Dangerous Invasive Plant Found in Portugal
10 Articles
10 Articles
Viewed on the edge of the roads, in gardens and public spaces, the cutlery has already spread across more than 200 Portuguese municipalities. Specialists warn about the environmental risks and allergenic potential of the species, criticizing the delay in the application of control measures
The expansion of the cutlery, also known as grass-pampas, is worrying experts due to the environmental and health risks associated with this invasive species. A survey conducted in 2025 identified the presence of the plant in at least 208 municipalities of mainland Portugal. The species, whose scientific name is Cortaderia selloana, is among the ten [...]
Experts warn of the rapid expansion of this invasive plant, whose pollen can affect health and which is already present in much of the continental territory.
Hélia Marchante, a researcher at the Polytechnic University of Coimbra, warns about the lack of control over this invasive plant. The ICNF's action plan remains unfulfilled.
Studies warn that the potential of the species constitutes an environmental health problem, and can affect human health, given the allergenic nature of its pollen. On the other hand, due to its late flowering, an exotic species like this, it can create, especially in Mediterranean regions, a second period of exposure to pollen, in autumn, "with implications for public health"
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