Description
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plantae | Magnoliophyta | Magnoliopsida | Rosales | Rosaceae | Rosa |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 | Established | Expanding | Introduced | Boundary Resident | East Asia | East Asia | Ornamental(Garden Escape) |
History of Spread
Rosa multiflora (Multiflora Rose) is native to Asia. According to different sources, it was introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant in 1811 (Patten 1976) or 1886 (Wells and Brown 2000). It is absent from 19th and early 20th century floras, and was first mentioned as an escape by Fernald (1950). In the mid-20th century, this shrub was extensively promoted by the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service as a hedge to prevent soil erosion, and was praised by Charles Elton as a constructive introduction, for its beauty and the wildlife value of its fruits (Elton 1958). However, by the 1970s, R. multiflora was regarded as a serious pest in the Eastern U.S (Agricultural Research Service 1971). By 1971, this thorny shrub occurred throughout most of the East, from TX and LA to WI and MI, and also in the Pacific Northwest (OR-WA) (Agricultural Research Service 1971; Natural Resources Conservation Service 2001).
In the Chesapeake Bay region, R. multiflora was reported as an isolated escape in Kensington MD in 1907 (U.S. National Herbarium collections). The beginning of the invasion of forest edges and thickets in the region appears to have been in the 1940s, when wild specimens were collected in the Bull Run Mountains in Prince William County VA (Herman 1946; U.S. National Herbarium collections). Brown and Brown (1972) reported this plant as 'recently much planted, and now escaping to fields, thickets, and woodlands'. In VA, R. multiflora is found in most of the state's counties (Harvill et al. 1992). This is predominantly an upland shrub, but it was included on a list of plants occurring in MD tidal fresh wetlands (Tiner and Burke 1995), and was reported as occurring on the 'river bank' of the Potomac at Mount Vernon VA (Wells and Brown 2000). This rose has been seen in bloom in the intertidal zone along Muddy Creek, a tributary oif the Rhode River, and in a shrub-swamp on Gingerville Creek, off the South River (Fofonoff, perwsonal observations).
References- Agricultural Research Service 1971; Brown and Brown 1972; Elton 1958; Fernald 1950; Hermann 1946; Natural Resources Conservation Service 2001; Patteerson 1976; Tiner and Burke 1995; U.S. National Herbarium collections; Wells and Brown 2000
Invasion Comments
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | ||||
| Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Oxygen | ||||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-oligo |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | ||
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | ||
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | ||
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | ||
| Typical Longevity (yrs |
Reproduction
| Start | Peak | End | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Season | |||
| Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
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| Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
| Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
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| Fertilization Type(s) | |||
| More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
|||
| Reproductive Startegy | |||
| Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
Rosa multiflora (Multiflora Rose) was initially planted in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and elsewhere for its benefit in erosion protection, as a 'living fence', and as an attractive ornamental. However, this plant is now regarded as a serious invader throughout the watershed (Cooley 1993; Delaware Natural Heritage Program 1999; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001). Its impenetrable thickets, choke out native plants and blocking movements of animals and people, and its thorns inflict painful scratches (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001). However, its importance in tidal wetlands is unclear.
References- Cooley 1993; Delaware Natural Heritage Program 1999; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
Rosa multiflora (Multiflora Rose) was initially widely planted in the United States for its benefit in erosion protection, as a 'living fence', and as an attractive ornamental (Elton 1958). However, this plant is now regarded as a serious invader throughout much of the U.S., and is listed as a noxious weed in at least 8 states (Natural Resources Conservation Service 2001). Its impenetrable thickets, choke out native plants and blocking movements of animals and people, and its thorns inflict painful scratches (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001). However, its importance in tidal wetlands is unclear.
References- Elton 1958; Natural Resources Conservation Service 2001; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Rosa multiflora (Multiflora Rose) is on state lists of invasive plants threatening natural habitats in DE, MD, and VA (Cooley 1993; Delaware Natural Heritage Program 1999; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001). It is regarded as a serious invader in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, forming impenetrable thickets, choking out native plants and blocking movements of animals (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001). However, its importance in tidal wetlands is unclear.
References- Cooley 1993; Delaware Natural Heritage Program 1999; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Rosa multiflora (Multiflora Rose) is highly competitive for light and nutrients (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001). It is regarded as a noxious weed in many states, and as a damaging invader of natural areas (Natural Resources Conservation Service 2002). However, its impact on on native biota in tidal wetlands is unclear.
References- Natural Resources Conservation Service 2002; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 2001
References
Agricultural Research Service (1971) Common weeds of the United States., In: (Eds.) . , Washington, D.C.. Pp.Brown, M. L.; Brown, R. G. (1972) Woody plants of Maryland., , College Park. Pp.
Brown, Melvin L.; Brown, Russell G. (1984) Herbaceous Plants of Maryland, , College Park. Pp.
Cooley, Gene (1993) Invasive exotic plants that threaten native species and natural habitats in Maryland., , Annapolis MD. Pp.
1998 Non-native plant species in Delaware. http://www.dnrec.statede.us/iw/weeds.htm
Elton, Charles S. (1958) The ecology of invasions by animals and plants., , London. Pp.
Fernald, Merritt L. (1950) Gray's Manual of Botany, In: (Eds.) . , New York. Pp.
Gleason, Henry A. (1963) The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, In: (Eds.) . , New York. Pp.
Gleason, Henry A.; Cronquist, Arthur (1991) Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, In: (Eds.) . , Bronx, New York. Pp.
Harvill, A. M.; Bradley, Ted R.; Stevens, Charles E.; Wieboldt, Thomas F.; Ware, Donna M. E.; Ogle, Douglas W.; Ramsey, Gwynn W.; Fleming, Gary P. (1992) Atlas of the Virginia Flora, , Burkeville, VA. Pp.
Hermann, Frederick J. (1946) A checklist of plants in the Washington-Baltimore area., , Washington, D.C.. Pp.
1997-2024 USDA PLANTS Database.. Onine databse
Patterson, David T. (1976) The history and distribution of five exotic weeds in North Carolina, Castanea 41: 177-180
Tiner, Ralph W., Jr.; Burke, David G. (1995) Wetlands of Maryland, , Newton Corner, MA. Pp.
1999 Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia. http://www.state.va.us/~dcr/dnh/invlist.htm
Wells, Elizabeth Fortson; Brown, Rebecca Louise (2000) An annotated checklist of the vascular plants in the forest at historic Mount Vernon: A legacy from the past., Castanea 65: 242-257