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Neophytes in the 'Kurpfalz' (i.e. the region around Mannheim and Heidelberg)


The 'Kurpfalz', i.e. the region around the cities Mannheim and Heidelberg in South-west Germany, is located in the Upper Rhine Valley, and blessed with warm climate. Many neophytic plants have immigrated or been introduced there. 'Neophytic' and 'adventive plants' are wild plants, which were not originally growing there, but immigrated or were introduced since 1492. 'Neophytic' means those of the immigrated or introduced plants, which are able to adapt to the climatic and other conditions, and last permanently. The more general term 'adventive plant' is used for any plant which arrives newly, even if it isn't able to last. Plants which immigrated or have been introduced earlier than 1492 are called 'archaeophytes', but these are not the theme of this page. Many of the neophytic plants which are still available today have been introduced from the Mediterranean or other continents by trading ships in the second half of the 19th century, and grew first at river harbors and railway territories. Beneath these neophytic species, which have been introduced without intention, there are others which have been introduced intentionally as garden plants or useful plants, but ran wild later. Some of these latter neophytic species cause problems for the native flora, because they oust weaker native plants. At least if this happens in nature reserves, measures have to be taken to protect the native variety of species.
Dittrichia graveolens / Stinking Fleabane Asteraceae / Composites	Remarkable many of the neophytic plants are Composites: Left: The Stinking Fleabane Dittrichia graveolens has been introduced from the Mediterranean. Right: The often white, sometimes also lilac flowering Diffuse Knapweed Centaurea diffusa originates from the areas between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. In the regions of Mannheim and Karlsruhe it can today be regarded as naturalized. Below left and middle: Both the Ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia, which has fallen into disrepute due to its allergy-producing pollen, and the smaller Perennial Ragweed Ambrosia coronopifolia, originate from North America. A third species, the Giant Ragweed Ambrosia trifida, which had also been introduced, I couldn't find again yet. These plants have many male blooms, whose pollen the wind carries to the few and small female blooms.	Centaurea diffusa / Diffuse Knapweed Asteraceae / Composites
Ambrosia artemisiifolia / Ragweed Asteraceae / Composites	Ambrosia coronopifolia / Perennial Ragweed Asteraceae / Composites	Iva xanthiifolia / Marsh Elder Asteraceae / Composites
Xanthium albinum / Riverside Cocklebur Asteraceae / Composites	Above right: Of the Marsh Elder Iva xanthiifolia, which has been introduced from North America, I know only one site in Mannheim up to now. Its propagation seems to work similar to that of the Ambrosia species. The leaves show a remarkable similarity with those of the Cockleburs, on which the latin name is pointing. Left: Xanthium albinum shall have developed in Europe from species, which were introduced from America ! In the region of Mannheim it can be regarded as naturalized, currently I know already 5 sites. Right: Devil's Beggartick Bidens frondosa originates from North America. It likes damp places, and is naturalized and not rare along the big rivers.	Bidens frondosa / Devil's Beggartick Asteraceae / Composites
The Jerusalem Artichoke Helianthus tuberosus, which has formerly been cultivated as 'Sweet Potato', has run wild mainly along the big rivers. It has been introduced from North America. Helianthus tuberosus / Jerusalem Artichoke Asteraceae / Composites Right: Since the 19. century the two 'Soldiers' Galinsoga ciliata and Galinsoga parviflora are spreading in Southern Germany. Their origin are the South American Andes.	Galinsoga ciliata / Shaggy Soldier Asteraceae / Composites	Galinsoga parviflora / Gallant Soldier Asteraceae / Composites
