Alien weed Xanthium spinosum in Slovakia I: distribution and habitats

Xanthium spinosum is a naturalized neophyte of agricultural land, its distribution and habitats have not yet been studied in detail Slovakia. The aim the work was to collect all floristic data this weed species, present current historical distribution, characterize typical As shown analysis, occurs mainly Pannonian region; Carpathians it more frequent only 19th century connection with transport diaspores by sheep wool. number localities increased gradually until 1970s, but then fell sharply due intensification agriculture. Consequently, currently considered be significant X. mostly occupies open sunny ruderal (road edges, manure pits, field roads, abandoned fields places) especially pastures, rarely river banks. Both past today, species fields.