Table of Contents

Ultramafic rocks and derived soils (serpentines) are widespread in Turkey, making this one of the most significant countries in the world for serpentine soils and their associated floras. In northwestern Turkey considerable serpentine areas occur in Kütahya, Balıkesir and Bursa provinces, with smaller areas in Çanakkale province. In the Mediterranean region, serpentines extend from Muğla to Hatay provinces, and are scattered northeastwards from Kahramanmaraş to Erzincan provinces. Other notable smaller outcrops occur in Ankara province. Serpentine areas are rich places for plant diversity and local endemism. Many endemics in Turkey are restricted to serpentine soils; some of these are known from only one or two provinces, such as Alyssum crenulatum Boiss., A. dubertretii Gomb., Bornmuellera kiyakii Aytaç & Aksoy and Centaurea aladaghensis Wagenitz. The nickel-accumulating serpentine species in Turkey belong to the genera Alyssum L., Bornmuellera Hausskn., Pseudosempervivum (Boiss.) Grossh. (formerly in Cochlearia L.), Thlaspi L. s.l. and Centaurea L. The present authors have explored 55 serpentine sites; 60 Ni-accumulating and more than 40 serpentine-endemic species have been reported from Turkish serpentines. Ni accumulators and serpentine endemics are evaluated here according to their geographic distributions, altitudes, threat categories and Ni concentrations, and are presented in their grid squares and provinces.

Taxonomical, nomenclatural and chorological aspects of Astragalus angustifolius Lam., a critical and still not deeply investigated species, are examined. It is a typical orophyte, with a thorny cushion-like habit, distributed in the eastern Mediterranean territories. Based on literature, A. angustifolius represents a species complex, including many taxa at specific, subspecific or variety level. From field, herbarium and literature investigations, it was possible to clarify the taxonomical position of the taxa hitherto referred to A. angustifolius s.l., as well as of those ones showing close relationships with this species. The identified taxa are the followings: A. angustifolius Lam. with the subsp. angustifolius (Anatolia), subsp. echinoides (L’Hér.) stat. nov. (Crete), subsp. erinaceus (C. Presl) stat. nov. (C & S Greece, Cephalonia), subsp. balcanicus subsp. nov. (N Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania), subsp. postianus subsp. nov. (Lebanon and Syria), subsp. aegeicus subsp. nov. (Lesvos, Samos and Chios), and subsp. odonianus subsp. nov. (Thassos), A. pungens Willd. (Anatolia), A. valdeviolaceus sp. nov. (S Anatolia), A. hubermorathii sp. nov. (S Anatolia), A. hermoneus Boiss. (Lebanon and Syria), A. sirinicus Ten. (Italy), A. tymphresteus Boiss. & Spruner (N Greece, Macedonia, Albania and Serbia), A. taygeteus Perss. & Strid (S Peloponnese), A. heideri Wettst. (S Anatolia), A. genargenteus Moris (Sardinia),...

Plant evolution and diversification is driven by several environmental selective pressures and constraints. Pollinators’ ethology, form, and size play a relevant role in determining floral characters, and more so when pollination is specialized (i.e. due to one or very few insect species). Floral characters, in turn, constitute the main ground of traditional classification system. Recent molecular phylogenies of Mediterranean Legumes have challenged the commonly accepted systematics, as several genera usually regarded as “natural” ones proved to be polyphyletic. The question arises, whether the incongruence between natural groups based on floral traits and monophyla based on molecular homology is due to experimental flaws, or whether it has a biological background. The authors present recent evidence that pollination in Mediterranean Legumes is much more specialized than previously reported. Even species pollinated or visited by several insect species are specialized, in that their fitness is enhanced only by one or few of them, while other visitors and pollinators may exert little influence on seed production, or even depress it. Such specialization may account for homoplasy of floral characteristics, so that several “natural” genera may reflect common pollination syndromes rather than represent monophyletic clades.

