engleski

Usage value of invasive plant species in the Rijeka area

Invasive species create numerous direct and indirect damages in urban areas. The city of Rijeka is located at the Adriatic coast and it is principal seaport in Croatia, which makes it susceptible to the spread of invasive flora. In this work, invasive flora was recorded at 70 localities in the area of the city of Rijeka and its surroundings. For each taxa were provided information on life form, life duration, floral element, flowering time, habitat and region of occurrence. For each species the negative effects were determined, as well as their usage possibilities. Twenty (20) different plant species were found and categorised into eleven (11) families. The most represented family was Asteraceae. The most common species was Robinia pseudoacacia. Species Erigeron annuus and Ailanthus altissima were also recorded at a large number of sites. The majority of the invasive plant species in the area of the city of Rijeka and its surroundings are of American origin. Invasive species can cause great damage to indigenous flora, but also to agricultural production. Also, invasive species could have a negative impact on human health. However, some of this species have certain usage value and can be very useful. Invasive plant species could potentially be used for food, medicinal, melliferous and ornamental purposes, but also as animal feed or as antierosive species. The most common potential ways of usage of recorded invasive flora are for medicinal purposes, as decorative plants, for honey production and as antierosive species.

food, medicinal, melliferous, decorative, allelopathy

nije evidentirano