Mauranthemum paludosum

Mauranthemum paludosum (Poir.) Vogt & Oberpr. (syn.: Leucanthemum paludosum (Poir.) Pomel, Leucoglossum paludosum (Poir.) B. H. Wilcox & al., Chrysanthemum paludosum Poir.) (Spain, N Afr.) – A rare and usually ephemeral alien. Probably first documented from a former clay pit in Roeselare in 2000 where it was doubtlessly introduced with garden debris. Since then regularly observed in widely scattered localities but apparently nowhere persisting. In neighbouring countries, for instance in Germany, Mauranthemum paludosum tends to naturalize in suitable habitats (e.g. Adolphi & Nowack 1992, Adolphi 1995). It is mostly seen in urban areas (foot of walls, cracks in pavement, etc.), often close to where it is/was cultivated. It seems to have become less popular in recent years.

Mauranthemum paludosum is easily distinguished from Leucanthemum and Leucanthemella in being a tiny annual with whitish ligules that are yellowish at its extreme base.

Selected literature:


Adolphi K. (1995) Neophytische Kultur- und Anbaupflanzen als Kulturflüchtlinge des Rheinlandes. Nardus 2: 272 p.

Adolphi K. & Nowack R. (1992) Leucanthemum paludosum (Poiret) Bonnet et Barratte: eine beliebte Zierpflanze mit Einburgerungstendenz? Flor. Rundbr. 26(2): 107-109.

De la Torre A. & Alcaraz F. (1991) Sobre Leucanthemum paludosum (Poiret) Bonnet et Barratte. Collect. Bot. 20: 258-259. [available online at: http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/Imagenes/P0119_20/P0119_20_260.pdf]

Denters T. (2004) Stadsplanten. Veldgids voor de stad. Fontaine Uitgevers, ‘s-Graveland: 432 p.

Stace C. (2010) New flora of the British Isles, 3th ed.: XXXII + 1232 p. Cambridge University Press.

Van der Meijden R. (2005) Heukels’ Flora van Nederland (23e druk). Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen: 685 p.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith