- Take a picture or upload one to find out more information about a plant you see.
- Another option would be to research for yourself!
- You can also report an invasive plant to the Plant Sleuth Community!
Invasive Species Threatening Our Ecosystems
While having a beautiful garden is the goal of most people, if we don't plant responsibly, we may end up with more than an attractive garden. Currently, there are more than 1.4 million national park acres with an invasive plant infestation. Of those 1.4 million acres, only 43,000 are controlled acres, where invasive plants are at a manageable level (Invasive Plants, n.d.).
Plants and organisms introduced by humans either by accident or purposely that grow into environmental pests are known as non-native, invasive species. These pests thrive because they are typically introduced to an area void of natural controls like herbivores, pathogens, predators, or parasites. Besides causing biodiversity loss and habitat degradation, invasive species pose a human health threat and inflict economic damages costing billions of dollars annually. (Invasive Plants, n.d.).
Invasive plant monocultures feed wildfires. The clematis and ivy vines climb trees, making a fire conduit to reach the tree canopy. Once the flames reach the canopy, the fire becomes difficult to control and more of a threat to structures nearby. These invasive plants also increase wildfire frequency. Area grasses growing annually in the early spring dry out during the summer. When those grasses dominate ecosystems, the area becomes more susceptible to fire (The Problem, n.d.).
There are three important things you can do:
The Plant Sleuth App
With Plant Sleuth you never have to struggle to identify what is growing in your yard or garden. This all-inclusive app lets the user take a picture and identify invasive plant species and gather current information through the plant-specific pages. The user can also search for a plant by name or report an invasive plant.
When tapped, the menu button at the top right corner of the screen takes the user to the bottom of the page, where they will find the menu, search bar, and social media links. The bottom menu also includes a research page containing an extensive list of invasive plants, the contact page with a form submission for more information, donations, any volunteer programs, and an about us page.
The Plant Sleuth App helps users locate, identify, research, and report invasive plant species growing in their area. Anyone owning a smartphone can use the Plant Sleuth app. Or use it on your home computer, laptop, or tablet. The menu adapts to a larger screen yet brings you the same great functions and information.
While the app targets users in North America, it also contains a database of global invasive plant species, so no matter where you live, you have access to some of the most comprehensive information on invasive plant species.
References:
National Park Service. (August 29, 2021). Invasive Plants. Retrieved from: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/invasive/plants.htm
The City of Portland Oregon. (August 29, 2021). The problem with invasive plants. (n.d.) Retrieved from: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/article/330681