First report of Asclepias speciosa in Greece
Asclepias speciosa (Apocynaceae) is native to North America and has been reported from Lithuania (EPPO RS 2019/109) and for the first time recently in Greece. There is the potential for misidentification with the congener A. syriaca (EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants and species of (EU) Union concern) as both species share several morphological traits. In 2022, a population of A. speciosa was identified near Kapnofyto, Serres province (Northern Greece). This population was subsequently studied for two years. In 2022, a total of 20 flowering plants were recorded covering an area of approximately 2.5 m x 1 m. In 2024, 50 individuals were recorded varying in height from 50 cm to 123 cm. The population was found along the roadside on disturbed ground. The difference in climates between the two observed populations in Europe (Lithuania and Greece), suggests that A. speciosa can withstand and adapt to a wide climatic range. In Lithuania, only vegetative reproduction has been observed though in Greece, wind dispersed seed is produced which can germinate at temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 oC. At present, negative impacts have not been recorded for A. speciosa in the EPPO region. However, due to the potential for misidentification with A. syriaca, which has known impacts on local biodiversity, some impacts attributed to A. syriaca may potentially be from A. speciosa.
Sources
Gudžinskas Z, Petrulaitis L, Žalneravičius E (2019) Asclepias speciosa (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae): a rare or unrecognized alien species in Europe? PhytoKeys 121: 29–41.
Krigas N, Dijon C, Samartza I, Avtzis DN, Anestis I, Pipinis E, Gudžinskas Z (2025) Forewarned is forearmed: documentation on the invasion risk of Asclepias speciosa in Greece and Europe. Agriculture 15(3), 324. ttps://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15030324
Tan K, Pachomia S (2024) A first report of Asclepias speciosa (Asclepiadaceae) for Greece and the Balkan Peninsula. Phytologia Balcanica, 30, 183–188.