Dipsacus laciniatus L. (Euras.) – A rare but much extending, locally naturalized alien of uncertain origin. First collected around 1876 in Oudergem (Rood Klooster) and in 1883 near Leuven (Pellenberg), probably as escapes from cultivation. Later also observed in the port of Antwerpen in 1915 and along a railway track in Boussu-en-Fagne in 1949. More recently seen on wasteland at the Keizerberg abbey in Leuven (1963). Discovered in abundance in an industrial area in Menen near river Leie in 2001 (Verloove 2002). Here obviously naturalized and expanding as a weed of plantations, wasteland, … although part of the population has been destroyed recently. The origin of this population is uncertain but seems to be associated with industrial activities (ore, building materials). A garden origin seems rather unlikely. In Menen Dipsacus laciniatus grows in dry to rather damp, sunny and nitrophilous conditions. In 2010 furthermore discovered in a golf course in Hollebeke near Ieper (few specimens on levelled soil) and in 2011 on a talus slope adjoining motorway E17 near Kortrijk (several tens obviously introduced with transported soil). Since then found in several additional localities in the southern part of West-Flanders and adjacent Hainaut (e.g. large population in Dottignies). In 2014 also discovered on a coal mining spoil heap near Genk (Winterslag).
A similar slight expansion of Dipsacus laciniatus was recently also reported from Zuid-Limburg in the Netherlands (Cortenraad & Mulder 2010).
Corollas of Dipsacus laciniatus are usually told to be pink but they are, in fact, more often nearly whitish (see also Wurzell 1992), as is the case in the population in Menen. Dipsacus laciniatus usually grows much taller than native D. fullonum. It easily surpasses 200 cm and might even reach 400 cm in suitable conditions. Where both species grow together their hybrid is rather easily produced (see for instance Campbell 1993).
Selected literature
Campbell W.D. (1993) Dipsacus laciniatus. BSBI News 63: 30-31.
Cortenraad J. & Mulder T. (2010) Uit de flora van Limburg. Aflevering 47. Natuurhistorisch Maandblad 99(10): 233-236.
Ludwig W. (1999) Dipsacus laciniatus L.: eine kartierungskritische Karde der hessischen Flora. Hess. Flor. Briefe 48(1): 10-15.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.
Verloove F. (2006) Dipsacus laciniatus. In: Van Landuyt W., Hoste I., Vanhecke L., Van den Bremt P., Vercruysse W. & De Beer D., Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels gewest. Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Nationale Plantentuin van België en Flo.Wer: 344.
Wiedemann D. & Wiedemann H. (1985) Dipsacus laciniatus L. subspontan in Kassel-Kirchditmold (MTB 4622-4). Hess. Flor. Briefe 34(1): 5-6.
Wurzell B. (1992) Cut-leaved teasels also go to town. BSBI News 62: 39 (+ frontcover).