Plantago arenaria Waldst. & Kit. (syn.: P. indica L., P. psyllium L., P. scabra Moench, P. ramosa Asch.) (Euras., N-Afr.) – A rare, locally naturalized alien. Its presence has been confirmed since the beginning of the 19th century. According to Durand (1899) it possibly was already present in our territory in the 17th century and some sources even accept it as a native species in Belgium (e.g. E+M Plantbase at http://www.emplantbase.org/home.html). However, it always seems to have been confined to disturbed and other man-made habitats. It was a rather regular wool alien in the valley of river Vesdre (recorded there at least between 1862 and 1983). Other records, especially from the past decades, are often associated with grain importation (e.g. Robbrecht & Jongepier 1986, Verloove & Vandenberghe 1994). Plantago arenaria then usually occurs on unloading quays and on rough ground near grain mills, often as mere ephemeral alien (see also van Rompaey & Delvosalle 1978). However, in more suitable habitats it has been able to naturalize locally (Verloove 2002). It is probably best known from sand raised sites in the Antwerp port area where it was first noted around 1940. At present this species is fairly widespread in a large area around Antwerp, especially on Linkeroever. Since 1960 Plantago arenaria is also known from railway yards in the southern part of Brussels (Anderlecht). However, as a result of infrastructural works it has much decreased lately (Saintenoy-Simon & al. 1995). It is locally naturalized in some additional localities, for instance in coastal dunes in Koksijde (Fluithoekduinen), Oostduinkerke (Oostvoorduinen) and Duinbergen. Plantago arenaria is also regularly observed on the exposed, gravelly banks of river Maas. It is possibly less frequent in Wallonia and probably always ephemeral there. An up-to-date overview of Belgian records is available here: http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/7202.
Plantago arenaria has widely been confused with P. afra in Belgium. It was slightly over-recorded for the latter (especially in the 19th and 20th century) but it doubtlessly is much more frequent.
 |
 |
 |
Selected literature:
Andrzejewska Golec E. (1992) A taxonomic study of Plantago subgenus Psyllium (Miller) Harms. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 108(1): 49-53.
Andrzejewska Golec E. & Swietoslawski J. (1993) Hair anatomy in Plantago subg. Psyllium (Plantaginaceae). Pl. Syst. Evol. 184(1-2): 113-123.
Chrtek J. (2000) Psyllium L. In: Slavík B. (ed.), Květena ČR 6. Academia, Praha: 546-548.
Chrtek J. & Skočdopolova B. (1994) Distribution of Plantago arenaria in Czech republic (in Czech). Cas. Nar. Muz., Rada Prir. 163(1-4): 1-9.
Durand T. (1899) Phanérogames. In: De Wildeman E. & Durand T., Prodrome de la flore belge. A. Castaigne Editeur, Bruxelles: 1112 p.
Kimstra-Sinnema J.G. (1965) Overzicht der in Nederland gevonden inheemse en adventieve Plantago-soorten. Gorteria 2: 129-135.
Lousley J.E. (1958) Plantago indica L. Bot. Soc. Brit. Isles Proc. 3: 47-48.
Panigrahi G. (1975) A Note on Plantago exigua (Plantaginaceae) and Certain Related Taxa. Kew Bull. 30(4): 669-673.
Robbrecht E. & Jongepier J.-W. (1986) Floristische waarnemingen in de kanaalzone Gent-Terneuzen (België, Oost-Vlaanderen & Nederland, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen), vooral van 1981 tot 1985. Dumortiera 36: 6-21. [available online at: http://alienplantsbelgium.be/sites/alienplantsbelgium.be/files/dum36p6.pdf]
Saintenoy-Simon J., Godefroid S. & Verhelpen B. (1995) Groupe Flore Bruxelloise. Notes floristiques relatives à la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (1991-1993). Adoxa 6-7: 27-37.
Shipunov A.B. (2000) Species generum Plantago L. et Psyllium Mill (Plantaginaceae) in flora Europae orientalis (in Russian). Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 32: 139-152. [available online at: http://ashipunov.info/shipunov/plantago/pl_rew.pdf]
Todd M.A. (1977) New plantain in Victoria - Plantago indica L. Victorian Nat. 94(1): 29-30.
Van Rompaey E. & Delvosalle L. (1978) Atlas de la flore belge et luxembourgeoise. Ptéridophytes et Spermatophytes. Commentaires. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Meise: 116 p.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.
Verloove F. (2006) Plantago arenaria. In: Van Landuyt W., Hoste I., Vanhecke L., Van den Bremt P., Vercruysse W. & De Beer D., Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels gewest. Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Nationale Plantentuin van België en Flo.Wer: 670.
Verloove F. & Vandenberghe C. (1994) Nieuwe en interessante graan- en veevoederadventieven voor de Belgische en Noordfranse flora, hoofdzakelijk in 1993. Dumortiera 58-59: 44-59. [available online at: http://alienplantsbelgium.be/sites/alienplantsbelgium.be/files/dum58-59p44.pdf]