Cuscuta lupuliformis Krock. (E Eur., As.) – An exceptional alien. Discovered in 2013 on the banks of river Schelde near Bornem (Buitenland) (see: http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/6671). It was found twining on Salix over a distance of about 5 m and was soon also discovered elsewhere in this area, between Bornem and Temse.
Origin and status of Cuscuta lupuliformis at this locality are obscure. It is originally native in eastern Europe and Asia but has steadily spread to the west in the 20th century. It is known in identical circumstances in the Netherlands since 1929 when it was first found along river Rhine (Weeda & al. 1988). In Luxembourg it is naturalized along river Moselle (Duvigneaud 1978). A natural range extension seems most likely.
Cuscuta lupuliformis belongs to subgenus Monogyna, characterized by its styles that are nearly completely united and thus appear as a single style.
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Selected literature:
Duvigneaud J. (1978) Les cuscutes de la Vallée de la Moselle (Cuscuta europaea, C. gronovii var. calyptrata et C. lupuliformis). Nat. Mosana 31(1): 22-27.
Wayda M. (1999) Distribution of Cuscuta lupuliformis (Cuscutaceae) in Poland (in Polish). Fragm. Flor. Geobot. 6: 75-81.
Weeda E.J., Westra R., Westra Ch. & Westra T. (1988) Nederlandse Oecologische Flora. Wilde planten en hun relaties. Deel 3. IVN: 302 p.