Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Yerba de Jicotea (Ludwigia erecta) - 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.

Ludwigia erecta,Yerba de Jicotea, is a wetland and emergent aquatic plant native to the Southeast United States, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This species has been widely introduced to Africa where it has become naturalized and is used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. L. erecta has been introduced to Taiwan and India. In the contiguous United States, L. erecta has been found in Arizona, which is outside of its known native range in Florida and Mississippi. No information on actual documented impacts of introduction was found, although it is described as a weed in Africa. The history of invasiveness is classified as Data Deficient. The overall climate match category for the contiguous United States was High, with a high match being found throughout the Southeast, including areas where it is native (Florida and Mississippi) and in southern Arizona. The certainty of this assessment is Low due to limited available information on the biology and impacts of introduction for this species. The overall risk assessment category for Ludwigia erecta is Uncertain.