it has been listed as invasive only in Curacao (Burg et al., 2012). On this island it is spreading primarily across ruderal areas. B. aegyptiaca is also listed as a weed in Palestine and in Sudan where it grows forming dense thorny thickets (Zohary, 1973; Miehe, 1986).
Cymbopogon schoenanthus (camel grass).
Authors:   CABI
Published: April 2021

Cymbopogon schoenanthus is a perennial grass with fragrant foliage that is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for essential oil extracts from its leaves and roots, and for use as a culinary and medicinal herb. The species has rhizomes and densely tufted fibrous roots that tiller strongly, and has the potential to escape from cultivation. Once established, C. schoenanthus often behaves as a weed, forming monospecific stands. Currently It is only listed as invasive in Anguilla and included in the Global Compendium of Weeds.
Parmentiera Aculeata (cucumber tree).
Authors: Areces-Berazain Fabiola
Published: April 2021

Parmentiera aculeata is a small tree occasionally cultivated as an ornamental or for its edible, cucumber-like fruits. It is native to southern Mexico and several Central American countries, but has been introduced elsewhere in cultivation and has escaped in some countries. In its native range, it is a mid-successional species, able to colonize open areas. It is often found in pastures and disturbed sites along roads and near dwellings. It has been reported as naturalized and potentially problematic in Cuba and as an invasive in northern Queensland, Australia, where it is regarded as an environmental weed.
Diplazium esculentum (vegetable fern).
Authors: Vélez-Gavilán Jeanine
Published: April 2021

Diplazium esculentum is a herbaceous fern native to Asia. It has been introduced into a number of countries in Africa, Oceania and North America as an ornamental and as a food source. As it produces a large number of spores it can easily escape cultivation and rapidly spread into new areas. The species is reported as having escaped cultivation and become invasive in Hawaii, USA, New Zealand and Australia. In Hawaii, D. esculentum grows abundantly in wet valleys and in sheltered moist areas at dry sites. It is also a frequent volunteer in gardens. In New Zealand it has escaped from cultivation, spreading rapidly and aggressively in riverbanks at an average rate of spread of 1 m per year. In Australia the species is widely cultivated for food and as an ornamental, naturalising in swampy areas of Queensland. Its impacts on other habitats or species are unknown.
Bougainvillea spectabilis (great bougainvillea).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa
Published: April 2021

Bougainvillea spectabilis is an aggressive climbing vine or shrub growing >10 m high. Native to Brazil, this species has been extensively introduced into tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world. It is reported to be invasive on the Chilean island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island/Isla de Pasqua) and on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean. It is often planted as an ornamental and hedge plant in gardens, parks and along roadsides; it can support itself on other plants by means of thorns carried in the leaf axils. It reproduces sexually by seed and vegetatively by cuttings and stem fragments. Fruits are winged achenes, which can be easily dispersed by wind or water. Once established, B. spectabilis can climb trees or shrubs suffocating them and out-competing understorey plants.
Hongyuan Yang: Tracking lipids, one droplet at a time
Authors: Casadio Melina
Published: April 2021

Hongyuan Yang investigates lipid trafficking and lipid droplet biogenesis.
Superficial state regulation in double-anion-coupled Ni nanostructure for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Wu Liqian , Shi Dongdong , Chen Qiang , Liu Lizhe , Wu Niandu , Shan Qi , Chen Meiyu , Wang Dunhui
Published: April 2021

Because nickel-sulfide based electrode materials are regarded as appealing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts, various strategies have been designed to enhance their HER activity. Herein, we adopt a simple electrodeposition method to synthesize amorphous nickel sulfide electrocatalysts. Through altering the added amounts of electroplating bath consisting of NiCl2 and thiourea (TU), the HER electrocatalytic activity in alkaline electrolyte of these nickel sulfides can be optimized, and it exhibits a low overpotential of 130 mV at a current density of −10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 91 mV dec−1, and high electrochemical stability. The experimental analysis and density functional theory calculations suggest that the excellent electrochemical activity is ascribed to the coordination regulation of Ni nanostructures decorated with sulfur and oxygen anions. These findings demonstrate a simple and effective method to explore high efficiency electrocatalysts to HER.