Salvia hispanica (chia) – from nutritional additive to potential invasive species

ABSTRACT

The article presents the European distribution of Salvia hispanica, or chia, a plant species native to Central America. The species is very popular as a nutritional additive in the diet of the western world. The first reports of species occurrence are from 2013 and it is now reported in eight European countries. We present the ecology, habitat, possible pathways of introduction and limits of potential invasion. We assessed the species invasive potential using three different risk assessment methods.

KEYWORDS:

• Alien species
• Europe
• invasion
• novel food
• Salvia hispanica

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge unpublished data provided by F. Martini and help with literature from G. Galasso and J. Danihelka (PLADIAS project). We acknowledge help with risk assessment by S. G. Quinones Lebron.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) [P1-0236].

Notes on contributors

U. Šilc

U. Šilc is a researcher at the ZRC SAZU. His research focuses on the urban synanthropic vegetation. Contribution: conceived the study and wrote the paper with the help of all authors.

I. Dakskobler

I. Dakskobler is a researcher at the ZRC SAZU with a main focus on vegetation research. Contribution: found the species and did the field work in Slovenia.

F. Küzmič

F. Küzmič is a PhD student at the ZRC SAZU. Contribution: compiled part of distribution and ecology-related data.

B. Vreš

B. Vreš is a researcher at the ZRC SAZU with main focus on flora of Slovenia. Contribution: identified the species.