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Echinocystis lobata - Wild cucumber

Synonym: Echinocystis echinata
French name:  Concombre sauvage
Dutch name: Egelkomkommer, Stekelaugurk
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Group: Vascular plants
Origin: North America
Habitat: terrestrial
Introduction:  agri- and horticulture
ISEIA Score : 9
  
Naturalization
This species is not yet naturalised in Belgium.
Establishment potential in Belgium : medium
It is already invasive in : Austria, Germany, Poland, Serbia
Invasiveness
Reproduction in the wild: no
Dispersion potential: likely
Natural habitats: likely
More on naturalization and invasiveness: In neighbouring areas, E. lobata thrives in disturbed areas, riparian zones, wetlands, shrublands, wooldand edges. Relatively high soil temperatures are necessary for seeds to germinate in spring.
Impacts on Species
Predation / Herbivory: low
Competition: high
Disease transmission: low
Genetic effects: unknown
Impacts on Ecosystems
Nutrient cycling: unknown
Physical alteration: likely
Natural successions: likely
Food web alteration: low
More on impacts: Under suitable environment conditions, this species branches very fast, covers large areas and overgrows native vegetation. It is known to outcompete native plants in riparian habitats.
Data Source & References
Authors: Baus Erika, Branquart Etienne, Vanderhoeven Sonia, Van Landuyt Wouter, Van Rossum Fabienne, Verloove Filip
Published on:  16 March 2009
Last update:  07 December 2009
References:
Klotz, S. (2007)
Invasive alien species fact sheet, Echinocystis lobata.
From online database of the DAISIE project (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories in Europe).
Silvertown, J. (1985)
Survival, fecundity and growth of Wild Cucumber, Echinocystis lobata.
Journal of Ecology 73:841-849.
Vacic, O. (2005)
Echinocystis lobata (Michx) Torrey et A. Gray in Serbia.
Acta Bot. Croat. 64(2): 369–373.
 
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