1. Securigera varia (L.) Lassen (syn.: Coronilla varia L.) (C and S-Eur., W-As.) – A rare but increasing, locally naturalised alien. Known at least since the beginning of the 19th century (Durand 1899) but many early collections probably refer to cultivated plants. Securigera varia regularly occurs in very widely scattered localities but often only persists for some time. However, at least in the surroundings of Leuven it seems well-naturalised (known for instance from the banks of river Dijle near Wilsele since 1894 and recently confirmed; see Verloove 2002). In the past decades Securigera varia is increasingly sown for erosion control, mainly on coal mine heaps or other artificial off-ramps (for instance by railway tracks). It thrives well in grassy and waste places, often on calcareous substrates with a southern exposure. In Belgium Securigera varia was chiefly brought in with cereals in the past, more rarely also with wool and building materials. Nearly all recent records are from or near newly sown plots and represent escapes from or relics of cultivation.
Securigera varia is a serious environmental weed in parts of North America. For the time being invasive behaviour has not been reported yet in western Europe.
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Selected literature:
Durand T. (1899) Phanérogames. In: De Wildeman E. & Durand T., Prodrome de la flore belge. A. Castaigne Editeur, Bruxelles: 1112 p.
Estrada A.E. (1992) Primer registro de Coronilla varia (Leguminosae) para México. Acta Bot. Mex. 17: 35-37.
Flynn A., Miller A.G. & Garbary D.J. (2013) Coronilla varia L. (Fabaceae): an invader of a coastal barrier beach in Nova Scotia, Canada. Proceedings of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science 47(2): 221-238.
Hodgson W. & Mittleman M. (1981) Coronilla varia L. (Leguminosae), a new addition to the flora of Arizona. Saguaroland Bull. 35 (3): 28-29.
Van Landuyt W. (2006) Securigera varia. 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: 814.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.