Populus ×canadensis Moench

English Canadian poplar Status LU: established. 1st record: LU 1823, ITW 1987.
Lëtzebuergesch Kanadesch Pëppel Status Eur.: established.
Français Peuplier noir hybride RA: ISEIA: C3. Harmonia+: 0,24.
Deutsch Bastard-Schwarz-Pappel Wikipedia: Wikipedia - Deutsch - Bastard-Schwarz-Pappel Wikipedia - Nederlands - Canadapopulier | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Populus × canadensis 
Nederlands Canadapopulier Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

AltneckarBastardSchwarzpappel 2011-04Populus ×canadensis Moench is a tree species that originates from hybridisation events between P. nigra, the European poplar and two American poplars, P. deltoides and P. angulata. It occurs in many varieties and can appear spontaneously wherever the parent species is present, but is also commonly bred and planted all over the world. The Canadian poplar thrives on periodically inundated flood plains, nonetheless it can also be found in ruderal areas. The tree threatens to extinguish its parent species and can contribute to the desiccation of its wetland habitats.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Populus ×canadensis Moench in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

Populus ×canadensis Moench was first mentioned in Luxembourg under its synonym Populus monilifera Willd. (Tinant 1836: 490). Koltz (1873: 153) and Krombach (1875: 415) state that Populus canadensis [sic] is “common and grown in avenues where only male feet are most often found”.

But Koltz (1875: 138) specifies its 1st record in today Luxembourg in 1823: “Originally from North America as far away as Illinois and Virginia, Populus canadensis Moench was introduced in 1812 in Preisch Park, and in 1842 as P. lævigata and P. molinifera in Walferdange Park. Cultivated as avenue tree. The one which was planted in the Schrassig Park in 1823, has now a trunk girth of 3,66m at shoulder height”.

The oldest herbarium specimen at the MNHNL was collected on 21 April 1935 by Jos. Witry in Bergem (Specimen № 50719, MNHNL 2000-). The next scientific record that we know of was made by Léopold Reichling (1921-2009) on 2nd September 1983 in Ehnen (Municipality of Wormeldange).

The first record in the wild seems to have been documented on 1987-09-03 by Max Lauff and Mariette Scheuer along the Millebaach in Beckerich (MNHNL 2000-).

Currently, 86 records of the Canadian poplar are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

The Canadian poplar is rather common in Luxembourg.

Other poplar hybrids and varieties

Many poplar hybrids from artificial crosses between P. nigra and North American P. deltoides, complicated by return crosses, selections and various improvements, are grouped under the name of Populus ×canadensis; some cultivars are old (about two centuries), others of more or less recent origin. Often, some only include male individuals, while others are female gen. The main varieties and forms traditionally cultivated are var. canadensis, var. gelrica (Houtzagers) Geerinck and var. marilandica (Bosc ex Poiret) Rehd. Some subspontaneous poplars (riversides…), which may result from spontaneous return crosses between Populus ×canadensis and P. nigra, are of delicate determination (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 230-231).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C3 (2+2+2+1) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,24 = (Overall Invasion score 0,66 x Overall Impact score 0,37) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,66Invasion
0,37Impact
0,24Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • GBIF 2020. Populus canadensis Moench in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-02]
  • Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1873. Prodrome de la flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Première partie. Plantes phanérogames. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg. 279 S.
  • Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1875. Dendrologie luxembourgeoise. Catalogue des arbres, arbrisseaux et arbustes spontanés, subspontanés ou introduits dans la culture du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg. 217 p.
  • Krombach, J.-H.-G., 1875. Flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Plantes phanérogames. 564 p. Luxembourg, Imprimerie Joris.
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Populus ×canadensis Moench in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-14]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Populus ×canadensis Moench in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-14]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]
  • Tinant, F. A., 1836. Flore luxembourgeoise, ou, Description des plantes phanérogames, recueillies et observées dans le grand-duché de Luxembourg, classées d’après le système sexuel de Linnée. 512 p. Luxembourg, J. P. Kuborn.

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-05. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-20.

