Recent expansion of Plantago coronopus (Plantaginaceae) in Slovakia

Plantago coronopus (Plantaginaceae, buck's-horn plantain) has been recognized as a rapidly spreading halophytic species along road networks in several Central European countries; however, its distribution in Slovakia has remained poorly documented. In this study, we surveyed 137 roadside sampling points across approximately 700 km of Slovakian roads in spring 2023. The species was recorded at 33 locations (24 % of sampling points), with most populations concentrated in the south-western regions and predominantly along motorways. Generalized linear mixed models revealed significant negative effects of latitude, distance from motorways, altitude and longitude on both the abundance and occurrence of P. coronopus. These results indicate a west-to-east and south-to-north dispersal trend, with motorways serving as the primary pathways. In several cases, the species has already established populations along adjacent main and secondary roads, particularly in the vicinity of motorways. The frequent presence of fruiting stems from previous years suggests that many populations are already self-sustaining. Given ongoing transport infrastructure development, increasing traffic intensity and the effects of climate change, further spread of P. coronopus within Slovakia and across the region appears likely. Our results confirm the naturalization of P. coronopus and provide the first comprehensive documentation of its current distribution in Slovakia, which was previously unknown. These findings highlight the importance of targeted monitoring of halophyte species along anthropogenic corridors to better understand and potentially mitigate their expansion dynamics. Citation: Molnár V. A., Eliáš P. Jr., Letz D. R., Kis S., Bak H. & Fekete R. 2026: Recent expansion of Plantago coronopus (Plantaginaceae) in Slovakia. – Willdenowia 56: 389–396. Version of record first published online on 1 August 2026.