Table of Contents

A new Eastern Pyrenean (Pyrénées-Atlantique department, France) record of the very rare species Ptychomitrium incurvum (Schwägr.) Spruce (Ptychomitriaceae) is mentioned. It is a national extension of the small known European area of this species. The new localitiy is briefly described and compared with the data of literature

The chromosome number of species belonging to the genus Digitalis L. is mainly 2n = 56, except for D. lutea L. In the latter, distinct counts and ploidy levels have been reported: 2n = 48-56 and 2n = 96-112. Depending on the authors, this taxon is treated either as a single species with two subspecies: D. lutea subsp. lutea and subsp. australis (Ten.) Arcang., or as two distinct species in Italy: D. lutea and D. micrantha Schweigg. However, in S. France and Corsica, classical discriminant characters of these taxa seem less reliable than in Italy. In addition, a phylogenetic study sets plants of subsp. australis from Tuscany and Corsica in two distinct clades. To clarify this situation, flow cytometry, karyological, morphological and pollen studies were carried out on a large sample from different geographical sources. Results confirmed the validity of the two infra-specific taxa, which differ in their ploidy levels (D. lutea subsp. lutea 2n = 112; D. lutea subsp. australis 2n = 56), 2C DNA content and macro- and micro-morphological traits.

A new alien plant – Verbesina encelioides (Asteraceae) – was recorded in Tunisia at HenchaSfax. Its identification was based on specimens’ examination and relevant literature. A floristic exploration was made during October-November 2013 to map the spatial distribution and to measure some biological traits of this species. Within an area of 40 km² and along 35 km of roadsides 19 infestations we recorded. The large part of them was located in ruderal environments and in lesser extent in field crops. During field trips we noted V. encelioides behavior in each habitat. It is a drought tolerant erect annual plant, germinating in early spring or autumn; some seedlings may survive the winter season. From the observations this species look like more adapted to roadsides than to field crops.

Euphorbia graminea Jacq. (Euphorbiaceae), a species native from Central America through northern South America, from Northern Mexico to Peru, has been found naturalized near Palermo (Sicily). This is the first record for Italy and Europe

This paper presents 650 specific and infraspecific taxa of the vascular flora of Mt Aphrodisio, NW Peloponnisos. All the records are new as the mountain was until now floristically unexplored. For each taxon, local distribution and habitat types are presented. Crypsis alopecuroides is new record for Peloponnisos. Its flora comprises also 29 Greek and 22 Balkan endemics. Some of the records concern rare taxa in Greece, in Peloponnisos or regional endemics, which are, therefore, chorologically significant, such as Arenaria guicciardii, Alkanna methanaea, Erysimum pectinatum, Anthemis brachmannii, Silene gigantea subsp. hellenica, Delphinium hellenicum, Galium capitatum, Verbascum daenzeri, Trifolium tenuifolium, Glinus lotoides, Helleborus odorus subsp. cyclophyllus, Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis, Bromus parvispiculatus, Crypsis schoenoides, Gaudiniopsis macra. The main vegetation types are also described.

On the basis of literature data and personal observation, a list of 338 species (319 Basidiomycetes, 18 Ascomycetes and 1 Zygomycetes) belonging to 156 genera included in 70 families is here reported for Calabria. Comparing the literature data with our records we confirmed the presence of 281 species while 57 are new for Calabria.

Asplenium sagittatum is a rare, indigenous fern which was assumed extinct in the dated Maltese Red Data book until 2008 when a small number of individuals was rediscovered. New records of this fern are reported, including a large and important population located in the north of mainland Malta. For the first time, the anatomical characters of Maltese material are described and compared with those of material from central Europe. The paper also presents taxonomical clarifications dealing with A. scolopendrium, as also the results of a local Red List assessment for this endangered fern.