Pinus nigra Arnold

English Black pine Status LU: established. 1st record: LU 1823, ITW unkn..
Lëtzebuergesch Schwaarzkifer Status Eur.: established.
Français Pin noir d’Autriche RA: ISEIA: A2, Black List. Harmonia+: 0,25.
Deutsch Schwarzkiefer Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Black pine Wikipedia - Français - Pin noir d'Autriche Wikipedia - Deutsch - Schwarzkiefer Wikipedia - Nederlands - Zwarte den | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Pinus_nigra
Nederlands Zwarte den Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

SchwarzkieferPinus nigra Arnold is a wide-ranging and extremely variable evergreen conifer that usually has a straight trunk, pyramidal shape and strong horizontal branches that have upswept tips. It grows on a variety of soils, from podzolic sands to limestone.

The black pine can have negative impacts on semi-dry and dry grassland biotopes.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Pinus nigra Arnold in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

Pinus nigra (syn: Pinus austriaca Höss) originated in the limestone mountains of Carinthia, Styria and Lower Austria, in Moravia, Galicia, Banat and Transylvania, and was introduced into the Schrassig Park in 1823. It is cultivated in the forest and is often confused with Pinus laricio: Neudorf (1853), Grünewald (1856), Baumbüsch ( 1863), Ernster (1867), etc. (Koltz 1875: 173).

Koltz (1873: 155) and Krombach (1875: 421) mention the species under its synonym Pinus austriaca Höss as quite common, cultivated in woods on limestone: Edingsberg, Neudorf (Koltz: 1859; Krombach: 1853), Grünenwald (1856), Baumbusch (Koltz: 1868; Krombach: 1860), etc.

Pinus nigra Arnold was next documented in Luxembourg by Léopold Reichling on 22nd May 1954 in Nommern, Municipality of Nommern (MNHNL 2000-). It remains unclear if this was cultivated or in the wild.

180 records are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

Two subspecies are cultivated: Pinus nigra subsp. nigra (Austrian black pine) and Pinus nigra subsp. laricio Maire (Corsican pine) (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 49). All individuals that occur in Luxembourg probably belong to the subspecies Pinus nigra subsp. nigra, Austrian black pine (Welter et al. 2008: 32).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

A2 (2+3+3+3) = Black List , reassessed on 25 November 2019 by C. Ries. First assessment: A1 (2+3+3+3) = Black List (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,25 = (Overall Invasion score 0,58 x Overall Impact score 0,43) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,58Invasion
0,43Impact
0,25Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • GBIF 2020. Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2020-03-02.
  • Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1873. Prodrome de la flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Première partie. Plantes phanérogames. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg. 279 S.
  • Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1875. Dendrologie luxembourgeoise. Catalogue des arbres, arbrisseaux et arbustes spontanés, subspontanés ou introduits dans la culture du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg. 217 p.
  • Krombach, J.-H.-G., 1875. Flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Plantes phanérogames. 564 p. Luxembourg, Imprimerie Joris.
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Pinus nigra Arnold in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-14]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Pinus nigra Arnold in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-14]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]
  • Welter A., J.Turk & J. Trossen, 2008. Les arbres introduits au Luxembourg. Inventaire des essences arborescentes non indigènes de pleine terre présentes sur le territoire du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Ferrantia 53, Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg, ISSN 1682-5519, 111 pp.

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-05. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-20.

Epimedium alpinum L.

English Bishop’s hat Status LU: established. 1st record: <1825.
Lëtzebuergesch Alpe-Sockeblumm Status Eur.: established.
Français Fleur des elfes des Alpes RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,03
Deutsch Alpen-Sockenblume Wikipedia: Wikipedia - Deutsch - Alpen-Sockenblume Wikipedia - Nederlands - Elfenbloempje | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Epimedium alpinum | CABI
Nederlands Elfenbloempje Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Epimedium alpinum is a rhizomatous perennial plant which spreads more rapidly than most other Epimedium species. The plant is native to southern Europe and is now present throughout the continent. Once established, it tolerates drought and heavy shade.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Epimedium alpinum L. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

Lejeune (1824: 226) reports Tinant found the species in the Grünewald, we thus date the first record to <1825. Tinant (1836: 94) notes “This beautiful barberry grows in the coppice of the Grünewald, near the Roman Road. It is very rare.”1. Löhr (1844: 11) notes “At overgrown shady places only in Lxb. in the Grunewald, near the Roman road (Tin.) probably only run wild.”2 The first detailed documented observation of the species dates from 1826. It was found on 19th July 1826 near the river Sûre in the municipality of Bettendorf (Bronn & Courtois 1827). Fischer (1872: 14) found it escaping from the gardens in the bushes at Limpertsberg and in the fortifications of Luxembourg.3 Krombach (1875: 38) notes the species is “rarely grown in our gardens, found by Tinant in Grunenwald, but has not been observed since.”4 Nowadays, Epimedium alpinum is considered as very rare (RR) in the Luxembourgian part of the western Lorraine (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 91).

