Forewarned Is Forearmed: Documentation on the Invasion Risk of Asclepias speciosa in Greece and Europe

Nikos Krigas (), Catherine Dijon, Ioulietta Samartza, Dimitrios N. Avtzis, Ioannis Anestis, Elias Pipinis and Zigmantas Gudžinskas ()
Additional contact information
Nikos Krigas: Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter (ELGO-Dimitra), P.O. Box 60458, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Catherine Dijon: Unaffiliated, Stavrodromi, 62055 Sintiki, Greece
Ioulietta Samartza: Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter (ELGO-Dimitra), P.O. Box 60458, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios N. Avtzis: Forest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter (ELGO-Dimitra), P.O. Box 1063, Vassilika, 57006 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ioannis Anestis: Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Elias Pipinis: Laboratory of Silviculture, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Zigmantas Gudžinskas: Nature Research Centre, Institute of Botany, Žaliųjų Ežerų Str. 49, LT-12200 Vilnius, Lithuania

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: Biological invasions threaten biodiversity and agroecosystems, and early warning systems can minimise the spread of invasive alien species with limited resources. This study documents the presence of the alien plant Asclepias speciosa Torr., native to North America, that was first discovered in 2022 on Mount Vrontou, Central Macedonia, Northern Greece. This is the second European record of this alien species, after Lithuania, confirming its adaptability to contrasting European biogeographical regions. To enable future monitoring, this study provided new data on morphological traits of the species (above-ground parts), climatic tolerance (precipitation and temperature regimes), habitats with co-occurring species, pollinators, current reproductive potential, and seed germination at controlled temperatures (10 °C, 15 °C, and 20 °C). The high probability of misidentification with the highly invasive A. syriaca in European inventories supports the theory that A. speciosa may have been present in Europe long before it was officially reported. The lack of an EU-mandated reassessment of A. syriaca monitoring raises concerns regarding the potential invasion risk of A. speciosa in European natural and semi-natural areas or agricultural lands. Inspection mechanisms, early warning systems, and preventive measures are therefore essential to protect local biodiversity and agriculture from potential A. speciosa invasion, a risk that may be exacerbated by climate change.

Keywords: bioclimatic profiling; invasive alien species; non-native plants; milkweeds; seed germination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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