Invasive alien plants of Union concern (Regulation 1143/2014) in Croatia
Six invasive alien plants of Union concern (Regulation 1143/2014) are currently recorded as present in Croatia.
Asclepias syriaca (Apocynaceae)
Asclepias syriaca is a perennial herb native to North America. The species was introduced into the EPPO region as a garden ornamental. In Croatia, the first records of the species date back to the second half of the 19th century and it is now a common widespread species distributed primary in north-western and eastern Croatia.
Elodea nuttallii (Hydrocharitaceae)
Elodea nuttallii (EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) is an aquatic submerged perennial species native to North America. The species was introduced into the EPPO region as an ornamental species and has since been accidently released from aquariums into the natural environment. In Croatia, the species was first found in 2006 in Kopački rit floodplain at the mouth of the river Drava. Subsequently, the species has become established in Baranja where it has spread along drainage networks.
Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae)
Heracleum mantegazzianum (EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) is a monocarpic perennial species native to the Caucasus region. The species has been introduced into other areas within the EPPO region as a garden ornamental species, a species used for fodder and as a food plant for honeybees. In Croatia, the species was first recorded in 2009 near Żabnik, but was not found in this area following the first record. The species was then found in 2014 in Gornja Šemnica where it grows in association with ruderal vegetation.
Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminaceae)
Impatiens glandulifera (EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) is a tall annual species native to the western Himalayas (India and Pakistan). The species was first recorded in Croatia in 1968 along the Sava River upstream of Zagreb. Since then, it has also been recorded in northwest Croatia with rare records in the eastern part of the country.
Ludwigia peploides (Onagraceae)
Ludwigia peploides (EPPO A2 List) is an aquatic perennial species native to the Americas. L. peploides is considered to have been introduced into the EPPO region as an ornamental aquatic plant. In Croatia, the species was first recorded in 2018 on the Ilova River, near the village of Kaniška Iva, in the vicinity of the town of Garešnica. Surveys of a 2 km stretch of the river identified a number of scattered populations forming dense floating mats, about 1 square metre in surface area.
Myriophyllum heterophyllum (Haloragaceae)
Myriophyllum heterophyllum (EPPO A2 List) is an aquatic perennial species native to North America. The species was introduced into the EPPO region as an ornamental species for aquaria and has since escaped into the natural environment. The species was first recorded in Croatia in 2000, from a small lake (Ponikve) on Krk island. The second finding was from Lake Desne in the Neretva River Delta in 2016.
Sources
Boršić I, Ješovnik A, Mihinjač T, Kutleša P, Slivar S, Cigrovski Mustafić M, Desnica S. (2018) Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern (Regulation 1143/2014) in Croatia. Natura Croatica 27, 357-398.
Buzjak S, Sedlar Z. (2018) Ludwigia peploides (Kunth.) P.H. Raven – Floating water primrose, a new species in Croatian flora from the list of invasive allochthonous species of Union concern. Natura Croatica 27, 351-356.