In July 1910, Joseph Robert (1880-1918) found it again near Bettendorf, in the “Fohrberg” below the quarries; he could count about 30 well developed specimens, so he considered the species native, but very rare (Robert 1910 cit. in Reichling 1958: 95).

The four observations found in the Recorder-Lux database (1956, 1957, 1970) are from the Fouerbierg/Nidderbierg area north of Bettendorf (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019). The earliest one was a specimen collected by Jean-Jacques Kariger on 3 June 1956 north of Bettendorf, at the place known as Fohrberg, on the western end of the Niederberg, in a forest on shell limestone (Specimen № 24945, MNHNL 2000-).

The current status of the species is unknown, it may be extinct.

Epimedium alpinum is often grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. This explains its current existence in a more or less naturalised state in appropriate sites in various European countries outside its area. The location near Bettendorf has been maintained in this way for at least 130 years! (Reichling 1958: 95).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (1+1+1+1) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,03 = (Overall Invasion score 0,12 x Overall Impact score 0,10) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,12Invasion
0,10Impact
0,03Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Bronn, M. & R. Courtois, 1827. Verslag van een plant- en landbouwkundig Reisje, gedaan in Julij 1826, langs de oevers de Maas, van Luik naar Dinant, in de Ardennes en het Groothertogdom Luxemburg. Bijdragen tot de natuurkundige Wetenschappen 2: 450–479. [google books]
  • CABI, 2019. Epimedium alpinum. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-02-28]
  • Fischer, E., 1872. Les plantes subspontanées et naturalisées de la flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Publications de l’Institut royal grand-ducal de Luxembourg, section des sciences naturelles et mathématiques XII: 1-115. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg.
  • Krombach, J.-H.-G., 1875. Flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Plantes phanérogames. 564 p. Luxembourg, Imprimerie Joris.
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • Lejeune, A. L. S., 1824. Revue de la flore des environs de Spa. 264 p. Liège: imprimerie Duvivier.
  • Löhr, M. J., 1844. Taschenbuch der Flora von Trier und Luxemburg : mit Berücksichtigung der Nahe- und Glan-Gegenden. 319 S. Trier, Verlag C. Troschel.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Epimedium alpinum L. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-04]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Epimedium alpinum L. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-06]
  • Reichling, L., 1958. Notes floristiques – Observations faites dans le grand-duché de Luxembourg en 1956. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 61: 63-123. [PDF 3355 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]
  • Robert J., 1910. Beiträge zur Flora des Grossherzogtums Luxemburg. lnst. G.-D. Lux., Sect. Sc. natur., phvs., math., Arch. trimestr. n.s. V: 1-35. Luxembourg: Imprimerie de la Cour Victor-Buck.
  • Tinant, F. A., 1836. Flore luxembourgeoise, ou, Description des plantes phanérogames, recueillies et observées dans le grand-duché de Luxembourg, classées d’après le système sexuel de Linnée. 512 p. Luxembourg, J. P. Kuborn.

 Page content last updated on 2021-02-12. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-18.

  1. Original text: “Cette belle berbéridée croît dans les taillis du Grünewald, du côté de la Chaussée romaine. Elle est très rare.” (Tinant 1836: 94).[]
  2. Original text: “An bewachsenen schattigen Stellen nur in Lxb. im Grunewald, bei der Römerstrasse (Tin.) wahrscheinlich nur verwildert” (Löhr 1844: 11).[]
  3. Original text: “Je l’ai trouvée échappée des jardins dans les buissons à Limpertsberg et dans les fortifications de Luxembourg” (Fischer 1872: 14).[]
  4. Original text: “… rarement cultivée dans nos jardins, trouvée par Tinant au Grunenwald, mais n’y ayant plus été observée depuis.” (Krombach 1875: 38)[]

Spiraea alba Du Roi

English Pale bridewort Status LU: established. 1st record: LU 1823, ITW 1949.
Lëtzebuergesch Wäisse Kluddertrausch Status Eur.: established. 1st record: ?
Français Spirée blanche RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,16.
Deutsch Weißer Spierstrauch Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Pale bridewort | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Spiraea alba
Nederlands Witte spirea Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Spiraea.alba2.-.lindseySpiraea alba Du Roi is a shrub that prefers moist to wet conditions and grows on soil with abundant nutrients and organic material. It occurs mainly in riparian habitats such as river banks, wet meadows, swamps, ditches and bogs. This pioneer species needs full sunlight for optimal growth, flowering and fruiting, but may survive under the tree canopy. It reproduces mainly vegetatively and may be propagated via garden waste or waterflow.

