Brief description

Populus ×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

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 is [sic] “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).

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 2026-09-20. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-20.

	Small-leaf spiderwort	Status LU: n/a. 1st record: n/a
		Status Eur.: partly naturalised
	Éphémère de Rio	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Rio-Dreimasterblume	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
		Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Tradescantia fluminensis Vell. is a species of spiderwort native to South America. It is a perennial groundcover that spreads along the ground with soft, hairless stems and leaves. Tradescantia fluminensis is grown as a garden plant or houseplant in many places. The plant requires a moist soil to develop well and tolerates heavy shade. It is retarded by cold climates, especially where there is frost or snow. The plant is considered poisonous, but it is controversial as to how strong its poisonous properties are. Tradescantia fluminensis is considered an invasive species, noxious weed in many places. Its invasive qualities result from a combination of attributes. Forming a dense mat underneath forest tree cover, facilitated by a remarkable shade tolerance, it smothers ground-level plants and prevents the natural regeneration of taller species. If left unchecked, it can lead to the destruction of native forests. In areas where the plant is a pest. mechanical control is an arduous task since every single scrap of the weed has to be removed or it will regrow. In less prolific areas, manual removal is less difficult as the plant roots come up easily, and an initial clearance can be accomplished by raking the area. To achieve complete control, repeated efforts every few months, coupled with regular monitoring for invasions from surrounding areas, are essential (Wikipedia contributors 2024).

In Europe, the plant is widespread in Italy and Portugal and has been recorded in Spain, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Romania, Malta, France, Belgium and the UK. In Germany and Switzerland, there are only a few documented cases where the plant has spread into the wild and invaded natural vegetation. (CABI 2019, OpenAI 2024).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, the plant has not been observed in the wild yet.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Source: GBIF 2024 (https://www.gbif.org/species/2765156)

Bibliography

• CABI, 2019. Tradescantia fluminensis. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2024-10-09]
• OpenAI, 2024. “Response from ChatGPT.” October 9, 2024. https://chat.openai.com.
• Verloove F. (2024) Tradescantia fluminensis. On: Manual of the Alien Plants of Belgium. Botanic Garden Meise, Belgium. At: alienplantsbelgium.be [accessed 09/10/2024]
• Wikipedia contributors, 2024. ‘Tradescantia fluminensis’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 September 2024, 10:26 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradescantia_fluminensis> [accessed 2024-10-09]

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-20.

	Tiger nut	Status LU: unknown. 1st record: 2024, ITW 2024.
		Status Eur.: unknown
	Souchet comestible	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Erdmandel	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
	Knolcyperus	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Cyperus esculentus L. (also called chufa or tiger nut) is a species of plant in the sedge family widespread across much of the world. It is found in most of the Eastern Hemisphere, including Southern Europe, Africa and Madagascar, as well as the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. The brown, round, pea-sized, highly oily tubers are edible and are traded in southern Europe and West Africa. They are known in France as amandes de terre and in Spain as chufa. The flavour of the tubers is reminiscent of hazelnuts or almonds. Cyperus esculentus is an invasive species outside its native range, and is readily transported accidentally to become invasive (Wikipedia contributors 2024).

Tigernut grass reproduces and spreads mainly by root nodules and can lead to considerable yield losses in arable and vegetable farming. The invasive weed has a very high propagation potential (Bohren & Wirth 2015). The species behaves as a weed in almost all temperate, tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Once established, it is extremely difficult to eradicate because plants have a stratified and layered root system, with tubers and roots being interconnected. The plant can quickly regenerate if a single tuber is left in place. In its competition for light, water and nutrients it can reduce crop yields and outcompetes native plant species when it grows as an environmental weed. The invasiveness of this species is also high due to its great dispersal capacity. Tubers and seeds can be easily dispersed through agricultural activities, soil movement, by water and wind, and very often as contaminants in crop seeds (CABI 2014).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

The first documented observation of Cyperus esculentus L. in Luxembourg was made in 2024. An occurence of the species was reported by a horticultural company in Troisvierges and confirmed by Jean-Paul Wolff (ATEMO) on 27 August 2024.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Currently, C. esculentus occurs on all continents and from the equator to as far north as Alaska (CABI 2014). In Germany, the tiger nut has naturalised sporadically in the Upper Rhine region and in the foothills of the Alps. In Switzerland, the plant has been added to the blacklist of invasive neophytes due to its potential to spread and the damage it causes to biodiversity, health and the economy. In the Netherlands, problematic mass occurrences of tiger nuts have developed as an arable weed since 1970. They have been specifically controlled since 1984. The species also occurs in Belgium and Austria (Wikipedia contributors, 2024).