This work is the continuation of Part 1, published in 2015, and comprises the reconstruction of the original collections of new taxa described by R. Pampanini and other botanists and, where possible, typification of the new names and taxonomical updating. The material studied for the most part concerns Libyan specimens held in the FI and FI-W herbaria but in some case also K, LD, MPU, P, PAD, PAL, ULT. Other material, which Pampanini studied in Florence was subsequently conserved in other herbaria. Specimens belonging to 21 families have been examined, from the Najadaceae to Zygophyllaceae. As well as typification, bibliographical data have been provided for those already typified. In this second part, a total of 113 names have been indexed and 91 typified, taking the names validly published in the entire work to 353, of which 286 are typified. Also on this occasion, we have provided taxonomic updates for each taxon. The Conclusions present a synthetic sum of the taxa still recognised taxonomically (entirely, in new combinations, or with a new status) in recent works on the Flora of N. Africa, in general revisions of various systematic groups, or reconsidered by the authors of this present work. We have also investigated the phyto-geographic origins of the taxa [according to the dominions proposed by Quézel (1978) for N. Africa]. Finally we have very briefly indicated the presence of material of the R. Pampanini collections (for Cyrenaica, together with R. E...

Some interesting moss records in Pollino National Park, noteworthy protected area of the southern Apennines, are reported. Among them, Mnium spinosum and Brachythecium tommasinii are new to southern Italian peninsula, Grimmia laevigata, G. montana, G. tergestina, G. trichophylla and Orthotrichum pumilum are new to Basilicata region, and, finally, Campylidium sommerfeltii is rare in southern Italy and little known in Mediterranean area.

A study of the bryophytes of the lowlands west of Lake Trasimeno, a very peculiar territory for its geological, biogeographical and bioclimatic traits, was carried out. The data here reported were collected in a mosaic of woods and Mediterranean temporary ponds, the latter indicated as priority natural habitats under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC with the code 3170*. Research led to the identification of 44 taxa of bryophytes (13 liverworts and 31 mosses), among which 5 liverwort and 8 moss species are new records for the Umbria region, while one is confirmed. Particularly interesting is the presence of 13 liverwort taxa considered, according to the European Committee for Conservation of Bryophytes (ECCB), under threat at different levels in Europe. The study offers new outcomes on neglected aspects of the flora of central Italy and represents a considerable improvement of the floristic, biogeographical and ecological understanding of its bryophytic component.

The relationship between plants, fire and grazing of free-ranging domestic herbivores in the Gennargentu mountain (Sardinia) are analysed. Sheep, cattle, goats, horses, donkeys and pigs are present in the different seasons of the year and often simultaneously. This causes a strong impact, contributes to the degradation of forest vegetation and favors the development of the Mediterranean macchia and garrigue. Plant self-defense and resilience against fire and animals in different habitats are discussed. Thanks to the presence of thorns, toxic or aromatic compounds many species can live in the presence of a strong pressure from grazing animals. An effective form of defence is also represented by habitats inaccessible to animals from where plants propagate from year to year, seeds or vegetative propagules that help maintain the species. Moreover, thorny plants can be a shelter for many different species that are well protected from the browsing of animals and can thus complete their biological cycle. In relation to fire, plants are able to survive thanks to the biological adaptations to their underground organs, thermo - resistant seeds. Finally, the joint action of fire and grazing promotes clearings that favour the development of light-demanding plants, and allow the germination of several species from the soil seed bank. Therefore, the abundance or scarcity of the populations of many species depend upon the combinations of these elements, which are generally cons...

The authors report the recent discovery in Tunisia of a new non-chlorophyll spermaphyte within the Cuscutaceae. The fields dodder or the devil's hair (Cuscuta campestris) originating from North America was observed, for the first time in 2010, in the north-west of Tunisia (in the Mogods).

A new version of the earlier chromosome database of tribe Delphinieae is presented (v. 2.0, updated 23/4/2016 and available online at http://hdl.handle.net/2445/98702), after an accurate extensive literature and Internet survey, by adding the chromosome counts for the genera Aconitum L. [including Gymnaconitum (Stapf) Wei Wang & Z. D. Chen], Delphinium L. (including Staphisagria Spach), Consolida (DC.) S. F. Gray and Aconitella Spach, accumulated in the last 17 years. A total number of 2598 reports are presented, belonging to 389 species and to a total of 467 taxa, and representing 44.5% of the total species number of the tribe (an increase of c. 137% compared with the 1097 reports gathered in the 1999 version). This increase is due both to chromosome research progress (analysed as counts/year) and an improved information capture system (including checking of populations location through Cyrillic alphabet, and Japanese and Chinese writing systems). Additionally, recent taxonomic advances, synonimization and new phylogenetic criteria have also been taken into account. The main basic number x = 8 is found at 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, and 8x ploidy levels, whereas x = 9 is much rarer. Polyploidy is more frequent in perennial taxa (Aconitum and Delphinium s. str.) whereas in annuals, disploidy (both increasing and decreasing) takes more importance and should be considered as a source of new evolutionary opportunities. The most frequent counts are 2n...

