Potentilla indica (G. Jackson) T. Wolf (syn.: Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Focke, Fragaria indica Andrews) (S- and E-As.) – A fairly common and much increasing, naturalized escape from cultivation or throw-out. Apparently first documented as an escape from Brussels: at first in Rouge Cloître in 1944 and soon afterwards also in Val Duchesse. In the 1970s it was already very common in the Osbroek nature reserve in Aalst (Van den Bremt & al. 1980). However, its genuine spread and wider naturalization only started in the 1990’s (Verloove 2002, Verloove 2006). At present, Potentilla indica is still particularly well represented in the surroundings of Brussels (see map in Verloove 2006), although it is rapidly expanding in Flanders as well. At least for the time being, it is much less frequent in Wallonia.
Potentilla indica was initially introduced as an ornamental in parks and estates. It thrives very well in any kind of damp, nitrophilous and shady habitat, mostly in woodlands. However, it also grows in lawns, in urban habitats, etc. Its fruits are apparently very attractive to birds and are easily dispersed. This probably explains the species’ presence in often relatively remote areas. Invasive behavior has been reported in several localities, for instance in Bois d’Havré (comm. P. Dupriez). Additional information on the species’ invasive behavior in Belgium is available here: http://ias.biodiversity.be/species/show/107.
Interestingly, according to Liefländer & Lauerer (2007) the recent expansion of Potentilla indica in Central Europe is largely related with climate change.
Selected literature:
Clement E.J. (1980) Adventive news: 17. Mixed bag. B.S.B.I. News 25: 14-15.
Hara H. & Kurasowa S. (1959) On the Duchesnea indica group. J. Jap. Bot. 34: 161-166.
Haw S.G. (1994) Duchesnea indica. New Plantsman 1: 174-175.
Jackowiak B. (1992) Zur Ausbreitung von Duchesnea indica (Rosaceae) in Wien. Fragmenta Floristica Geobotanica 37(2): 539-547.
Lauerer M., Liefländer A. & Schelter N. (2009) Limitieren Samenproduktion, Samenkeimung und Fruchtausbreitung bei Duchesnea indica die Besiedlung neuer Standorte? Tuexenia 29: 261-276. [available online at: http://www.obg.uni-bayreuth.de/de/Forschung/Publikationen/2009/Lauerer_Tuexenia/2009_Tuexenia_Lauerer_261_276.pdf]
Liefländer A. & Lauerer M. (2007) Spontanvorkommen von Duchesnea indica: ein Neophyt breitet sich in den letzten Jahren verstärkt aus. Ber. Bayer. Bot. Ges. 77: 187-200. [available online at: http://bbg-ev.de/berichte/077_2007/duchesnea_indica.pdf]
Lienenbecker H. (1984) Die Indische Scheinerdbeere (Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke) bei Bielefeld. Natur und Heimat 44: 82-83.
Littschwager J., Lauerer M., Blagodatskaya E. & Kuzyakov Y. (2010) Nitrogen uptake and utilisation as a competition factor between invasive Duchesnea indica and native Fragaria vesca. Plant Soil 331: 105-114. [available online at: http://www.aes.uni-bayreuth.de/aes/en/top/diss/77502/PampS_2010_Littschwager_Fragaria-Duchesnea-15N_Proof_2.pdf]
Naruhashi N. & Ishizu H. (1992) Comparative anatomy of Duchesnea chrysantha, D. indica and their hybrids (Rosaceae). J. Phytogeogr. Taxon. 40(1): 5-12.
Naruhashi N. & Iwatsubo Y. (1991) Karyological studies of Duchesnea (Rosaceae). Cytologia (Japan) 56(1): 143-149.
Naruhashi N., Seki H., Yakura Y., Nagata Y. & Iwatsubo Y. (2005) Cytogeography of Duchesnea (Rosaceae) in central Japan. J. Phytogeogr. Taxon. 53: 153-159.
Naruhashi N. & Sugimoto M. (1986) A natural hybrid species of Duchesnea (Rosaceae). J. Phytogeogr. Taxon. 34(1): 11-14.
Naruhashi N. & Takano H. (1987) Chromosome numbers and distribution of Duchesnea (Rosaceae) in Gifu prefecture. Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 62(9): 155-160.
Reveal J.L. & Ertter B. (2014) First valid place of publication of Duchesnea indica (Rosaceae: Potentilleae). J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 8(1): 83-84.[available online at: http://brit.org/webfm_send/577]
Saintenoy-Simon J., Godefroid S. & Verhelpen B. (1995) Groupe Flore Bruxelloise. Notes floristiques relatives à la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (1991-1993). Adoxa 6-7: 27-37.
Shah M. & Wilcock C.C. (1993) Infrageneric classification of the genus Potentilla L. (Rosaceae) in Pakistan and Kashmir. Edinburgh J. Bot. 50: 173-179.
Smejkal M. (1975) K výskytu Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Focke v Československu [On the occurrence of Duchesnea indica in Czechoslovakia]. Zpr. Čs. Bot. Společ. 10(1): 17-18.
Sugimoto M., Ishizu H. & Naruhashi N. (1991) Morphological study of Duchesnea (Rosaceae). J. Phytogeogr. Taxon. 39(2): 87-95.
Tomović I. & Stešević D. (2007) Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke, new alien species in the flora of Montenegro. Natura Montenegrina 6: 161-163. [available online at: http://www.pmcg.co.me/NM6/Adobe%20radovi/Tomovic,Stesevic_NM6.pdf]
Trinajstić I. 1973 Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke (Rosaceae), nova adventivna vrsta u flori Jugoslavije.. (Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke (Rosaceae) eine neue Art der Adventivflora Jugoslaviens). Acta Bot. Croat. 32: 261-266.
Van den Bremt P., Fobert L. & Lebacq J. (1980) Resultaten van een floristisch onderzoek in het Osbroekgebied te Aalst-Erembodegem: 1977-1979. Dumortiera 17: 1-13.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.
Verloove F. (2006) Duchesnea indica. In: Van Landuyt W., Hoste I., Vanhecke L., Van den Bremt P., Vercruysse W. & De Beer D., Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels gewest. Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Nationale Plantentuin van België en Flo.Wer: 352.
Zare H., Kakroudi E.R. & Amini T. (2007) A record of Duchesnea indica (Rosaceae) in Iran, its westernmost distributional limit in Asia. Iranian J. Bot. 13(2): 93-94. [available online at: http://www.sid.ir/en/VEWSSID/J_pdf/105320072607.pdf]