INVASIVE SPECIES - Z-A
X
CONTACT US
Great Lakes Center, SAMC 319
SUNY Buffalo State
1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222
wnyprism@buffalostate.edu
(716) 878.4708
SUBSCRIBE TO LISTSERV
FOLLOW US
CONTACT
Zebra Mussel
Dreissena polymorpha
Zebra mussels are filter-feeding, freshwater, bivalve mollusks. Zebra mussels are small, ¼” to 1 ½” long, and D-shaped with light and dark brown stripes.
Yellow Floating Heart
Nymphoides peltata
Yellow floating heart is an herbaceous aquatic plant that's found rooted in the mud of still bodies of water or in water gardens. More data on this species is needed, so please report it if you see it!
Yellow Flag Iris
Iris pseudacorus
Yellow iris is an herbaceous perennial that can grow between 3-4 ft. The broad, lance-shaped leaves are stiff and erect. The yellow, showy flowers bloom from April to June.
Wild Parsnip
Pastinaca sativa
Wild parsnip is a biennial herb that grows to 2-5 ft. Alternate, compound, branched leaves have serrated edges. First year rosettes have pinnately compound leaves. Adult plants bloom June through August with small, five-petaled, yellow flowers arranged in a flat-topped, broad umbel of 2-6".
White Nose Syndrome
Pseudogymnoascus destructans
White nose syndrome is caused by an invasive (non-native) fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which affects hibernating bats. The fungus exists in caves and abandoned mines where bats spend the winter hibernating.
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. undulatifolius
Wavyleaf basketgrass is a perennial grass with a distinctly hairy stem and leaf sheath. Its seeds grow in 3-5 pairs of spikelets with long awns (pointed tips) that produce a sticky substance to aid in dispersal.
Waterwheel
Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Waterwheel is an herbaceous carnivorous, aquatic plant that captures small, aquatic invertebrates using clamshell-type traps, similar to the venus flytrap. It floats just below the water's surface and has stems 2-8 inches long, with whorls of 5-9 leaves. Waterwheel rarely flowers, but when it does, the small, greenish-white flowers emerge from the water, while the fruit capsules are held underwater.
Water Lettuce
Pistia stratiotes
Water lettuce is an often free-floating aquatic plant. It forms thick mats that block sunlight and slow or prevent the growth of native aquatic plants.
Water Hyacinth
Oshuna crassipes
Water hyacinth is a free-floating, perennial, aquatic plant. In climates where it is unable to survive the winter, water hyacinth will grow as an annual. Its leaves are round, curved, glossy bright green and float above the water’s surface on bulbous stalks.