Coccoloba (Polygonaceae) achenes stranded on European Atlantic exposed shores
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33928/bib.2025.07.090Keywords:
disseminule, long-distance dispersal, Ireland, Spain, ocean driftAbstract
The sea-grape genus, Coccoloba P.Browne, commonly occurs on Atlantic coasts of the Americas from Bermuda south to Argentina. Achenes that resemble those of this genus were found with drift on the high shores in Cos. Sligo (VCH28) and Cork (VCH3) where disseminules from the Americas are known to have collected, and likely to have crossed the North Atlantic Ocean. A further achene was found on an exposed Lanzarote Beach, Canary Islands, most probably C. uvifera that may have drifted from a nearby island, where it has been planted following its introduction. These represent the first known records of achenes considered to represent Coccoloba found on European shores.
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