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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203020
Title: Naturalization of Dalechampia scandens in southern Florida

Author
item Pemberton, Robert
item LIU, HONG - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Caribbean Journal of Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/24/2007
Publication Date: 12/1/2008
Citation: Pemberton, R.W., Liu, H. 2008. Naturalization of Dalechampia scandens in southern Florida, Caribbean Journal of Science, Vol. 44, No. 3, 417-419.

Interpretive Summary: Approximately one third of Florida’s flora is composed of non-native plants and some of these are invasive weeds which displace native plants and impact agriculture. A new weed Dalechampia scandens, a vine known spurgecreeper, was discovered in two parks in southern Florida. This plant, which is native to tropical America, has stinging hairs which can cause dermatitis in people. Spurgecreeper is infesting forest sites and producing abundant seed which can spread the plant to new areas. The source of one of the infestations appears to be a commercial butterfly attraction which grows the plant to raise cracker butterflies. The early discovery of the weed, its first occurrence in the continental United States, can enable eradication before it spreads and becomes permanently established.

Technical Abstract: Dalechampia scandens, a native to the American and African tropics, was recently found naturalized in two Broward County parks in southern Florida. This is the first occurrence of the plant in the continental United States. One of the populations may be an escape from a butterfly attraction where the plant was introduced and grown to rear cracker (Hamadryas) butterflies. The weed is pollinated by Euglossa viridissima, a recently naturalized orchid bee known to pollinate the plant in Mexico. We recommend eradication of this weed before it becomes more abundant and spreads.