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Figs. 1-4. Petasites hybridus (L.) G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.
(Finland, Lohja, Seppälä, 2004). – Photo: Harri Harmaja. –
This species was here found as having penetrated into two adjacent, rather natural plant communities: a) ca. 30
plants
in moist spruce-dominated rich woods near lakeshore, and b) ca. 100 plants on the lakeshore, a
few flowering stems even emerging from the water of lake Lohjanjärvi among Equisetum fluviatile and Glyceria maxima
(an introduced species)! All the photos were taken on the same occasion (June
3rd), and a 2-3 weeks' difference can be seen in the stages of development of
the plants of the different stands: in water, the inflorescences are still at
the bud stage while in the woods the flowering is at its final stage and the
leaves are well developed.
Originally, the occurrences of P. hybridus (Asteraceae)
in Finland comprised escapes from cultivation as a medicinal herb. Later the
species has escaped from cultivation as an ornamental. The first naturalized occurrence of Petasites hybridus in Lohja
was made by me in 1984 in a near-by locality.
Created June 22, 2005.