6. Erodium stephanianum Willd. (syn.: E. stevenii Bieb.) (C and E-As.) – A very rare and ephemeral alien. First recorded in 1997 near the Samga grain mill at the Amerikadok in the port of Antwerpen (a single specimen; see Verloove & Vandenberghe 1998). At this locality also recorded in 2012. Also seen on a demolition site of a former grain mill by the Albertkanaal in Merksem, along with Elsholtzia ciliata, another exceptional Asian grain alien. Furthermore recorded once along river Maas (Dutch side) in 1968 (Van Ooststroom & Mennema 1972), obviously as a wool alien. An old Belgian record from the valley of river Vesdre turned out to belong with Erodium cinitum (see above).
The exact origin of these records is uncertain. Cereals are only exceptionally imported from Asia nowadays. An introduction from its secondary distribution area in North America is perhaps more likely (see also Verloove & Vandenberghe 1998).
Selected literature:
Bruggeman C.J.M. (1964) Overzicht der in Nederland gevonden inheemse en adventieve Erodium-soorten. Gorteria 2(5): 49-55.
Van Ooststroom S.J. & Mennema J. (1972) Adventieven langs de Maas in Limburg, VI. Natuurhist. Maandbl. 61: 42-44.
Verloove F. & Vandenberghe C. (1998) Nieuwe en interessante voederadventieven voor de Belgische flora, hoofdzakelijk in 1997. Dumortiera 72: 18-36.