Ecology Notes

Plant Name

Seed dispersal notes

Seed number / viability

Root notes

Vegetative reproduction notes

Acer platanoides
Norway Maple

Wind              

Abundant

Shallow fibrous root mat

Can reproduce locally by this method

Berberis thunbergii
Japanese Barberry

Small mammals and birds

Abundant

Shallow fibrous root mat

Stolon and root sucker

Berberis vulgaris
Common Barberry

Small mammals and birds

Abundant

Shallow fibrous root mat

Stolon

Celastrus orbiculatus
Oriential Bittersweet

Small mammals and birds

Abundant. Up to 95% germination success for seeds

Far ranging shallow roots

Root suckers are prolific

Cynanchum louiseae
Black Swallow wort

Wind

Over 2,000 seeds with 25% success rate

Fibrous root mat

Rhizome

Elaeagnus umbellata
Autumn Olive

Small mammals and birds

40,000-400,000 with high success rate

Fibrous roots

Root sucker

Euonymus alatus
Burning Bush

Bird

High numbers of seeds

Fibrous root mat

N/A

Iris pseudacorus
Yellow Flag Iris

Water

At least 120

Fibrous root mat

Rhizome

Lonicera spp.
Honeysuckle species

Small mammals and birds

Abundant number of seeds, with high success rates, but short term viability

Fibrous root mat

Root sucker

Polygonum cuspidatum
Japanese Knotweed

Wind

Abundant number of seeds, low viability

Tap root, also has shallow lateral roots

Rhizome

Rhamnus cathartica
Common Buckthorn

Mammals and birds

Abundant number of seeds

Fibrous roots

Root sucker

Rhamnus frangula
Glossy Buckthorn

Mammals and birds

Abundant

Fibrous roots

Root sucker

Rosa multiflora
Multiflora Rose

Birds

Seeds have a long viability

Tap root

Stolon

Lythrum salicaria
Purple Loosestrife

Wind, water, mammals and birds

Up to 2.7 million seeds, with long term viability

Strongly developed tap root

N/A

Phragmites australis
Common reed

Wind, birds

Abundant seeds, but most are not viable

Root mat

Stolon and rhizome