Galium Spurium rediscovered
This summer, surveyors from INBO undertook a targeted search for arable flora as part of the MBAG - farmland bird monitoring MAS project. In the loam region, we made a targeted search for Stachys arvensis, Kickxia elatine, Euphorbia exigua and other rare arable flora. Unexpected was the rediscovery of the supposedly extinct Galium spurium.
Galium spurium
This annual plant belongs to the Galium family and can be recognised by its white-green flowers and small two-lobed fruits (see photo). It was long considered extinct in Flanders and was only found at transhipment sites of grain imported from abroad. As a field weed of grain fields, the species seemed to have disappeared due to agricultural intensification and the use of chemical pesticides. We made the recent find in a field with a management agreement for farmland birds. This suggests that our arable flora can still survive in less intensive parts of the arable landscape.
Importance for biodiversity
Arable flora plays a crucial role in the ecological functioning of agricultural land. Over centuries, agricultural landscapes have evolved into a complex community of life, not only for arable flora but also for many other organisms such as insects, birds, small mammals, mosses and fungi. Many of these species depend on specific plants growing on cropland. Restoring and maintaining arable flora contributes to biodiversity in agricultural areas, which in turn contributes to the sustainability and resilience of agriculture and adjacent nature.
Frederic Gabrys, Adinda De Bruyn, Robin Guelinckx, Rémar Erens, Robbe Cool, Steven De Saeger
Galium spurium can be identified by its white-green flowers and small two-lobed fruits. (INBO photo)