Cicerbita macrophylla (Willd.) Wallr. (syn.:, Mulgedium macrophyllum (Willd.) DC., Lactuca macrophylla (Willd.) A. Gray). Two more or less distinct subspecies have been recorded in Belgium:
- Terminal lobe of basal leaves up to 40 cm long. Lowermost inflorescence branches 2-3,5 mm wide at base. Glandular hairs in inflorescence very dense, unequal in length (0,5-2 mm long). Stem up to 300(-350) cm tall === subsp. macrophylla
- Terminal lobe of basal leaves up to 25 cm long (often less). Lowermost inflorescence branches 1-2(-2,5) mm wide at base. Glandular hairs in inflorescence often less dense, subequal in length (ca. 1 mm long). Stem up to 200 cm tall === subsp. uralensis
Subsp. macrophylla (Caucasus) – An exceptional, very locally naturalized escape from cultivation. Known since at least 1989 from a shady, more or less damp talus near Spa (Balmoral). Despite its stature, this subspecies is only rarely cultivated in Europe (Richardson 2000).
Subsp. uralensis (Rouy) P.D. Sell (syn.: Cicerbita uralensis (Rouy) Beauverd, Lactuca macrophylla subsp. uralensis (Rouy) N. Kilian et Greuter, Mulgedium uralensis Rouy) (Russia) – A rare but increasing, locally naturalized escape from cultivation. First recorded by a railway track in an industrial area in Drogenbos in 1948 (possibly much earlier but no voucher specimens seen; see Duvigneaud 1974). A small population was naturalized for some time (Delvosalle 1953) but was finally probably destroyed. Furthermore recorded in Itterbeek (1973) and Halen (2001), always in small number and rather ephemeral. Known in abundance since at least 1999 from a former railway track near Spa (Chemin En Rotte). Discovered in abundance in road verges in Hierges (since 2001) and in Patignies (since 2005) (Saintenoy-Simon 2008). Additional recent records from the surroundings of Houffalize are provided by Parent (2009).
Small specimens of this subspecies have been erroneously ascribed to native Lactuca perennis in Belgium.
Both subspecies only reproduce clonally in Belgium, ripe fruits have never been observed so far. Richardson (2000) warns for invasive behaviour of Cicerbita in cultivation.
References
Akeroyd J.R., Jury S.L. & Rumsey F.J. (1983) Cicerbita macrophylla (Willd.) Wallr. BSBI News 33: 14-15.
Benoit P.M. (1965) Cicerbita macrophylla in Wales. Nat. Wales 9: 148-149.
Delvosalle L. (1953) Quelques adventices nouvelles pour la Belgique. Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belg. 85: 297-303.
Duvigneaud J. (1974) Cicerbita macrophylla (Willd.) Wallr. dans le département des Ardennes (France). Nat. Mosana 27(4): 142-144.
Gagnidze R. (1967) Konspekt kavkazskikh vidov roda Cicerbita Wallr. (Conspectus specierum Caucasicarum generis Cicerbita Wallr.). Zamettki Sist. Geogr. Rast. 26: 26-38.
Hansen, A. (1972) Kampe-Turt, Cicerbita macrophylla (Willd.) Wall. i Danmark. Fl. & Fauna (Esbjerg) 78: 44.
Ludwig W. (1991) Zu Cicerbita macrophylla (Willd.) Wallr. Hess. Flor. Briefe 40(2): 31-32.
Parent G.H. (2009) L’herbier Marie-Thérèse Kerger, source de données floristiques inédites. Adoxa 62-63: 16-27.
Pohl H. (1990) Cicerbita macrophylla subsp. uralensis à Aubigny-les-Pothees (département des Ardennes, France). Nat. Mosana 43(3): 101-102.
Reid J.A. (1979) Two alien plants established near Dorking. Surrey Trust Nat. Conserv. Newsl. 51: 7-8.
Richardson J.E. (2000) Cicerbita. In: Cullen J. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 6. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 538-539.
Saintenoy-Simon J. (ed.) (2008) Trouvailles floristiques récentes (2006-2007. Adoxa 59: 17-51.
Sauerwein B. (1998) Cicerbita macrophylla subsp. uralensis (Rouy) Sell in Saumgesellschaften des Lapsano-Geranion robertiani Dierschke 74 in Angeln. Kieler Notizen zur Pflanzenkunde von Schleswig-Holstein und Hamburg 25-26: 70-79.
Simpson F.W. (1974) Blue sow thistle, Cicerbita macrophylla (Willd.) A. Gray. Suffolk Nat. Hist. 16: 241.
Skalická A. (1966) Cicerbita macrophylla (Willd.) Wallr., s.l., eine für die Tschechoslowakei neuer Neophyt. Novit. Bot. Univ. Carol. Prag. 1966: 47-54.
Sutorý K. (2004) Mlécivec velkolistý (Cicerbita macrophylla) – poznámky k rozšírení v Ceské republice. Zprávy Ces. Bot. Spolec. 39: 283-286.