Guizotia abyssinica / Niger, Gingelli Asteraceae / Composites	Left: Niger Guizotia abyssinica is an important useful plant in Africa, where its seed is eaten. In 2009 I found one on a soil depot in Mannheim. Unten und rechts: Natürlich sind auch die weit verbreiteten, aus Nordamerika stammenden großen Goldruten Solidago canadiensis und Solidago gigantea in der Region vertreten, eingeschleppt aus Nordamerika. In für sie geeigneten Biotopen verdrängen sie die einheimische Flora, da sie kaum natürliche Feinde haben. Below and right: Naturally also the wide-spread large Goldenrods Solidago canadiensis and Solidago gigantea are available in the 'Kurpfalz' region, introduced from North America. In suitable biotopes they are going to displace the native flora, since they have few natural enemies. Solidago gigantea / Giant Goldenrod Asteraceae / Composites	Solidago canadensis / Canadian Goldenrod Asteraceae / Composites
Bottom: The Eastern Groundsel Senecio vernalis originates from the sand steppes of South-East Europe and Western Asia, and reached Central Europe in the 19. century. Senecio vernalis / Eastern Groundsel Asteraceae / Composites	Bottom: There are many native Ragworts and Groundsels, but the Narrow-Leaved Ragwort Senecio inaequidens originates from South Africa. Via stopovers in the Mediterranean where it had already been introduced in the 40's of the 20th century, it arrived in Central Europe in the 80's. Senecio inaequidens / Narrow-Leaved Ragwort Asteraceae / Composites
The Canadian Fleabane Conyza canadensis has been abducted world wide, and is now a very frequent plant in our region, too. Conyza canadensis / Canadian Fleabane Asteraceae / Composites	In Ludwigshafen Conyza albida can be found beneath Conyza bonariensis. Both originate from South America. Conyza bonariensis / Argentine Fleabane Asteraceae / Composites	Conyza albida / Tall Fleabane Asteraceae / Composites
The plants of the next row originate from North America. The distribution of the American Daisies mainly along the big rivers and the determination of their exact species aren't well investigated yet, not only in the 'Kurpfalz'. The Tall Fleabane Erigeron annuus (bottom right) and the Canadian Fleabane Conyza canadensis (top middle) are both wide spread and available in extremely big numbers.
Aster lanceolatus / Narrow-Leaved Michaelmas Daisy Asteraceae / Composites	Aster laevis / Glaucous Michaelmas Daisy Asteraceae / Composites	Erigeron annuus / Tall Fleabane Asteraceae / Composites
The Austrian Wormwood Artemisia austriaca originates from the steppes of Eastern Europe and Asia. It can be found in the nature reserve Pferdstriebdüne near Sandhausen. Artemisia austriaca / Austrian Wormwood Asteraceae / Composites	Artemisia scoparia / Redstem Wormwood, Virgate Sagebrush Asteraceae / Composites From the Balcans to Asia occurs the Redstem Wormwood Artemisia scoparia. At a soil depot near Viernheim a strong plant was growing in 2008.	The Chinese Mugwort Artemisia verlotiorum has been introduced from East Asia with other plants. The sites in Heidelberg, which I know, are on waste land. But for the farmers of the Bodensee island of Reichenau it turned out as a serious weed. Artemisia verlotiorum / Chinese Mugwort Asteraceae / Composites
The plants of the next two rows are naturalized at the Mannheim industrial port since years. Most of them have been introduced with foreign feeding stuff:
Aster squamatus / Narrow-Leaved Aster Asteraceae / Composites Origin: South America	Anthemis ruthenica / Russian Chamomile Asteraceae / Composites Origin: Eastern Europe	Anthemis austriaca / Austrian Chamomile Asteraceae / Composites Origin: South-Eastern Europe
Solanum carolinense / Carolina Horsenettle Solanaceae / Nightshades Origin: South-Eastern USA	Cyperus esculentus / Chufa, Yellow Nut Sedge Cyperaceae / Sedges Origin: Mediterranean to Asia
