Typha laxmannii

Typha laxmannii Lepech. (SE-Eur.) – A very rare escape from cultivation but possibly overlooked. Recorded in small number in a marshy and relatively remote sand raised site near Lanaken in 2010. Apparently present since some years already and possibly more or less established. In 2012 also seen in a ditch by the Albertkanaal in Meerhout. Since then more often recorded in several different, widely scattered localities (Kuurne, Mouscron, etc.). Similar recent records are available for the British Isles (Sell & Murrell 1996) and Germany (see for instance Gutte 1996-1997, Jäger & Werner 2005). Recently furthermore discovered in abundance in a pond near a coal mining spoil heap in Oignies, northwestern France (see: http://www.floredefrance.com). In Poland, Typha laxmannii is reported as a fast-spreading and largely overlooked xenophyte, especially in artificial damp habitats (Baryla & al. 2005, Nobis & al. 2006). Closer to its original distribution range, it is also increasingly recorded in areas where it is not originally native (Austria, Slovakia, etc.).

Typha laxmannii is readily distinguished by its very narrow leaves. In general appearance it mostly ressembles Typha minima Funck. The latter was recently recorded as an escape in the Netherlands near a coal mining spoil heap (van der Meijden & al. 1997, van der Meijden 2005). It usually has inflorescences that are subtended by a conspicuous leaf-like bract and (at least part of the) hairs that subtend the female flowers are slightly swollen near apex.


Lanaken, sand raised site, October 2010, R. Barendse.Lanaken, sand raised site, October 2010, R. Barendse.

Lanaken, sand raised site, October 2010, R. Barendse.

 


Literature

Baryla J., Bróz E., Czylok A., Michalewska A., Nikel A., Nobis M., Piwowarczyk R., & Poloczek A. (2005) Typha laxmannii Lepech. the new, expansive kenophyte in Poland: distribution and taxonomy. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. 74: 25-28 (available online at: http://www.botany.pl/pubs-pdf/Acta%20Societatis%20Botanicorum/2005/acta1_2005_025.pdf).

Dostal L. (1978) Weitere Fundorte von Typha laxmannii Lepech. in der Ostslowakei. Acta Bot. Slov. Acad. Sci. Slov., A, Taxon. Geobot. 3: 35-40.

Geissert F. (1972) Typha laxmannii Lepechin (= T. stenophylla Fischer et Meyer) in der Pfalz. Mitt. Bad. Landesver. Naturk. Naturschutz 16(3): 547-548.

Gutte P. (1996-1997) Typha laxmannii Lep. - eine Überraschung im "Braunkohle-Restloch". Sächsische Floristische Mitteilungen 5: 116-117.

Jäger E.J. & Werner K. (eds.) (2005) Rothmaler Band 4. Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Gefässpflanzen: Kritischer Band. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 880 p.

Kaligaric M.K. & Jogan N. (1996) Typha laxmannii Lepech., nova vrsta v flori Slovenije. Hladnikia 7: 21-28.

Melzer H. (1991) Typha laxmannii Lepechin, Laxmanns Rohrkolben, neu fur Österreich. Linz. Biol. Beitr. 23(2): 649-652.

Nobis M., Kozłowska K., Nobis A., Trojecka-Brzezińska A., Pierścińska A., Nowak A., Jaźwa M., Bartoszek W. & Wolanin M. (2012) Rozprzestrzenianie się Typha laxmannii (Typhaceae) w południowej Polsce [A spread of Typha laxmannii (Typhaceae) in southern Poland]. Fragm. Flor. et Geobot. Pol. 19(2): 453-457.

Nobis M., Nobis A. & Nowak A. (2006) Typhetum laxmannii (Ubrizsy 1961) Nedelcu 1968 – the new plant association in Poland. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. 75(4): 325-332 (available online at: http://www.botany.pl/pubs-pdf/Acta%20Societatis%20Botanicorum/2006/acta4_2006_325.pdf).

Sell P.D. & Murrell G. (1996) Flora of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 5. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 410 p.

Van der Meijden R. (2005) Heukels’ Flora van Nederland (23e druk). Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen: 685 p.

Van der Meijden R., Holverda W.J. & Duistermaat L. (1997) Nieuwe vondsten van zeldzame planten in 1995 en 1996. Gorteria 23: 157-177.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith