APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) has posted Weed Risk Assessments (WRA) for the following three weed species:
- Bunias erucago (Southern warty cabbage)
- Coleostephus myconis (Mediterranean marigold)
- Euphorbia falcata (sickle spurge)
The purpose of a WRA is to evaluate the likelihood that a weed species will escape, naturalize, and spread in the United States, and harm U.S. natural and agricultural resources. PPQ prepares a WRA when:
- A species shows some threat potential in the United States or abroad;
- Someone requests to import a species that is either new to the United States, or if present, not widely distributed and poses a potential threat; or
- A stakeholder submits a request to APHIS to add a species to the Federal Noxious Weed List.
Stakeholders can use WRA’s to support their own management or policy decisions as needed. To view or print these or other assessments, visit APHIS’ Noxious Weeds Program Risk Assessments Web page. We welcome your questions or comments about the WRAs via email at weeds@aphis.usda.gov.