The Pale Bridewort is a fast-growing rhizomatous species, propagating clonally. It forms stable and very dense shrub communities that can expand over large areas and displace native plant species. The dense cover of this plant prevents tree regeneration and inhibits the successional process towards a forest stage. This species is locally considered a weed in its native range. Old dry plant shoots are vulnerable to early ignition and may be the cause of fires (Branquart et al. 2010).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Spiraea alba Du Roi in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

Spiraea alba Du Roi was first mentioned for Luxembourg as introduced under its synonym S. undulata in 1823 in the park of Schrassig (Koltz 1875: 67).

The oldest MNHNL herbarium specimen of its variety Spiraea alba var. latifolia (Aiton) Dippel was collected under the synonym Spiraea latifolia (Aiton) Borkh. by Jos Witry on 26 July 1935 in Dalheim (Specimen № 52327, MNHNL 2000-).

The first documented record in the wild was reported on 1949-08-05 at Osterbour, naturalised by a pond, in the municipality of Larochette (Beck et al. 1952: 77; MNHNL 2000-).

Currently, 7 records of the Pale Bridewort are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

This species originates from the eastern United States and is sometimes cultivated for ornamental purposes in parks. Subspontaneous or naturalised; banks of rivers and ponds, hedges (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 326).

This species seems to have sometimes been confused in the wild with the horticultural hybrid Spiraea ×rosalba Dippel (Spiraea alba × salicifolia), with petals generally of a brighter pink, with shorter branches and stamens longer than petals (about as long as the latter in S. alba). The frequency and distribution of the two taxa should be studied in the wild, the degree of pollen fertility being perhaps a useful criterion for distinguishing them (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 326).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (1+1+3+2) (Ries et al. 2013: 19).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,16 = (Overall Invasion score 0,34 x Overall Impact score 0,47) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,34Invasion
0,47Impact
0,16Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Beck, E., Jungblut, F., Lefort, F.L., Reichling, L., Stumper, R., 1952. Herborisations faites au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg en 1951. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 56: 67-88. [PDF 1080 KB]
  • Branquart, E., S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum & F. Verloove, 2010. Harmonia database: Spiraea alba Du Roi. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-15]
  • GBIF, 2020. Spiraea alba Du Roi in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-04]
  • Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1875. Dendrologie luxembourgeoise. Catalogue des arbres, arbrisseaux et arbustes spontanés, subspontanés ou introduits dans la culture du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg, 217 pp.
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Spiraea alba Du Roi in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-15]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Spiraea alba Du Roi in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-15]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-11. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-21.

Spiraea douglasii Hook.

English Steeple-bush Status LU: established. 1st record: LU 1847, ITW 1954.
Lëtzebuergesch Douglas-Kluddertrausch Status Eur.: established. 1st record: ?
Français Spirée de Douglas RA: ISEIA: B0, Alert List. Harmonia+: 0,10.
Deutsch Douglas-Spierstrauch Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Steeple-bush | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Spiraea douglasii 
Nederlands Douglasspirea Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

USFWS spiraea douglasii (23722325702)Both in its native and invaded range, Spiraea douglasii Hook. grows best on loamy and sandy wet soils. It is tolerant to permanently water-logged soils (peat) and widely fluctuating water tables. It occurs mainly in riparian habitats such as swamps, shrub carrs, marshes and bogs. This pioneer species needs full sunlight for optimal growth, flowering and fruiting, but may survive under tree canopies. Contrary to other North American Spiraea species, Douglas’ spirea may produce fertile seeds under Belgian climatic conditions. They are disseminated at a slow rate by wind in the vicinity of parent shrubs and germinate in areas free of dense plant cover. This shrub has been increasingly observed in the wild in Belgium during the last decade.