In the last two decades, the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) increased rapidly due to the great interest of many institutions in Turkey. Parallel to this increase, hardware, software and trained people structures started to develop. This progress enabled the preparation of some countrywide digital databases to be used in spatial analysis and modeling processes. Flora and vegetation studies took the benefit of these improvements, and some applications showed the emerging utility of these tools. In this presentation, we summarized two latest innovations of us that can be used for plant bio-diversity and community composition mapping. In the former, we explained how plant bio-diversity of Nallihan forest ecosystem was modeled and mapped in GIS by utilizing diversity (Shannon Wiener, Simpson, Number of Species) indices, environmental (soil, topography, geology and climate) variables, and remotely sensed data (LANDSAT-ETM+). In the latter, we summarized the ways of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) usage to develop plant community composition maps of Tersakan Valley in Amasya by using both GIS and RS.

Over the past two millennia the Mediterranean region has been the recipient of many waves of plant introductions, some of which have produced major effects on the landscapes and lives of the peoples who inhabit its shores. The impacts of the introductions made by the Romans and the Moors are compared with those of the ‘Columbian exchange’ which led to a systematic and massive transfer and diffusion of plants, animals and diseases between the old and new worlds. The effects of the various introductions on both agricultural and urban landscapes are discussed as are the impacts on human diet and nutrition which had important demographic consequences and both deleterious effects on human health as well as providing plant-based medicines to cure some diseases such as malaria. Some of these effects are still being played out today. The social and economic consequences, although initially, scarcely perceptible, were quite profound in the subsequent centuries after the initial introductions. The landscapes and the economy of the region have also been affected in more recent times by changes in the way that the introduced crops are cultivated, such as intensification including irrigation and cultivation of fruit, salad crops and flowers in greenhouses or under plastic, crop substitutions such as sunflower (Helianthus) for olive, increased reforestation and plantation forests, often with exotic species such as Eucalyptus. Urban landscapes have been transformed as a c...

Comprehensive dendro-archaeological studies carried out on nine shipwrecks along the Mediterranean coast of Israel enable to identify the various wood species used in ancient shipbuilding in the Eastern Mediterranean, to detect the repairs and locate the possible construction sites of the ships. Ma'agan Mikhael and Tantura Lagoon shipwrecks: The earliest ship (the Ma'agan Mikhael) presents the Classical Period, dated to the 5th century BC. About 80% of the hull timbers were made of Pinus brutia (Calabrian pine) and the remaining components of the hull were made of tree species native in west – northwestern Turkey. Three ships present the Medieval Period: Dor 200/1 dated to the 5th -6th centuries AD, Tantura E dated to the 7th-9th centuries AD, and Tantura F dated to the beginning of the 8th century AD. The wood species used for building the hull of Dor 2001/1, i.e. Pinus brutia, Cupressus sempervirens (Cypress) and Fagus orientalis (Oriental beech) are native to west – northwestern Turkey, except for Tamarix (X5) (Tamarisk) and Ziziphus spina-christi (Christ thorn; Jujube) which are native to Israel and were used as repairs on the ship made upon its arrival at Dor. Tantura E was built mainly of Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens, whereas Tamarix (X5), which is native to Israel, was used as repairs on the ship upon its arrival at Dor. Two wood species used in constructing the hull of Tantura F, i.e. Pinus brutia and Tamarix smyrnensis,...

Archaeobotany provides information on the ancient floras, the vegetation that surrounded the archaeological sites, and the interaction between human populations and plants; it may also offer information about wood technology, seasons of gathering or feeding, geographic origin of materials. It includes many different fields of research for analyses of macro or micro-remains. Crossing different data furnishes not merely a sum of information but it multiplies the meaning of single information, allowing detailed and unambiguous interpretation of the results. Case studies are reported.

