New records of non-native vascular plants in Gran Canaria (Spain, Canary Islands)

Abstract

Recent field work by the authors on the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) yielded new interesting records of non-native species. Seven species, i.e. Centaurea sulphurea, Clematis flammula, Fallopia baldschuanica, Fraxinus angustifolia, Melilotus officinalis, Saponaria officinalis, and Searsia lancea have not been recorded before from the Canary Islands, whereas 13 species (Bellis perennis, Centaurea diluta, Chlorophytum comosum, Chondrilla juncea, Cyperus papyrus, Delphinium ajacis, Helianthus annuus, Lonicera japonica, Lupinus pilosus, Montanoa bipinnatifida, Ornithogalum arabicum, Trifolium cernuum, and Wigandia caracasana) are reported for the first time from Gran Canaria. The actual presence of five further species (Chenopodium vulvaria, Fallopia convolvulus, Kalanchoe daigremontiana, Paspalum dilatatum, and Volutaria tubuliflora) - all considered doubtful, recently discovered or with only historical occurrences in Gran Canaria - is confirmed. Chorological and ecological details are presented for these species and their invasion status is assessed. Many of them are reputed weeds, either agriculturally or environmentally.