Douglas’ spirea is a fast-growing rhizomatous shrub, propagating clonally. It easily forms dense monospecific thickets that can colonise large areas, displace other plant species and dominate communities in wetland areas (probably via allelopathic interactions). It can be invasive in its native range and rapidly colonise clearcut areas. It has been reported to be a serious danger to native plant communities in Belgium. Old dry plant shoots are vulnerable to early ignition and may be the cause of fires (Branquart et al. 2010).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Spiraea douglasii Hook. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

Koltz (1875: 67): Native to California, Spiraea douglasii Hook. was introduced in 1847 (jardin des Dominicains). Requires a sheltered spot in fertile soil. Several hardier hybrids are grown which are:

  • Spiraea douglasi × callosa (Spiraea nobleana Hook.): Introduced in 1863; jardin des Dominicains.
  • Spiraea × pachystachys Hayne.: Introduced 1871; Sandweiler nurseries.
  • Spiraea paniculata Bill.: Introduced in 1847; jardin des Dominicains.

Marcel Etringer first documented Spiraea douglasii var. menziesii (under the name Spiraea salicifolia L.) in the wild on 1954-06-29 in a slag heap in Steinfort (Herb. LUX specimen № 50664; MNHNL 2000-).

The earliest herbarium specimen at the MNHNL was collected by Jos Witry in July 1935 in Rumelange (Specimen № 52329, MNHNL 2000-).

This species originates from western North America and is sometimes grown for ornamental purposes in parks. Subspontaneous or naturalised: old hedges, roadsides, groves, slopes (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 326).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

B0 (2+2+3+2) = Alert List (Ries et al. 2013: 19).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,10 = (Overall Invasion score 0,18 x Overall Impact score 0,47) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,18Invasion
0,47Impact
0,10Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum, F. Verloove & A. Vervoort, 2010. Harmonia database: Spiraea douglasii Hook. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-15]
  • GBIF, 2020. Spiraea douglasii Hook. in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-04]
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Spiraea douglasii Hook. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2021-03-12]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Spiraea douglasii Hook. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-15]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-12. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-21.

Syringa vulgaris L.

English Common lilac Status LU: established. 1st record: LU & ITW <1836.
Lëtzebuergesch Gewéinlechen Neelchesbam Status Eur.: established.
Français Lilas commun RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,34.
Deutsch Gemeiner Flieder Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Common lilac Wikipedia - Français - Lilas commun Wikipedia - Deutsch - Gemeiner Flieder Wikipedia - Nederlands - Sering | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Syringa vulgaris 
Nederlands Sering Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

500px photo (262308089)The Common Lilac is widespread in southeastern Europe and the Near East. The original distribution ranges from central Albania to northern Romania. The species is frequently planted in numerous garden varieties and is often naturalised on rock slopes or railway embankments. It is a neophyte in some countries of Europe, Asia and North America. Light forests and bushes are preferred as habitats. The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation considers the common lilac to be an invasive species and has placed it on the management list of the black list of invasive species, as it can displace native species (Wikipedia Contributors 2019).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Syringa vulgaris L. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

The species, a very common garden shrub, was already reported in the wild in Luxembourg before 1836: according to Tinant (1836: 17) “This shrub […] is frequently found in the wild on the rocks of the Pétrus, Pulvermuhl, Bellevue etc.”1. Fischer (1872: 61) states the species, “frequently and commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes, is often found wild in hedges and on rocks near homes”. This is repeated by Krombach (1875: 219). To the known locations, Koltz (1873: 86) adds the ruins of the Grewchesberg between Greisch and Simmern.

The oldest herbarium specimen at the MNHNL was collected in May 1883 by Edmond Joseph Klein (1866-1942) from a cultivated shrub in Wiltz (Specimen № 16752, MNHNL 2000-). The next scientific record that we know of was made by Léopold Reichling on 8th July 1959 in Bierheck, Municipality of Steinsel (MNHNL 2000-). Currently, 59 records of Common Lilac are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

Sometimes subspontaneous or naturalised (Lorr.): rock hedges, sunny slopes, wastelands (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 537-538).

