[RWG] "Native plant" definitions of government agencies?

[Craig Dremann]

Dear All,

Government land management agencies write manuals and definitions for
the work they do.

The US Forest Service manual has a definition for "native plants", to
differentiate the native plants from the exotic plants.

Andrew Kratz, a Forest Service Regional Botanist in Colorado and I were
having a discussion about the Forest Service’s current definition of
“native plant”, which follows:

“All indigenous, terrestrial, and aquatic plant species that evolved
naturally in an ecosystem." (FSM 2070.5)

Unfortunately, at first glance, the sentence looks correct, but has
numerous errors in it.   We are suggesting a rewrite, as follows:

"The indigenous plant species of a particular area, both aquatic and
terrestrial, that are natural members of the local ecosystem."

Are there any other government agency definitions of “native plant” out
there?

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann (650) 325-7333