Lycium chinense / China Tea-Plant Solanaceae / Nightshades	Both Thorn Apple Datura stramonium (right) from Central America and the China Tea-Plant Lycium chinense (left) from China are attractive plants of the Nightshade family, which were imported as garden plants. The similar Duke of Argyll's Tea-Plant Lycium barbarum has been planted at road sides in big amounts in order to fix the soil. The Argentinian Nightshade Solanum nitidibaccatum which is shown on the left below photo, and which is available near St.Leon, differs from the native Black Nightshade by stronger pilosity, bright green leaves, and glossy green berries with bigger petals. I found several plants in a maize field. The Yellow Nightshade Solanum luteum, which is shown below right, has red berries and a strong pilosity. It came from South America, too, and was found in Heidelberg. In the past it had been mentioned for several locations in the region, but usually it stayed only few years. The Saracha Nightshade Solanum sarachoides from South America on the photo below has longer petals around the green berries, sticky pilosity and an unpleasant smell. I found this species at two sites in Mannheim.	Datura stramonium / Thorn Apple Solanaceae / Nightshades
Solanum nitidibaccatum / Argentinian Nightshade, Hairy Nightshade Solanaceae / Nightshades	Solanum sarachoides / Saracha Nightshade Solanaceae / Nightshades	Solanum luteum / Yellow Nightshade Solanaceae / Nightshades
The plants in the following row have been found on a soil depot in Mannheim. Some of these are useful or ornamental plants which run wild:
Solanum triflorum / Small Nightshade Solanaceae / Nightshades Origin: North America.	Persicaria orientalis / Oriental Smartweed, Oriental Knotweed Polygonaceae / Knotweeds Origin: Southern Asia	Panicum miliaceum / Common Millet Poaceae / Grasses Origin: Asia
Chamaesyce maculata / Spotted Spurge, Spotted Sandmat Euphorbiaceae / Spurges Here the Spotted Spurge grows mainly on the gravel paths of cemeteries. It is a small plant, its leaves are only 5 to 9 mm long. Its origin is North America.	Chamaesyce humifusa / Trailing Spurge Euphorbiaceae / Spurges Similar is the Trailing Spurge. Its leaves have no dark spot. It was imported from Asia.	Chamaesyce serpens / Matted Sandmat, Creeping Spurge Euphorbiaceae / Spurges In the city of Heidelberg you can find a third species, the Creeping Spurge or Matted Sandmat which is coming from America.
Euphorbia waldsteinii / Waldstein's Spurge Euphorbiaceae / Spurges	Right: The Waldstein's Spurge Euphorbia waldsteinii is similar to the native Leafy Spurge Euphorbia esula, but originates from Eastern Europe and Asia. It occurs e.g. at a relative nature-like site in the port of Mannheim. The Caper Spurge originates from Asia and the Mediterranean. Because it is said that it drives voles and moles away, it is grown in gardens, from where it often runs wild.	Euphorbia lathyris / Caper Spurge Euphorbiaceae / Spurges
Phytolacca americana / Pokeberry Phytolaccaceae / Pokeweeds The Pokeberry Phytolacca americana whose origin from North America can already be seen in its latin name, has a horizontal inflorescense, but later the heavier fruit hangs downward. In contrast to that the Pokeweed Phytolacca esculenta, whose inflorescense and fruits are upright, comes from Eastern Asia.	Phytolacca americana / Pokeberry Phytolaccaceae / Pokeweeds	Phytolacca esculenta / Pokeweed Phytolaccaceae / Pokeweeds
The Indian Balsam Impatiens glandulifera has been introduced about 1840 from the Himalayas to England as feeding plant for honey bees. Since then it distributed at wet places almost all over Europe and displaces the native flora. Impatiens glandulifera / Indian Balsam Balsaminaceae / Balsams Also neophytic species like Hybrid Knodweed Fallopia x bohemica, and Russian Vine Fallopia aubertii, which have been introduced as garden plants, are wide-spread now not only in the 'Kurpfalz'. Where one of these three plants occurs the native flora is very endangered to be displaced.	Fallopia x bohemica / Hybrid Knodweed Polygonaceae / Knotweeds	Fallopia aubertii / Russian Vine Polygonaceae / Knotweeds
Many of the foreign ornamental plants, which the city gardener departments are using for amenity planting today, are able to reproduce in our climate. As always more new plants come into fashion, there is a risk that the number of neophytes will be dramatically increased soon, which can have incalculable consequences for the native nature. The next two rows show some of these plants, which e.g. in Weinheim (Bergstrasse, Southern Germany) already have run wild.