Other Syringa cultivars and taxa

  • Syringa persica is grown in groves and gardens, and is sometimes found subspontaneously in hedges and near homes (Fischer 1872: 61).
  • The lilacs are mainly grown from various cultivars of this species. Other ornamental Syringa species are also sometimes grown for ornamental purposes in parks and gardens (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 537-538).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (1+2+2+2) (Ries et al. 2013: 19).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,34 = (Overall Invasion score 0,60 x Overall Impact score 0,57) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,60Invasion
0,57Impact
0,34Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Fischer, E., 1872. Les plantes subspontanées et naturalisées de la flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Publications de l’Institut royal grand-ducal de Luxembourg, section des sciences naturelles et mathématiques XII: 1-115. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg.
  • GBIF, 2020. Syringa vulgaris L. in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-04]
  • Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1873. Prodrome de la flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Première partie. Plantes phanérogames. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg. 279 S.
  • Krombach, J.-H.-G., 1875. Flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Plantes phanérogames. 564 p. Luxembourg, Imprimerie Joris.
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Syringa vulgaris in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-05]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Syringa vulgaris L. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-06]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]
  • Tinant, F. A., 1836. Flore luxembourgeoise, ou, Description des plantes phanérogames, recueillies et observées dans le grand-duché de Luxembourg, classées d’après le système sexuel de Linnée. 512 p. Luxembourg, J. P. Kuborn.
  • Welter A., J.Turk & J. Trossen, 2008. Les arbres introduits au Luxembourg. Inventaire des essences arborescentes non indigènes de pleine terre présentes sur le territoire du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Ferrantia 53, Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg, ISSN 1682-5519, 111 pp.
  • Wikipedia Contributors, 2019. Gemeiner Flieder. In: Wikipedia, Die freie Enzyklopädie. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gemeiner_Flieder&oldid=188437593 [accessed 2020-03-04]

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-12. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-21.

  1. Original text: “Cet arbrisseau […] se retrouve fréquemment sauvage sur les rochers de la Pétrus, Pulvermuhl, Bellevue etc.” (Tinant 1836: 17)[]

Aster lanceolatus Willd.

English Narrow-leaved Michaelmas-daisy Status LU: established. 1st record: LU 1934, ITW 1949.
Lëtzebuergesch Schmuelbliedreg Aster Status Eur. : established. 1st record: UK 1633.
Français Aster à feuilles lancéolées RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,15
Deutsch Lanzettblättrige Aster Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Narrow-leaved Michaelmas-daisy Wikipedia - Français - Aster à feuilles lancéolées Wikipedia - Deutsch - Lanzettblättrige Aster | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Aster lanceolatus / Symphyotrichum lanceolatum | CABI
Nederlands Smalle Aster Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Aster lanceolatus Willd. thrives both in ruderal and riparian areas, especially on rich and moist to humid soils. Commonly planted in gardens, it then gets propagated through fly-tipping of green waste. Seed development depends on climatic conditions. Asters are rhizomatous species, and can propagate clonally. They easily form dense and wide monospecific colonies, displacing native wetland plants, and favouring the sedimentation and stabilization of riverbanks, which reduces the ability of rivers to meander and flood (Branquart et al. 2010).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Aster lanceolatus Willd. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

In Luxembourg, Aster lanceolatus Willd. was first collected by Jos Witry on 24th August 1934 in Grevenmacher (Specimen № 52294, MNHNL 2000-b). It is not specified if it was cultivated or not.

The species was first recorded in the wild by François Léon Lefort (1917-1975) on 30 September 1949 by the river Sûre in Diekirch (Specimen № 22445, MNHNL 2000-b).

Currently, 15 records of the species are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal, most of them in the Moselle valley (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

According to Lambinon & Verloove (2012: 706), the species occurs as quite common to quite rare (AC-AR) around villages, vacant lots, wastelands, and river banks, as subspontaneous or naturalised.

Other Aster taxa

  1. Aster dumosus L. (Syn.: Symphyotrichum dumosum (L.) G. L. Nesom): the bushy aster is first reported by Tinant on the banks of the Moselle (Wirtgen 1842: 89; Lefort 1950: 41). A hybrid Aster dumosus x novi-belgii was collected by Paul Grzonka and Léopold Reichling on 29 September 1959 in Bech-Kleinmacher in the Moselle valley (MNHNL 2000-b).
  2. Aster novi-belgii L.: confused Michaelmas-daisy, first mentioned in 1872 in the wild in Luxembourg.
  3. Aster ×salignus: this hybrid between A. lanceolatus x A. novi-belgii is much confused with both its parents, particularly A. lanceolatus. The common michaelmas daisy was first mentioned by Yves Krippel in 2001 at Pällembierg (MNHNL 2000-b).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (2+2+2+1) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,15 = (Overall Invasion score 0,36 x Overall Impact score 0,40) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,36Invasion
0,40Impact
0,15Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum & F. Verloove, 2010. Harmonia database: Aster lanceolatus Willd. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-16]
  • CABI, 2020. Aster lanceolatus. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-02-28]
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • Lefort, F. L., 1950. Contribution à l’histoire botanique du Luxembourg (av. 18 planches). Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 54: 31-160. [PDF 6781 KB]
  • MNHNL, 2000-a. Aster novi-belgii L. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-03]
  • MNHNL, 2000-b. Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-24]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Aster lanceolatus Willd. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-06]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]
  • Schmidt, G., 1993. Fiches de terrain, cartographie des biotopes de la commune de Remerschen. Fondation Oeko-Fonds, Luxembourg. Non published document.
  • Wirtgen, P., 1842. Prodromus der Flora der preussischen Rheinlande. Henry & Cohen, Bonn. 242 p.

