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 vaginalis, Heartshape false pickerelweed, is a rooted flowering aquatic plant native to aquatic habitats of Southern, Eastern, and Southeast Asia, as well as Northern Australia. There was no indication that this species is in the ornamental trade, but it has been commonly reported as a contaminate in rice seed. Within the native range it is used as a food source for both humans and livestock, as well as in traditional medicine. Also within the native range, M. vaginalis is a weed of rice paddies, causing economic losses. This species has been introduced to the United States, and established populations can be found in California and Hawaii. It is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed and is also on multiple State prohibited lists. It has also been introduced to and become established Fiji. Pathways of these introductions are unknown. M. vaginalis is on the Federal Noxious Weed List and several State noxious weed and prohibited plant species lists including Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Vermont. The history of invasiveness for this species is Data Deficient due to the lack of information on impacts of introductions. The overall climate match for the contiguous United States was High, with high match occurring in the Central United States from the northern border to the southern border including the Midwest and southern Appalachian Mountain region, along the interior southern Pacific Coast, and along the majority of the southern Atlantic Coast from Virginia to Florida. The certainty of assessment was Low due to the lack of information regarding actual impacts of introduction. The overall risk assessment category for Monochoria vaginalis is Uncertain.
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Uncertain Risk
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