The Scenic Lawrence Brook - Invasive Plants  
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 invasive plants
 
Invasive Aquatic Plants
  Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana)
   
Cabomba  (or  fanwort). has small  emerged white  flowers and a  dense underwater vegetation, which  can become an  obstacle to  navigation.
It was  introduced   from   fish tanks and is  known to  propagate  by careless boat  users who  don't  clean their hull  and trailer when leaving  a site.
Water chestnut (Trapa natans)
    This  Asian plant  is unrelated to  the water chestnut  of Chinese restaurants.
Its  leaves are arranged in an attractive floating rosette. Each   fruit contains a nut  and has 4 nail-sharp spikes that  can injure the  bare-footed wader.
Water purslane (Ludwigia palustris)
    Also named marsh seedbox, Onagraceae family, native to Florida, mostly introduced by fishtanks owners    
Invasive Herbaceous plants
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
    Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), an invasive plant.  Native to Europe. Clogs  drainage ditches.
  Japanese  knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
    (syn. Fallopia japonica, Reynoutria japonica) invasive, difficut to eradicate  Common in disturbed areas
  Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
    Common in disturbed areas
  Tree of  Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
    Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Common in disturbed areas
Invasive vines
  Mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata)
    Invasive (crowds out native species); syn. Chinese tearthumb  
  Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
    Also named "Oriental Staff Vine",Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Bittersweet or Asiatic Bittersweet A wait-and-grow plant;  it  remains almost  dormant in wooded areas  until  sunlight becomes  abundant, then it  grows aggressively, sometimes covering   the  tallest trees.

This  plant was introduced from Europe as a popular Christmas ornamental plant.

Note : several plants are commonly named bittersweet.
  Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
    native to temperate areas of Asia.
  English  Ivy  (Hedera helix)
    Ravine totally invaded by English ivy (near Westoms Mill Pond) English ivy has  totally  invaded several ravines along  the  Westons Mill Pond. Bad choice to  cover  masonry walls;  it projects roots  between stones and finally  destroys the  walls.
  Common reed  (Phragmites australis)
    Invades sunny  flood areas along  the  Brook
  Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
      Introduced in the late 19th C. as an ornemental plant.
Invasive Trees and shrubs
  Tree of  Heaven  (Ailanthus altissima)
    Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Grows in disturb  areas. When crushed, it  leaves release an typical unpleasant odor.
  Norway  maple (Acer platanoides)
      This  introduced tree takes  the place of native red maples in disturbed areas. Prone to  diseases  after some years.
  Multiflora rose  (Rosa multiflora)
    Invasive plant, native to Asia. Notice the clusters of many small berries. Native to Asia;   creates  impenetrable bushes. Not to  be confused with  swamp  rose, a desirable native rose.
  Autumn  olive (Elaeagnus umbellata),
    See section ' invasive plants' A nitrogen-fixing  plant, it  can even grow in poor soils. Attract  many  birds in the fall.  Leaves are alternate
  Bush  honeysuckle Lonicera maacki)
    Opposite leaves, invasive and toxic. (Not to be confused with Elaeagnus spp., w. alternate leaves.)  It  has  toxic fruitd and . could  be confused with  autumn  olive, which has berries at the same time. However its  leaves  are opposite.
Garlic mustard [invasive](Alliaria petiolata)
Unlike  most  invasives, which  grow  mostly  in disturbed areas, garlic mustard invades established woodlands.
Notes
    If not  removed from the boat  trailer, those  aquatic plants (here Cabomba) may  contaminate another body of  water.  Careless boaters create the problem that  will  keep  them out of the  water.