Land Management Program at Archbold Biological Station
P.O. Box 2057,  Lake Placid, FL 33862
 Phone 863-465-2571  FAX 863-699-1927
 E-mail: landmanager@archbold-station.org

Category II Plants

* = Plant not known from Archbold Biological Station, but occurring in Highlands County 

1. Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)*
   This species is native to tropical America.  It is an aquatic plant that typically grows submersed in 0.5 to 3.0 feet of water, but is often found in upland sites.  The growth form of alligator weed can be floating, colonized on a floating mat, or rooted.  Problematic in blocking ditches and canals, and impeding water flow.  It often forms dense thickets and is common along the edges of many lakes in Highlands County.  
   
2. Calico Flower (Aristolochia littoralis)
   Native to tropical America, this vine is also known as elegant Dutchman's pipe and can grow to heights > 30 feet providing it has support.  It has distinctive heart-shaped leaves that are altrenate, and produces showy greenish yellow and dark purple flowers.  Calico flower is easily produced by cutting or seeds.  It was recently (2003) listed as a Category II invasive plant by the Florida exotic Pest Plant Council indicating that it has the potential to disrupt the ecology of natural areas.  It was planted in the Main Grounds of Archbold and is found in some disturbed hammocks in Highlands County.  (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)
   
3. Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioide)
   This native to Australia was only introduced in Florida in the 1960’s for landscaping, but has spread into many natural areas of south Florida.  Along the east coast of Florida, it is one of the most common landscape plants.  Carrotwood produces numerous fruits in the spring that are dispersed by birds.  It is a relatively rare plant in Highlands County, but several plants occur in pastures at the Reserve.  (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)
   
4. Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo)
   Native to India, this species is another popular landscape plant. It produces flowers in March and produces numerous seeds in late Spring and early Summer.  In some areas of Highlands County, it has escaped from residential areas in Lake Placid and is growing at high densities in nearby vacant lots. At Archbold, this plant is primary a problem within the Lousy 10 tract where it was planted along the fence line. Indian rosewood also occurs in several locations at the Reserve where it was grown as an ornamental.  (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)
   
5. Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe pinnata)
   This native to Asia occurs infrequently in the Plaza area of Archbold.  The leaves of this plant are fleshy and succulent.  The flowers of this plant are a showy stripped reddish color that occur at the terminal end of the stem.  Kalanchoe is easily propagated from leaves or leaf fragments, thus increasing it's invasive potential to invade natural areas.  In Highlands County, the spread of this plant may be limited by it's inability to withstand frost.  In areas of south Florida, it has formed thickets out-competing native herbaceous plants in some areas.  (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)
   
6. Lead Tree (Leucaena leucocephala)*
   Native to the West Indies, this plant has escaped cultivation and is widely present in southern Florida.  It also occurs in central and north Florida, but distribution may be limited by cold temperatures (< 40 F).  Lead tree produces numerous seeds that germinate under parent tree, often forming dense thickets.  This tree can tolerate extremely dry conditions making it a potential invader of scrub habitat. In Highlands County, it was apparently planted as a landscape plant in Placid Lakes Estates where it appears to slowly be spreading into vacant lots.   
   
7. Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum)
   Native to Africa, this clump grass that can grow > 6 feet in height with dense stems.  Its panicle is large with many spreading branches.  In Highlands County, this plant is common in disturbed sites and along roads. At Archbold, it occurs sporadically in disturbed sites such as fence rows and the Main grounds. A large area of this grass is present along the east boundary of the NE Tract at the Station. (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)
   
8. Natal Grass (Rhynchelytrum repens)
   Introduced into Florida from Africa, this grass produces flowers and seeds most of the year.  Natal grass is a perennial that is temporary killed back by frost.  This species is highly conspicuous when flowering by it's showy red panicle.  It is common throughout Florida in old fields, along roadsides, and other disturbed sites. Found throughout ABS in upland sites, especially along road shoulders and fire lanes.  (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)
   
9. Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
   Native to Africa, this plant grows rapidly and produces numerous seeds that remain viable in the soil for long periods.  Castor bean has large, 8-16 inch, palmately lobed leaves.  Its seeds are poisonous.  It is common in Highlands County especially along road sides and dirt piles.  At Archbold, it has been found along the fence line northwest of Lake Annie and at the Lousy 10 Tract.  It increased in density at the Lousy 10 following a prescribed burn, indicating that a large number of seeds were stored in the soil.  (Locations of at ABS and the Reserve)
   
10. Bowstring Hemp (Sansevieria hyacinthoides)
    Native to Africa, this species has stiff succulent like leaves that are erect.  The invasive potential of this plant may be limited by cold temperatures in Highlands County.  In southern Florida, it has invaded hammocks and disturbed sites.  The leaves are mottled to some degree.  Bowstring hemp grown in dense clumps spreading outward.  It produces tubular white flowers.  It is a common landscape plant in Highlands County and it often sold by nurseries and garden stores.  At Archbold, a small clump occurs around one of the cottages in the Plaza.  (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)
    
11. Caesar’s Weed (Urena lobata)
    This plant is pantropical in distribution though it origin is not known.  It produces copious seeds that are spread by attaching to the clothes or animal fur. It is one of the first invasive plants to appear in disturbed sites, especially near wet areas such as ditches. In disturbed sites, hundreds of seedlings are often observed.  It is common in disturbed areas (i.e., mowed edges) throughout Highlands County.  At Archbold, it occurs in many areas of the Station including the Lousy 10 Tract, Red Hill Garden area, and the Plaza.  (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)
    
12. Wedelia (Wedelia trilobata)
    This plant is native to the West Indies and spreads through extensive rhizomes. Wedelia is a relative of Asters and produces small yellow daisy-like flowers. It is mat-forming, creeps along the ground, and often forms thick mats that over take all native herbaceous plants. Out of all the asters that have been introduced in Florida, this is the only one that has become invasive.  It is a common landscape plant for ground cover in central and southern Florida. The invasive potential of wedelia in Highlands County may be limited by it's inability to withstand cold temperatures.  At Archbold, it was planted as an ornamental at the entrance to the Station and the Plaza area.  (Locations at ABS and the Reserve)

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• Hutchinson, J.T., April 2003.
© Archbold Biological Station, 2003 April.
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