Wild legume species and genetic diversity of the Mediterranean Basin provide an invaluable source of traits for the improvement of cultivated temperate forage and pulse legume crops. The research illustrates how the existing geo-referenced passport data associated with accessions of Cicer, Lathyrus, Lens, Medicago, Pisum and Vicia species can be used to identify gaps in current ex situ conservation and develop a more systematic in situ conservation strategy for both the genera individually and for all six genera combined. Taxonomic, ecological, geographic and conservation information for the six genera were collated from ICARDA and GBIF datasets as well as datasets collected by the authors over the last 25 years. The combined database contained 200,281 unique geo-referenced records (Cicer - 452, Lathyrus - 61,081, Lens - 672, Medicago -42,248, Pisum - 728 and Vicia - 95,100) collected between 1884 and 2008. Patterns of specific richness, based on the germplasm accession and herbarium specimen data, were analysed and in situ hotspots identified using complementarity analysis. The ex situ conservation status of each genus was assessed and used to provide a priority ranking for future collection priorities in the Mediterranean Basin. Specifically, target IUCN-recognised protected areas are identified as potential sites to establish genetic reserves. However, the premier temperate forage and pulse legume hotspot on the Syrian/Lebanese border is no...

Based on literature survey, chromosome numbers for 12 Gagea sections and 97 accepted species (for a total of 270 accessions) were obtained. Early branching lineages are all composed by diploids, while the widest range of ploidy level variation occurs in species-rich sections Gagea and Didymobulbos. Data on basic chromosome number, ploidy level, chromosome total haploid length (THL) and measures of karyotype asymmetry (calculated for 8 Gagea sections, 42 species and a total of 60 accessions) were included in a data set. Combining the large amount of data enabled mean karyotypes to be produced, highlighting differences in karyotype structure between sections. Further differences were noted when parameters for analysing karyotype asymmetry were assessed and superimposed onto a phylogenetic framework. DA recognized correctly the 8 considered sections in 100% of cases, and the same happened within section Gagea (series Solenarium, Gagea, Helenaeanae and Monticolae) and within section Didymobulbos (series Saxatiles, Occidentales, Arvenses and Chrysanthae). Despite massive genome size reduction is a noticeable feature of Gagea respect to other Lilioideae taxa, also in this genus there is a slight tendency to increase again the chromosome size, especially in late branching sections (e.g. Bulbiferae, Platyspermum, Minimae, Didymobulbos). Hence, the relatively high CVCL values occurring in Gagea sections (except the early branching sect. _A...

The roots of plant taxonomy are very much connected with the Mediterranean. As a result, this area of c. 2.090.000 km2 houses 229 herbaria registered in Index Herbariorum and a total of c. 27.000.000 specimens involving 21 countries. The size of the collections varies substantially but the majority fall under the “magic” number of 74.000 specimens, the number suggested to be adequately curated by 1 full-time staff. Some of these small Mediterranean herbaria house material of particular Mediterranean collector(s) and are historical in nature; at the other end of the spectrum, other herbaria have expanded their scope, even to faraway ex-colonies, and are very active. A project on the historical collection of Moritz Willkomm “Herbarium mediterraneum pyrenaicum et canariense” housed at COI, involving databasing, imaging, restoration and typification, was the stimulus for the exercise of extrapolating from this study case to the vast collections in the Mediterranean in financial terms and time-scales. Calculations are on the basis of 4.082 € per specimen and 10.96 specimens dealt with by 1 person per day. The exercise is meant to be thought provoking. Some data refer to Turkey in particular.

This study aims at describing the taxonomical (at species and genus ranks) and chorological diversity of native woody flora of Italy, comparing with phytoclimatic and biogeographic complexity. After providing the most recent data about the native woody flora of Italy, the analysis has been performed at the level of political region. Cluster analisys shows that woody genera are the most effective variables to outline phytogeographical subdivisions, while chorological spectra provide more information in climatic terms.