Bibliography

• Bohren, C. & J. Wirth, 2015. Die Verbreitung von Erdmandelgras (Cyperus esculentus L.) betrifft alle. Agrarforschung Schweiz 6 (9): 384–391, 2015. URL: https://www.agrarforschungschweiz.ch/archiv/?s=Erdmandel [accessed 2024-09-10]
• CABI, 2014. Cyperus esculentus. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2024-09-10]
• Wikipedia contributors, 2024. ‘Cyperus esculentus’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 September 2024, 8:58 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_esculentus> [accessed 2024-09-10]

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-18. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2023-03-27.

	Buck’s-horn plantain	Status LU: established. 1st record: 2014, ITW 2014.
	Kuebefouss-Weeblat	Status Eur.: established. 1st record: unkn.
	Plantain corne-de-cerf	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Krähenfuß-Wegerich	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
	Hertshoornweegbree	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Plantago coronopus L. is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 5 to 25 centimetres, flowering from June to September. It mainly grows on sandy or gravelly soils close to the sea, but also on salt-treated roadsides. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa but it can be found elsewhere, including the United States, Australia, and New Zealand as an introduced species (Wikipedia contributors 2022).

Although introduced to a number of countries, the history of this species introduction is not well documented (CABI 2012).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Plantago coronopus L. is a rather new species for the Luxembourg flora, observed for the first time in 2014 in Kirchberg, in the flowerbeds along avenue Kennedy, between the roundabout and the shopping centre (Krippel et al 2018). During an inventory of halophytes in roadside habitats in 2017 and 2018,  the presence of Plantago coronopus was documented for the first time along national roads. A relatively high number of individuals was found on the verges of two motorways: A1 (2017, Potaschbierg) and A6 (2018, Croix de Gasperich). Further findings were located near Wasserbillig (2018, Park and Ride parking “Mesenich”) and Diekirch (2018, parking rue de l’industrie) (Ehl et al. 2019).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

• CABI, 2012. Plantago coronopus. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2023-01-31]
• Ehl, S., K. Mildenberger, T. Frankenberg & C. Ries, 2019. Halophytes in roadside habitats: a survey of salt-tolerant vascular plant species along roads in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 121: 37-51. [PDF 24.03 MB]
• Krippel, Y., T. Helminger & G. Colling, 2018. Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2016-2017). Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 120: 57-76. [PDF 265 KB].
• Wikipedia contributors, 2022. ‘Plantago coronopus’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 June 2022, 20:20 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_coronopus> [accessed 2023-01-23]

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-20. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2023-03-27.

	Leatherleaf viburnum	Status LU: established. 1st record: 1936, ITW 2019.
	Rompelbliederege Schnéiball	Status Eur.: established. 1st record: 1901.
	Viorne à feuilles ridées	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Runzelblättriger Schneeball	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
	Sneeuwbal	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Viburnum rhytidophyllum Hemsl. ex Forbes & Hemsl. is a vigorous, coarsely textured evergreen shrub which has an upright habit and 20 cm long, lustrous, deeply veined oval leaves with dark blue-green surfaces and pale green undersides. Plants grow 3.0–4.6 m tall and wide. The plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a suckering habit. Viburnum rhytidophyllum grows naturally in forests and shrubs at altitudes between 700 and 2.400 meters only in some Chinese provinces. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant for its evergreen foliage and tolerance of deep shade. In countries where the species has been introduced as an ornamental plant, it seems to be spreading more and more near settlements in recent years. It can potentially displace native species and also causes health issues (its hairs can cause itching and respiratory allergies) (Wikipedia contributors 2022, Gigon 2012).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

A specimen of Viburnum rhytidophyllum Hemsl. ex Forbes & Hemsl. from a garden in Rumelange can be found in the herbarium of Joseph Witry (1936-05-25). The herbarium of the National Museum of Natural History contains another cultivated specimen from Esch/Alzette (6 June 1959). As of January 2023, most of the occurences documented in the database Recorder-Lux are found in urban areas, in private gardens or parks. But V. rhytidophyllum has also been found in the wild: in forest areas close to Manternach (2019-10-01), in a vineyard in Bech-Kleinmacher (2020-04-26), west of Echternach (2022-02-04) and next to the A7 in the Grunewald area (2022-03-02). In 2023 it was also observed in the area around Gantebeinsmühle. The plant is quite common in the parks of the City of Luxembourg, especially along avenue de la porte neuve. The species is removed from the parks over a longer period of time, among other things for reasons of health protection for the park employees.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Although introduced several European countries, the history of this species introduction is not well documented as the data situation is insufficient. The earliest observation for Europe seems to be from Slovakia in 1901 (cf. CABI 2019).

Bibliography

• CABI, 2019. ‘Viburnum rhytidophyllum’ (2022) CABI Compendium. doi: 10.1079/cabicompendium.56343. [accessed 2023-09-27]
• Gigon, A. (2012): Ersatz-Pflanzenarten für die unerwünschten gebietsfremden Arten (invasive Neophyten) der Schwarzen und der Beobachtungsliste der Schweiz. 2012 (infoflora.ch [PDF]).
• MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2023. Viburnum rhytidophyllum Hemsl. ex Forbes & Hemsl. 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 2023-09-27]
• Wikipedia contributors, 2022. ‘Viburnum rhytidophyllum’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 28 November 2022, 10:26 UTC, <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runzelblättriger_Schneeball> [accessed 2023-01-30]

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-20. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2023-03-27.

	Chinese empress tree	Status LU: established. 1st record: 1842, ITW 2018.
	Fëlzege Paulownia	Status Eur.: established. 1st record: 1830.
	Paulownia impérial	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Blauglockenbaum	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
	Anna-paulownaboom	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud., common names: princess tree, empress tree, or foxglove-tree, is a deciduous hardwood tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to central and western China. It is an extremely fast-growing tree with seeds that disperse readily. In the US, the species is a showy, aggressive ornamental. It is also grown in plantations for timber production, but has tended to escape and invade, growing rapidly in disturbed areas including habitats for rare plants. It seeds profusely and resprouts from roots and stumps forming monocultures, and is proving to be a problem weed in eastern USA. It continues to be promoted, however, in North America and elsewhere, and it is possible that it could prove invasive in Europe where it continues to be introduced and planted (CABI 2019, Wikipedia contributors 2022). The tree has been given the status of a potentially invasive species in Germany and is on the grey list of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and is thus under observation (www.neobiota.de).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. was introduced to Luxembourg in 1842 (Welter et al. 2008). 21 occurences have been documented in Luxembourg between 2008 and 2023.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

• CABI, 2019. Paulownia tomentosa. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2022-08-23]
• Bundesamt für Naturschutz BfN, Invasivitätsbewertung gebietsfremder Gefäßpflanzen. URL: https://neobiota.bfn.de/invasivitaetsbewertung/gefaesspflanzen.html [accessed 2023-01-20]
• Welter A., Turk J., Trossen J., 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, 111 p
• Wikipedia contributors, 2022. ‘Paulownia tomentosa’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 18 July 2022, 18:50 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia_tomentosa> [accessed 2022-08-23]

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-20. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2023-03-27.

	Orange jewelweed	Status LU: casual 1st record: 2021, ITW 2021.
	Oranget Sprangkraut	Status Eur.: n/a. 1st record: unkn.
	Impatiente du Cap	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Orangerotes Springkraut	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies:
	Oranje springzaad	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Impatiens capensis Meerb., common names: orange jewelweed, common jewelweed, spotted jewelweed, spotted touch-me-not or orange balsam, is an annual plant which is native to North America. It is common in bottomland soils, ditches, and along creeks. Jewelweed is an herbaceous plant that grows 1 to 1,5 meters tall and blooms from late spring to early fall. The flowers are orange (sometimes blood orange or rarely yellow) with a three-lobed corolla. It often branches extensively. The round stems are smooth and succulent and semi-translucent, with swollen or darkened nodes on some plants. The leaves are alternate and simple and have teeth on the margins. Impatiens capensis was transported in the 19th and 20th centuries to England, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and potentially other areas of northern and central Europe. This jewelweed species is quite similar to Impatiens noli-tangere, an impatiens species native to Europe and Asia (Wikipedia contributors 2022).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

