First records of the Australian invasive weed Atriplex semilunaris Aellen (Amaranthaceae s.l.) in Gran Canaria and Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Abstract

The Australian invasive weed Atriplex semilunaris Aellen - in the Canary Islands known so far from the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, where it is listed among the most invasive species - was recently recorded for the first time in the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, a significant expansion of its distribution in the archipelago. Details about these first records, including a distribution map and new illustrations, are presented. Its recent appearance in Gran Canaria and Tenerife is very important, as it may be the gateway for its introduction to the rest of the islands of the archipelago. The ecological threats associated with the expansion of the species are discussed and the measures that seem appropriate are indicated. Finally, it cannot be ruled out that the species will spread further to the nearby North African coastal areas (or is already occurring there unnoticed), where the chance of establishment and expansion is optimal.