Aesculus pavia L. (incl. var. discolor (Pursh) Torr. & A. Gray and hybrids) (U.S.A.) – A very rare and ephemeral escape from cultivation. First observed in a grassy bank close to E17 motorway in Marke (Kortrijk) in 2011 (a single, young individual). Numerous saplings were seen in 2015 in Neerpelt, after logging of a Populus woodland.
Plants seen on these two occasions differ from typical A. pavia (var pavia) in having (at least slightly) hairy lower leaf surfaces. They are closer to var. discolor and may as well include hybrids with related species. The plant from Neerpelt somehow resembled A. xmutabilis (Spach) Schelle, a hybrid of A. pavia with A. glabra Willd.
Aesculus pavia is, although widely planted, only exceptionally reported as an escape, if at all.
Selected literature:
Taylor N.P. (1982) Tab. 857. Aesculus pavia. Curtis's Bot. Mag. 184(2): 81-84.
Wyatt R. & Lodwick L.N. (1981) Variation and taxonomy of Aesculus pavia L. (Hippocastanaceae) in Texas. Brittonia 33(1): 39-51.