The first documented observation of the species in Luxembourg was made by Carlo Braunert in October 2021 on the banks of the Moselle river in Machtum – Deisermillen (Krippel & Helminger 2022).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

• Krippel, Y. & T. Helminger, 2022. Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2020-2021). Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 124: 191-222. [PDF 2,7 MB]
• Wikipedia contributors, 2022. ‘Impatiens capensis’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 September 2022, 1:50 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens_capensis> [accessed 2022-09-13]

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-19. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2023-03-27.

	Salt sandspurry	Status LU: established. 1st record: LU & ITW 2019.
	Mieres-Spierkelchen	Status Eur.: native.
	n/a	RA: ISEIA: C2. Harmonia+: n/a
	Salz-Schuppenmiere	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
	Zilte schijnspurrie	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Spergularia marina, also called Spergularia salina, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is known as salt sandspurry or lesser sea-spurrey. S. marina is a sprawling annual or sometimes perennial with stems up to 35 cm long. Like other sea-spurrey species, its flowers have white to pink petals, with sepals usually longer than the petals, at 2.5–4 mm. Plants are salt-tolerant, being found by the sea and in saline areas inland as well as in areas along roadsides affected by de-icing salts (Wikipedia contributors 2022)..

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Spergularia marina (L.) Besser was first documented in Luxembourg in 2019, near Garnich (Krippel et al. 2020), Findel and Hoscheid (MNHNL 2000-). Selective investigations have shown that S. marina is well represented in Luxembourg. Even if the lesser sea-spurrey was not recorded by Ehl et al. (2019) during the survey of salt-tolerant vascular plant species along roads in Luxembourg – although known near Arlon in Belgium (Remacle 2015) –, this probably overlooked species must have been present in Luxembourg long before 2019. The sub-cosmopolite S. marina – usually found by the sea and in saline inland areas –, with a salinity index of 9 after Ellenberg (2001), is in expansion in the territory of the ‘Nouvelle Flore’ (Lambinon & Verloove 2015) and adjacent regions in Germany (Hand et al. 2016). In 2021 and 2022 many new locations were found in Luxembourg and Spergularia marina thus can be considered as naturalised in the Grand Duchy, mostly on surfaces affected by de-icing salts along roadsides, where it often grows together with Puccinellia distans, another halophyte. 32 observations of the species have been documented in the Recorder-Lux database between 2019 and 2022.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C2 (3+1+1+1). First assessed 16 February 2017 by Yves Krippel and Christian Ries.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

• CABI, 2022. Spergularia marina. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: <https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/117280> [accessed 2022-11-14].
• Ehl, S., K. Mildenberger, T. Frankenberg & C. Ries, 2019. Halophytes in roadside habitats: a survey of salt-tolerant vascular plant species along roads in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 121: 37-51.
• Ellenberg, H., H. E. Weber, R. Düll, V. Wirth & W. Werner, 2001. Zeigerwerte von Pflanzen in Mitteleuropa. Scripta Geobotanica XVIII. Goltze-Verlag, Göttingen, 262 pp.
• Hand, R., H. Reichert, W. Bujnoch, U. Kottke, & S. Caspari, 2016. Flora der Region Trier. Band 1 & 2, Verlag Michael Weyand, Trier, 1.634 pp.
• Krippel, Y., T. Helminger & G. Colling, 2020. Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2018-2019). Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 122: 29-55.
• Lambinon, J. & F. Verloove (collab. L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten & H. Vannerom), 2015. Nouvelle Flore de la Belgique, du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des Régions voisines. (Ptéridophytes et Spermatophytes), 6e éd., 2e tirage, avec corrections. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise, CXXXIX + 1195 pp.
• MNHNL, 2000-. Portail de données du Musée national d’histoire naturelle. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://data.mnhn.lu [accédé le 01.04.2022].
• Remacle, A., 2015. L’intérêt botanique des espaces verts autoroutiers: le cas de l’autoroute E411 près d’Arlon (province de Luxembourg, Belgique). Dumortiera 107: 3-21.
• Wikipedia contributors, 2022. ‘Spergularia marina‘, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 April 2021, 21:41 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spergularia_marina> [accessed 2022-09-15]

 

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-20. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-13.

