Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL
Chapter 273 - CRITERIA FOR LISTING INVASIVE TERRESTRIAL PLANTS
Section 001-273-I - Definitions

A. Biological potential - The ability of a species to increase its numbers, either sexually and/or asexually, and occupy more space.

B. Ecoregion - An ecoregion is a geographic area where ecosystems are generally similar. Ecoregion maps are published by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

C. Invasive plant - A non-native species that has spread into native or minimally managed plant communities (habitats) in Maine that causes economic or environmental harm by developing self-sustaining populations that become dominant and/or disruptive to native species.

D. Minimally managed habitats - Minimally managed habitats are habitats where management efforts and investments of time, money and labor are infrequent or nonexistent. These habitats may at one time have been intensively managed. Minimally managed habitats may include, but are not limited to forests, woodlots, rights-of-way, riverbanks, coastal plains, pastures, meadows and vacant lots.

E. Native plant - A species that has evolved over hundreds or thousands of years in a particular ecoregion. Generally, only plants found in this country before European settlement are considered native to the United States.

F. Naturalized plant - A non-native plant that does not need human help to reproduce and maintain itself over time in an area where it is not native.

G. Non-native plant - A species that is not native or naturally occurring (based on its distribution and current knowledge of the species) within Maine. A species may be native to North America, but non-native in Maine.

H. Spatial gaps - This term is used in reference to the ability of a species to disperse away from existing occurrences. It is a distance from the location of the original introduction of a plant which exceeds the average distance a propagule (seed or other viable plant part) from that plant would normally establish. The longer distance movement (over a spatial gap) and establishment is facilitated by wind, water, animals or some other reason. This type of growth contrasts with a plant that spreads contiguously and undispersed within a habitat.

I. Species - As utilized in this chapter, "species" includes all synonyms, subspecies, hybrids, varieties, forms and cultivars of that species.

J. Invasive terrestrial plant species of special concern - A non-native plant species that has spread into native or minimally managed plant habitats in Maine that may cause economic or environmental harm. Species of special concern may be effectively contained through alternative regulatory measures instead of prohibiting sale or import.

K. Terrestrial plant - As utilized in this chapter, "terrestrial plant" includes plants that grow in upland habitats but may also include plants that are able to grow in wetlands or as emergent aquatic plants. Terrestrial plants may grow in agricultural fields, rangelands, forests, urban landscapes, wildlands, and along waterways. Terrestrial plants include trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and herbaceous plants.