Navigation         Suche eine Pflanze / Search for a plant: 
 
 

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
Araujia sericifera / Moth Catcher, White Bladderflower
Asclepiadaceae / Milkweed Fam.
 
 
Araujia sericifera, Moth Catcher, White Bladderflower
Araujia sericifera / Moth Catcher, White Bladderflower
Asclepiadaceae / Milkweed 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
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
Delairea odorata / Cape Ivy
Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
 
 
Chenopodium quinoa, Quinoa
Chenopodium quinoa / Quinoa
Chenopodiaceae / Goosefoot 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
Lepidium didymum / Lesser Swine Cress
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 
Paspalum dilatatum, Dallis Grass
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
Mirabilis jalapa / Marvel of Peru
Nyctaginaceae / Marvel-of-Peru Fam.
 
 
Crocosmia aurea x pottsii, Montbretia
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
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
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
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
Solanum sodomaeum / Apple of Sodom
Solanaceae / Nightshade Fam.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The two Nightschades species have been introduced from South America.
Solanum bonariense, Argentinian Nightshade
Solanum bonariense / Argentinian Nightshade
Solanaceae / Nightshade Fam.
 
 
Myoporum laetum, Mousehole Tree, Coast Myoporum
Myoporum laetum / Mousehole Tree, Coast Myoporum
Myoporaceae / Mousehole Tree 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
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.  
 

 


Nach oben
To top
 
Startseite
Start page
 
Inhalt
Contents
 
Orchideen
Orchids
 
Andere Pflanzen
Other Plants
 
Pflanzen nach Familien
Plants acc. to Families
 
.. Verwandtschaft:
.. Relationship:
 
APG
APG
 
trad.
trad.
 
.. wiss. Namen
.. Scientific Names
 
.. deut. Namen
.. German Names
 
.. engl. Namen
.. English Names
 
.. Blütenfarben
.. Bloom Colors
 
.. Blütenbau
.. Flower Anatomy
 
.. Blattform
.. Leaf Form
 
.. Regionen
.. Regions
 
.. Aufn.-Monat
.. Photo Month
 
.. Früchten + Samen
.. Fruits + Seed
 
.. Wurzeln + Knollen
.. Roots + Bulbs
 
Schädlingsbefall + Missbildungen
Pest Infestation + Deformations
 
Bäume
Trees
 
Sträucher
Bushes
 
Wasser-Pfl.
Water Plants
 
Kletter-/Schling-Pfl.
Climbers + Twiners
 
Nutz-Pfl.
Useful Pl.
 
Zier-Pflanzen
Ornamental Pl.
 
Farb-Var.
Color Var.
 
Mehrere Kriterien
Multiple Criteria
 
Biotope + Gruppen
Biotopes + Groups
 
Botan.Links
Botan.Links
 
3-Feb-2014

Copyright: Verwendung der Bilder und Texte nur mit schriftlicher Genehmigung des Autors.
Copyright: Use of the images and texts only with the author's written permission.