Ecological study of the invasive weed Lepidium virginicum L. in the fields of the Nile Delta coast

Document Type : Original Article

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Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science at Damietta University, Egypt

Abstract

Ecological and floristic studies on Lepidium virgincum L. in Egypt revealed the occurrence of a new alien plant species, in Ismailia district 2006 by El-Gazzar and Hammodua. In the present study, a newly discovered distribution of L. virginicum occupies mesic orchards, field edges and arable field habitats in New Damietta coastal area is evaluated. Associated species recorded and soil characteristics of the newly invaded habitats are analyzed. We present here an exhaustive analy­sis of morphological, phenological characteristics and growth characteristics L. virginicum in the different habitats. We found that L. virginicum populations prefer fertile sandy habitats rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. Different growth forms (rosette and erect) and four different leaf morphs (heteries, rhombiodea, tenuis and simplex) dominate during life cycle. Although L. virginicum currently occurs in limited distribution as an alien species in Egypt, its existence in other regions of Egypt is highly probable.
The obtained results will be useful for the management and optimizing use of this new invasive, alien weed in the orchards and in the canal bank habitats in the coastal area of Nile Delta.

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