Echium vulgare (Boraginaceae) in the Åland Islands

Echium vulgare L., chiefly a weed in the Nordic countries, was previously rather rare in the south part of mainland Finland and very rare in the Åland Islands. It has suddenly became much more common during the last twenty years. E. vulgare has been found in all municipalities of the Åland Islands, except Brändö. The reason for the rapid expansion of the species is partly road construction with possible introduction with grass seed mixtures sown on the newly constructed road slopes and verges, and partly deliberate sowing of E. vulgare along roads in the municipality of Lemland and perhaps elsewhere. A few cases of the species sudden appearance are described