Description
Other Taxonomic Groupings- Three subpecies of Ludwigia peploides are known from North America, L. p. spp. peploides, L. p. spp. montevidensis and L. p. spp. glabrescens. Recently vouchered specimens from the Potomac, at United States National Museum of Natural History, are ssp. peploides (Stan Shetler 1995 personal communication).
Potentially Misidentified Species- The Ludwigia species listed are those recorded for the coastal plain by Harvill et al. (1992); L. hexapetala, =uruguayensis is an introduced 'waif' (failed introduction) in VA; the others are considered native. Julien and Broadbent (1980) mentioned L. peploides, as frequently misidentified for A. philoxeroides.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plantae | Magnoliophyta | Magnoliopsida | Myrtales | Onagraceae | Ludwigia |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Established | Expanding | Introduced | Regular Resident | North America | South America | Ornamental(Garden Escape),Shipping(Dry Ballast),Natural Dispersal(Natural Dispersal) |
History of Spread
Ludwigia peploides ssp. peploides (Creeping Water-Primrose) is native to South and Central America and 'doubtfully native' to North America (Godfrey and Wooten 1981). Ludwigia peploides has been introduced to France (Dutaire 1987). It is considered 'pan-tropical' by Fernald (1950) and Gleason and Cronquist (1991), but may be introduced in parts of its tropical range such as Asia and Australia (Cook 1985). Its 'original' range in North America was centered along the Mississippi drainage, from IL south to the Gulf of Mexico, and along the Gulf from FL to TX (Fernald and Robinson 1908; Fernald 1950; Muenscher 1944; Agricultural Research Service 1971), with sporadic occurrences outside this range (Godfrey and Wooten 1981). It is regarded as native in California by Rejmankova (1992). Ludwigia peploides ssp. peploides' occurrence in two extreme western VA (Allegheny region) counties (Harvill et al. 1992), could be part of the 'original' Mississippi Valley range. Currently. L. peploides' range is from NJ to FL west to NE, and NE to CA (Natural Resources Conservation Service 1998). The plant has attractive flowers and is cultivated as an ornamental in fish ponds.
An isolated colony of L. peploides was found near a ballast area in Philadelphia on the Delaware River in 1866 (Smith 1867). Ludwigia peploides is still found in the Delaware estuary, in the Hamilton marshes NJ (Leck et al. 1988). This plant is included on a list of invasive plants in DE (Delaware Department of Natural Resources 1998). The first MD occurrence (as Jussaiea diffusa) in a pond in Salisbury (Tatnall 1946), could have been established by either natural dispersal from the Delaware River population, or from deliberate planting or a fishpond escape. Subsequent MD (Krauss et al. 1971; Brown and Brown 1984) accounts refer to this as the only known location, but apparently it was locally common on the MD Eastern Shore (Agricultural Research Service 1971).
Ludwigia peploides appears to be spreading in the Potomac. It was listed under 'Waifs and taxa of doubtful persistence' in Harvill et al. (1986); from King George and Newport News Counties VA. but in the next edition (Harvill et al. 1992), it was treated as established in Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, and King George Counties. Strong and Kelloff (1994) noted it as 'locally abundant' in oligohaline Brent Marsh (Stafford County), while Simmons et al. (1995) found it to be rare in a brackish pond in Caledon Natural Area (King George County) along the mesohaline Potomac. Sipple (1995) found this plant to be common in the Anacostia River near Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Sizable patches of L. peploides were seen in bloom in Dyke Marsh, Alexandria VA in September 1997 (Fofonoff 1997 personal observation).
A specimen recently collected by Strong and Kelloff from Brent Marsh is more erect, with larger flowers, than older specimens, labelled with the former name 'Jussiaea repens' in the United States National Museum of Natural History herbarium (Stan Shetler 1995), perhaps indicating cultivated origins. This could be suggestive of a recent garden-fishpond introduction in the Potomac.
