The Naturalisation History of Echinochloa Muricata in Belgium, With Notes on its Identity and Morphological Variation

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2004
Authors:I. Hoste
Journal:Belg. Journ. Bot.
Volume:137
Issue:2
Start Page:163
Pagination:163-174
Keywords:aliens, Belgium, Echinochloa muricata, Poaceae
Abstract:

In Western Europe and North America Echinochloa muricata (P. Beauv.) Fernald (native in North America) has long been confused with Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. (native in Europe). After its introduction in Europe, it took a long time before it was recognised, and later confusion lingered on, in part because the variability of E. muricata was not sufficiently taken into account in keys and descriptions. In the present paper, the difference between E. crus-galli and E. muricata is discussed, and the variability of E. muricata is illustrated. Belgian herbarium specimens labelled E. crus-galli and E. muricata have been revised. Since 1887 (year of the first collection) E. muricata var. microstachya Wiegand has gradually spread and is now locally naturalised and abundant, whereas var. muricata is only known as a rare casual.

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