About Algerian Sea Lavender (Limonium ramosissimum) an early ...

<strong>About</strong> <strong>Algeri<strong>an</strong></strong> <strong>Sea</strong> <strong>Lavender</strong> (<strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong>)<br />

<strong>an</strong> <strong>early</strong> detection <strong>an</strong>d eradication priority for S<strong>an</strong> Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay<br />

information courtesy of Gavin Archbald<br />

Beginning in 2006, two forms of several densely growing populations of <strong>an</strong> invasive pl<strong>an</strong>t, <strong>Algeri<strong>an</strong></strong> sea<br />

lavender (<strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong> <strong>an</strong>d <strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong> ssp provinciale), were discovered in<br />

S<strong>an</strong> Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay salt marshes. A perennial, salt-toler<strong>an</strong>t forb of Mediterr<strong>an</strong>e<strong>an</strong> origin, L.<br />

<strong>ramosissimum</strong> has spread to marshes <strong>an</strong>d tidal lagoons in southern California, from S<strong>an</strong> Diego to S<strong>an</strong>ta<br />

Barbara. There, the pl<strong>an</strong>t displays invasive characteristics including broad salinity toler<strong>an</strong>ce, prolific<br />

seed production <strong>an</strong>d the ability to compete with native pl<strong>an</strong>ts i .<br />

In S<strong>an</strong> Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay, L. <strong>ramosissimum</strong> has been found in the high marsh <strong>an</strong>d upl<strong>an</strong>d tr<strong>an</strong>sition zone ii<br />

where it forms near-monocultures <strong>an</strong>d competes directly with native salt marsh species. At the upper<br />

end of this elevational r<strong>an</strong>ge, L. <strong>ramosissimum</strong> grows taller, more robustly <strong>an</strong>d produces more seed,<br />

competing directly with perennial pickleweed, <strong>an</strong>d altering high tide wildlife refugia.<br />

As of J<strong>an</strong>uary 2011, about 4 acres of L. <strong>ramosissimum</strong> have been detected in a few S<strong>an</strong> Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay<br />

marshes (see attached map), typically with a history of either restoration or disturb<strong>an</strong>ce. The largest<br />

<strong>an</strong>d densest known S<strong>an</strong> Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay population has been found in S<strong>an</strong>chez Marsh in the city of<br />

Burlingame. If left unm<strong>an</strong>aged, L. <strong>ramosissimum</strong> could further establish <strong>an</strong>d invade additional S<strong>an</strong><br />

Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay wetl<strong>an</strong>ds. Mature pl<strong>an</strong>ts <strong>an</strong>nually produce tens of thous<strong>an</strong>ds of seeds per square meter<br />

<strong>an</strong>d these seeds float viably for weeks in bay water, later able to germinate in fresh or saline<br />

conditions iii .<br />

Working together we c<strong>an</strong> eradicate invasive <strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong> from S<strong>an</strong><br />

Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay. Please report new sightings to the appropriate l<strong>an</strong>d m<strong>an</strong>agers as well<br />

as the occurrence database at www.Calflora.org.<br />

Photos left to right: <strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong> (with purple flowers) invading the marsh at Coyote Point by Gavin Archbald, L.<br />

<strong>ramosissimum</strong> flowers by Brad Kelley, L. <strong>ramosissimum</strong> removal by Gavin Archbald.<br />

i Page,H.R., Schroeter, S., Wolf, J. <strong>an</strong>d David Hubbard. 2007. PowerPoint Presentation. “Ecology of the exotic sea lavender,<br />

<strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong> in the salt marshes of southern California”. Society of Wetl<strong>an</strong>d Scientists, Sacramento, CA.<br />

ii, iii<br />

Archbald <strong>an</strong>d Boyer, unpublished.<br />

For more information contact Gavin Archbald (GavinArchbald@gmail.com)<br />

or Mike Perlmutter with the Bay Area Early Detection Network (Mike@BAEDN.org)

---

<strong>About</strong> <strong>Algeri<strong>an</strong></strong> <strong>Sea</strong> <strong>Lavender</strong> (<strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong>)<br />

<strong>an</strong> <strong>early</strong> detection <strong>an</strong>d eradication priority for S<strong>an</strong> Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay<br />

There are four <strong>Limonium</strong> taxa in S<strong>an</strong> Fr<strong>an</strong>cisco Bay marshes<br />

Two non-native invasives:<br />

<strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong> ssp.<br />

provinciale (<strong>Algeri<strong>an</strong></strong> sea lavender)<br />

<strong>Limonium</strong> <strong>ramosissimum</strong> (<strong>Algeri<strong>an</strong></strong> sea<br />

lavender)<br />

Photo by Gavin Archbald<br />

Non-native ornamental<br />

<strong>Limonium</strong> perezii perezii<br />

(C<strong>an</strong>ari<strong>an</strong> (C<strong>an</strong>ary or Perez’s sea sea lavender)<br />

Photo by Gavin Archbald<br />

Native<br />

<strong>Limonium</strong> californicum<br />

(California sea lavender or marsh Rosemary)<br />

Note larger, more<br />

spatulate-shaped<br />

leaves th<strong>an</strong> both<br />

forms of L.<br />

<strong>ramosissimum</strong>.<br />

Note more open<br />

inflorescence <strong>an</strong>d<br />

smaller flowers as<br />

compared to L.<br />

perezii.<br />

Photo by Gavin Archbald<br />

Photo by Mike Perlmutter<br />

For more information contact Gavin Archbald (GavinArchbald@gmail.com)<br />

or Mike Perlmutter with the Bay Area Early Detection Network (Mike@BAEDN.org)