How did this plant arrive here? Range expansion of the potentially invasive aquatic macrophyte Sagittaria montevidensis (Alismataceae) to Northeastern Brazil.

Authors

M C A Pestana, E P Silva, L C Santos-Júnior, R V C Saraiva, R F Oliveira, C N Damasceno-Durval, A B B Silva, E A E Guarçoni, J A S Leroy

Published in

Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia. Volume 86. Pages e303769. Epub Jun 29, 2026.

Abstract

Sagittaria montevidensis is an aquatic macrophyte distributed across South America, especially in southern Brazil. In this study, we report the first confirmed record of this species in northeastern Brazil, based on collections from irrigated rice fields in Arari (Maranhão State). The populations observed at the study sites exhibit vigorous active reproduction and show patterns warranting evaluation of possible herbicide resistance, indicating strong potential for establishment and spread in the region. Considering the species' large geographic disjunction, long-distance dispersal by waterbirds emerges as the most plausible introduction pathway for Maranhão. We provide a morphological description, photographs, and an updated distribution map for the species in Brazil. We also discuss the environmental conditions that favor its establishment and the potential ecological and agronomic implications of its introduction.

PMID:
42385001
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Jul 2026.

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