Panicum virgatum / Switch Grass Poaceae / Grasses Origin: North America	Pycnanthemum pilosum / Hairy Mountain Mint Lamiaceae / Mints Origin: North America	Solidago flaccidifolia ? / Goldenrod Asteraceae / Composites Origin: North America
Gaura lindheimeri / Bee Blossom, Whirling Butterflies Onagraceae / Willowherbs Origin: North America	Callistephus chinensis / China Aster Asteraceae / Composites Origin: China	Eschscholzia californica / California Poppy Papaveraceae / Poppies Origin: USA
Pimpinella peregrina / Burnet Saxifrage Apiaceae / Umbellifers In this row you can find some introduced Umbellifers. Burnet Saxifrage Pimpinella peregrina, which originates from the western Mediterranean, is currently about to establish in southern Germany.	The Bur Chervil is not rare on the Friesenheimer Insel near Mannheim. It came from the Mediterranean. Anthriscus caucalis / Bur Chervil Apiaceae / Umbellifers	The Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, which has been introduced from the Caucasus as an ornamental plant, grows taller than a man and if it is touched it can cause burnings on the skin. For this reason people combat against stems of this species which ran wild. Heracleum mantegazzianum / Giant Hogweed Apiaceae / Umbellifers
In the following three rows you find some introduced Crucifers. The Least Pepperwort Lepidium virginicum is only an example for several Pepperwort species which have been introduced from America. Lepidium virginicum / Least Pepperwort Brassicaceae / Crucifers	Lunaria annua / Honesty Brassicaceae / Crucifers Honesty Lunaria annua, a favourite garden plant, runs often wild. Its origin is Southern Europe.	The Warty Cabbage Bunias orientalis, which has been introduced with seed, came from Armenia and South-East Europe. Bunias orientalis / Warty Cabbage Brassicaceae / Crucifers
Armoracia rusticana / Horse Radish Brassicaceae / Crucifers The Horse Radish Armoracia rusticana is a useful plant which has tun wild. Its native place is the Don - Wolga region of Russia.	The False London Rocket coming from Eastern Europe to Central Asia isn't rare near Mannheim. Its flower starts in may, but most of the plants are in flower in September. Sisymbrium loeselii / False London Rocket Brassicaceae / Crucifers	The Eastern Rocket originates from the Russian Steppe. At the warehouses of the Mannheim Rhine port it has abundant sites. Sisymbrium orientale / Eastern Rocket Brassicaceae / Crucifers
Cardaria draba / Hoary Cress Brassicaceae / Crucifers The Hoary Cress Cardaria draba has been introduced from the Mediterranean and Asia in the 18th century. It has been widely distributed in Central Europe when the railways were built in the 19th century.	Lobularia maritima / Sweet Alison Brassicaceae / Crucifers Sweet Alison Lobularia maritima has been imported from the western Mediterranean as a garden flower. At some places it runs wild here.	Coronopus didymus / Lesser Swine Cress Brassicaceae / Crucifers The Lesser Swine Cress Coronopus didymus originates from South America, but today it's spread more or less world wide.
	Right: The more than an meter big Broomleaf Toadflax Linaria genistifolia, which comes from the eastern Mediterranean, colonizes on an inland dune near Seeheim-Jugenheim.	Linaria genistifolia / Broomleaf Toadflax Scrophulariaceae / Figworts

Lupinus polyphyllus / Garden Lupin Fabaceae / Legumes The Garden Lupin Lupinus polyphyllus originates from the Pacific side of North America. In woods it is grown to feed the deer and to improve the soil with nitrogen, and partly it runs wild.	Lupinus luteus / Yellow European Lupin Fabaceae / Legumes The smaller Yellow European Lupin Lupinus luteus, which originates from the Mediterranean, I found at Weinheim in the area of a big construction site.	Asclepias syriaca / Purple Silkweed Asclepiadaceae / Milkweeds A group of Purple Silkweed Asclepias syriaca, which becomes bigger with the time, can be found on sandy soil near Waghäusel-Wiesental.
