Eleusine indica

Raab-Straube, Eckhard von & Raus, Thomas, 2024, Euro + Med-Checklist Notulae, 17, Willdenowia 54 (1), pp. 5-45 : 19

Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.

(≡ Cynosurus indicus L.)

– Fig. 9.

A Cm: Crimea: Yalta, Ignatenko Street, cracks between paving slabs, asphalt cracks, sidewalks, bases of walls of buildings, 44°29'49"N, 34°10'18"E, 10 m, 1 Jul 2023, Ryff (YALT); ibid., 8 Jul 2023, Ryff (YALT + photo); ibid., Radina square, 44°29'47"N, 34°10'21"E, 11 m, 21 Aug 2023, Ryff (YALT); ibid., Komsomol’skaya square, 44°29'51"N, 34°10'22"E, 15 m, 21 Aug 2023, Ryff (YALT + photo); ibid., Moskovskaya Street, 44°29'53"N, 34°10'13"E, 10 m, 21 Aug 2023, Ryff (photo).

– This species is widespread in tropical and warm-temperate zones of the world. It is native to S, SE and SW Asia and Africa (except N Africa). Information about its status, whether native or alien, in the E Mediterranean and Caucasus is conflicting. In the rest of its range, including Europe, Eleusine indica is an alien species. In the Euro+Med PlantBase ( Valdés & Scholz 2009 +) it is given for Ukraine, taken from the Vascular plants of Ukraine ( Mosyakin & Fedoronchuk 1999). However, this publication clearly states that E. indica was collected once in Kyiv in 1991, but subsequently its population disappeared ( Mosyakin & Shevera 1993; Mosyakin & Fedoronchuk 1999). There are no more recent records of this species in Ukraine (Shevera, pers. comm.). Eleusine indica has not been previously reported for the flora of Crimea ( Yena 2012). It was accidentally introduced to Yalta, apparently several years ago, most likely from the Caucasus, either by road transport or with building materials when laying new paving slabs. Now E. indica is actively spreading in various anthropogenic habitats in the area of its initial introduction in the centre of the city. The population includes c. 1000 individuals and occupies an area of c. 0.25 km 2, its density is up to 10–20 plants per m 2. Eleusine indica forms monodominant groups or grows in a weed community with Amaranthus deflexus L., A. retroflexus L., Chenopodiastrum murale (L.) S. Fuentes & al., Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Eragrostis minor Host , Erigeron canadensis L., E. sumatrensis Retz. , Poa annua L., Polygonum aviculare L., Portulaca oleracea L. s.l., Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv., Symphyotrichum squamatum (Spreng.) G. L. Nesom and other ruderal plants. Currently, E. indica is only locally distributed in Crimea and can be considered as a casual alien. But this species is considered one of the most problematic weeds worldwide ( Holm & al. 1991) due to its invasive behaviour and rapid spread. Therefore, we can expect its further expansion in Crimea. L. E. Ryff

Figures

Fig. 9. Eleusine indica – A: flowering plants; B: inflorescence. – A, B: Crimea,Yalta, 8 Jul 2023, photographs by L. E. Ryff.