Asclepias speciosa (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae): a rare or unrecognized alien species in Europe?

Studies on populations of Asclepias syriaca L. in Lithuania revealed the occurrence of a new alien plant species, the North American native Asclepias speciosa Torr. (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), in southern parts of Lithuania – the first report of the latter species in Europe. Interestingly, a thorough analysis of herbarium specimens revealed that A. speciosa had first been collected in Lithuania in 1962, but the specimen was misidentified at the time as A. syriaca. The newly discovered population of A. speciosa occupies mesic grasslands, tall-herb fringe communities and arable field habitats. Sexual reproduction of this species was not recorded; it spreads locally by means of vegetative reproduction. We present here an exhaustive analysis of morphological characteristics and differences between A. speciosa and A. syriaca and other species of the genus, as well as a key for identification of alien Asclepias species in Europe. We predict that the effect of A. speciosa on native habitats and communities, and its economic impact, are comparable to those of the highly invasive A. syriaca. Although A. speciosa currently occurs very rarely as an alien species in Europe, its existence in other regions of Europe is highly probable

Lietuvos svetimžemių augalų rūšių sąrašo papildymai ir pakeitimai

Addition of nine alien plant species and correction of the taxonomic position of one alien species was provided in this publication. Occurrence of three species, Gossypium hirsutum, Leymus racemosus and Senna obtusifolia, has not been reported in Lithuania, yet. Gossypium hirsutum and Senna obtusifolia are casual grain immigrants and their naturalization in the country is unlikely. Leymus racemosus probably has spread to Lithuania from Kaliningrad region of Russia, where it has been introduced intentionally. Currently, this species is treated as naturalized in the Curonian Spit (Western Lithuania). The status of Bellis perennis, which previously had variously been treated as native or alien species in Lithuania, was discussed. Although Malus domestica, Medicago ×varia, Oenothera casimiri and Salix ×fragilis have been reported occurring in Lithuania long ago, their status in the country has not been clearly defined. Considering non-native origin of one or both parental species of these four species, they also should be treated as alien in the country. Based on the results of taxonomic treatments, the occurrence of Salix euxina in Lithuania was confirmed. Cultivated and escaped plants, formerly known under the name Aronia melanocarpa, in fact are intergeneric hybrids and should be treated as ×Sorbaronia mitschurinii. Distribution, habitats, naturalization and impact of ten alien species were discussed. Notes on the taxonomy of several alien species were presented. Comments on improper documentation of several published molecular studies were presented and problems of the result interpretation were discussed

A review of the subtribe Centaureinae (Asteraceae, Cardueae) in Lithuania with information on new alien species

The study’s objective was to overview all Centaureinae species recorded in Lithuania, evaluate the distribution and population state of the newly discovered four alien species and provide information on the residence status, distribution and habitats occupied by all species of the subtribe. The subtribe Centaureinae in Lithuania is now represented by five genera: Centaurea, Leuzea, Psephellus, Serratula and Zoegea. The largest genus in the flora of the country is Centaurea, which includes four native and six alien species. The genus Serratula is represented by one native species, while the genera Leuzea, Psephellus and Zoegea each have one alien species. Tree alien species (an archaeophyte, Centaurea cyanus, and neophytes Centaurea montana and Psephellus dealbatus) are naturalised aliens, whereas Centaurea cheiranthifolia, Centaurea diffusa, Centaurea iberica, Centaurea macrocephala, Leuzea repens and Zoegea crinita are casual aliens. Five species of the subtribe Centaureinae (Centaurea jacea, Centaurea phrygia, Centaurea scabiosa, Centaurea stoebe and Serratula tinctoria) are native to Lithuania. Maps of the distribution of newly discovered alien species in Lithuania are presented

Naujos Lietuvoje svetimžemės žolinių augalų rūšys

This paper presents information about ten new alien plant species recorded in Lithuania in the period from 1995 to 2014. These species belong to eight families: Cucurbitaceae (Lagenaria siceraria), Juncaceae (Luzula sylvestris), Lamiaceae (Physostegia virginiana, Sideritis Montana), Poaceae (Melica altissima, Miscanthus sacchariflorus), Portulacaceae (Claytonia perfoliata), Scrophulariaceae (Digitalis purpurea), Solanaceae (Datura inoxia) and Zygophyllaceae (Tribulus terestris). Three species (Claytonia perfoliata, Sideritis Montana and Tribulus terestris) were introduced accidentally, whereas other seven species were introduced deliberately and later escaped from cultivation. One species, Luzula sylvatica, is ascribed to the group of established aliens, whereas other recorded species are treated as casual. Local establishment of Claytonia perfoliata, Digitalis purpurea and Melica altissima is expected, whereas Miscanthus sacchariflorus can become established and even invasive in the future

Pietiniuose Latvijos rajonuose aptiktos naujos svetimžemės augalų rūšys

Alien plants are one of the most dynamic and rapidly changing components of flora. Many intentionally introduced plants, which formerly were in cultivation only, now are increasingly found escaped and occur in anthropogenic or seminatural habitats. During field investigations in the southern districts of Latvia in 2014-2016, six new alien plant species were recorded: Allium nutans, Hylotelephium spectabile, Solidago ×niederederi, Symphyotrichum dumosum, S. lanceolatum and S. novae-angliae. To date, four species, Allium nutans, Hylotelephium spectabile, Symphyotrichum dumosum and S. novae-angliae, occur as casual aliens in Latvia. Solidago ×niederederi should be ascribed to the group of established species, whereas Symphyotrichum lanceolatum has naturalized and is potentially invasive. Notes on morphology and identification of species as well as characteristics of the recorded populations are discussed. A note on 20 other alien plant species recorded in wastelands, abandoned meadows and unused arable fields in the south-western part of Daugavpils city is also provided

Solidago ×snarskisii nothosp. nov. (Asteraceae) from Lithuania and its position in the infrageneric classification of the genus

A natural hybrid between the native Solidago virgaurea and the alien invasive S. gigantea, recorded in South Lithuania, is described as S. ×snarskisii nothosp. nov. A new nothosubsection, Solidago sect. Solidago nothosubsect. Triplidago nothosubsect. nov., is proposed to accommodate this hybrid and S. ×niederederi

The first records of two alien woody species, Cornus alternifolia and Cornus amomum, in Lithuania

Two native species from North America, Cornus alternifolia and Cornus amomum (Cornaceae) have escaped from cultivation in Lithuania and are recorded as new alien species. Cornus alternifolia was found in an alluvial forest habitat in Vilnius, occupying an area of ca. 0.49 ha. The population consists of about 900 individuals of which ca. 100 were growing to 1-3.5 m high, though fruiting individuals were not found. Cornus amomum is recorded from the Siauliai district, on the banks of a water reservoir in a shrub-dominated habitat. The population consists of four mature individuals with fruits and several young individuals grown from seeds. Cornus alternifolia has already been reported to have escaped in Slovakia; Cornus amomum is reported for Lithuania as an escaped plant for the first time in Europe. Both species occupy habitats analogous to their native range and are dispersed mainly by birds. Their naturalization, spread and invasion to natural habitats of temperate regions of Europe is probable. Therefore, the spread of these species should be monitored, and rapid response measures, if deemed necessary, should be taken

Rediscovery of endangered species Laphangium luteoalbum (Asteraceae) in Lithuania

Laphangium luteoalbum (Asteraceae) is a widely distributed species native to Eurasia; however, it is rare or endangered in some regions of Europe and included into the lists of protected species. In Lithuania, Laphangium luteoalbum was recorded in the southern part of the country, mainly along the banks of the Nemunas River in the 20th century. In contrast, it was found only in the 19th century in the western part of the country. During the research in Curonian Spit National Park (Neringa, western Lithuania), a relatively large species population was found in the transition zone between the dune grassland and wet dune slack habitats. The total population in 2020 consisted of about 500 individuals distributed over an area of about 310 m2. We assume that the seeds of this wind-dispersed plant may have been transferred from other regions of Europe by the wind. However, it cannot be excluded that the plants found are descendants of populations previously recorded in the country. The species is most threatened by the loss of wet, open sandy habitats due to eutrophication of water bodies and subsequent changes in bank vegetation. Laphangium luteoalbum was classified as data deficient (DD) in the last assessment according to the IUCN criteria. Still, a reassessment based on the current data indicates that the species should be considered critically endangered (CR) in Lithuania

Duomenų apie Liparis loeselii (Orchidaceae) paplitimą, buveines ir populiacijų dydį Lietuvoje įvertinimas

Liparis loeselii is a declining orchid species in almost all European countries, mostly because of habitat loss. Therefore, good knowledge about the species ecology, distribution and populations is required in order to substantiate measures for its conservation. The aim of this research was to evaluate all available information about distribution, habitat types and population sizes of L. loeselii in Lithuania, in order to reveal the current state of our knowledge and identify information gaps. The study was based on the analysis of herbarium specimens and information in publications and various databases (a total of 481 unique records were used: 118 from herbaria, 121 from literature and 242 from databases). Intensive accumulation of information about L. loeselii started in the second half of the 20th century and a particularly large number of records were made in the period from 2010 to 2015 during the implementation of inventory and mapping of EU Habitats all over Lithuania. A summary of all information about L. loeselii revealed that it was registered in a total of 93 grid squares, and is mainly confined to uplands. The available information is quite sufficient for the evaluation of the species distribution and prevailing habitats, but is incomplete for the evaluation of population sizes, demographic structures and population trends under changing habitat conditions. Additional investigations are, therefore, required to enable a more accurate assessment of the size and viability of the L. loeselii metapopulation in Lithuania