Silene baccifera (L.) Roth (syn.: Cucubalus baccifer L.) (C and S-Eur., temp. As.) – A rare and usually ephemeral alien, apparently decreasing. Already recorded in the first half of the 19th century but without further details (possibly in damp woodland between Maldegem and Sint-Laureins). Repeatedly observed in several localities between 1879 and 1900, most often in hedges: Brussels (Elsene, Kuregem, Vorst), Ghlin, Tilff, between Falaën and Montaigle, etc. In the 20th century much rarer. Recorded between Bilzen and Beverst in 1913. Its most recent occurrences go back to 2004 when it was discovered in abundance near a timber storage in Oostrozebeke (canal Roeselare-Ooigem). Silene baccifera was sprawling in a fence and seemed well established there (obviously introduced with timber). However, it was no longer seen in 2009 (possibly overgrown by brambles or destroyed by weed killer). Finally, in 2020 a small population (a single clone?) was observed in deciduous woodland in Hallaar, close to a small botanic garden and probably as an escape from it.
Selected literature:
Buttler H. & Rieger W. (1978) Cucubalus baccifer L. im MTB 3831 am Elm bei Braunschweig. Göttinger Flor. Rundbr. 12(1): 20-21.
Clement E.J. (1983) Berry catchfly, Cucubalus baccifer L., in Britain. B.S.B.I. News 34: 34. [available online at: http://archive.bsbi.org.uk/BSBINews34.pdf]
Hecker U. (1980) Ein bemerkenswerter Neufund von Cucubalus baccifer L. im Rheingau. Hess. Flor. Briefe 29(3): 38-40.
Hegi G. (1978) Cucubalus. In: Illustrierte Flora von Mitteleuropa: Bd. 3 Teil 2, Lieferung 8. Berlin: Paul Parey: 1038-1043.
Junghans T. (2005) Cucubalus baccifer L. in der nördlichen Oberrhein-Niederung: ein bemerkenswerter Neufund in Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg). Floristische Rundbriefe 39: 51-56.
Lousley J.E. (1961) The status of Cucubalus baccifer in England. Bot. Soc. Brit. Isles Proc. 4(3): 262-268.
Schiller W. (1974) Versuche zur Kupferresistenz bei Schwermetallökotypen von Silene cucubalus Wib. Flora 163(4): 327-341.
Siedentopf Y. & Barndes D. (2001) Cucubalus baccifer L. 1753 als Stromtalpflanze an der mittleren Elbe. Braunschweiger Naturkundliche Schriften 6(2): 485-500. [available online at: http://digisrv-1.biblio.etc.tu-bs.de:8080/docportal/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/DocPortal_derivate_00001278/Document.pdf]
Slavík B. (1980) Verbreitung von Cucubalus baccifer in der Tschechoslowakei. Preslia 52: 127-154.
Swann E.L. (1970) The status of the berry campion. Trans. Norfolk Norwich Naturalists' Soc. 21: 378-379.
Wijkel A.M. (1998) Cucubalus baccifer L. (Besanjelier) op Texel gevonden. Gorteria 24(1): 30.