Distribution of Heracleum mantegazzianum in Italy
Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae: EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) is invasive in managed and unmanaged ecosystems. It presents a threat to biodiversity, eroding riverbanks, decreasing recreational resources, causing economic losses and posing a health risk to humans as the sap can cause skin blistering on contact. In Italy, seeds of the species were first introduced in 1890 and since it has been planted for scientific and ornamental purposes. H. mantegazzianum has escaped cultivation and has become invasive in Italy in several areas but it has also disappeared from a number of sites due to successful management or as it has failed to establish. A study was conducted to map the current distribution of H. mantegazzianum using field surveys, herbarium collections, and data from the current literature. In total, H. mantegazzianum is recorded in 182 sites in the natural environment spanning latitudes from 44° to 47° North and longitudes from 7° to 13°East. Habitats include riparian areas (89 records), ruderal areas (68), and human-maintained grasslands (21), followed by habitat types represented by far fewer populations: wetlands (4), open forests (4), scrub (3), natural grasslands (2), and agricultural areas (1). H. mantegazzianum remains widespread in northern Italy, in particular in the Alpine region. Even with a concerted effort to control the species following its inclusion as a species of (EU) Union concern, further control measures are required to reduce its negative impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Sources
Celesti-Grapow L, Brundu G, Citterio S, Galasso G, Gentili R, Alessandrini A, Argenti C, Barni E, Bona I, Boscutti F, Castello M, Mainetti A, Martini F, Prosser F, Selvaggi A, Villani M, Wilhalm T, Montagnani C (2026) Distribution of the invasive giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum in Italy. BioInvasions Records 15(1), 1–11, https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2026.15.1.01