History References- Agricultural Research Service 1910; Brown and Brown 1984;Cook 1985; Delaware Department of Natural Resources 1998; Dutaire 1987; Fernald 1950; Godfrey and Wooten 1981; Gray 1848; Harvill et al. 1986; Harvill et al. 1992; Krauss et al. 1971; Leck et al. 1988; Muenscher 1944; Natural Resources Conservation Service 1998; Rejmankova 1992; Robinson and Fernald 1908;S immons et al. 1995; Smith 1867; Strong and Kelloff 1994; Tatnall 1946
Invasion Comments
Invasion Status - We consider this species to be a probable introduction to Chesapeake Bay, given the apparently disjunct earlier distribution (Agricultural Research Service 1971), and the recent rapid spread. The status of Ludwigia peploides is uncertain for North America as a whole (Godfrey and Wooten 1981).
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | 35.0 | |||
| Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Oxygen | hypoxic | |||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-oligo |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | ||
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 500.0 | 500.0 |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 2000.0 | 2000.0 |
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | ||
| Typical Longevity (yrs |
Reproduction
| Start | Peak | End | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Season | |||
| Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
|||
| Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
| Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
|||
| Fertilization Type(s) | |||
| More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
|||
| Reproductive Startegy | |||
| Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
Ludwigia peploides (Creeping Water-Primorose) is not considered a problem in MD or VA at this time (Sipple 1995; Strong 1995; Ware 1996). It is a popular water-garden ornamental, and is extensively raised in Frederick County MD.
References - Rejmankova 1992; Sipple 1995; Strong 1995; Agricultural Research Service 1971; Ware 1996
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
Ludwigia peploides (Creeping Water-Primorose) is 'pan-tropical' (Gleason and Cronquist 1991) and native versus introduced status is uncertain in much of its range (Cook 1985). Impacts noted elsewhere, especially in nutrient-rich waters, include:
Aesthetic - Ludwigia peploides is visually attractive, at least when in bloom, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental (Dutaire 1987).
Agriculture- Ludwigia peploides can clog irrigation ditches and rice fields (Agricultural Research Service 1971), but does have potential for wastewater treatment due to rapid nutrient absorption (Rejmankova 1992).
Boating - Ludwigia peploides interfered with boating in shallow water in French coastal lakes (Dutaire 1987).
References - Cook 1985; Dutaire 1987; Gleason and Cronquist 1991; Rejmankova 1992; Agricultural Research Service 1971
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Ludwigia peploides var. peploides (Creeping Water-Primrose) has apparently not reached problematic densities in the Chesapeake Bay estuary. However, its range and abundance appears to be increasing (Sipple 1995).
Competition- It is known as an invasive weed in other areas of the United States, in France, and probably elsewhere through its range (Agricultural Research Service 1971; Dutaire 1987). It is listed as a highly invasive plant in DE (Delaware Natural Heritage Program 1999).
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Ludwigia peploides ssp. peploides (Creeping Water-Primrose) has apparently not reached problematic densities in the Chesapeake Bay estuary. However, its range and abundance appears to be increasing (Sipple 1995). Competition with other 'creeping emergent' plants such as Alternanthera philoxeroides (Alligatorweed), Myriophyllum aquaticum (Parrots' Feather), and Murdannia keisak(Asian Dewflower) is possible, but not documented.
References- Sipple 1995
References
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Cook, Christopher D. K. (1985) Range extensions of aquatic vascular plant species, Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 23: 1-6
1998 Non-native plant species in Delaware. http://www.dnrec.statede.us/iw/weeds.htm
Dutaire, A. (1987) Aquatic plants introduced in freshwater lakes and ponds of Aquitaine, France., In: (Eds.) 7th International Symposium on Aquatic Weeds.. , . Pp. 93-98
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Gleason, Henry A.; Cronquist, Arthur (1991) Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, In: (Eds.) . , Bronx, New York. Pp.
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1997-2024 USDA PLANTS Database.. Onine databse
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Simmons, Mark P.; Ware, Donna M.; Hayden, W. John (1995) The vascular flora of the Potomac River watershed of King George County, Virginia, Castanea 60: 179-209
1995 Introduced plants in Chesapeake Bay, letters and telephone conversations.
Smith, Aubrey H. (1867) On colonies of plants observed near Philadelphia, Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 19: 15-22
1995 Introduced plants in the Chesapeake Bay region, conversation with Paul Fofonoff.
Strong, Mark T.; Kelloff, Carol L. (1994) Intertidal vascular plants of Brent Marsh, Potomac River, Stafford County, Virginia, Castanea 59: 354-366
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