Dana ED, García-de-Lomas J, Verloove F (2021) First record of Pontederia cordata L. (Pontederiaceae) in southern Spain and risk assessment for Europe. BioInvasions Records 10(4), 775– 788. https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2021.10.4.02

Pontederia cordata  L.  (Pontederiaceae)  is  an  emerging  aquatic plant  native to  the American continent  that  has  been  introduced  to  various  continents  through longdistance commerce  as  an  ornamental  plant.  Individuals  growing in the  wild  belonging to  Pontederia  L.  genus  where  found in  South Spain.  The  analysis  of  diagnostic characters  of  the collected  specimens  and  their  comparison  to  those represented  in herbarium  vouchers  allowed  us  to distinguish them  from  its  closest  relative, P.  sagittata  C.  Presl  and  to  assign  all  the  specimens  found  at  the locality  to P.  cordata  L.  This  is  the southernmost  European  record  of  the  species.  It  was  clear that  the  origin  of  the introduction  was  the  use  as  ornamental  aquatic  plant  in  the area.  Its  invasion risk  was  assessed  for  Europe,  firstly,  by  analysing  the  suitability of  European  climate  for  the  species,  secondly,  by  assessing  the  potential  impact. Results  showed  that  from  92.5 to 92.9%  of  the  meteorological  stations  analysed showed  climate  conditions  that  were  compatible  with  the  species’  climatic requirements.  The ecological  characteristics  of  the  species  and  the  climatic  features of  the area analysed  suggest  a great  risk  of  invasion  that  could  lead  to  the species’ spread  in Europe.  These  findings  suggest  that  P.  cordata  could  threaten  European wetlands.