Herbaceous introduced plants of South Karelia

Contemporary flora-dynamic processes are mainly concerned with naturalization of introduced species. Naturalization of introduced plants can lead to invasions of alien species. Therefore, the investigation of contribution of introduced plants into the expansion of alien flora of regions is so important. People in South Karelia currently cultivate 422 species of herbaceous introduced plants. The overwhelming majority of all species cultivated in the region (about 72 %) did not show signs of naturalization. We observed an independent seed and/or vegetative reproduction of 117 species (28 % of cultivated species). The overwhelming majority of herbaceous plants running wild is not able to compete with native species and hardly ever goes beyond cultivated areas. Currently, reproductive potential of multiple introduced species is insufficient for their wide dissemination from their cultivated locations and subsequent transition into the category of invasive species.