ARS | Publication request: THE SPREAD OF CYPERUS ENTRERIANUS (CYPERACEAE) IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES AND ITS INVASIVE POTENTIAL IN BOTTONLAND HARDWOOD FORESTS

Submitted to: Southeastern Naturalist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 22, 2005
Publication Date: May 8, 2006
Citation: Rosen, D.J., R. Carter, and C.T. Bryson. 2006. The recent spread of Cyperus entrerianus (Cyperaceae) in the southeastern United States and its invasive potential in bottonland hardwood forests. Southeastern Naturalist 5:333-344.

Interpretive Summary: Sedges include some of the most widespread and troublesome weeds in the world. Deeprooted sedge, a native of temperate South America, was first recognized as a potential threat to the United States in 1990. In the past decade, deeprooted sedge has more than doubled its range and now infests several thousand acres in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Research suggests that deeprooted sedge will continue to spread and threaten biodiversity in agricultural, forest, urban, and natural areas.

Technical Abstract: Cyperus entrerianus, a native of temperate South America, has become a pernicious weed in the southeastern United States. Records from an additional 37 counties in the southeastern United States were collected or discovered increasing the number of counties where it is known by 112%. Vegetation sampling at two southeast Texas bottomland hardwood stands showed that C. entrerianus is capable of invading the understory of a mature forest stand with old-growth characteristics. Our study also showed that native herbaceous species richness and aerial cover were negatively correlated with increasing aerial cover of C. entrerianus. Life history characteristics of C. entrerianus suggest it will continue to spread, and could alter both herbaceous and woody plant dynamics in bottomland forests of the southeastern United States.