Euonymus japonicus Thunb. (E-As.) – A rare but obviously increasing escape from cultivation. A young, self-sown specimen was recorded in coastal dunes in Heist in 2010 (Willemspark). In 2010 furthermore recorded in deciduous woodland in Brugge and near Brussel (each time young, self-sown individuals). In 2011 also recorded in Balen (see also: http://waarnemingen.be/waarneming/view/52164542). Euonymus japonicus is a very popular plant in cultivation, especially in climatologically milder areas in Belgium (for instance near the coast). Additional records in the near future are very likely. Euonymus japonicus is one of the evergreen broad-leaved species that tend to spread as a result of climate change (Walther 2000).
Euonymus japonicus and E. fortunei have been much confused in the past (also nomenclaturally). Thunberg (1780) was the first to describe what now is called Euonymus japonicus. The application of this binomial by Linnaeus fil. (1781) for Euonymus fortunei was illegitimate. This erroneous author citation is still often applied (see for instance Clement & Foster 1994).
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Selected literature
Adolphi K. & Kasperek G. (2004) Euonymus fortunei und Euonymus japonica – zwei immergrüne Spindelsträucher mit Verwilderungstendenz. In: 38. Hessischer Floristentag - Tagungsbeiträge. Amt für Stadtökologie – Abt. Umwelt der Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt. Schriftenreihe 17(3): 30-37 (also on: www.uni-giessen.de).
Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1994) Alien plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XVIII + 590 p.
Serviss B.E., Hardage J.W., Olsen B.L. & Peck J.H. (2017) Euonymus japonicus (Celastraceae) new to the Arkansas flora. Phytoneuron 2017-80: 1–3. [available online at: http://www.phytoneuron.net/2017Phytoneuron/80PhytoN-EuonymusArkansas.pdf]
Walther G.-R. (2000) Laurophyllisation in Switserland. Dissertation ETH 13561, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich: 140 p.