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-02. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-13.

Bunias orientalis L.

English Warty-cabbage Status LU: established. 1st record: LU & ITW 1874.
Lëtzebuergesch Orientalesch Zackescheekchen Status Eur.: established. 1st record: UK 1731.
Français Bunias d’Orient RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,30
Deutsch Orientalisches Zackenschötchen Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Warty-cabbage Wikipedia - Français - Bunias d'Orient Wikipedia - Deutsch - Orientalisches Zackenschötchen | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Bunias orientalis | CABI
Nederlands Grote hardvrucht Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Bunias orientalis L. is a fast growing perennial plant needing a lot of light. On nutrient-rich and disturbed soils, the species can build up dense populations quicker than potential competitors. Disturbances favour the species, which can also survive in closed vegetation stands unless it is shaded. The plant occurs mainly in ruderal habitats and on road embankments.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Bunias orientalis L. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

Bunias orientalis L. was first documented in 1874 in Luxembourg. It was first found during a botanical stroll by Dr. Édouard Aschman in June 1874 in an alfalfa field on the upper part of Clausen towards Fetschenhof (Fischer 1886: 58; Koltz 1877: 8).

If we consider the previous record as being found in cultivated conditions, the species was first recorded in the wild by Jean Feltgen (1833-1904) in 1885 on a railway dam in Lorentzweiler (Obs. key: DSS00439000014NR, MNHNL 2000-).

Another early finding was on 1949-05-25 in the Municipality of Mersch (Beck et al. 1950).

Since then more than 50 occurrences have been reported, mainly in the south and the central parts of Luxembourg (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2021, MNHNL 2000-). The species seems to expand in the south of Luxembourg into dry grassland habitats with new records at Haut des Saulnes (Rodange), at Roudebierg (Dudelange) and Giele Botter (Niedercorn / Pétange) (Email by Jan Herr, 2019-06-12).

The melliferous species is quite common to quite rare (AC-AR) in the Lorraine environment (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 256).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (1+2+1+1) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,30 = (Overall Invasion score 0,67 x Overall Impact score 0,44) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,67Invasion
0,44Impact
0,30Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Beck, E., Jungblut, F., Lefort, F.L., Reichling, L., Stumper, R., 1950. Herborisations faites dans le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg en 1949 (av. 2 fig. et 7 planches). Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 54: 161-208. [PDF 1745 KB]
  • CABI, 2009. Bunias orientalis [original text by Agnese Priede]. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-02-28]
  • Fischer, M.-E., 1886. Plantes Phanérogames Nouvelle ou Rares de la Flore luxembourgeoise. Recueil des mémoires et des travaux publiés par la Société de botanique du grand-duché de Luxembourg 11: 50-68. [PDF 12 MB]
  • Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1877. Compte-rendu des travaux de la Société botanique pour l’exercice 1874, présenté à l’assemblée générale du 27 février 1875. Recueil des mémoires et des travaux publiés par la Société de Botanique du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg 2-3 : 7-9.
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Bunias orientalis L. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-05]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Bunias orientalis L. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-06]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2021-04-14. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-14.