Herniaria hirsuta / Hairy Rupture-Wort Caryophyllaceae / Campions The Hairy Rupture-Wort Herniaria hirsuta which comes from Asia and the Mediterranean can be found between pavement joints at the Mannheim water tower.	Tribulus terrestris / Small Caltrops Zygophyllaceae / Caltrops I found a big plant of Small Caltrops Tribulus terrestris, which originates from the Mediterranean, in the Mannheim port.	Tribulus terrestris / Small Caltrops Zygophyllaceae / Caltrops
Geranium purpureum / Little Robin, Lesser Herb Robert Geraniaceae / Crane's-Bills The Little Robin Geranium purpureum spreads mainly along railway lines. It originates from the Mediterranean.	Galium parisiense / Wall Bedstraw Rubiaceae / Bedstraws The Wall Bedstraw Galium parisiense, which originates from West and South Europe, has abundant sites in the Mannheim harbors.	Onoclea sensibilis / Sensible Fern Polypodiaceae / Ferns The Sensible Fern Onoclea sensibilis has been introduced from America. Near Nußloch in the wood a colony is growing, which might have been escaped from a garden. It reproduces well, and there are some sporangia.
Circaea glabrescens ? / Enchanter's Nightshade Onagraceae / Willowherbs An Enchanter's Nightshade which comes from the Himalayas I found in July 2006 near Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld on soil which had been brought here from another place. In the following year it was disappeared again.	The origin of Evening Primroses is America. The most frequent one here is the Common Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis. Oenothera biennis / Common Evening Primrose Onagraceae / Willowherbs	Oenothera glazioviana / Large-Flowered Evening Primrose Onagraceae / Willowherbs Some more rarely in the sand dune regions of the Northern Rhine Valley Large-Flowered Evening Primrose Oenothera glazioviana, which has bigger blooms and a reddish calyx.
Potentilla norvegica / Rough Cinquefoil Rosaceae / Roses Rough Cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica originates from Eastern Europe and Middle East. I found few stems of the species near the big power stations of Mannheim-Neckarau, but the site has been destroyed a few weeks later.	Potentilla intermedia / Downy Cinquefoil, Russian Cinquefoil Rosaceae / Roses The similar Downy Cinquefoil Potentilla intermedia grows near a soil depot near Viernheim. It originates from Northern Europe and Sibiria.	Duchesnea indica / Yellow-flowered Strawberry Rosaceae / Roses The number of sites of the Yellow-flowered Strawberry Duchesnea indica has multiplied within the last years. It had been introduced from East Asia as a garden plant for parcs.
Oxalis stricta / Upright Oxalis Oxalidaceae / Wood-Sorrels Some yellow flowering Oxalis species are coming from different continents. The species on the photo above originates from North America and Eastern Asia. Also Dillenius' Sorrel Oxalis dillenii from Eastern North America is occurring here, e.g. in Weinheim.	Oxalis corniculata / Procumbent Yellow Sorrel Oxalidaceae / Wood-Sorrels The Procumbent Yellow Sorrel, which is widespread in almost all villages of Central Europe today, originates from South America.	Centranthus calcitrapae / Annual Valerian Valerianaceae / Valerians I had never heard from an occurrence in Germany of the Annual Valerian Centranthus calcitrapae when I found it in the Mannheim port in beginning of May 2009. It is native in the whole Mediterranean.
Veronica peregrina / American Speedwell Scrophulariaceae / Figworts The American Speedwell Veronica peregrina originates from America, where it grows on the whole continent from Alasca to Tierra del Fuego.	The Slender Speedwell Veronica filiformis originates from Caucasus. Veronica filiformis / Slender Speedwell Scrophulariaceae / Figworts	Veronica persica / Common Field Speedwell Scrophulariaceae / Figworts The Common Field Speedwell Veronica persica originates from Asia, and was introduced in Central Europe with ornamental plants about in 1800. In between is is distributed over most parts of the world. It is in flower over almost the whole year except in winter.
Verbena bracteata / Bracted Vervain Verbenaceae / Verbenas The Bracted Vervain Verbena bracteata comes from America, and is naturalized in the port of Mannheim - Rheinau.	Near Reilingen I found Purpletop Vervain Verbena bonariensis at the edge of a wood. Most probably it originates from garden waste. It had been imported from Brasil and Argentinia. Verbena bonariensis / Purpletop Vervain Verbenaceae / Verbenas	Silene coronaria / Rose Campion Caryophyllaceae / Campions Rose Campion Silene coronaria has also escaped from gardens. I found it e.g. on the Friesenheim Insel at Mannheim. It's origin is the Mediterranean to Western Asia.
