First report of Nassella longiglumis in France
Nassella longiglumis (Poaceae) is native to South America (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) and has been recorded in the South of France at Rivesaltes (Pyrénées-Orientales) in an abandoned military camp where it was found growing in a ruderal wasteland in 2020. The population consists of a few hundred individuals forming a dense layer that covers approximately 0.25 hectare. Although several species of the genus Nassella are naturalized outside their native range, especially in Australia, N. longiglumis has never been reported before as an introduced plant. N. longiglumis has also never been recorded as a weed in its native range where it inhabits steppe grasslands (pampas) with little disturbance, on stony and loose soils. The origin of the plants at the military camp is unknown. Potential pathways include contamination through the movement of people, industrial activities, or horticulture though in the case of the latter, there is no clear evidence that the species has been used for this purpose. There are a number of Nassella species which are recorded as invasive in various regions of the world, including N. neesiana, N. tenuissima and N. trichotoma. These species can degrade range land and agricultural systems, and reduce biodiversity and related ecosystem services when they invade a habitat.
Sources
Andrieu F, Verloove F (2020) Nassella longiglumis (Phil.) Barkworth (Poaceae) dans les Pyrénées-Orientales (France), espèce nouvelle pour l’Europe. Société botanique d’Occitanie. https://doi.org/10.34971/f7mm-zv83