Identification of Invasive Plants
Invasive species are identified as species that establish and successfully reproduce in regions where they do not naturally exist. The impacts of invasive species can be ecologically and economically devastating to the invaded region. When established in natural habitats, invasive plants can out-compete native plant species and decrease the amount of available habitat for wildlife that depends on native plants for nesting and feeding.
The Quiet Invasion: A Guide to Invasive Plants of the Galveston Bay Area, was created in 2006 by the Houston Advanced Research Center with funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Galveston Bay Estuary Program. Invasive plant species identified by the Galveston Bay Invasive Species Risk Assessment Project were considered for inclusion in the Field Guide. Of the 166 invasive plant species identified by the risk assessment, 34 were ranked according to ecological risk. The list of 34 ranked invasive plant species served as the preliminary list of plants for inclusion in the field guide.
The key below steps through identification processes for the 32 terrestrial species in the Field Guide. Species identification is important in helping gardeners, land managers, and landscape architects identify invasive plants that can be harmful to local habitats.
Begin by selecting from the following types:
 Tree
 Fern
 Grass
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 Shrub
 Herb
 Vine
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