First record of Amaranthus palmeri in Cataluña (Spain)
Amaranthus palmeri (Amaranthaceae) is native to Western North America, and has colonized field crops such as soybean, cotton and other disturbed sites (wastelands) in the eastern part of North America. The species is dioecious, and can reach 0.5 to 1.5 m tall. In 2007, A. palmeri was found for the first time in Lleida (Cataluña) in North-Eastern Spain, at the margin of a maize field. The species had previously been recorded in Andalucía at the port of Sevilla and in Palos de la Frontera (province of Huelva) in the vicinity of industrial premises where seeds and plant products are processed. In Europe, A. palmeri is recorded as established in Cyprus, Norway, Portugal (Madeira) and is reported as rare in Denmark, Latvia, and Sweden.
The spread of this species and its potential impact on crops and resistance to herbicides should be explored.
Sources
Recasens J, Conesa JA (2011) Presencia de la mala hierba ;Amaranthus palmeri en el NE de la Península Ibérica. Una amenaza como potencial invasora de cultivos extensivos de regadió. Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal Plagas 37, 129-132.