How do invasive exotic plants spread?
– Seeds from invasive exotic plants can be spread by wind (for example microscopic spores from Old World climbing fern), by water (for example, melaleuca trees in the Everglades), or by birds or other wildlife that eat the fruit and deposit the seeds in droppings far from the original tree (for example, Brazilian pepper and carrotwood). Others spread from expanding underground root systems (for example, suckering Australian pine and erect sword fern). So invasive exotic plants can spread to new places. Why should I care? – Control of exotic plants in Florida’s natural areas and waterways is expensive, costing taxpayers millions of dollars to control each year. By getting involved in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive exotic plants, you will be saving yourself money. – Invasive exotic plants continue to degrade our natural areas and impact associated wildlife habitat. Because some of them are aquatic, they also can impede navigation and flood control in our waters. Wow.