The Panicled Willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum settles on sandy areas, e.g. near Großsachsen and Reilingen. It originates from the Pacific side of North America. Epilobium brachycarpum / Panicled Willowherb Onagraceae / Willowherbs	Celastrus orbiculatus / Staff Vine Celastraceae / Spindles The Staff Vine Celastrus orbiculatus, related with our Spindle Euonymus europaeus, is naturalized in the wood in the southern part of nature reserve	Celastrus orbiculatus / Staff Vine Celastraceae / Spindles Pferdstriebduene at Sandhausen. It climbs trees up to 8 meters high. It origin is Eastern Asia.
Ornithogalum brevistylum / Pyramidal Star.of Bethlehem Liliaceae / Lilies	Muscari armeniacum / Armenian Grape Hyacinth Liliaceae / Lilies Near Weinheim there are still sites of the Armenian Grape Hyacinth Muscari armeniacum, which came from the Mediterranean, and of the Pyramidal Star.of Bethlehem Ornithogalum brevistylum, which originates from South Eastern Europe and Russia. Both had been introduced as ornamental plants.	Meconopsis cambrica / Welsh Poppy Papaveraceae / Poppies Between Gorxheim-Trösel and Unterabtsteinach in the foremost part of the Odenwald grows Welsh Poppy Meconopsis cambrica at a path in the wood. Most probably it is a garden escape.
The Four-Leaved Allseed Polycarpon tetraphyllum arrived from the Western Mediterranian. It can already be found in gaps between paving stones e.g. in Speyer and Weinheim-Lützelsachsen. Polycarpon tetraphyllum / Four-Leaved Allseed Caryophyllaceae / Campions	Vinca major / Greater Periwinkle Apocynaceae / Periwinkles Often, e.g. above Weinheim, the Greater Periwinkle Vinca major has escaped from gardens. It originates from the Mediterranean.	Near Reilingen and Oftersheim Spiderwort Commelina communis has run wild. Its origin are gardens, too. It had been introduced from East Asia. Commelina communis / Spiderwort Commelinaceae / Spiderworts
Claytonia perfoliata / Miner's Lettuce Portulacaceae / Purslanes Miner's Lettuce Claytonia perfoliata, which was cultivated as vegetables, and which ran wild in regions with sandy soil which is the case in parts of the 'Kurpfalz', originates from the western part of North America.	A typical example for several herbs, teas and aromatic plants, which have been introduced from the Mediterranean or the Orient and which sometimes run wild, is Balm Melissa officinalis. Melissa officinalis / Balm Lamiaceae / Mints	Cucurbita pepo / Marrow Cucurbitaceae / Cucumbers Marrow Cucurbita pepo is growing on the low meadows along the Neckar river. Its seed is ashored at high water.
Fagopyrum esculentum / Buckwheat Polygonaceae / Knotweeds	Left: I found only a small group of Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum on the Friesenheimer Insel in Mannheim at the Rhine dam. It originates from the Central Asian steppe. Formerly the plant has been grown because its seed contains starch. But because it is frost-sensitive it was ousted by the cereals. Right: Hemp Cannabis sativa has been introduced from the Orient in the 19. century for the textile industry because of its fibres. Later it has been forbidden due to its intoxicating effect. The two plants, which I found at different sites, can be originated from hemp corns out of food for birds; both were growing on soil which had recently been transferred from building grounds.	Cannabis sativa / Hemp Cannabaceae / Hops
Almost all of the less attractive, green flowering plants of the Pigweed family originate from America:
Amaranthus retroflexus / Common Pigweed Amaranthaceae / Amaranths	Amaranthus blitoides / Prostrate Pigweed Amaranthaceae / Amaranths	Amaranthus blitum subsp. emarginatus / Pigweed Amaranthaceae / Amaranths
The Red Pigweed Amaranthus cruentus is cultivated in gardens as ornamental plant. On a soil depot near Viernheim it is running wild. Amaranthus cruentus / Red Pigweed Amaranthaceae / Amaranths	Chenopodium pumilio / Clammy Goosefoot Chenopodiaceae / Goosefoots The Clammy Goosefoot Chenopodium pumilio has been introduced from Australia. In Europe it grows only in warm regions on sandy soil.	Chenopodium botrys / Sticky Goosefoot, Jerusalem Oak Chenopodiaceae / Goosefoots The Sticky Goosefoot Chenopodium botrys came from Southern Europe and Asia. An important site in Mannheim is a former cole store at the port.
