Meconopsis cambrica (L.) Vig. (syn.: Papaver cambricum L.) (W-Eur.) – A very rare but recently increasing escape from cultivation. Perhaps first collected as an escape in Verviers in 1953. Subsequently discovered around 1979 in Crupet (near Bauche) in riverine woodland in the valley of river Bocq (Duvigneaud 1979), but probably merely ephemeral. From 2004 onwards also seen in urban habitats (as a pavement weed), probably at first in the city of Gent (more or less persisting since then). In 2005 also recorded in Kalmthout. In the past years dramatically increasing and recorded in rather numerous, widely scattered localities (see overview on waarnemingen.be: http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/9126). Locally probably naturalized by now.
In Belgium Meconopsis cambrica is found in a wide range of habitats. Most populations are confined to heavily disturbed, man-made habitats (mainly foot of walls or cracks in pavement in urban environments) but some persist in rather remote, natural habitats (mostly in damp, shady deciduous woodland).
Meconopsis cambrica is an increasing escape in many parts of western and Central Europe (see references). Despite its occurrence (at least in part) in natural habitats incipient invasive behaviour has not been reported so far.
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Selected literature:
Adolphi K., Keil P., Loos G.H. & Sumser H. (2004) Kurze Notizen zu Vorkommen der Mohngewächse Macleaya spec., Meconopsis cambrica und Papaver atlanticum. Flor. Rundbr. 38: 29-37.
Anderson R. (1982) Meconopsis cambrica Viguier in the Newcastle area, Co. Down. Irish Naturalists' J. 20: 400-401.
Charras A. (1992) Découverte d'une station de Meconopsis cambrica (L.) Vig. dans le Vercors (Drôme). Monde Pl. 87(445): 11.
Cusset Y. (1994) Les stations de Meconopsis cambrica dans la Loire. Monde Pl. 89(450): 30.
Duvigneaud J. (1979) La basse vallée du Bocq (province de Namur, Belgique). Nouvelles notes floristiques. Nat. Mosana 32: 175-184.
Reisch C. (2003) Bemerkungen zum Vorkommen des Kambrischen Scheinmohnes (Meconopsis cambrica) in Hessen. Botanik und Naturschutz in Hessen 16: 5-10.
Reisch C. & Röhl M. (1999) Meconopsis cambrica (L.) Viguier – eine neue Adventivart für Baden-Württemberg. Jahresh. Gesellsch. Naturk. Württemberg 155: 193-197.