First report of Lespedeza cuneata in the EPPO region
Lespedeza cuneata (Fabaceae: EPPO A1 pest) is an erect semi-woody forb which can reach 2 m in height. Native to Asia and Australia, L. cuneata was first introduced into the USA in 1896 where it invades grasslands and open forest communities often forming dense monocultures which compete with native species for light and nutrients. In 2022, L. cuneata was recorded on the bank of the Vesdre river in Goffontaine in Eastern Belgium. A single non-flowering individual was observed and subsequently removed. It is not known how the species has entered the EPPO region, although the EPPO Pest Risk Analysis notes pathways for entry include trade for ornamental use and a less likely pathway as a contaminant in hay and straw imports. The location of the single plant is downstream from a former industrial facility that processed wool up to the first half of the 20th century. The seeds of L. cuneata have been shown to be dispersed by mammals (via epizoochory) and most wool was imported from countries were the pest occurs. Wool waste was also historically used as a fertilizer in orchards, fields and private gardens and potentially, seed exposed on the bank may be the source of this individual plant. Seed of L. cuneata has been shown to germinate after 27 years when stored at 5°C and 40 years when stored at -18°C.
Sources
Verloove F, Gonggrijp S, Valentini S, Dana ED (2023) The first European record of Lespedeza cuneata (Fabaceae), an invasive alien species of Union concern. BioInvasions Records 12(4), 899-908. https://www.reabic.net/journals/bir/2023/4/BIR_2023_Verloove_etal.pdf
EPPO (2018) Pest risk analysis for Lespedeza cuneata. EPPO, Paris. Available at https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/LESCU/documents