Günther's Site - Photos of European PlantsSome Neophytes in Northern Spain

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Some Neophytes in Northern Spain


As in Western Ireland the wet and in coastal areas frost-free climate of the Biskaya in Northern Spain favors the free-running of semi-tropical plants which had formerly been introduced as ornamental plants for gardens and parks. Many of the neophytes in Northern Spain originate from South America, because big parts of South America were Spanish colonies with which Spain traded briskly since the 16th century.
Araujia sericifera / Moth Catcher, White Bladderflower Apocynaceae / Periwinkle Fam.	Araujia sericifera / Moth Catcher, White Bladderflower Apocynaceae / Periwinkle Fam.	At a site near the coast not far from old gardens I found Moth Catcher Araujia sericifera, which had been introduced from South America, in flower and in fruit. It got the englisch name Moth Catcher because it clamps the proboscis of the moths, which are visiting it, for longer time, until the pollination has taken place. Hours later the moth is set free again.
Erigeron karvinskianus / Mexican Fleabane Asteraceae / Composite Fam.	Left: The Mexican Fleabane Erigeron karvinskianus, which originates from South America, too, can frequently be found at walls. Right: The Cape Ivy Delairea odorata, a climber, has also been introduced from South America. In Northern Spain it can be found near the coast. Unfortunately in summer, when we were there, no flowers were visible, they are very similar to those of our native Ragworts (Senecio).	Delairea odorata / Cape Ivy Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
Chenopodium quinoa / Quinoa Amaranthaceae / Amaranth Fam.	Left: The Quinoa Chenopodium quinoa of which a by-name is 'mother grain of the Inca" originates from Central America and has run wild out of former agriculture. Right: The Lesser Swine Cress Lepidium didymum which had also been introduced from South America is an unobtrusively looking but intrusively smelling plant, wich is now spread almost world wide.	Lepidium didymum / Lesser Swine Cress Brassicaceae / Crucifers
Paspalum dilatatum / Dallis Grass Poaceae / Grass Fam.	Left: The Dallis Grass Paspalum dilatatum originates from Argentinia and Brasil. Today it is also wide spread in Northern Spain, too. Right: The Marvel of Peru Mirabilis jalapa, which has been introduced from Central America, has been found near gardens not far from the sea.	Mirabilis jalapa / Marvel of Peru Nyctaginaceae / Marvel-of-Peru Fam.
Crocosmia aurea x pottsii / Montbretia = Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Iridaceae / Iris Fam.	Left: As in Western Ireland also in the atlantic climate of the Biscaya Montbretia Crocosmia aurea x pottsii has run wild in coastal woods. Gardeners had bred ist from two South-African species. Right: The Beach Morning Glory Ipomoea imperati is distributed on all five continents of the world, but in Europe raster in the East, and originally not on the Spanish main land. In summer, when we were at the coast of the Biskaya, where it is now available as a neophyte, unfortunately it was not in flower, its flower is white.	Ipomoea imperati / Beach Morning Glory Convolvulaceae / Bindweed Fam.
As the here well known Indian Balsam Impatiens glandulifera, which run wild in Central and Northern Europe, also Balfour's Balsam Impatiens balfourii has been introduced from the Himalayas. In a Pyrenean valley I found it run wild.	Impatiens balfourii / Balfour's Balsam Balsaminaceae / Balsam Fam.
Several neophytes were found on the Mediterranean island of Majorca which are shown below:
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium / Heartleaf Iceplant Aizoazeae / Ice Plant Fam.	Left: The Heartleaf Iceplant Mesembryanthemum cordifolium has been introduced from South Africa and grows abundantly at a small beach in the South West of the island. Right: A piece of wood near Porto Andratx is full of the run wild Freesia Freesia refracta, which originate from Africa, too.	$Freesia refracta, Freesia$ Freesia refracta / Freesia Iridaceae / Iris Fam.
Solanum sodomaeum / Apple of Sodom Solanaceae / Nightshade Fam.	The two Nightschades species have been introduced from South America.	Solanum bonariense / Argentinian Nightshade Solanaceae / Nightshade Fam.
Myoporum laetum / Mousehole Tree, Coast Myoporum Scrophulariaceae / Figwort Fam.	Left: In a gorge which ends at the sea in the South of Mallorca the Mousehole Tree Myoporum laetum is growing abundantly. It has been intruced from New Zealand. Right: Eukalyptus species are planted as fast growing wood, and from those plantings they often run wild.	Eucalyptus globulus / Blue Gum Myrtaceae / Myrtle Fam.
Naturally this list of neophytic plants of Northern Spain is not complete by far, and several plants which are affecting the native flora of other countries have also been introduced and have run wild in Spain.