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The North American invasive species Solidago altissima L. (Asteraceae) is reliably recorded from a single locality in Belgium (Beveren, Waaslandhaven, Verrebroekse Plassen). Nuclear genome size, as measured by flow cytometry, showed this population to be distinct from the closely similar and widespread S. canadensis L. Plants were shown to be hexaploids, with an estimated chromosome number of 2n = 54, while only diploids (2n = 18) of S. canadensis are known from Europe. These findings were further supported by morphological traits. Solidago altissima has repeatedly been claimed from Europe but all these records may be referable to S. canadensis var. canadensis and, more likely, S. canadensis var. hargeri Fernald. To the best of our knowledge, the recently detected population in Belgium represents the first unequivocal record of S. altissima in Europe.Citation: Verloove F., Zonneveld B. J. M. & Semple J. C. 2017: First evidence for the presence of invasive Solidago altissima (Asteraceae) in Europe. — Willdenowia 47: 69–75. doi: https//doi.org/10.3372/wi.47.47107Version of record first published online on 10 March 2017 ahead of inclusion in April 2017 issue.

Paspalum thunbergii, a weedy species native to E Asia, is reported for the first time from W Europe. In Italy a naturalized population was detected in 2014 in a heathland in Boscaccio (Lentate sul Seveso; Monza and Brianza province, Lombardia region). A subsequent revision of local herbaria revealed the existence of a second population, also in Lombardia, discovered in Mortara (Pavia province) in 2011 and now confirmed. The taxonomy and nomenclature of this species are briefly discussed, as are its ecology and habitat preferences. An original line drawing and photographs of the species and its habitat are provided. An updated identification key for the species of Paspalum in Europe is also presented. Citation: Verloove F., Brusa G. & Ardenghi N. M. G. 2016: Studies in the genus Paspalum (Paniceae, Poaceae) in Europe: 3. Paspalum thunbergii, a new naturalized neophyte in W Europe. — Willdenowia 46: 137–143. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.46.46111 Version of record first published online on 1 A...

Verloove F.: Scirpus hattorianus (Cyperaceae), newly reported for Europe, naturalized in France. — Willdenowia 44: 51–55. 14 March 2014. — Version of record published online ahead of inclusion in April 2014 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2014 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.44.44108 The identity of the North American xenophyte Scirpus atrovirens in France was critically reassessed. Nearly all known populations (notably those from the departments Aisne, Jura, Pas-de-Calais and Saone-et-Loire) turned out to be referable to a closely related species, S. hattorianus. Distinguishing features for three species from the S. atrovirens complex (i.e. S. atrovirens s.str., S. georgianus and S. hattorianus) are compared and discussed. An identification key and SEM photographs of their achenes are provided. The ecology and degree of invasiveness of S. hattorianus in France are also briefly discussed.

Verloove F. & Sanchez Gullon E.: A taxonomic revision of non-native Cenchrus s.str. (Paniceae, Poaceae) in the Mediterranean area. — Willdenowia 42: 67–75. June 2012. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2012 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. Stable URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.42.42107 The exact identity of non-native, naturalised populations of Cenchrus s.str. in the Mediterranean area has been critically assessed. A herbarium revision confirmed the presence of three species: Cenchrus echinatus, C. longispinus and C. spinifex (syn.: C. incertus). In the present paper C. echinatus is reported for the first time from Spain and confirmed for Egypt and Israel. C. longispinus, up to present widely confused with C. spinifex, is reported for the first time from Croatia, Greece, Israel and Morocco and furthermore confirmed for France (including Corse) and Italy. Finally, C. spinifex is confirmed for France, Italy and Spain, while records from Greece and Israel proved to be in error for C. longispinus. All three species a...

Verloove F.: Verbena incompta (Verbenaceae), an overlooked xenophyte in Europe. — Willdenowia 41: 43–49. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2011 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.41.41104 (available via http://dx.doi.org/) Verbena incompta, of presumed South American origin, is reported as a naturalised but overlooked xenophyte in Italy and Spain. The affinity of the species is discussed, emphasising on its separation from the related V. bonariensis and V. brasiliensis in V. series Pachystachyae, and ecological and chorological notes are added. The three species are illustrated by digitised representative herbarium specimen.

Verloove F.: Juncus dichotomus (Juncaceae) in northwestern Italy, a xenophyte new to Europe. — Willdenowia 40: 173–178. — Online ISSN 1868–6397; © 2010 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.40.40202 (available via http://dx.doi.org/) Juncus dichotomus, a native of the Americas, is reported for the first time from Europe. It is more or less widely naturalised in northwestern Italy (provinces of Biella, Novara, Torino and Vercelli) and probably largely overlooked elsewhere as a result of confusion with J. tenuis. Diagnostic features of both species (and other members of the J. tenuis group currently found in Europe, viz. J. anthelatus and J. dudleyi) are critically assessed and an identification key is presented. Taxonomy and nomenclature of J. dichotomus are discussed, especially with regard to the status of J. platyphyllus, and notes on its present distribution in Italy and its ecology are provided. Like J. tenuis, it often grows in valuable natural and seminatural habitats and locally seems to beha...

Verloove F.: New combinations in Cenchrus (Paniceae, Poaceae) in Europe and the Mediterranean area. — Willdenowia 42: 77–78. June 2012. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2012 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. Stable URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.42.42108 Recent molecular phylogenetic studies strongly recommend the amalgamation of the grass genera Cenchrus and Pennisetum. The generic name Cenchrus having priority, the species of Pennisetum need to be transferred to it. The correct names in Cenchrus for the 15 Pennisetum species in Europe and the Mediterranean area are provided, including four new combinations.

Verloove, F. & Reynders, M.: Studies in the genus Paspalum (Paniceae, Poaceae) in Europe — 2. The Quadrifaria group. — Willdenowia 37: 423–430. — ISSN 0511-9618; © 2007 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.37.37203 (available via http://dx.doi.org/) The South American Paspalum quadrifarium has been reported as a naturalized xenophyte in Tuscany and Liguria, Italy, since at least the 1960s. In the present contribution the discovery of the closely related P. exaltatum, also of South American origin, in Liguria, Italy, is reported. These are the only known occurrences in Europe of both species, which are very similar to each other and likely to be confused. In the present paper their diagnostic features are discussed and original line drawings and SEM photographs for both taxa are presented. Their current distribution in Italy is shown and some ecological remarks are added.

Verloove, F. & Reynders, M.: Studies in the genus Paspalum (Paniceae, Poaceae) in Europe — 1. Paspalum distichum subsp. paucispicatum, an overlooked taxon in France. — Willdenowia 37: 199–204. — ISSN 0511-9618; © 2007 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.37.37109 (available via http://dx.doi.org/) The present paper reports about the naturalization of the Mexican grass species Paspalum paucispicatum in the Loire valley in France. The species has long been confused with and erroneously referred to as P. dilatatum, P. distichum, P. longipilum or P. pubiflorum. A revision of several relevant herbaria enabled us to reconstruct the species' invasion history in France. Main diacritic features are given and an identification key for Paspalum in France is presented. P. paucispicatum, of a debated taxonomic rank in its area of origin but clearly delimited in France, is probably better treated as a subspecies of P. distichum; hence the new combination at subspecific level is validated.

Verloove, F.: Bouteloua gracilis (Chloridoideae, Poaceae), a new American xenophyte in Europe. — Willdenowia 34: 67–69. — ISSN 0511-9618; © 2004 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. The American grass species Bouteloua gracilis has been found for the first time in Europe as a more or less established alien on rocky talus slopes near Palafolls (NE Spain). The species is described and depicted and its local ecology and origin are discussed.