Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) - an alien species new to the Czech flora: history of its introduction in Europe

North American Loosestrife, Lysimachia ciliata, was recorded on waterlogged backfill soil at the Bruksa Pond affluent in a floodplain forest near Břeclav, South Moravia. The plants have certainly escaped from cultivation, as the species is becoming popular in gardens, and appeared in the wild in Western Europe already two centuries ago. In Central Europe, it is the first record of this species in the wild. However, despite its high vitality, it may be casual and temporary. As this species is easy to recognise due to its non-punctate leaves, ciliate petioles, and nutant solitary flowers with supervolute corolla lobes, each enclosing one stamen alternating with staminodia, it is unlikely to be confused with any native species of the genus Lysimachia.