Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Invasive Plant Project
Invasive Plant Monitoring ProjectThis project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture

Plant Identification (Phase 1)


1) Download the Note-taking sheet (pdf) to help you learn the plants.

2) Download this guide Plant ID Guide (pdf) or click the links on the table below to learn about the plants

3) View and listen to this presentation from previous years' training (covers the original plant list only)

4) Watch these videos from previous years training (covers the original plant list only):

Phase 1 Species

Code

Common
name

Type

Leaf
Pattern

Leaf
Type
Acer platanoides ACPL Norway maple Tree opposite simple
Ailanthus altissima AIAL Tree-of-heaven Tree alternate compound
+Elaeagnus umbellata ELUM Autumn olive Sm.Tree alternate simple
Berberis thunbergii BETH Japanese barberry Shrub alternate simple
Euonymus alatus EUAL Winged Euonymus Shrub opposite simple
Rosa multiflora ROMU Multiflora rose Shrub alternate compound
Rubus phoenocolasius RUPH Wineberry Shrub alternate compound
+Lonicera morrowii/tartarica LONI Bush honeysuckles Shrub opposite simple
Celastrus orbiculatus CEOR Oriental bittersweet Vine alternate simple
Lonicera japonica LOJA Japanese honeysuckle Vine opposite simple
+Polygonum cuspidatum POCU Japanese knotweed Herb alternate simple
+Lythrum salicaria LYSA Purple loosestrife Herb opposite simple
Alliaria petiolata ALPE Garlic mustard Herb alternate simple
Microstegium vimineum MIVI Japanese stilt grass Grass   blade

After you have learned the Phase 1 species above and you have mapped them on your section of trail, you can move on to the Phase 2 species. Sign up for the Advanced ID class to learn about these species.

[The following species were moved to the Phase 2 plant list: Hercules club (Aralia elata), Mile-a-minute vine (Polygonum perfoliatum), and Black swallowwort (Cynanchum louiseae).]

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