Teloxys aristata (L.) Moq. (syn.: Chenopodium aristatum L., Dysphania aristata (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants) (E Eur., temp. Asia) – An exceptional and ephemeral alien. A single individual was observed in a sandy, worked-up roadside in the Ghent port area in 2016. The plant grew in the surroundings of grain mills and was probably introduced as grain alien.
Teloxys aristata is a weedy species that has widely naturalized outside its native distribution range, for instance in North America (Clemants & Mosyakin 2003). European records mostly refer to introductions although Teloxys aristata is probably native in its extreme easternmost parts, e.g. in the Ural (Brenan 1964). Many alien records are associated with oil seeds or grain (e.g. Kloos 1923, Clement & Foster 1994, Uotila 2001).
Teloxys aristata is also sometimes grown as a curiosity in botanical gardens and it is used nowadays for dry bouquets as well (e.g. https://www.vreeken.nl/558200-teloxys-aristata). This may also be a source for future occurrences.
The aristae that are produced at the branch apices are a very characteristic feature of this species. However, these develop only at the end of flowering, when most leaves have fallen.
Selected references:
Brenan J.P.M. (1964) Chenopodium. In: Tutin T.G. & al. (eds.), Flora Europaea, vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 92-95.
Clemants S.E. & Mosyakin S.L. (2003). Dysphania. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (eds.), Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 4. Oxford University Press. New York & Oxford. [available online at: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=111141]
Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1994) Alien plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XVIII + 590 p.
Glazek T., Mirek Z. & Polonska A. (1985) Chenopodium aristatum L. a synanthropic species rare in Poland (in Polish). Fragm. Flor. Geobot. 29(1): 9-14.
Kloos A.W. (1923) Aanwinsten van de Nederlandsche Flora in 1921. Nederlandsch kruidkundig archief, serie 3 32: 149-165. [available online at: http://natuurcultuur.nl/search?identifier=548610]
Schwarzstein J. (2014) Teloxys aristata (Granniger Gänsefuß): Ein „mongolischer Einwanderer“ in Buxtehude. Berichte des Botanischen Vereins zu Hamburg 28: 81-83. [available online at: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Ber-Bot-Ver-Hamburg_28_0081-0083.pdf]
Uotila P. (2001) Chenopodiaceae. In: Jonsell B. (ed.), Flora Nordica, vol. 2. The Bergius Foundation, Stockholm: 1-57.
Uotila P. (2013) Dysphania sect. Botryoides (Amaranthaceae s. lat.) in Asia. Willdenowia 43(1): 65-80. [available online at: http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3372/wi.43.43107]