Monograph of invasive plants in Europe N°6: Asclepias syriaca L

ABSTRACT

This work synthesizes all aspects of Asclepias syriaca L. (Apocynaceae) including the taxonomy, distribution, history of introduction and spread, ecology, biology, uses and benefits, impacts on biodiversity and agriculture, legislation, and management. Asclepias syriaca is a perennial broad-leaved species native to North America. Introduced for ornamental and various other purposes, such as a source of fibre and rubber, it has become established in many regions of Europe and it had increasingly spread in the last decades (>1980s). Its reproductive behavior is characterized by a high production of wind-dispersed seeds and by the propagation of creeping lateral rhizomes, which allows the species to proliferate rapidly. The species persists in a wide range of edaphic and climatic environments. It occurs particularly in anthropogenic and (semi-)natural habitats, such as roadsides, agricultural land, abandoned sites and grasslands, open shrubland, and forests, respectively. Studies have demonstrated negative impacts on the biodiversity and ecosystem processes in invaded regions, namely in open sand grasslands in Hungary. Asclepias syriaca occurs as a competitive weed in crop fields. Since 2017, the species is regulated by the European Union (EU) under the Regulation No. 1143/2014, which states that A. syriaca is subjected to restrictions such as a ban on importing, selling, breeding and that EU member states are required to place effective management measures. Awareness raising activities are important to inform the public, farmers and stakeholders about the risks of this invasive alien plant. Effective direct control options include mechanical control as well as herbicide application.

KEYWORDS:

• Common milkweed
• impact
• invasion history
• invasive alien plants
• management
• species distribution

Acknowledgments

The authors thank two anonymous reviewers and the editor Guillaume Fried for useful suggestions and comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contributions

Swen Follak coordinated and drafted the review and contributed particularly to the sections taxonomy and morphology, distribution and status, history of introduction and spread, habitat and syntaxonomy, climate, ecological interactions, uses and positive impacts and negative impacts (agriculture, health) and commented on other sections of the manuscript.

László Bakacsy contributed to the sections of effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, vegetative growth and reviewed the final draft.

Franz Essl contributed to the section dispersal and commented on other sections of the manuscript.

Lisa Hochfellner contributed to the section history of introduction and spread in Europe and performed statistical analyses.

Katharina Lapin contributed to the section on legislation and management.

Michael Schwarz contributed to the section distribution and status and created the distribution maps.

Barbara Tokarska-Guzik contributed to the section biology, in particular, phenology, reproductive biology: floral biology and seed production and germination and commented on other sections of the manuscript.

Dan Wołkowycki contributed to the section on ecology.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

László Bakacsy acknowledges funding from the Ministry of Human Capacities [grant ref. NTP-NFTÖ-20-B-0008].