Invasive Alien Species in Belgium: Lysichiton americanus

Home

About BFIS

Species List

				Contact us \| Login \|

Lysichiton americanus - American skunk cabbage

EPPO CPS NOBANIS

French name:	Faux-arum, Lysichite
Dutch name:	Moerasaronskelk, Moeraslantaarn
Family:	Araceae

Group:	Vascular plants
Origin:	North America
Habitat:	terrestrial
Introduction:	agri- and horticulture

ISEIA Score : 10

Naturalization in Belgium

First observation in the wild:	2006
Invasion stage:	naturalization
Spatial distribution:	isolated

Invasiveness

Reproduction in the wild:	yes
Dispersion potential:	medium
Natural habitats:	high

More on invasiveness: Lysichiton americanus grows in the transition zone of terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic habitats like swamps, fens, wet meadows, marshy and alluvial woodlands, along streams, riverbanks, lakesides and ponds. It has no specific site condition requirements except the presence of saturated organic soils. It is often found in protected semi-natural habitats. Lysichiton reproduces almost exclusively by seeds, which may be dispersed downstream along waterways. However, spread by natural means is not frequent and rather limited.

Distribution in Belgium

Established populations Biogeographic areas where the species is known to be established in the wild

	absent from district
	isolated populations (1-5 localities per district)
	widespread (>5 localities per district)

Endangered areas Biogeographic areas including Natura 2000 habitats that are likely to be invaded by the species (occurence of dense populations)

Biogeographic areas including Natura 2000 habitats that are likely to be invaded by the species (occurence of dense populations)

	low risk
	medium risk
	high risk

Endangered Natura 2000 habitats (

bogs, mires & fens:	7110*7120
forest habitats:	91D091E091F0

Impacts on Species

Predation / Herbivory:	low
Competition:	high
Disease transmission:	low
Genetic effects:	low

Impacts on Ecosystems

Nutrient cycling:	unknown
Physical alteration:	likely
Natural successions:	unknown
Food web alteration:	low

More on impacts: L. americanus has become established locally in swamp forests and associated wetlands in the EPPO region (resulting most of the time from plantation in the site). After some years, its huge leaves build a dense layer excluding light from native species which are usually not adapted to extreme darkness. It can displace and cause local extinction of rare species of mosses and vascular plants (Carex echinata,Viola palustris, and orchids).

Data Source & References

Authors:	Branquart Etienne, Vanderhoeven Sonia, Van Landuyt Wouter, Van Rossum Fabienne, Verloove Filip
Published on:	22 November 2007
Last update:	07 December 2010

References:

Alberternst, B. & Nawrath, S. (2002)

[Lysichiton americanus newly established in Continental Europe. Is there a chance for control in the early phase of naturalization?]

Neobiota 1:91-99.

Baker R. et al. (2007)

Opinion of the scientific panel of plant health on the pest risk analysis made by EPPO on Lysichiton americanus.

EFSA Journal 539: 1-12.

CPS-SKEW (2006)

Lysichiton americanus

From online fact sheets of the Swiss Commission for Wild Plants Conservation

EPPO (2009)

Pest risk analysis for Lysichiton americanus.

European Plant Protection Organization.

EPPO (2006)

Data sheets on quarantine pests: Lysichiton americanus

OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 36: 7-9

Klingenstein F. and Alberternst B. (2006)

Invasive alien species fact sheet Lysichiton americanus.

From online database of the North European and Baltic network on invasive alien species (NOBANIS).

Smith, I.M., McNamara, D.G., Scott, P.R. & Holderness, M. (1997)

Quarantine Pests for Europe.

CABI International, Wallingford, UK, 1425 pp

Weber, E. & Gut, D. (2004)

Assessing the risk of potentially invasive plant species in central Europe.

Journal for Nature Conservation12: 171-179.

Wittenberg, R. (2005)

An inventory of alien species and their threat to biodiversity and economy in Switzerland.

CABI Bioscience Switzerland Centre report to the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape. The environment in practice no. 0629: 155p.