Linaria supina (L.) Chazelles (W-Medit., Portugal) – A rare but increasing alien, locally naturalized. Probably first documented from cultivated fields in Vosselaar in 1882, obviously as an ephemeral alien [an earlier claim, from 1833 (see Verloove 2006), probably refers to a French collection]. Subsequently recorded from the 1940’s onwards, at first in Vorst (Brussels) where it persisted between 1942 and 1957, and then from Jemappes (1947). Since the 1950’s more frequently seen but perhaps often as an ephemeral or only temporarily established alien, for instance in Douvrain, Braine-le-Comte, Rebecq, Buizingen, Nieuwpoort, Tournai, etc. A first case of genuine naturalization was documented from the surroundings of Leopoldsburg and Beverlo where Linaria supina was first collected in 1957. At present it is firmly established in this area. Also in Gent it seems to have been present uninterrupted since the 1990’s (at present known from railway yards in Sint-Pieters and Melle). Recently also recorded in several disused railway yards in the province of Luxembourg (Heinsch, Signeulx, Stockem). An up-to-date overview of Belgian records is available here: http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/6992. A concentration of records between Geel and Hasselt is quite obvious.
With the exception of its first record in 1882, Linaria supina has almost exclusively been recorded near railway tracks and it is probably also dispersed this way.
Linaria supina is a rather variable species. A very similar species, L. caesia (Pers.) Chav., endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, is increasing along railway tracks in parts of Europe, for instance in Austria (Melzer 1995). Its seeds are metallic shiny and its corollas are brownish-red veined. It may have been overlooked and should be looked for.
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Selected literature:
Cortenraad J. (1987) Linaria supina (L.) Chazelles voor het eerst in Nederland gevonden. Gorteria 13(10): 272-273.
Griese J. & Kleinsteuber A. (1996) Ein Fund von Linaria supina im badischen Oberrheingebiet. Carolinea 54: 183-185.
Melzer H. (1995) Neues zur Adventivflora der Steiermark, vor allem der Bahnanlagen. Linzer biol. Beitr. 27(1): 217-234. [available online at: http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/LBB_0027_1_0217-0234.pdf]
Sáez L. & Bernal M. (2009) Linaria. In: Benedí C. & al. (eds.), Flora Iberica, vol. XIII. Plantaginaceae-Scrophulariaceae: 233-324. Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid. C.S.I.C. [available online at: http://www.floraiberica.es/floraiberica/texto/pdfs/13_144_11_Linaria.pdf]
Sánchez Díaz J.F. (2000) Linaria supina (L.) Chaz. subsp. maritima (DC.) Lainz en Asturias. Bot. Cienc. Nat. I.D.E.A. 46: 295.
Verloove F. (2006) Catalogue of neophytes in Belgium (1800-2005). Scripta Botanica Belgica 39: 89 p.