Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Risk Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.
Monochoria hastata, the Arrowleaf False Pickerelweed, is an aquatic plant that is native to Southeast Asia and Australia and (as Pontederia sagittata) to Central America. M. hastata can be found in tropical and subtropical wetlands, swamps, and ponds. Within its native range, M. hastata is a known weed of rice paddies. M. hastata is used as a food source, ornamental plant, and medicinal herb by humans, as well as for bioremediation. M. hastata is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed by USDA; it is also prohibited in multiple states. The history of invasiveness is classified as Data Deficient due to the lack of known impacts from the introductions. The climate match to the contiguous United States for M. hastata was medium. However, only Florida, the Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts, and small areas of the southwest and Pacific Coast had a medium or high climate match. The certainty of assessment is low due to a lack of information and taxonomic uncertainty. The overall risk assessment category is Uncertain.
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Uncertain Risk
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