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Title: MISSISSIPPI'S TEN WORST INVASIVE WEEDS: THREATENING MISSISSIPPI'S NATURAL HERITAGE

Author
item WINTERS, FAYE - USGS
item BYRD, JOHN - MISS STATE UNIV
item Bryson, Charles

Submitted to: Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Research Report
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2003
Publication Date: 12/24/2003
Citation: Winters, F., Byrd, J.D., Bryson, C.T. 2003. Mississippi's ten worst invasive weeds: Threatening Mississippi's Natural Heritage. Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Research Report. 5:26-28.

Interpretive Summary: Invasive species are estimated to cost the U.S. economy $138 billion annually. Much of this loss is due to invasive weeds that adversely impact croplands, forests, urban areas, and natural plant communities. Most of these invasive plants have few natural enemies and can soon dominate a landscape. A multi-discipline and multi-agency working group developed a list of the ten worst invasive weeds in Mississippi. Three participants of this working group prepared the text and provided photos for a timely article in the Mississippi Wildlife magazine. The authors emphasize public awareness as the first step to develop effective broad-based prevention and control efforts for these and other invasive weeds by private citizens and public and private agencies. Several methods are provided to help stop invasion by exotic weeds.

Technical Abstract: Weeds are major deterrents to agricultural and forest productivity; and adversely effect urban, natural plant communities, and human and livestock health. Typically, the most troublesome weeds in an area originated from elsewhere in the world. An overview is provided for Mississippi's ten worst invasive weeds: alligatorweed, Chinese privet, Chinese tallow tree, cogongrass, Japanese honeysuckle, Johnsongrass, kudzu, purple loosestrife, tropical soda apple, and water hyacinth. Information is provided on several methods to help stop invasion by exotic weeds in agriculture, forestry, urban areas, and natural communities.