Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Vallisneria australis (a plant, no common name) - Uncertain Risk

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.

Vallisneria australis is a submerged aquatic plant that is thought to be native to Southeastern Australia. There is little information pertaining to this species as it was formally described and differentiated from other Vallisneria species within the last 20 years. This species is in the aquarium and pond trade. Records of introductions and established populations were found; however, there was no information on impacts from those introductions. The history of invasiveness is classified as Data Deficient. The overall climate match was High with the contiguous United States with most of the United States having locally high climate matches. The upper Midwest and areas along the mid and northern Pacific Coast recorded low matches. The certainty of assessment is Low due to the history of systematic changes in the Vallisneria genus and lack of information regarding the history of invasiveness for V. austalis. The overall risk assessment category is Uncertain.