New distributional records of non-native vascular plants in northern Italy Author Verloove, Filip Botanic Garden of Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, B- 1860 Meise, filip.verloove@br.fgov.be Author Ardenghi, Nicola M. G. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University text Natural History Sciences 2015 2015-06-30 2 1 5 14 http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2015.219 journal article 10.4081/nhs.2015.219 2385-0922 12523705 Muhlenbergia frondosa (Poir.) Fernald , Rhodora , 45 (534): 235. 1943 . ( Poaceae ) Naturalized neophyte new to the flora of Emilia-Romagna ( Conti et al. , 2005 ; Celesti-Grapow et al. , 2009a ). ITALY . Emilia-Romagna . Prov. Reggio nell’Emilia: Boretto , river Po E of the bridge, riparian woodland, locally, 13.09.2014 , F . Verloove 11000 ( BR , MSNM ) . Muhlenbergia frondosa is a native species in southern Canada and the contiguous U.S.A. ( Peterson, 2003 ). It is only rarely seen outside of its native distribution range. However, in Italy it is known since several decades from Piemonte ( Soldano, 1977 ) where it is naturalized, for instance in riparian woodland alongside river Sesia. In recent years it seems to spread in northern Italy : Bertolli & Prosser (2013) reported about its discovery in Trentino-Alto Adige and in September 2014 it was also detected alongside river Po in Boretto. This species is rather inconspicuous and often very reluctant to flower; it may be more widespread but overlooked.