Grasses and rushes, which had been introduced as useful or ornamental plants, ran also wild:
Lolium multiflorum / Italian Rye-Grass Poaceae / Grasses The Italian Rye-Grass Lolium multiflorum is at home in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. In Central Europe it is grown to feed animals. Sometimes it runs wild, but only temporarely.	Phalaris arundinacea var. picta / Variegated Ribbon Grass, Gardener's Garters Poaceae / Grasses I found the ornamental grass Variegated Ribbon Grass Phalaris arundinacea var. picta in the wood between Schriesheim and Wilhelmsfeld.	Juncus tenuis / Slender Rush Juncaceae / Rushes The Slender Rush Juncus tenuis has been introduced from the eastern part of America.
Imported garden bushes have run wild in the 'Kurpfalz', too.
Sorbaria sorbifolia / Ural False Spiraea Rosaceae / Roses Found near Schriesheim; Origin: North Siberia	Spiraea thunbergii / Thunberg's Meadowsweet, Baby's Breath Spirea Rosaceae / Roses	Parthenocissus inserta / False Virginia Creeper Vitaceae / Grape-Vines Found near Reilingen; Origin: Eastern Asia
The bushes and trees of the next rows came from China and Eastern Asia, and ran sometimes wild on waste land, e.g. at railway stations.
Ailanthus altissima / Tree of Heaven Simaroubaceae / Trees-of-Heaven	Buddleja davidii / Butterfly Bush Buddlejaceae / Butterfly-Bushes	Paulownia tomentosa / Princess Tree, Foxglove Tree Scrophulariaceae / Figworts
Cotoneaster horizontalis / Wall Cotoneaster Rosaceae / Roses	Forsythia x intermedia / Golden Bell = Forsythia suspensa x viridissima Oleaceae / Ashes	Cornus alba agg. / Red-Osier Dogwood Cornaceae / Dogwoods
Cotoneaster sargentii / Scarlet Leader Willowleaf Rosaceae / Roses	Elaeagnus angustifolia / Narrow-Leaved Oleaster, Russian Olive Elaeagnaceae / Sea-Buckthorns	Kerria japonica / Kerrie Rosaceae / Roses Found near Reilingen; Origin: Eastern Asia
The bushes shown in the next two rows have been imported from North America. Sometimes they run wild here.
Rhus hirta / Stag's-Horn Sumach Anacardiaceae / Sumachs	Symphoricarpos albus / Snowberry Caprifoliaceae / Honeysuckles	Mahonia aquifolium / Oregon Grape Berberidaceae / Barberries
Robinia pseudacacia / False Acacia Fabaceae / Legumes Very frequent at wood edges.	Amorpha fruticosa / Desert False Indigo Fabaceae / Legumes Desert False Indigo Amorpha fruticosa originates from North America. Found in Mannheim on the Friesenheimer Insel.	Prunus serotina / Rum Cherry Rosaceae / Roses A rather frequent bush, e.g. in the 'Viernheim Heide' northwest of Viernheim.
Catalpa bignonioides / Common Catalpa, Indian Bean Tree Bignoniaceae / Catalpas	Physocarpus opulifolius / Common Ninebark Rosaceae / Roses	Acer saccharinum / Silver Maple Aceraceae / Maples From eastern North America it was introduced as a tree for parcs. It ran wild e.g. in a nature reserve at Hemsbach. .
Naturally this list of neophytic plants of the 'Kurpfalz' can't be complete. It will be continued on occasion. Information on the neophytes I took mainly out of the 8 volume book edition 'Die Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Baden-Wüttembergs' as well as from several web pages. Baden-Württemberg is the most south-western part of Germany.