Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroeder (N-Am.) – A rather rare but locally common and increasing escape from cultivation. Probably first recorded in woodland in Duffel in the valley of river Nete. In 1891 also collected in marshy woodland in Zelem. However, by far most records are from the 20th century and the spread of Amelanchier lamarckii did not start prior to the 1950’s. At present it is mostly confined to sandy, slightly acidic soils in Flanders (mostly in the Kempen and between Brugge and Gent but important concentrations are also present in parts of Vlaams-Brabant and Limburg; see Verloove 20002, Verloove 2006). In Wallonia, Amelanchier lamarckii appears to be much rarer and possibly mostly ephemeral. Up-to-date information about its frequency and distribution in Belgium is available here: http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/6410.
Amelanchier lamarckii was formerly introduced as an ornamental, especially for its splendid autumn colouring. It readily escaped and was further dispersed by birds. It now mostly occurs in deciduous woodland, clearings and heaths, preferably on sandy and acidic soils (fairly dry as well as rather damp). In some areas (including several nature reserves and other protected areas) it has become a troublesome environmental weed. Additional information on its invasive behaviour in Belgium and elsewhere in western Europe is available here: http://ias.biodiversity.be/species/show/35 and here: http://www.q-bank.eu/Plants/BioloMICS.aspx?Table=Plants%20-%20Species&Rec=935&Fields=All. Amelanchier lamarckii also regularly occurs in man-made habitats: urban woodland, disused railway yards, derelict industrial areas, etc. In such habitats it is usually less abundant and often merely ephemeral.
The identity of Amelanchier lamarckii was long controversial. In fact, it does not fully correspond with any of the known North American species of the genus. According to Schroeder (1970) it is undoubtedly of North American origin although it is not known as a distinct species there. It must be considered a micro-species that has been overlooked or taken for a hybrid because of its intermediate position between several of the known species. The suggestion of a hybrid, arisen in European gardens, should, still according to Schroeder l.c., be rejected. Ter Pelkwijk (1951) probably was the first to notice this aberrant identity. He therefore described a new forma (A. laevis Wiegand f. villosa Ter Pelkwijk). Schroeder (1968) finally proposed a new name for the taxon that became widely naturalized in large parts of Europe.
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Selelected literature:
Schroeder F.-G. (1968) Zur Nomenklatur in der Gattung Amelanchier Med. Taxon 17(6): 633-634.
Schroeder F.-G. (1970) Exotic Amelanchier species naturalised in Europe and their occurrence in Great Britain. Watsonia 8: 155-162.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.
Verloove F. (2006) Amelanchier lamarckii. 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: 133.