Anredera cordifolia naturalized in Croatia
Anredera cordifolia (Basellaceae) or Madeira vine is a perennial climbing vine originating from South America. It has been introduced as an ornamental plant in Australia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Southern North America, Sénégal, Swaziland and is recorded as invasive where it has been introduced. In Europe, A. cordifolia is established in France (including Corse), Greece, Italy (including Sicilia), Portugal (including Azores and Madeira) and Spain (Baleares).
In Croatia, A. cordifolia was previously only mentioned as an ornamental plant grown in gardens and parks but was not recorded as established. It was observed in autumn in 2006 and again in 2007 and 2008 in Bacina in Southern Croatia, in a ruderal habitat between two roads. A. cordifolia is considered to have established in this locality, but is still of very limited distribution. At present, it does not seem to represent a threat to the wild flora. However, because A. cordifolia has been reported to be invasive in certain cases, it seems useful to carry out a survey to determine whether it is found elsewhere in Croatia.
Sources
DAISIE (2012) Anredera cordiafolia. www.europe-aliens.org
Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=776;fr=1;sts=sss;lang=EN
Stan V ; Mihel D (2010) Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis (Basellaceae), naturalized in South Croatia. Natura Croatica 19(1), 273-279.