List of edible invasive species
Eating invasive species has been suggested by people such as ecologist Joe Roman as a way of reducing their numbers.[1] This is a list of cases where this has been suggested, tried and/or is now established.
Plants
- Armenian blackberry (Rubus armeniacus).[2]
- Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), invasive to central and northeastern United States, and Europe.[3]
- Burdock (Arctium spp.) - was introduced to Europe,[4] leaves, flowers and roots are edible.[5]
- Dandelion (Taraxacum spp.)[6]
- Evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus), invasive in the United States, Canada and Australia. The fruit is edible.[7][8]
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), invasive in the United States and Australia. The bulb, foliage, flowers and fruits are edible.[9][10]
- Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata),[11] invasive in North America.
- Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), invasive to Brazil.[12]
- Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica spp.) - was introduced to the United States from East Asia,[13] shoots are edible and the roots are used for medicinal purposes.[14]
- Kudzu (Pueraria spp.)[15]
- Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), invasive in the United States and Canada. The leaves are edible.[16]
- Palmer's amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)[17]
- Prickly pear cactus, invasive in Australia, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Hawaii. The fruit and pads are edible.[18]
- Water caltrop (Trapa spp.).[19]
- Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes),[20] introduced in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and New Zealand; invasive in many of these areas.[21]
- Watercress (Nasturtium officinale), invasive in North America.[22] The leaves, stems, and fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.[23]
- Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa).[24]
- Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris spp.) - invasive,[25] leaves are edible.[26]
Animals
- American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
- Asian carp
- Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
- Brown trout (Salmo trutta)
- Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Cane toad (Rhinella marina)
- Green shore crab[27] (Carcinus maenas)
- Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)
- Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
- Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
- Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua)
- Domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)
- Domestic rabbit[28] (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus)
- Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus)
- Giant Snakehead (Channa micropeltes)
- Nutria (Myocastor coypus)
- Green iguana (Iguana iguana)
- Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
- Marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis)
- Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)[29]
- Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)
- Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)
- Nile perch (Lates niloticus)
- Lionfish (Pterois spp.)
- Quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis)
- Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
- Walking catfish (Clarias batrachus)
- Snails
See also
References
- ^ a b Michael Snyder (19 March 2017), "Can We Really Eat Invasive Species into Submission?", Scientific American
- ^ "Field Guide for Managing Himalayan Blackberry in the Southwest" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. June 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 20, 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Elaeagnus umbellata (autumn olive)". CABI. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ "Common burdock - Invasive Species Council of British Columbia". bcinvasives.ca. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Strong, Bronwyn. "Burdock–a weed, a medicine, and a delicacy. – Natural History Society of Maryland". Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Szydlowski, Mike (12 April 2023). "Why the dandelion is one of the most successful plants in history". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "European blackberries: Rubus fruticosus sp. agg". keyserver.lucidcentral.org. Queensland Government. 2018-06-20. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ "Rubus laciniatus". US Forest Service. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ "Foeniculum vulgare Mill". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
- ^ Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. pp. 339–340. ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
- ^ "Garlic Mustard: Invasive, Destructive, Edible". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Danger or delight? Uphill battle for Brazil's huge jackfruit". AP NEWS. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Japanese Knotweed". NEW YORK INVASIVE SPECIES (IS) INFORMATION. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Japanese Knotweed: Edible, Medicinal, Invasive!". Philadelphia Orchard Project. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Kudzu: The Invasive Vine that Ate the South". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Ohio Weedguide". weedguide.cfaes.osu.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
- ^ "Palmer Amaranth | Invasive Species Program | Nebraska". unlcms.unl.edu. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Bakewell-Stone, Petra (2023-04-25). Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear) (Report). doi:10.1079/cabicompendium.37714.
- ^ "NSW WeedWise - Water caltrop (Trapa species)". weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Duke, James A. (1983). "Eichornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms". Handbook of Energy Crops. Purdue University.
- ^ Gannon, Mike. "Water Hyacinth--In and Out of Your Water Garden". Full Service Aquatics. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Nasturtium officinale". Nonindigenous Aquatic Species. 2006-07-05. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ Nyerges, Christopher (2016). Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4930-1499-6.
- ^ "Wild Parsnip: Pastinaca sativa" (PDF). Invasive Species Council of BC. April 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocketcress) Brassicaceae". www.lakeforest.edu. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Barbarea orthoceras (American Rocket, American Wintercress, American Yellow Rocket, Erectpod Wintercress, Wintercress, Winter Cress) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Lenahan, Ian. "York, Maine startup turns invasive green crabs into popular restaurant fare". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
- ^ "Eating the invaders – Why Türkiye is putting lion, rabbit and squirrel on the menu". Fauna & Flora. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
- ^ Pritchard, Eleri G. "Invasive species: why Britain can't eat its way out of its crayfish problem". The Conversation. Retrieved 2021-08-17.