Fallopia japonica typical to see much smaller plants in places where they sprout through cracks in the pavement or are repeatedly cut down. The leaves are broad oval with a truncated base, long and broad, with an entire margin. The flowers are small, cream or white, produced in erect racemes long in late summer and early autumn. Closely related species include giant knotweed ("Fallopia sachalinensis", syn. "Polygonum sachalinense") and Russian vine ("Fallopia baldschuanica", "Polygonum baldschuanicum"). Other English names for Japanese knotweed include fleeceflower, Himalayan fleece vine, monkeyweed, monkey fungus, Hancock's curse, elephant ears, pea shooters, donkey rhubarb (although it is not a
Privet as an invasive plant the decomposition rate of leaf litter by 2.6-fold in riparian forests. However, because the usual method employed to study the impact of privet is to compare invaded and non-invaded areas, available data may be inaccurate. This is because these types of comparison studies have trouble controlling for abiotic and biotic habitat conditions that could be negatively affecting native plant growth. Evidence suggests that climate changes, brought about by increased CO2 concentrations, will increase the spread and proliferation of privet. Climate change is predicted to increase competition between native and invasive plants. Additionally, the increased temperatures that result from climate change