Verbascum speciosum Schrad. (SE and SC-Eur., W-As.) – A rare and often ephemeral but obviously increasing escape from cultivation. Probably first recorded in 2009 in Lommel (Kerkhoven): rather numerous plants were seen in grassland on the verge of deciduous woodland. Subsequently recorded in several different localities: at first in Kallo in 2010 (grassland in port area), later also in Roeselare in 2011 (ground heaps), Balen and Overpelt in 2012, etc. A large population with probably more than one hundred plants was discovered in Mechelen in 2012 (angle of river Dijle). At least in this locality and probably also in Lommel Verbascum speciosum seems to be well-established.
Verbascum speciosum is increasingly cultivated since some years (it was not yet included in Cullen’s extensive account of the genus in cultivation in Europe; Cullen 2000) and seems to escape very easily. Similar behavior has been demonstrated lately in several different neighbouring countries (see for instance Brandes 2005, Sumser & al. 2012).
Some of the first records of Verbascum speciosum in Belgium were erroneously named V. pulverulentum. Both are indeed somewhat similar (much-branched inflorescence, anthers of two kinds with white-hairy filaments, densely white or grey-tomentose leaves, etc.). However, Verbascum speciosum is a much taller plant (V. pulverulentum rarely exceeds 130 cm) with angular stems (vs. terete), leaves are persistently tomentose and flowers usually larger (up to 30 mm across).
Some other cultivated species of Verbascum are much reminiscent of V. speciosum in general appearance (tall plants with a pyramidal, much-branched inflorescence), especially V. olympicum and V. pyramidatum. The latter is readily distinguished by its violet filament hairs. Verbascum olypicum is less easily told apart and both have been confused in horticulture. Claims in Cullen (2000) and Jäger & al. (2008) may well include Verbascum speciosum. The latter is distinguished from V. olympicum by its filaments that are all densely hairy throughout (vs. 2 anterior filaments glabrous above) and the capsule that is persistently densely tomentose (vs. glabrescent).
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Selected literature:
Adolphi K. (2015) Anmerkungen zu einigen sich möglicherweise einbürgernden Neophyten. Braunschweiger Geobotanische Arbeiten 11: 137-153. [available online at: http://digisrv-1.biblio.etc.tu-bs.de:8080/docportal/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/DocPortal_derivate_00036754/11_Adolphi.pdf;jsessionid=273AC2D45111D31FF7709A7B7BCAB9A5]
Brandes D. (2005) Zur Verwilderung von Verbascum speciosum Schrad. 1811 (Pracht-Königskerze) in Niedersachsen. Braunschweiger Naturkundliche Schriften 7(2): 491-494 [available online at: http://rzbl68.biblio.etc.tu-bs.de:8080/docportal/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/DocPortal_derivate_00001789/Document.pdf]
Cullen J. (2000) Verbascum. In: Cullen J. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 6. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 283-287.
Ekman S. & Karlsson T. (1989) Grenigt kungsljus och praktkungsljus -- två ofta förväxlade arter. [Verbascum lychnitis and V. speciosum in Sweden.] Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift 83: 73-81.
Feder J. (2007) Die Königskerzen-Arten Verbascum blattaria L. und Verbascum virgatum Stokes in Niedersachsen. Beiträge zur Naturkunde Niedersachsens 60: 105-110.
Ferguson I.K. (1978) Verbascum speciosum Schrader x V. thapsus L. new to Britain. Watsonia 12: 160-162.
Jäger E.J., Ebel F., Hanelt P. & Müller G. (eds.) (2008) Rothmaler Band 5. Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 880 p.
Lang W. (2009) Die Pracht-Königskerze (Verbascum speciosum SCHRAD.) - Neubürger der rheinland-pfälzischen Flora. Mitteilungen der Pollichia 94: 87-90.
Sumser H., Sporbert M., Sonneborn I. & Jagel A. (2012) Aktuelle Vorkommen der Pracht-Känigskerze (Verbascum speciosum SCHRAD.) in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Veröff. Bochumer Bot. Ver. 4(3): 31-37. [available online at: http://www.botanik-bochum.de/publ/OVBBV4_3_SumserSpo->
rbertSonnebornJagel_Verbascum_speciosum.pdf]