Heracleum mantegazzianum S OMMIER & L EVIER (Apiaceae) in Deutschland Untersuchungen zur Biologie, Verbreitung, Morphologie und Taxonomie

Summary The first escapes of Giant hogweed were recorded already in the middle of the 19th century, whereas the still active exponential spread began about the sixties of this century. As in other neophytes this progress is promoted by strong modification of habitats by man. According to germination experiments and investigations of the soil seedbank the high reproduction rate of Giant hogweed plays an important role, too. The actual distribution in Germany is shown on a map.