Invasive Plants Found in The Bahamas

Australian Pine/Casuarina Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia & Casuarina glauca)

Australian Pines are native to Australia and Southeast Asia. They are deciduous pine trees with wispy pines and can grow up to 100 ft. tall. There are at least 2 species of Australian Pines found in The Bahamas, Casuarina equisetifolia & Casuarina glauca (Suckering Australian Pine). Casuarina equisetifolia can be denoted by lighter leaves with a greyish brown bark and small pine needles. Casuarina glauca has a shiny reddish-brown bark, dark droopy pine needles and reproduces rapidly through suckers. Both species have shallow roots and grow rapidly in almost every ecosystem in The Bahamas. In coastal areas, Australian pines can cause extreme erosion because of their shallow roots. During heavy storms, these pine trees can easily fall over. When they have fallen, their roots are completely pulled out of the ground, removing the surrounding soil/sand. This removal of soil/sand destroys beaches and can result in the displacement of numerous animals dependent on the areas. These trees also pose a threat of falling onto homes and buildings.

Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia)

Brazilian Pepper is also known as Florida Holly. It is a shrub that is native to South America that produces red berry clusters and can get up to 45 ft. tall. This plant has shallow roots, which can lead to soil erosion. Its rapid growth allows it to successfully outcompete other native plants. The clusters of berries produced by the Brazilian Pepper are easily transported by wind and other animals, which causes them to easily spread throughout different ecosystems. These plants are also very resilient and have the ability to grow new shoots (branches) from their roots and therefore are very hard to eradicate without chemicals/herbicides.

Melaleuca/Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia)

Melaleuca is native to New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and coastal eastern Australia. In The Bahamas it can be found in wetland areas. This plant can get up to 70 ft. tall, produces cream or white bottlebrush-like flowers and a flaky paper like bark, from which it gets its name. These plants have the ability to dry/absorb water from wetland areas and therefore destroy them. Melaleuca can also grow rapidly and out compete other native wetland plants.

Scaevola (Scaevola taccada)

Scaevola is also known as white ink berry or Hawaiian Sea Grape and is native to the Indo-Pacific region. Scaevola is a shrub that can get up to 30 ft. tall, has large bright green leaves, small white flowers and white berries. This plant is often used for landscaping near coastal areas due to its resilience to salty, arid areas. These plants grow faster than other native coastal plants and therefore can take over coastal terrestrial ecosystems (i.e. whiteland coppice or sandy shore). The displacement of native plants also negatively affects numerous animals that are dependent on them.

Jumbay (Leucaena leucocephala)

Jumbay, also known as Jumbie Bean or Lead Tree is native to southern Mexico and northern Central America. Jumbay can is a shrub that can grow up to 30 ft. tall, produces cream sphere shaped inflorescences and seed pods that transition from green to brown when ripe. This plant can grow rapidly in various ecosystems throughout The Bahamas and displaces other native plants. Its leaves can be effectively used as goat feed to eradicate the plant.