engleski

Morphological traits of invasive plant species Amorpha fruticosa L. in Pokupsko basin (Croatia)

Indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa L.) is considered as invasive plant species in Central Europe and Mediterranean areas. Due to its fast growth and high productivity, it poses a significant threat to autochthonous species and biodiversity. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of indigo bush in the area of Pokupsko basin (near Karlovac, Croatia), with special focus on variation in indigo bush morphological traits. At the three chosen sites, characterized by dense stands of indigo bush, shrub height, leaf length and width, as well as the number, length and width of the leaflets were measured. The results showed that this invasive species thrives on a variety of habitat types in a wider area of Pokupsko basin, in stands of different size and age. In addition, most of the measured morphological parameters varied widely between sites indicating that indigo bush can be adapted to a variety of environmental conditions due to the changes in morphological traits. This highlights the importance of measures to control and reduce its spreading in Croatia and also at European level.

Croatia ; Invasive plants ; Indigo bush

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