First report of Sporobolus indicus in Hungary
Sporobolus indicus (Poaceae) is native to the Americas and was introduced into the EPPO region as a contaminant of seed and shipments of wool. From the middle of the 19th century until the last decade of the 20th century, it has mainly expanded is distribution in the Mediterranean region of Europe. It was first recorded in France, followed by reports in Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and Portugal. However, the number of observations has dramatically increased in the past decades, even outside the Mediterranean region. It has been reported in Switzerland with a growing number of observations since the late 1990s and it is reported in Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. It is also present in Morocco. In 2021, S. indicus was recorded from Hungary in the residential area of Zamárdi. About 15 specimens of S. indicus emerged in a mown lawn. The specimens of S. indicus were in the fruiting stage. No other individuals were found in the immediate vicinity. Its recent rapid spread in the EPPO region is evident along roads, in lawns and places visited by tourists (e.g., campsites). The genus Sporobolus contains approximately 200 species of tropical or sub-tropical origin. It is interesting to note there are three species of Sporobolus on the EPPO Alert List: S. cryptandrus, S. neglectus and S. vaginiflorus. All three species can have a negative impact on species richness and abundance of native plants.
Sources
Bauer N, Verloove F (2023) The accelerated spread of a neophyte introduced to Europe long ago – First occurrence of Sporobolus indicus (Poaceae) in Hungary. Acta Botanica Croatica 82(1), 15 pp. https://doi.org/10.37427/botcro-2022-024