Cortaderia selloana in industrial sites in Galicia (ES)
Cortaderia selloana (Poaceae: EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) is native to South America (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) and is a widespread in the EPPO region where it has been planted for ornamental purposes. It is invasive in a number of EPPO countries including Italy, Portugal and Spain. C. selloana is also invasive in South Africa, California (USA), Australia and New Zealand. A single female plant can produce more than 800 000 seeds which can be spread over long distance by wind. In the Mediterranean region, C. selloana has been shown to invade ruderal habitats such as waste ground, mining areas, roadsides and other artificial habitats. Additionally, the species can invade natural habitats of high conservation importance such as wetlands. In Galicia (North West Spain), C. selloana spread along the main highways during the 1980s where it was used as an ornamental species along the side or central strip of the road. This has led to the species invading many industrial sites which were built in the 1990s and 2000s. Out of 123 industrial sites identified in Galicia, C. selloana was recorded in 51.7% (59 sites).The presence of C. selloana populations within industrial sites may not have significant impacts on biodiversity and there may not be any associated socio-economic impacts, however these populations can act as a propagule source to invade wider areas including natural habitats and thus such populations should be managed.
Sources
Pardo-Primoy D, Fagúndez J (2019) Assessment of the distribution and recent spread of the invasive grass Cortaderia selloana in industrial sites in Galicia, NW Spain. Flora doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2019.151465