Allium paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don – a new invasive plant species for the flora of Baltic States

Current issue: Volume 20, No. 1 (2020)

ALLIUM PARADOXUM (M.BIEB.) G. DON (AMARYLLIDACEAE) – A NEW INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES FOR THE FLORA OF BALTIC STATES

Pēteris Evarts-Bunders, Aiva Bojāre

Evarts-Bunders P., Bojāre A. 2020. Allium paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don – a new invasive plant species for the flora of Baltic States. Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavp., 20 (1): 55 – 60.

Abstract
Allium paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don was recorded as a new species for the flora of Latvia and the Baltic States on the basis of plant material first collected by A. Bojāre and P. Evarts-Bunders in 2020. Relatively large population of this species was found in Rīga, in the Rumbula district (Eastern border of the city), on the slope of the river Daugava covered by natural vegetation, but near the private gardens zone and ruderal places. This species can be easily distinguished from other Allium species by one flat, 5-25 mm wide, keeled leaf per bulb, inflorescence with several bulbils and mostly with only one flower. The species is considered as invasive and spreading by means of bulbils. In Latvia the species has been identified in their typical habitat – disturbed forest and shrubland along the riverbank on damp soil.

Key words: Allium paradoxum, Latvia, Baltic States, invasive plant, flora.

Pēteris Evarts-Bunders. Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Parādes str., 1A, Daugavpils, LV-5401, Latvia; peteris.evarts@biology.lv
Aiva Bojāre. National Botanical garden, Dendroflora Department, Miera Str., 1, Salaspils, LV-2169, Latvia; aiva.bojare@gmail.com.