Modiola caroliniana (L.) G. Don f. (S-Am.) – A very rare and ephemeral alien. Recorded in 1893 on cultivated land in Abée-Scry (Lawalrée 1950) and in 1906 on waste ground in Antwerp. In both these sites its vector of introduction is obscure. In 2015 discovered on a demolition site in Ghent, along with other interesting alien plants like Hibiscus trionum, Malva nicaeensis, Medicago monspeliaca, Solanum sisymbriifolium, etc. Probably all are associated with birdseed.
Modiola caroliniana is a very characteristic species with brick-red petals and long creeping stems. It is an increasing weed in parts of southern Europe, for instance in lawns in Portugal.
Selected literature:
Cuadrado G.A. (2003) Palinologia de los generos Modiola, Modiolastrum y Tropidococcus (Malvaceae). Bonplandia 12(1-4): 67-82. [available online at: http://ibone.unne.edu.ar/objetos/uploads/documentos/bonplandia/public/12...
Jiménez Reyes M.N. (2004) Morfología de los granos de polen de la familia Malvaceae de Jalisco, México. 4. Malachra, Malva, Malvastrum, Malvaviscus, Malvella, Modiola, Neobrittonia y Pavonia. Ibugana 11(1): 17-42. [available online at: http://ibugana.cucba.udg.mx/pdf/ibugana_11(1).pdf]
Khushk M.T. & Vaughan J.G. (1986) Seed structure in relation to the taxonomy of the Abutileae (Abutilon, Anoda, Modiola, Sida, Sphaeralcea and Urocarpidium). Pakistan J. Bot. 18(1): 103-114.
Lawalrée A. (1950) Notice sur des phanérogames adventices en Belgique. Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belg. 83: 43-49.
Mortier J. (1974) Contribution a l'étude embryologique des Abutilinées: Modiola multifida Moench. Bull. Soc. Bot. Nord France 26-27: 55-69.
Raghavendra Rao R. (1984) Modiola caroliniana (L.). G Don (Malvaceae): a new record for India. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 5(4): 907-908.
Sierra E. (1979) Algunes espècies adventicies i naturalitzades. Collect. Bot. 11(13): 297-300. [available online at: http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/101444/1/algunes_especies_adventi...