Muhlenbergia frondosa (Poir.) Fernald

Verloove, Filip & Ardenghi, Nicola M. G., 2015, New distributional records of non-native vascular plants in northern Italy, Natural History Sciences 2 (1), pp. 5-14 : 8

Muhlenbergia frondosa (Poir.) Fernald , Rhodora, 45 (534): 235. 1943.

( Poaceae )

Naturalized neophyte new to the flora of Emilia-Romagna ( Conti et al., 2005; Celesti-Grapow et al., 2009a).

ITALY. Emilia-Romagna. Prov. Reggio nell’Emilia: Boretto, river Po E of the bridge, riparian woodland, locally, 13.09.2014, F. Verloove 11000 ( BR, MSNM) .

Muhlenbergia frondosa is a native species in southern Canada and the contiguous U.S.A. ( Peterson, 2003). It is only rarely seen outside of its native distribution range. However, in Italy it is known since several decades from Piemonte ( Soldano, 1977) where it is naturalized, for instance in riparian woodland alongside river Sesia. In recent years it seems to spread in northern Italy: Bertolli & Prosser (2013) reported about its discovery in Trentino-Alto Adige and in September 2014 it was also detected alongside river Po in Boretto. This species is rather inconspicuous and often very reluctant to flower; it may be more widespread but overlooked.