TITLE:
Bio-Morphological Characters of Alien Legume Species, Influencing Their Invasion in Natural Plant Communities
AUTHORS:
Yulia Vinogradova
KEYWORDS:
Alien Species, Weeds, Legumes, Lupinus, Galega, Robinia, Amorpha, Caragana, Invasion, Propagule Pressure Hypothesis, Evolution of Invasiveness Hypothesis
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.7 No.16,
November
29,
2016
ABSTRACT: Five alien legume species, actively invading in natural plant communities in European
part of Russia, were studied—Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl., Galega orientalis Lam., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Amorpha fruticosa L. and Caragana arborescens L.
Distribution ranges (considering their invasive status) were mapped. Not a single
bio-morphological character to forecast invasion success in natural plant communities
within secondary distribution range was found. The data of key value/importance
for explaining invasive success of the species studied were obtained. Two hypotheses—
Propagule Pressure and Evolution of Invasiveness—were critically analyzed
in view of the received data.