Re: Chicago Bans Invasive Plants

**j* e* m* s* <h*@sbcglobal.net>**

Here's what I have from a few months back w/links. Plants listed at bottom.

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=125281&print=1

Chicago bans 14 plants to protect local flora
by 
<http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/authorprofile.aspx?id=117677>Charles 
Berret
April 08, 2009
The City of Chicago Tuesday banned 14 plants as "invasive species" 
that threaten native plant life.

The Chicago Department of Environment will now prosecute sellers and 
hobbyists alike who import, sell or possess oriental bittersweet, 
Japanese hops and princess trees, among others. Privet, a common 
shrub that can be found even in Grant Park, also made the list.

These 14 plants will join the list of restricted flora and fauna 
established in Chicago's Invasive Species Regulations of May 2007.

"Invasive species cause great harm to our environment," said Kay 
Havens, director of plant science and conservation at the Chicago 
Botanic Garden. "And when they have been demonstrated to do so in our 
region, regulation becomes necessary."

According to the agency, invasive plants are those that are not 
prevalent in an area, but threaten to alter the native ecology and 
overrun native species in competition for resources.

Havens, who was on the panel that selected the invasive species list, 
said that one of the most problematic invasive species in the Chicago 
area is buckthorn, but garlic mustard, Canada thistle and teasel have 
already proven harmful.

"There have been cases in the past where other plants from different 
areas of the world have been major pests," said Steve Meyer, a 
horticulturalist at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. "They compete for 
food, light and water."

Global climate change makes an ecosystem particularly vulnerable to 
invasive species because new flora could be better suited to 
Chicago's milder winters and hotter summers.

"Many invasive species thrive under disturbance," said Havens "They 
do better under global climate change because ecosystems become 
unstable."

Meyer noted that the label "invasive" is relative to the region where 
that plant is growing. "Any plant can become a weed in a certain part 
of the world," Meyer said. He noted that water hyacinth, native to 
South America, now proliferates in Florida to the extent that it 
clogs waterways.

Businesses caught selling invasive species in Chicago face a fine of 
between $1000 and $5000, while a private grower can be charged 
between $100 and $500.

(c) Section 11-4-3000(f)
Water chestnut (Trapa natans)
Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa)
Greater spearwort (Ranunculus lingua)
Chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata)
Parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Hydrilla or water thyme (Hydrilla verticillata)
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)
Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)

(d) Section 11-4-3000(f) - includes any of the following, unless a 
person provides written evidence, such as a scientific publication, 
to demonstrate that the horticultural selection of the plant has been 
proven by the scientific community to be functionally sterile.

Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata)
Porcelainberry vine (Ampelopsis brevipendiculata)
Wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris)
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Japanese hops (Humulus japonicus)
Lyme grass (Leymus aernarius)
Privet (Ligustrum)
Amur silver grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus)
Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
Amur corktree (Phellodendron amurense)
Japanese corktree (Phellodendron japonica)
Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
Sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima)
Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)

-- 
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
The Hoosier Gardener
Director Garden Writers Association
Writer * Editor * Speaker * Garden Consultant
Co-author,The Indiana Gardener's Guide
Editor, Indiana Living Green magazine
P.O. Box 20310, Indianapolis, IN 46220
E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
http://www.hoosiergardener.com
http://www.IndianaLivingGreen.com
E-mail: editor@IndianaLivingGreen.com
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