Lagarosiphon major Ridl. Moss ex Wager

English Curly waterweed Status LU: present. 1st record: 2024
Lëtzebuergesch Gekréngelt Waasserpescht Status Eur.: established. 1st record: UK 1944.1 IAS of EU concern (2016).
Français Elodée crépue RA: ISEIA: A1, Alert List. Harmonia+: 0,39.
Deutsch Wechselblatt-Wasserpest Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Curly waterweed Français Wikipedia - Deutsch - Wechselblatt-Wasserpest | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Lagarosiphon major | CABI
Nederlands Verspreidbladige waterpest Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Lagarosiphon major. Howardian, 1992 (30491279833)Lagarosiphon major Ridl. Moss ex Wager, Curly Waterweed, preferentially develops in clear, still or slow-flowing water systems. It can live in a wide range of trophic conditions providing that a silty or sandy bottom rich in nutrients is available. It prefers well-lit environments. The plant makes dense monospecific populations which often colonise whole water bodies, restrict water movement, cut off light, produce anoxic conditions and trap sediments in the system. The species has been reported to outcompete native aquatic plants and to affect associated populations of aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates. Dense beds provide a poor habitat for aquatic animals and are not consumed by fish. They interfere with recreational activities and increase the risk of adjacent land flooding (Branquart et al. 2013).

IAS of Union concern

In 2016, Lagarosiphon major Ridl. Moss ex Wager was added to the list of invasive alien species of Union concern (Anonymous 2016) which implies that member states shall take all necessary steps to prevent it’s unintentional introduction or spread.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

The first documented observation of Lagarosiphon major Ridl. Moss ex Wager in Luxembourg was made in 2024 by Max Oly. The species was found on 26 August in a pond in the park of Munsbach Castle. Here are the observer’s comments. The population is located in a rather small and approx. 1 metre deep foil pond at the castle. The vegetation is quite natural with cattails, sedges and milfoil. The two invasive species (L. major and Crassula helmsii) have probably been deliberately introduced into the pond. Lagarosiphon is submersed and occupies a large part of the water body.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

A1 (2+3+3+3) = Alert List (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,39 = (Overall Invasion score 0,60 x Overall Impact score 0,65) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,60Invasion
0,65Impact
0,39Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Anonymous, 2016. Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2016/1141 of 13 July 2016 adopting a list of invasive alien species of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union L 189: 4-5.
  • Branquart, E., I. Stiers, L. Triest, S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum & F. Verloove, 2013. Harmonia database: Lagarosiphon major Ridl. Moss ex Wager. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-11-21]
  • CABI, 2021. Lagarosiphon major. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2021-03-04]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2020. Lagarosiphon major in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-03-02]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2024-10-03. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-19.

  1. Cf. CABI 2021.[]

Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782)

English Prussian carp Status LU: established. 1st record: ~1825
Lëtzebuergesch Grousse koppesche Kaarp1 Status Eur.: established.
Français Carassin argenté RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Giebel Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Prussian carp Wikipedia - Français - Carassin argenté Wikipedia - Deutsch - Giebel Wikipedia - Nederlands - Giebel | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Carassius gibelio | CABI
Nederlands Giebel Back to the list of vertebrates

Brief description

Carassius gibelio 2008 G1Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) has potential to cause economic and environmental damage by causing quantitative changes in community structure in becoming the dominant species and shifts in food chains, and by altering the physical and chemical properties of habitats. A major biological trait responsible for invasiveness in C. gibelio is its mode of reproduction. Invading populations are often triploid and composed of almost exclusively females that exhibit apomictic (gynogenetic) reproduction, using the sperm of other species to activate (but not fertilize) their own eggs. C. gibelio have been introduced intentionally for the purposes of food production and unintentionally due to the similarity in appearance between C. gibelio and native Carassius spp. (CABI, 2019).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Carassius gibelio Bloch, 1782 in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-05-22.

Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) was probably introduced in Luxembourg in the period 1820 – 1830 (De La Fontaine 1872). During river inventories in 2005, 392 individuals were caught in the rivers Alzette, Lower Sauer and Moselle, which was three times as many as were caught during a similar survey in 1996/1997 but with catches occurring in fewer rivers (Administration de la gestion de l’eau 2010).

The Prussian carp is a thermophilic fish species living in eutrophic still and slow-running waters, often with submerged aquatic vegetation. It is a prolific species which is believed to be responsible for the decline of native fish, invertebrate and plant populations in different areas. Furthermore, it is notorious for increasing water turbidity because of its habit of stirring up bottom sediments during feeding.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (2+2+1+1) (Ries et al. 2014: 199).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Administration de la gestion de l’eau, 2010. Les poissons au Luxembourg, Cartographie des poissons, lamproies et écrevisses du grand-duché de Luxembourg, 213 pp.
  • CABI, 2019. Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782). In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-04-22]
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 Page content last updated on 2020-04-28.

  1. Cf. Klees 1981: 26.[]