	Tall annual willowherb	Status LU: n/a. 1st record: 2021, ITW: 2021.
	Kuerzfriichteg Weideréischen	Status Eur.: n/a. 1st record: 1978.
	Épilobe d’automne	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Kurzfrüchtiges Weidenröschen	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
	Wijde basterdwederik	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Epilobium brachycarpum C.Presl.,  is a species of willowherb known by the common names tall willowherb, tall annual willowherb, panicled willowherb and tall fireweed. It is native to and widespread in North America, where it is a resident of varied open and woodland habitats. It has also been introduced to some areas in South America and Europe. E. brachycarpum is a tall glandular, hairy annual herb occasionally reaching two metres in height. The flower has four petals which may be so deeply notched that they look like four pairs. They are generally light purple or pink, with darker veining. The fruit is a capsule 1 to 3 cm long.

It grows in wasteland, disturbed areas, sunny sites, on stony ground. It is a pioneer species, in the process of establishing itself in Europe (Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg,…). The distribution map from CABI as indicated here below is thus to be considered as incomplete. The plant seems to be spreading along roads and particularly railways. In its native range, it grows on dry or seasonally moist, often disturbed soil, in open woods, meadows, especially along roadsides, and riverbanks, up to an altitude of 3300 m. (Wikipedia contributors 2022, Wolff & Krippel 2022).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Epilobium brachycarpum C.Presl. was recorded for the first time in Luxembourg in 2021 on a worksite in the locality of Grevels. A second record of the species was made in the same year on a worksite in Eschdorf.

The various populations of E. brachycarpum observed during that year have been found on fallow land that has been uncultivated for a maximum of three years and were linked to construction works around Esch-sur-Sûre (drinking water treatment plant and new SEBES pipeline) (Wolff & Krippel 2022).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

• CABI, 2019. Epilobium brachycarpum. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2022-08-22]
• Wikipedia contributors, 2022. ‘Epilobium brachycarpum’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 September 2019, 08:25 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilobium_brachycarpum> [accessed 2022-08-22]
• Wolff, J.-P. & Y. Krippel, 2022. Epilobium brachycarpum C. Presl (Onagraceae), une nouvelle espèce pour la flore du Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 124: 3-8. [PDF 5,13 MB]

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-18. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2022-09-06.

	False indigo-bush	Status LU: n/a. 1st record: 1934, ITW 1934.
	Buschege Schäininnech	Status Eur.: n/a. 1st record: .
	Amorphe buissonnante	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Bastardindigo	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
	Bastaard indigostruik	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Amorpha fruticosa L. originates from North America and is cultivated as an ornamental. It was introduced in Europe from France to Russia (EPPO 2022). The fast-growing, deciduous shrub grows preferentially in wetlands, like riparian and alluvial habitats, sandy banks of ravines, coastal areas, and dunes. However, it tolerates some disturbed areas, such as plantations, orchards, meadows and urban areas. Due to its high reproductive capacity, A. fruticosa can form dense thickets that outcompete native flora, change successional patterns and reduce biodiversity. It is now generally accepted to be among the most invasive alien species in Europe. Repeated cutting and mowing can help to control populations of this species (CABI 2022). 

In 2014, Switzerland added the Fabaceae to its List of Invasive Alien Plants (EPPO 2022).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Amorpha fruticosa L. has been recorded for the first time in Luxembourg in 1934 in Noertzange (Herbier Witry).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

• CABI, 2019. Amorpha fruticosa. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2022-08-22]
• Wikipedia contributors, 2022. ‘Amorpha fruticosa‘, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 August 2022, 01:26 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilobium_brachycarpum> [accessed 2022-08-22]

 Page content last updated on 2026-09-18. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2022-09-06.