7. Amaranthus deflexus L. (S-Am.) – A rare and usually ephemeral alien. Already recorded before 1850 (without further details). Formerly regularly recorded as a wool alien in the Vesdre valley, at least between 1887 and 1955. Rarely seen elsewhere and nearly always confined to port areas. Very locally naturalised in few locations: known at least since the 1960’s from the port of Antwerpen (Kattendijkdok) and since the 1980’s from the port of Roeselare (Verloove 2002, 2006). However, the oldest Belgian populations are from the surroundings of Charleroi (Lebeau 1974). Amaranthus deflexus persists at least since 1927 at several locations (Charleroi, Châtelet, Lodelinsart) and is still present in this area. Recently also recorded from some other urban locations (for instance Dour, Oostende,…) and perhaps under-recorded due to confusion with Amaranthus blitum and others.
Amaranthus deflexus is most often found as a pavement weed, at foot of walls or other dry, sun-exposed habitats.
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Selected literature:
Easy G.M.S. (1979) Amaranthus species in Cambridgeshire. A preliminary examination. BSBI News 22: 17-20.
Lebeau J. (1974) Verbascum blattaria et Amaranthus deflexus dans la région de Charleroi. Nat. Mosana 26(4): 124-125.
Mazomeit J. (2005) Zur Einbürgerung von Amaranthus deflexus L. in Mitteleuropa. Flor. Rundbr. 39: 57-64.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.
Verloove F. (2006) Amaranthus deflexus. 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: 131.