The silent invasion of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. in Italy

Abstract

This article provides general information and original data on the period of first introduction in Europe (1823–1825) and in Italy (first half of the 19th century), and on the current distribution and impacts in Italy of the invasive macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes. Two main pathways are responsible for the presence of this species in Italy: (i) introduction as an ornamental and (ii) research and use for phytoremediation. After a time lag of more than 100 years, E. crassipes has recently started invading the Italian freshwaters. A specific action plan for this species is required, including local eradication and awareness campaigns. Furthermore, regulations in the trade sector of invasive aquatic plant species need to be introduced and the possibilities for biological or integrated control evaluated.

Keywords::

• Invasive alien aquatic plants
• pathways
• freshwaters

Notes

^1.Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach, in Alph. de Candolle and C. de Candolle, Monogr. Phan. 4: 527 (1883). Basionym: Pontederia crassipes Martius Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 1: 9, plate 4 (1823–1824). Lectotypified by C. N. Horn, in Görts-van Rijn, Fl. Guianas, Ser. A. 15: 94. 1994 [Brasil: Bahia: Rio San Francisco near Malhada, s.d., Martius 60 (lectotype: M)].

^2. The Catalogue prepared by de Visiani records the presence of Pontederia cordata in the Padova Botanic Garden but does not report the presence of E. crassipes. The catalogue of the Botanic Garden of Venice (Ruchinger 1847) also records the presence of Pontederia cordata but not of E. crassipes. The catalogue for the Botanic Garden of Napoli (Tenore 1845) reports the presence of Pontederia cordata, whereas in a later edition (Pasquale 1867), it records P. crassipes.

^3. Information partly retrieved from the website http://www.ortobotanicoitalia.it/ – managed by the “Gruppo di Lavoro per gli Orti Botanici e i Giardini Storici” of the Italian Botanical Society. Accessed Jun 2013 15.

^4. COM(2013) 620 final, “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species”, Brussels, 9 September 2013. Available: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/docs/proposal/en.pdf. Accessed Oct 2013 15.