Erigeron sumatrensis (Asteraceae) is reported for the first time for the flora of the Republic of Macedonia. The taxon was recorded in several localities across the country. It seems, the species was introduced several decades ago, however, it remained unrecognized, mainly due to mis-identification with E. bonariensis. Brief morphological description, based on the material collected from Macedonia, and the habitat preferences of the species are provided. Erigeron sumatrensis has viable and persistent populations and should be regarded as naturalized in the Macedonian flora. The invasive behavior of the species is discussed briefly.

Diplachne fascicularis (Poaceae), a taxon native to North and South America, is reported for the first time as an alien species for the flora of Bulgaria and of the Balkan Peninsula. It was recorded in rice fields in Central Bulgaria, in the Thracian Lowland floristic region. Brief morphological description is provided based on the material collected from the Bulgarian localities. This species grows in damp to wet places at the margins of rice fields and is already rather abundant. Distinguishing characters from the morphologically most similar native species (Cleistogenes serotina and C. bulgarica) have been highlighted. The invasiveness and spreading potential of the species have been discussed based on personal observations and data from the literature.

This is the twenty-six of a series of karyological data from Mediterranean area, peri-Alpine communities and the Atlantic Islands, in English or French language. It comprises contributions on 25 taxa: Cyclamen, Matthiola, Ornithogalum and Scilla from Cyprus by P. Bareka, E. Christou & G. Kamari (Nos 1868-1871); Lilium from Turkey by B. Gürdal, S. Demirci, N. Özhatay & E. Kaya (Nos 1872- 1880); Centaurea, Campanula, Clinopodium and Silene from Greece by Ch. Kyriakopoulos, P. Bareka & G. Kamari (Nos 1881-1884); Aconitum from France, Morocco and Spain by J. Molero, A. M. Rovira, M. Bosch, J. Simon & C. Blanché (Nos 1885-1902). During the OPTIMA Meeting held in Montpellier (6-11 June 2016), the Commission of Karyosystematics agreed to change the current name of the column “Mediterranean Chromosome Number Reports” in Flora Mediterranea for a most comprehensive title recognizing the true scope of the contributions usually published (which include, karyotype analysis, evolutionary consequences, bibliographic critical review, as well as biogeographical considerations, taxonomic remarks etc., derived from chromosome studies). The new title for the series is: “Mediterranea plant karyological data” (MPKD) and thus the next issues will be named accordingly. The Commission also decided the addition of the titles of single contributions to valorize the work of the contributors.

The chromosome number, karyotype morphology and geographical distribution of some plant taxa from the indigenous flora of Cyprus are presented, along with comments concerning their IUCN status, whenever appropriate. Karyotype microphotographs for all taxa are provided and their karyotype morphology is discussed.

In the present study the chromosome number of 9 Lilium taxa from Tukish populations is given. For three of them the somatic number is given for the first time. Additionally, the presence of B chromosomes has been observed for Lilium kesselringianum, Lilium ponticum var. artvinense and Lilium szovitsianum, while a new chromosome number for Lilium candidum is reported.

In the present study, the chromosome number and the karyotype of 4 endemic taxa from populations of Mt Taigetos are given. For Campanula papillosa and Clinopodium taygeteum the somatic number is given to our knowledge for the first time. The geographical distribution and the conservation status of the threatened taxa are also discussed.

A karyological study of 38 populations belonging to 8 taxa of the genus Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) from the W Mediterranean Area is presented here. Karyotype microphotographs and corresponding idiograms for all taxa are provided and their karyotype morphology is discussed