Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn. 1791

Sennikov, Alexander & Lazkov, Georgy, 2022, The first checklist of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan, with new records and critical evaluation of earlier data. Contribution 2, Biodiversity Data Journal 10, pp. 80804-80804 : 80804

Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn. 1791

Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 237 (1791) - Atropa physalodes L., Sp. Pl. 1: 181 (1753).

Distribution

Native distribution

South America.

Secondary distribution

North and Central America, Southern Europe and Asia, Africa, Australia.

In Europe, this species belongs to the most widely distributed alien vascular plants ( Lambdon et al. 2008).

The species has been naturalised in several provinces of China ( Zhang et al. 1994), probably as a field weed.

Distribution in Central Asia

Sporadically found in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan ( Kovalevskaya 1987).

In Central Asia, the species was historically found in gardens and on melon fields ( Pojarkova 1954b, Nikitina 1960, Vasilieva 1965). In the early 20th century (1907-1931), it was recorded as cultivated and ruderal in vegetable gardens of Russian-populated places.

The first record of the species from Central Asia comes from Vannovskoe Village of Turkestan Region (now Tūrar Rysqūlov Village, Türkıstan Region, Kazakhstan). This village was founded by Russian and Ukrainian colonists in 1887, which may be close to the earliest possible date of the species' introduction to Central Asia (following the conquest in 1868).

Its recent occurrence seems to be in ornamental cultivation and ruderal.

Distribution in Kyrgyzstan

Western Tian-Shan, Northern Tian-Shan (Fig. 15 ).

The species was found as a weed in agricultural areas of the Chü and Talas Depressions ( Nikitina 1960). Recently, it was rediscovered as a ruderal plant (Fig. 16 ) in a village along the northern side of Ysyk-Köl Lake ( iNaturalist 2021).

Ecology

Fertile places in the native distribution area; ruderal places, gardens, fields and field margins, roadsides and pastures in the secondary distribution area.

Biology

Annual, with a taproot.

Notes

Historically, e.g. in the 1920s, Nicandra physalodes was rather commonly used as a surrogate for Humulus lupulus in bakery in southern Russian and Ukrainian villages ( Larionov 1931). Due to this use, the plants were spread across a vast territory and became locally abundant in village gardens in Siberia ( Khrebtov 1926) and Central Asia ( Cherniakovskaya 1935). This usage has been abandoned, and the plants introduced in those times have subsequently disappeared.

Introduction to Kyrgyzstan

Period of introduction

Neophyte.

The plant was introduced in the early Soviet period (first record in 1928 from present-day Talas Town), transported by Russian colonists from their native villages in southern Russia. Its latest record from the Botanical Garden in Bishkek is dated 1955 and may constitute the last remnant of the old cultivation.

Its latest subspontaneous record is dated 2020 and may be linked with recent ornamental cultivation.

Pathways of introduction

Escape from confinement: Agriculture. Escape from confinement: Ornamental purpose other than horticulture.

The plant seems to have been historically introduced for its cultivation and subsequent use in home bakery, and then it has become a weed in and around the places of introduction. This pathway is indicated by the contemporary evidence ( Khrebtov 1926, Larionov 1931) and by the recorded occurrences of the plants in vegetable gardens.

Modern pathways of introduction of this plant in Europe include grain import ( Suominen 1979, Clement and Foster 1994, Verloove 2021), wool contamination and horticulture ( Clement and Foster 1994, Verloove 2021). The species is a very common weed of many crops, especially in warmer countries ( Holm et al. 1997).

In Russia, in recent years, Nicandra physalodes has been widely cultivated for ornamental purposes in private gardens and city yards and along streets, and occasionally noted as running wild and occurring in ruderal and dumping places ( Plantarium 2021).

A recent record from Ysyk-Köl Region, Kyrgyzstan ( iNaturalist 2021) indicated that the species may escape from ornamental cultivation and occur in ruderal places as a casual alien.

Further dispersal was not observed.

Invasion status

Casual.

The historical occurrences have seemingly disappeared (the plant was not naturalised and the historical factors of introduction are no longer in place). The recent ruderal occurrence was represented by a single plant and was apparently casual as well.

Evidence of impact

Agriculture - no impact (no longer occurring as a weed in gardens or on fields). Native ecosystems - no impact (not found outside populated places). Urban areas - minor impact (ruderal occurrences).

Trend

Increasing (inferred).

Figures

Figure 15. Historical and recent records of Nicandra physalodes in Kyrgyzstan.

Figure 16. Nicandra physalodes in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan (photographed 25 July 2020). Source: https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 54240496 (iNaturalist 2021).