North American species of Solidago as ornamental plants and a source of promising raw plant materials

Abstract

A review of the role of ornamental horticulture as a vector of phytoinvasions is presented on the example of North American species of Solidago: S. canadensis L., S. gigantea Ait and S. graminifolia (L.) Salisb. The first two species were originally cultivated as ornamental plants. With changes in environmental conditions, their range expanded to the north and east of the Eurasian continent, and the lag phase lasted 100-150 years. At the end of the XX century, their secondary range covered all the Eurasian regions, they were transformed into invasive plants and were listed in the Top 100 most threatened and aggressive species that are introduced into natural phytocoenosis and pose a threat to the environment. The secondary range of S. graminifolia is represented by several scattered localities, its lag phase ends, this species is recognized as invasive only in Poland. It has now become evident that alien species can be used as new resource plants. The study of secondary metabolites composition of species of Solidago makes possible the disbursement of a wide range of flavonoids, triterpene saponins, organic acids, and various terpene compounds in their composition. The authors believe that a detailed study of the phytochemical properties and many other widespread invasive species is required in order to identify new plant resources.