Taxonomy
Fallopia sachalinensis | Giant Knotweed | Glúineach chapaill
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not Assessed
Legal status
Third Schedule listed species under Regulations 49 & 50 in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. (Note: Regulation 50 not yet enacted). Vector materials for this species (soil or spoil taken from infested sites) are also covered under Regulations 49 & 50. Listed as a schedule 9 species under Articles 15 & 15A of the Wildlife Order (Northern Ireland) 1985 (Article 15A not yet enacted).
First reported in the wild
1896
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of High Impact
Irish status
Established
Introduction pathways - 1
Escape from Confinement
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Ornamental purpose
Invasive score
18
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
No
Species Biology
Identification
Tall, vigorous herbaceous perennial, growing in dense patches though not as dense as other Fallopia spp, generally 2-3 but up to 5m tall (much taller than F. x bohemica & F. japonica), with green bamboo like stems (Booy et al., 2015). Leaves up to 40cm long, oval or oblong with long wavy hairs on the underside (Booy et al., 2015). See also Fallopia japonica and Fallopia x bohemica.
Ecology
Lowers biodiversity by crowding out native plants. Riparian habitats invaded by knotweeds have lower invertebrate abundance, species richness and biomass and lower plant species richness compared to uninvaded sites, which is likely to impact on amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals that use riparian habitats (Gerber et al., 2014). Has been shown to exert allopathic effects (releases chemicals into the soil that inhibit the growth of other plants) in common riparian plants such as nettles (Urtica dioica) (Moravcová et al., 2011).
Habitat
Mires, bogs & fens; Heath, scrubland & tundra; Woodland, forest and other wooded land; Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural or domestic habitat; Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats; Constructed, industrial or other artificial habitats, Miscellaneous
Reproduction
High pollen production of between 7000 & 8000 pollen grains per flower (Tiébré et al., 2007).
Pathway and vector description
Commercially available to gardeners in the UK since the 1870s (Bailey & Connolly, 2000), though less widely sold than F. japonica due to its large size. Naturalised in Ireland before 1896 (Reynolds, 2002), generally planted in estates and botanical gardens (Bailey & Connolly, 2000; Reynolds, 2002).
Mechanism of impact
Competition, Bio-fouling
Broad environment
Terrestrial
Habitat description
Generally found as relics of cultivation in parks or botanic gardens, though also found on waste ground, roadsides and river banks (Preston et al., 2004; Reynolds, 2002).
Species group
Plant
Native region
Temperate Asia
Similar species
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Established - Widespread but localised
Native distribution
Native to Japan and Sakhalin (Preston et al., 2004).
Temporal change
Date of first record category
Pre-1900
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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How can you help
Report any sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
References
Publications
Bailey, J. P., & Conolly, A. P. (2000). Prize-winners to pariahs-a history of Japanese knotweed sl (Polygonaceae) in the British Isles. Watsonia, 23(1), 93-110.
Booy, O., Wade, M. & Roy, H. (2015) A Field Guide to Invasive Plants & Animals in Britain. Bloomsbury.
Gerber, E., Krebs, C., Murrell, C., Moretti, M., Rocklin, R., & Schaffner, U. (2008). Exotic invasive knotweeds (Fallopia spp.) negatively affect native plant and invertebrate assemblages in European riparian habitats. Biological Conservation, 141(3), 646-654.
Moravcová, L., Pyšek, P., Jarošik, V., & Zákravský, P. (2011). Potential phytotoxic and shading effects of invasive Fallopia (Polygonaceae) taxa on the germination of native dominant species. NeoBiota, 9, 31-47.
Preston, C.D., Pearman, D. A. & Dines, T. D. 2002. New atlas of the British and Irish flora. An atlas of the vascular plants of Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, Oxford University Press.
Reynolds, S.C.P. (2002) A catalogue of alien plants in Ireland. National Botanic Gardens. Glasnevin, Dublin.
Stace, C. (1997). New Flora of the British Isles 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Tiébré, M. S., Vanderhoeven, S., Saad, L., & Mahy, G. (2007). Hybridization and sexual reproduction in the invasive alien Fallopia (Polygonaceae) complex in Belgium. Annals of Botany, 99(1), 193-203.