What are”exotic” plants and “exotic invasive” species?
IRC uses the phrase “native plant” to indicate a plant that occurs or occurred naturally within a specific geographical area in specific habitats or plant communities. Some native species have rather broad ranges while other species ranges are very restricted. For instance live oak (Quercus virginiana) grows nearly throughout South Florida north to the state of Virginia , while Florida Keys wedge sandmat (Chamaesyce deltoidea subsp. serpyllum) is confined to Big Pine Key in the lower Florida Keys . Similarly, live oak is found in a large number of plant communities, from rockland hammock to mesic hammock to maritime hammock, while Florida Keys wedge sandmat is confined solely to pine rockland . The phrase “native plant” is not without controversy. For an interesting review of definitions see Toward a Working Definition of “Florida Native Plant” on the Florida Native Plant Society website.
