Dicentra formosa (Haw.) Walp. (western U.S.A.) – A rare but increasing, locally naturalized escape from cultivation or garden throw-out. Apparently first collected in 1916 in Ekeren (foot of hedge). Since then occasionally found elsewhere in a few widely scattered localities (Angleur, Charleroi, Antwerpen, Liège, Thibessart, etc.). Recorded in 1946 and 1963 in Groenendaal but it is unknown whether or not these records refer to a single, persisting population. In the last decade obviously increasing (or long overlooked and/or neglected before?). At present known from several different, widely scattered localities (see http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/125655 for an overview). In some places persisting since many years and becoming naturalized although large populations are rarely found. In Ruiselede (Vorte Bossen), for instance, known since at least ca. 1990 and recently confirmed.
Dicentra formosa usually grows in deciduous woodland (or other shady places), often by streams or otherwise damp habitats. Records from dumps are always ephemeral.
Dicentra formosa is easily distinguished from Lamprocapnos spectabilis in being scapose (all leaves basal). A closely related American species, Dicentra eximia (Ker Gawl.) Torr., is also cultivated as an ornamental but apparently less so than D. formosa. However, it has been confirmed from the British Isles (Stace 2010). German claims (Adolphi 1995, Adolphi & Sumser 2012), at least in part, seem to be referable to D. formosa (pers. comm. K. Adolphi 2013). Some of the Belgian records were also, erroneously, ascribed to this species (and to Lamprocapnos spectabilis).
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Selected literature
Adolphi K. (1995) Neophytische Kultur- und Anbaupflanzen als Kulturflüchtlinge des Rheinlandes. Nardus 2: 272 p.
Adolphi K. (2015) Anmerkungen zu einigen sich möglicherweise einbürgernden Neophyten. Braunschweiger Geobotanische Arbeiten 11: 137-153. [available online at: http://digisrv-1.biblio.etc.tu-bs.de:8080/docportal/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/DocPortal_derivate_00036754/11_Adolphi.pdf;jsessionid=273AC2D45111D31FF7709A7B7BCAB9A5]
Adolphi K. & Sumser H. (2012) Ein Vorkommen von Dicentra eximia (Zwerg-Herzblume) im Königsforst in Köln. Florist. Rundbr. 45-46: 15-20.
Davis T.A.W. (1973) Dicentra formosa. BSBI News 2: 34.
Lambinon J. & Destinay P. (1990) Deux excursions botaniques à Liège, le 23 avril et le 9 juillet 1989. Nat. Mosana 43: 15-22.
Lebeau J. (1954) Plantes trouvées en 1952 et 1953 au terrain d’immondices de la ville de Charleroi à Jamioulx au cours d’une cinquantaine de promenades. Nat. Mosana 6: 59-61.
Schmidt M.G. (1981) Natives for your garden: bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa). Fremontia 9(1): 30.
Stace C. (2010) New flora of the British Isles, 3th ed.: XXXII + 1232 p. Cambridge University Press.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.