Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth (N Am.) – An exceptional alien, discovered on the margins of an exposed, recently dug pond in a nature reserve in Hoogstraten (Wortel-Kolonie) in 2018. The population consists of a single richly flowering and fruiting individual and thousands of young plants.
Scirpus cyperinus produces huge amounts of tiny achenes that are easily wind-dispersed (facilitated by the long, wool-like perianth bristles). In recent years it has been recorded in several localities in Europe, usually in natural habitats (mostly exposed pond margins). It behaves like an invasive species and it was therefore adviced to immediately eradicate the population.
Outside of its original distribution range Scirpus cyperinus is known since the 1980’s from Germany (Lenski 1985). In recent years it was also found in Russia (Makeeva & al. 2010, Dzhus 2010), France (Mady & al. 2016) and the Netherlands (Spronk 2016).
The exact origin of these populations remains obscure. In Russia Scirpus cyperinus might have been introduced unintentionally with North American plant material of cranberries. In Western Europe this species is also offered for sale in the horticultural trade (Jäger & al. 2008).
Selected references
Dzhus M.A. (2014) [Alien species of American origin on cranberry plantation in Belarus]. Bot. Zhurn. 99(5): 540‑554. [available online at: http://www.bio.bsu.by/botany/files/pub_dzhus26.pdf]
Jäger E.J., Ebel F., Hanelt P. & Müller G. (eds.) (2008) Rothmaler Band 5. Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 880 p.
Lenski H. (1985) Ein Fund von Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth in West‑Niedersachsen. Göttinger Florist. Rundbriefe 19: 43.
Mady M., Brunerye L. & Verloove F. (2016) Un Scirpus nord‑américain nouveau pour la flore française Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth (Cyperaceae). J. Bot. Soc. Bot. France 76: 71‑77. [available online at: https://www.friscris.be/files/425529/article6_Scirpus_cyperinus.pdf]
Makeeva G. Yu., Bobroy A. A. & Golubeya M.A. (2010) Nakhodka Scirpus cyperinus (Cyperaceae) v Kostromskoi oblasti [Record of Scirpus cyperinus (Cyperaceae) in
Kostroma region]. Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 95(1): 96‑100. [available online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273775265_Nakhodka_Scirpus_cype...
Spronk J. (2016) Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth (Cyperaceae): een nieuwe Bies voor Nederland. Gorteria 38: 56-59. [available online at: http://natuurtijdschriften.nl/download?type=document;docid=612290]