Cuscuta epilinum

Cuscuta epilinum Weihe (SW Asia ?) – Formerly a noxious weed of linseed fields but last seen as such in 1938. In 2011 it was rediscovered on Guizotia abyssinica and Linum usitatissimum on the gravelly banks of river Maas near Maaswinkel (see: http://waarnemingen.be/waarneming/view/61235961 and Barendse 2012). In 2013 also seen on Cannabis sativa, Linum usitatissimum and other birdseed aliens near a grain storage in Grobbendonk (http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/2463).

The origin of Cuscuta epilinum and its status in Belgium are obscure. It is an obligate parasite of flax and thus surely not originally native in Belgium. Verloove (2006) considered it to be an (extinct) archaeophyte and hence it was not taken into account. Its current status is obviously different (ephemeral alien).

Cuscuta epilinum, Grobbendonk, canal bank (near grain mill), July 2013, J. Pottier Cuscuta epilinum, Grobbendonk

Selected literature:


Barendse R. (2012) Cuscuta epilinum (vlaswarkruid) voor het eerst sinds 1938 weer waargenomen in België, nu als neofyt. Dumortiera 101: 48-49. [available online at: http://www.br.fgov.be/DUMORTIERA/DUM_101/Dum%20101_48-49_Cuscuta_epilinum_Barendse.pdf]

Verloove F. (2006) Catalogue of neophytes in Belgium (1800-2005). Scripta Botanica Belgica 39: 89 p.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith