the tourists who walk barefoot on the sand. In other locations on the southern
Romanian seacoast, only small clusters or isolated specimens of this species occur.
North of Cape Midia, in the coastal area of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve,
Cenchrus longispinus has not been noticed yet.
The spreading of this noxious plant in the coastal area depends mainly on
humans and animals. Its spiny burs are dispersed in many ways such as clinging
to the fur of animals, to shoes, clothing, tyres of cars.
Big populations of longspine sandbur in Mamaia resort, make us consider that
this species was unintentionally introduced for the first time here, either by the
tourists or through the transportation of goods in the resort. Constanta harbor is
another possible way for unintentional introduction of this species on the Romanian
seacoast.
The spectacular increase of the sandy surfaces infested by this species over the
past 5 years, demonstrates the high capacity of reproduction and spreading of the
plant in favorable conditions, typical behavior for an invasive plant.
The risk of the future spreading of this species in the coastal area of the Danube
Delta and also on the Bulgarian seacoast, must be taken into consideration due to
increase of tourism.
The best non-polluting methods for the control of this alien species in the coastal
areas of the Black Sea have to be identified.
Acknowledgements The study has been supported by the grant PN–II–PT–PCCA–
2011–3.2–1427 No. 69/2012 (ECOMAGIS) developed by INCDM “Grigore Antipa” Constanța,
Ovidius University of Constanta, University of Bucharest and Siveco Romania SA, and financed
by the UEFISCDI.
References
Anastasiu P, Negrean G (2009) Alien vascular plants in Dobrogea (Romania) and their impact on
different types of habitats. Plant, fungal and habitat diversity investigation and conservation.
Proceedings of IV BBC- Sofia 2006:590–596
Anastasiu P, Negrean G, Fa ˘ga ˘ras ¸ M, Samoila ˘ C, Coga ˘lniceanu D (2009) Constanta harbour
(Romania) as a major gateway and reservoir for alien plant species. Acta Horti Botanici
Bucurestiensis 36:41–60
Anastasiu P, Negrean G, Samoila ˘ C, Memedemin D, Coga ˘lniceanu D (2011) A comparative
analysis of alien plant species along the Black Sea coastal area. The role of harbours. J
Coast Conserv 15(4):595–606
Angyosperm Phylogeny Group III System (2009) http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ APG_III_system,
(Accessed in 2016)
Arianoutsou M, Bazos I, Delipetrou P, Kokkoris Y (2010) The alien Flora of Greece: taxonomy,
life traits and habitat preferences. Biol Invasions 12(10):3523–3549
Borza AL, Boșcaiu N (1965) Introduction in the study of the vegetation (in Romanian). Romanian
Academy Publishing House, Bucharest
Cioc^ arlan V, Roman N, Ge ´hu JM, Boullet V (1991) Cenchrus incertus M.A. Curtis in Romanian
flora (in Romanian). St. Cerc. Biol., Biol. Veget. series, Bucharest, 43(1–2):7–8
394
M. Fa ˘ga ˘raș
Romanian seacoast, only small clusters or isolated specimens of this species occur.
North of Cape Midia, in the coastal area of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve,
Cenchrus longispinus has not been noticed yet.
The spreading of this noxious plant in the coastal area depends mainly on
humans and animals. Its spiny burs are dispersed in many ways such as clinging
to the fur of animals, to shoes, clothing, tyres of cars.
Big populations of longspine sandbur in Mamaia resort, make us consider that
this species was unintentionally introduced for the first time here, either by the
tourists or through the transportation of goods in the resort. Constanta harbor is
another possible way for unintentional introduction of this species on the Romanian
seacoast.
The spectacular increase of the sandy surfaces infested by this species over the
past 5 years, demonstrates the high capacity of reproduction and spreading of the
plant in favorable conditions, typical behavior for an invasive plant.
The risk of the future spreading of this species in the coastal area of the Danube
Delta and also on the Bulgarian seacoast, must be taken into consideration due to
increase of tourism.
The best non-polluting methods for the control of this alien species in the coastal
areas of the Black Sea have to be identified.
Acknowledgements The study has been supported by the grant PN–II–PT–PCCA–
2011–3.2–1427 No. 69/2012 (ECOMAGIS) developed by INCDM “Grigore Antipa” Constanța,
Ovidius University of Constanta, University of Bucharest and Siveco Romania SA, and financed
by the UEFISCDI.
References
Anastasiu P, Negrean G (2009) Alien vascular plants in Dobrogea (Romania) and their impact on
different types of habitats. Plant, fungal and habitat diversity investigation and conservation.
Proceedings of IV BBC- Sofia 2006:590–596
Anastasiu P, Negrean G, Fa ˘ga ˘ras ¸ M, Samoila ˘ C, Coga ˘lniceanu D (2009) Constanta harbour
(Romania) as a major gateway and reservoir for alien plant species. Acta Horti Botanici
Bucurestiensis 36:41–60
Anastasiu P, Negrean G, Samoila ˘ C, Memedemin D, Coga ˘lniceanu D (2011) A comparative
analysis of alien plant species along the Black Sea coastal area. The role of harbours. J
Coast Conserv 15(4):595–606
Angyosperm Phylogeny Group III System (2009) http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ APG_III_system,
(Accessed in 2016)
Arianoutsou M, Bazos I, Delipetrou P, Kokkoris Y (2010) The alien Flora of Greece: taxonomy,
life traits and habitat preferences. Biol Invasions 12(10):3523–3549
Borza AL, Boșcaiu N (1965) Introduction in the study of the vegetation (in Romanian). Romanian
Academy Publishing House, Bucharest
Cioc^ arlan V, Roman N, Ge ´hu JM, Boullet V (1991) Cenchrus incertus M.A. Curtis in Romanian
flora (in Romanian). St. Cerc. Biol., Biol. Veget. series, Bucharest, 43(1–2):7–8
394
M. Fa ˘ga ˘raș