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Botanically Speaking
Botany Basics
El Camino Real Master Naturalists
Spring Training
2009
Kingdom Plantae
Vascular
vs.
Nonvascular Plants
• Two broad
categories of plants
based on the
presence or absence
of vascular tissues
NonVascular Plants
• Nonvascular plants
have no vascular tissues
Vascular Plants
• Vascular tissues
– Xylem
– Phloem
• More advanced
• Move to land
Four Major Groups of Plants
• Bryophytes
– Mosses
– Liverworts
– Hornworts
Mosses
Liverworts
Hornworts
Ferns
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Basic Plant Anatomy
Leaves
Blade/Lamina
Axil
Apex/Tip
Secondary vein
Petiole
Stipule
Stem
Midrib/Midvein
Leaf Types & Arrangements
Leaf Margins & Shapes
Reproductive Organs
Flowers
Fruits
Fruits
Seeds
Invasive Plants
Invasive Plants
• Invasive species threaten
native plants and native plant
communities.
• After habitat destruction,
invasive species are the
single largest cause of native
plant extinction.
• The rate at which new,
potentially invasive, species
are being introduced is
increasing.
What is an Invasive Species?
• An "invasive species" is
defined as a species that is
non-native (or alien) to the
ecosystem under
consideration and whose
introduction causes or is
likely to cause economic or
environmental harm or
harm to human health.
(Executive Order 13112).
What is an Invasive Species?
• Sometimes you will
see invasive species
referred to as exotic,
alien, or nonindigenous species.
• The problem with
these names is that
they only refer to the
non-native part of the
definition above.
What is an Invasive Species?
• Many exotic or alien
species do not cause harm
to our economy, our
environment, or our health.
• In fact, the vast majority of
"introduced" species do not
survive and only about
15% of those that do go on
to become "invasive" or
harmful.
What is an Invasive Species?
• An invasive species
grows/reproduces and spreads
rapidly, establishes over large
areas, and persists.
• Species that become invasive
succeed due to favorable
environmental conditions and
lack of natural predators,
competitors and diseases that
normally regulate their
populations.
What is an Introduction?
• When a species ends up in a
new ecosystem, it is
considered "introduced."
Species do naturally change
their ranges slowly over time,
but it is not these "natural"
events that we are concerned
with. Most of the
introductions that result in
invasive species are human
caused.
What is an Introduction?
• In some cases, we deliberately
introduce species.
• Examples of this include garden
ornamentals, range forage plants
for cattle, animals and insects
used to control other organisms
(particularly in agriculture), and
plants used for erosion control
and habitat enhancement for
wildlife.
What is an Introduction?
• Other species are introduced
accidentally on imported
nursery stock, fruits, and
vegetables, in ship ballast
waters, on vehicles, in
packing materials and
shipping containers, through
human-built canals, and from
human travel.
Ailanthus altissima (P. Mill.)
Swingle
• Tree-of-heaven was first
introduced to America by
a gardener in
Philadelphia, PA, in
1784, and
• By 1840 was commonly
available from nurseries.
Ailanthus altissima (P. Mill.)
Swingle
• The species was also brought
into California mainly by the
Chinese who came to California
during the goldrush in the mid1800s.
• Today it is frequently found in
abandoned mining sites there.
• The history of ailanthus in
China is as old as the written
language of the country.
Arundo donax L.
• Introduced from
western Asia, northern
Africa, and southern
Europe in the early
1800s.
• Giant reed was
probably first
introduced into the
United States at Los
Angeles, California in
the early 1800's.
Arundo donax L.
• Since then, it has become
widely dispersed into all
of the subtropical and
warm temperate areas of
the world, mostly through
intentional human
introductions.
Arundo donax L.
• Today, giant reed is widely
planted throughout the
warmer areas of the United
States as an ornamental
and in the Southwest,
where it is used along
ditches for erosion control.
Arundo donax L.
• Giant reed chokes riversides
and stream channels,
crowds out native plants,
interferes with flood
control, increases fire
potential, and reduces
habitat for wildlife,
including the Least Bell's
vireo, a federally
endangered bird.
Arundo donax L.
• The long, fibrous,
interconnecting root mats of
giant reed form a framework
for debris dams behind bridges,
culverts, and other structures
that lead to damage.
• It ignites easily and can create
intense fires.
Eichornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms
• Water hyacinth is
thought to be native to
the Amazon River
basin of South
America.
• It was introduced to the
United States in 1884
at the Cotton States
Exposition in New
Orleans, Louisiana.
Eichornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms
• It spread across the
southeastern U. S.
and was identified
in Florida in 1895.
• It was reported to be
in California in
1904.
Eichornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms
• Alters native vegetation
and fish communities by
lowering light
penetration and
dissolved oxygen levels.
• Impedes boat traffic on
rivers and waterways
and clogs irrigation
canals and intake pumps.
Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle
• Hydrilla was first introduced
into North America in the
mid to late fifties by the
aquarium trade.
• California officials have also
traced hydrilla infestations to
shipments of mail order
waterlilies.
Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle
• Once introduced and
established, hydrilla is easily
spread through boating and
fishing activities and by
waterfowl.
• Hydrilla tubers are readily
consumed and regurgitated
tubers have been shown to be
viable.
Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle
• Dense underwater stands of
hydrilla raise water pH and
temperature, and lower
dissolved oxygen.
• While the number of fish is
often increased, large fish
become more rare.
Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle
• Promotes mosquito
habitat.
• Potentially affects
power generation by
clogging dams.
Lythrum salicaria L.
• The first North American
record of purple loosestrife
was in wet Canadian
meadows and in New
England, as recorded in
Pursh’s Flora Americae
Septentrionalis, in 1814.
• It was first recorded as a
problem weed in Quebec in
the 1930’s.
Lythrum salicaria L.
• By 1942, a pasture
that at one time
supported 800 head of
cattle was declared
useless.
Lythrum salicaria L.
• Purple loosestrife adapts
readily to natural and
disturbed wetlands.
• As it establishes and
expands, it outcompetes and
replaces native grasses,
sedges, and other flowering
plants that provide a higher
quality source of nutrition
for wildlife.
Lythrum salicaria L.
• The highly invasive nature
of purple loosestrife allows
it to form dense,
homogeneous stands that
restrict native wetland plant
species, including some
federally endangered
orchids, and reduce habitat
for waterfowl.
Information Resources
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http://www.texasinvasives.org
http://bc4weeds.tamu.edu/weeds/index.html
http://www.tapms.org/
http://www.agr.state.tx.us
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/