harbor, Mamaia, Jurilovca, Ma ˘cin, Jijila (Cioc^ arlan et al. 2004; Oprea 2005;
Fa ˘ga ˘ras ¸ and Bercu 2012) and in South-Eastern Moldavia – in Galați railway station
(S^ arbu et al. 2011).
The spines of Cenchrus spinifex are always fewer (20–30), the inner spines
being distinctly flattened (up to 3 mm wide at base) and the bristle-like outer
spines are nearly always missing (Verloove and Sanchez Gullon 2012). The bur
of Cenchrus longispinus has relatively long and numerous spines (30–50), the
inner ones being terete to slightly flattened at their base (at most 1 mm wide) and
the outer ones, often bristle-like and relatively slender (Verloove and Sanchez
Gullon 2012). Both species are aggressive and can invade sands, green spaces and
disturbed habitats.
The latest detailed morphological descriptions and improved identification key
of the species belonging to the genus Cenchrus (especially of the burs), published in
2012 by Verloove and Sanchez Gullo ´n, have allowed the accurate identification of
the species Cenchrus longispinus on the Romanian seacoast where it was confused
in previous surveys with Cenchrus spinifex (S^ arbu et al. 2011; Fa ˘ga ˘ras ¸ and Bercu
2012). Therefore, first mentions of the alien species Cenchrus longispinus in
Romania are relatively recent (Oprea et al. 2012; S^ arbu et al. 2013).
In the flora of the Republic of Bulgaria, only Cenchrus spinifex is mentioned as
invasive plant, recorded in the harbor and in the railway station of Ruse town
(Petrova et al. 2013). However, some images from Bulgaria rather seem to belong
to the species Cenchrus longispinus than to the species Cenchrus spinifex. Although
the longspine sandbur was not recorded yet in the coastal area of Bulgaria, the risk
of this species spreading from Romania along the Black Sea coast is very high.
During field surveys carried out in the Romanian coastal area, big populations of
Cenchrus longispinus have been observed in Mamaia, the biggest resort on the
Romanian Black Sea coast, situated near Constanța city, one of the most important
harbors of the Black Sea. Smaller local populations and isolated specimens were
recorded on the beach between Mamaia and Na ˘vodari, in Constanta harbor, in
Constanta city (in Ta ˘ba ˘ca ˘rie park) and on the beach of Vama Veche, close to the
border with Bulgaria (Fig. 22.3).
North of Cape Midia, on the northern coast of Romania, longspine sandbur has
not been recorded until now. Midia harbor, the biggest oil harbour of Romania, is
interposed between the beach of Navodari and the southern beaches of the Danube
Delta Biosphere Reserve (Corbu beach, Chituc sandbank), and it is a barrier for the
spreading of this species toward the north (Fig. 22.3). In the coastal area of the
Razelm-Sinoe lagoon complex (known as Southern Delta), the anthropogenic
impact is generally low and this could be another explanation for the lack of the
longspine sandbur on the beaches of the southern delta. Unfortunately, tourism and
grazing in the Danube Delta are two of the risk factors for the possible future
spreading of the longspine sandbur on the northern coast of Romania, protected
within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
In the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, only Cenchrus spinifex is mentioned in
the bibliographical sources, in Jurilovca (Cioc^ arlan et al. 2004) and in the area of
Cape Dolojman (Doroftei et al. 2011), but not on the seacoast. Reporting by
22 Cenchrus longispinus (Hack) Fernald, One of the most Aggressive. . .
387
Fa ˘ga ˘ras ¸ and Bercu 2012) and in South-Eastern Moldavia – in Galați railway station
(S^ arbu et al. 2011).
The spines of Cenchrus spinifex are always fewer (20–30), the inner spines
being distinctly flattened (up to 3 mm wide at base) and the bristle-like outer
spines are nearly always missing (Verloove and Sanchez Gullon 2012). The bur
of Cenchrus longispinus has relatively long and numerous spines (30–50), the
inner ones being terete to slightly flattened at their base (at most 1 mm wide) and
the outer ones, often bristle-like and relatively slender (Verloove and Sanchez
Gullon 2012). Both species are aggressive and can invade sands, green spaces and
disturbed habitats.
The latest detailed morphological descriptions and improved identification key
of the species belonging to the genus Cenchrus (especially of the burs), published in
2012 by Verloove and Sanchez Gullo ´n, have allowed the accurate identification of
the species Cenchrus longispinus on the Romanian seacoast where it was confused
in previous surveys with Cenchrus spinifex (S^ arbu et al. 2011; Fa ˘ga ˘ras ¸ and Bercu
2012). Therefore, first mentions of the alien species Cenchrus longispinus in
Romania are relatively recent (Oprea et al. 2012; S^ arbu et al. 2013).
In the flora of the Republic of Bulgaria, only Cenchrus spinifex is mentioned as
invasive plant, recorded in the harbor and in the railway station of Ruse town
(Petrova et al. 2013). However, some images from Bulgaria rather seem to belong
to the species Cenchrus longispinus than to the species Cenchrus spinifex. Although
the longspine sandbur was not recorded yet in the coastal area of Bulgaria, the risk
of this species spreading from Romania along the Black Sea coast is very high.
During field surveys carried out in the Romanian coastal area, big populations of
Cenchrus longispinus have been observed in Mamaia, the biggest resort on the
Romanian Black Sea coast, situated near Constanța city, one of the most important
harbors of the Black Sea. Smaller local populations and isolated specimens were
recorded on the beach between Mamaia and Na ˘vodari, in Constanta harbor, in
Constanta city (in Ta ˘ba ˘ca ˘rie park) and on the beach of Vama Veche, close to the
border with Bulgaria (Fig. 22.3).
North of Cape Midia, on the northern coast of Romania, longspine sandbur has
not been recorded until now. Midia harbor, the biggest oil harbour of Romania, is
interposed between the beach of Navodari and the southern beaches of the Danube
Delta Biosphere Reserve (Corbu beach, Chituc sandbank), and it is a barrier for the
spreading of this species toward the north (Fig. 22.3). In the coastal area of the
Razelm-Sinoe lagoon complex (known as Southern Delta), the anthropogenic
impact is generally low and this could be another explanation for the lack of the
longspine sandbur on the beaches of the southern delta. Unfortunately, tourism and
grazing in the Danube Delta are two of the risk factors for the possible future
spreading of the longspine sandbur on the northern coast of Romania, protected
within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
In the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, only Cenchrus spinifex is mentioned in
the bibliographical sources, in Jurilovca (Cioc^ arlan et al. 2004) and in the area of
Cape Dolojman (Doroftei et al. 2011), but not on the seacoast. Reporting by
22 Cenchrus longispinus (Hack) Fernald, One of the most Aggressive. . .
387