Distribution of Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora (Iridaceae) Outside of Parks and Graveyards in NE Anatolia (Türkiye)

Using plants as ornamentals is one of the most important ways of introduction to the new ecosystems for alien species. Crorocosmia x crocosmiiflora seems to be a good example of this situation in Eastern Black Sea Region of Türkiye where it has been planted in many parks and graveyards as an ornamental plant. This hybrid taxon was observed in 37 different locations, outside of parks and graveyards in Artvin (5 records), Rize (17 records), Trabzon (8 records) and Giresun (7 records) cities, mainly on roadsides, fields, thickets, forest margins and waste areas during the field studies on Bur Cucumber. Present observations revealed that Montbretia clearly escaped from cultivation area and continue to increase its distribution range and population density/number in the North East Anatolia. Like other naturalized alien species in Türkiye, Montbretia is rapidly naturalizing in the Eastern Black Sea Region, which is the most important naturalization center of exotic plants in Türkiye, so it will become a part of the wild flora of the this region in the near future.