Hi all.
I was talking to a colleague at work today and it turns out that, despite it easy availibility in aquatic shops, Ludwigia sp. particularly Ludwigia repens (red-leafed Ludwigia) are monitored by DEFRA in the wild and classified as highly invasive plants which pose a high threat to British aquatic ecosystems. It is classified nearly as highly as Japanese Knotweed, the only difference being it has not yet colonised the UK enough to be classed as widespread. It is, however, an offence (albeit one you are very, very unlikely to be called up on) to place these plants into the wild, dispose of them or their cuttings (which they grow very well from) carelessly (these plants should be burtn, or else VERY securely disposed of in plastic) or distribute seeds into the wild.
I haven't personally checked the DEFRA literature (it is a bit of a maze anyway) and am not familiar with it being in the entomology department, but I trust my colleague's information implicitly since he is a senior researcher in the botany department.
I love this plant as not only is it very pretty but it grows quickly and easily (which is presumably what makes it a danger).
Anyway, I'm just letting you know as we're all responsible people and it's a widespread plant in shops here.
EDIT: Here is the DEFRA risk assessment (First on the list, I couldn't work out how to make a direct link work).
http
/www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&ei=OuKXS8-iHdjPjAeN8a3_CQ&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CBEQBSgA&q=ludwigia+defra+risk+assessment&spell=1&fp=4d1e998208e8ca69
I was talking to a colleague at work today and it turns out that, despite it easy availibility in aquatic shops, Ludwigia sp. particularly Ludwigia repens (red-leafed Ludwigia) are monitored by DEFRA in the wild and classified as highly invasive plants which pose a high threat to British aquatic ecosystems. It is classified nearly as highly as Japanese Knotweed, the only difference being it has not yet colonised the UK enough to be classed as widespread. It is, however, an offence (albeit one you are very, very unlikely to be called up on) to place these plants into the wild, dispose of them or their cuttings (which they grow very well from) carelessly (these plants should be burtn, or else VERY securely disposed of in plastic) or distribute seeds into the wild.
I haven't personally checked the DEFRA literature (it is a bit of a maze anyway) and am not familiar with it being in the entomology department, but I trust my colleague's information implicitly since he is a senior researcher in the botany department.
I love this plant as not only is it very pretty but it grows quickly and easily (which is presumably what makes it a danger).
Anyway, I'm just letting you know as we're all responsible people and it's a widespread plant in shops here.
EDIT: Here is the DEFRA risk assessment (First on the list, I couldn't work out how to make a direct link work).
http
/www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&ei=OuKXS8-iHdjPjAeN8a3_CQ&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CBEQBSgA&q=ludwigia+defra+risk+assessment&spell=1&fp=4d1e998208e8ca69
