Como algunas especies americanas invasoras se han vuelto icónicas en la Europa Mediterránea: los ejemplos de Agave y Opuntia

Abstract

With the arrival of the Europeans in the Americas, numerous plant species native to the continent were introduced to Europe. Some of them were soon economically used, primarily as food (e.g., Solanum lycopersicon) or medicine (e.g., Cinchona spp.), but also as ornamental plants or plants with industrial uses, such as Agave spp. and Opuntia spp. Both Agave and Opuntia were introduced into the Mediterranean basin in the 16th century and soon became part of the landscapes—both through widespread cultivation and naturalization. In some places, they have even become aggressive invaders. Today, there are management plans aimed to control and eradicate them, but a large part of the society opposes such measures. In recent years, campaigns have even emerged to “protect” these plants from humans, as both Agave spp. and Opuntia spp. are considered by many as their own, often viewed as something that defines their identity. “Modern” uses of these plants—such as tourist attractions (e.g. in Sicily, where ceramics depicting Opuntia are popular souvenirs) or as symbols of nature conservation—are, unfortunately, becoming widespread.