Page 23 - State of Biodiversity 2018/19

4.5.2. Invasive alien species (IAS)
Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that are not indigenous to an ecosystem, and which are capable of spreading naturally (often rapidly) into natural or semi-natural habitats.They can cause economic or environmental harm or can adversely affect human health. In
Table 5: List of top 25 targeted species with the eThekwini Municipality
particular, they impact adversely upon biodiversity, causing the decline or elimination of indigenous species through competition, predation or transmission of pathogens, and the disruption of local ecosystems and ecosystem functions.
Scientific Name Common Name NEMBA Cat
Ageratina adenophora Crofton Weed 1b
Ageratina riparia Creeping Crofton Weed 1b
Albizia lebbeck Lebbeck Tree 1b
Clusia rosea Clusia, Pitch-apple Unlisted
Coreopsis lanceolata Tickseed 1a
Jacaranda mimosifolia Jacaranda 1b*
Melastoma malabathricum Melastoma Unlisted
Mirabilis jalapa Four-o-clock 1b
Petiveria alliacea Guinea-hen Weed Unlisted
Rubus ellipticus Yellow Himalayan Raspberry Emerging weeds
Sagittaria platyphylla Delta Arrowhead Emerging weeds
Senna occidentalis Stinking Weed 1b
Tibouchina mutabilis Tibouchina mutabilis Unlisted
Tibouchina urvilleana Glory Bush, Princess Flower Unlisted
Tradescantia spathacea Moses-in-the-Cradle Emerging weeds
Triplaris americana Ant Tree 1b
Vitex trifolia BeachVitex 1b
Furcraea foetida Mauritius Hemp Emerging weeds
Parthenium hysterophorus FamineWeed 1b
Lilium formosanum Formosa Lily 1b
Campuloclinium macrocephalum Pompom Weed 1b
Acacia saligna Port Jackson Willow 1b
Ailanthus altissima Tree of Hell 1b
Diplocyclos palmatus Lollipop Climber 1a
Sesbania punicea Red Sesbania 1b
* Only Jacaranda trees outside the urban edge, primarily in the Outer West areas, are being targeted where they are found to be spreading along drainage lines. STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2018/2019
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