Tsuga heterophylla
2. Tsuga heterophylla (Rafin.) Sarg. (syn.: T. albertiana (A. Murray) Sénécl.) (W-N Am.) – A very rare escape from cultivation but possibly overlooked. Recorded from 2008 onwards at various locations throughout Flanders: in an abandoned arboretum in Koekelare (along with Tsuga canadensis), Sterrebos near Roeselare, in a nature reserve in Zoersel (Zoerselbos) and doubtlessly elsewhere.
Tsuga canadensis and T. heterophylla are much alike and identification is often critical (see also Adolphi 1980). The latter is, in fact, the usual escape from cultivation in western Europe (see Adolphi l.c., Clement & Foster 1994) and this seems to be confirmed in Belgium as well.
Tsuga heterophylla is considered to be an invasive species in Great Britain (Richardson & Rejmánek 2004).
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Selected literature:
Adolphi K. (1980) Zur Unterscheidung von Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr, und Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. Göttinger Flor. Rundbr. 13(4): 90-92.
Baker R.M. (1990) Observations on the natural regeneration of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) in south east Wales. Quart. Journ. Forestry 84: 94-98.
Clement E.J. (1982) Adventive news 23. BSBI News 32: 18-20.
Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1994) Alien plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XVIII + 590 p.
Oyen B.H. (2001) Vestamerikansk hemlokk: gjokungen blant innforte bartraer i Vest-Norge? Blyttia 59: 208-216.
Richardson D.M. & Rejmánek M. (2004) Conifers as invasive aliens: a global survey and predictive framework. Diversity and Distributions 10(5-6): 321–331.