Three New Alien Taxa for Europe and a Chorological Update on the Alien Vascular Flora of Calabria (Southern Italy)

Abstract

Knowledge on alien species is needed nowadays to protect natural habitats and prevent ecological damage. The presence of new alien plant species in Italy is increasing every day. Calabria, its southernmost region, is not yet well known with regard to this aspect. Thanks to fieldwork, sampling, and observing many exotic plants in Calabria, here, we report new data on 34 alien taxa. In particular, we found three new taxa for Europe (Cascabela thevetia, Ipomoea setosa subsp. pavonii, and Tecoma stans), three new for Italy (Brugmansia aurea, Narcissus ‘Cotinga’, and Narcissus ‘Erlicheer’), one new one for the Italian Peninsula (Luffa aegyptiaca), and 21 new taxa for Calabria (Allium cepa, Asparagus setaceus, Bassia scoparia, Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, Bidens formosa, Casuarina equisetifolia, Cedrus atlantica, Chlorophytum comosum, Cucurbita maxima subsp. maxima, Dolichandra unguis-cati, Fagopyrum esculentum, Freesia alba, Juglans regia, Kalanchoë delagoënsis, Passiflora caerulea, Portulaca grandiflora, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus dulcis, Solanum tuberosum, Tradescantia sillamontana, and Washingtonia filifera). Furthermore, we provide the first geolocalized record of Araujia sericifera, the confirmation of Oxalis stricta, and propose a change of status for four taxa (Cenchrus setaceus, Salpichroa origanifolia, Sesbania punicea, and Nothoscordum gracile) for Calabria. The updated knowledge on the presence of new alien species in Calabria, in Italy and in Europe could allow for the prevention of other new entries and to eliminate this potential ecological threat to natural habitats.

Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) Priority in Italy: Distribution, Ecology, In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation and Expected Actions

“…(the sea beet), which is considered as the wild ancestor of all cultivated beets, the different forms of cultivated beets (B. vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris), discovered wild in Calabria [62], B. macrocarpa, which is an annual self-compatible plant thought to reproduce predominantly by autogamy, B. patula Aiton, which is endemic to two small islets of the Madeira Archipelago [63], and finally B. vulgaris L. subsp. adanensis (Pamukç.)…”

“…pavonii (Hallier f.) J.R.I. Wood & Scotland [62]. The Italian distribution of I. sagittata includes the Latium, Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily regions [17].…”

Prunus lusitanica L.: An Endangered Plant Species Relict in the Central Region of Mainland Portugal

“…On the other hand, although E. globulus does not have an invasive behavior in much of the national territory, in territories with high humidity and after the passage of fire, it presents a high dispersion and germination of seeds, resulting in plant densities which sometimes completely cover the soil (Figure 7c). In addition to the urgent need to control invasive plants in the region under study, it is necessary to avoid the introduction of other species that could invade new areas, as has happened in other areas of Europe [43,44]. Rural fires promote the appearance of heliophilous shrubs, which increases the risk of rural fires recurring in short time periods [45].…”

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 10

“…Its presence in the same locality for several years, and its occurrence in other provinces, lead us to consider B. subalternans as naturalized in Lazio. , it is cultivated frequently as an ornamental in Sicilia, and was recorded as a casual alien in Calabria (Laface et al 2020). Several individuals of this species at different growth stages were found in a rainwater drain and on a road edge.…”