Lojacono, well known as the author of a Flora sicula, offered for sale and distributed various exsiccata. In particular, he prepared 7 Centuriae of Plantae siculae rariores (1879-1884) and 4 Centuriae of Plantae italicae selectae (1885-1888). Swiss botanists (Barbey, Boissier, Burnat) were among his first customers. From their legacy, printed, mostly autographic inventories of all but one of these Centuriae (with only the second Italian Centuria missing) came to the archives of the Conservatoire botanique in Geneva, some in two different versions. These rare documents have been dated with the aid of mail stamps and of correspondence kept in the same archives, and transcripts of all of them are provided.

Wild edible plants in the rural village of Boztepe /Bahçedere-Ayvacık-Çanakkale) on Kazdağı/Mount Ida and the consumption habits of village inhabitants during winter are reported.

This investigation was carried out on EL-Harouge mountain located within the Libyan desert. A very important area from the Naturalistic point of view tha t should be preserved. The natural vegetation in this region is very poor, scattered and concentrated mainly in Vallies, but consisted of special species which have adapted significantly to survive in such arid conditions. The flora is constituted of about 64 species (about 3% of the total number of Libyan flora) belonging to 55 genera and 21 families, with the presence of one endemic species Fagonia arabica var. membranacea. Zygophylaceae and Chenopodiaceae are the most common species on the study area. In addition to the effect of climate in this fragile ecosystem, the accumulation and increased frequency of human activities have a great negative impact on the plant environment. The most important activity in this area is agriculture, grazing has caused the removal of the natural vegetation in depressions and valleys. The most destructive activity is oil exploration and extraction in different oil concessions, resulting in hydrocarbon pollution, solid waste disposal, and spilling of waste water mixed with oil, which causes a great soil pollution, in addition to soil trampling due to vehicles and machinery activities around oil wells and camps.

In Europe several mapping techniques exist to lay out plant distribution. Most of them, however, are focused on actual and not on potential species distribution range. Spatial predictions become more important for rare and endangered taxa because their conservation is related to existing as well as potential biotopes. The large part of detailed distribution models applies advanced statistics on a large data-set of environmental variables. Data-input availability limits the choice of the prediction model for species distribution and application of results in a detailed scale. Distribution pattern accuracy determinates its applicability in environmental management (for tracing edges, defining protected areas, etc.). A simple distribution model for endangered taxa is outlined here, based on ecologically homogenous units (land-units) defined with a deductive process. Land-units defined with a hierarchical classification approach are usually employed for modelling phytocoenosis distribution. The spatial model used is based on main structural factors: bioclimate, lithology and landforms. The data set is implemented with land-use information. This model was tested with two case study in Sicily: Erica sicula subsp. sicula and Abies nebrodensis. The former is nowadays confined only to Mt. Cofano (W Sicily) but was reported also from Mt. San Giuliano (Erice) and Marettimo Island (W Sicily), the latter occurs with a natural population of 32 individuals in the Madonie Mountains...

Lepidium L. is one of the largest genera in the Brassicaceae, consisting of ± 175 species worldwide (Bowman & al. 1999). It is distributed worldwide, primarily in temperate and subtropical regions; the genus is poorly represented in Arctic climates, and in tropical areas it grows in the mountains (Mummenhoff & al. 2001). According to Flora of Turkey, 14 taxa occurs in Turkey (Hedge 1965; Güner & al. 2000).

The aim of the research is to identify different species, risk categories, protection situations and to reveal new record species both for Eskişehir and B3 square which Eskişehir located in. In this poster, it is particularly concentrated on geophytic species in the region among many other plant species of analyses. Actually, 42 geophytic taxa belonging to 10 families and 21 genera are gathered from the investigation area. 1 taxa are new records for B3, 8 taxa are endemic and 3 taxa are rare to Turkey. According to floristic regions, 12 Mediterranean elements are ranked first, followed by 6 Irano-Turanian elements and 2 Euro-Siberian elements. 24 of the identified species are widespread and of unknown phytogeographic origin. In addition, 37 of the collected taxa are determined to be monocotyledons and the remaining 5 are dicotyledons. The families with the most taxa in the research area are: Hyacinthaceae 8 and Iridaceae 7. Concerning the number of species, the major genera in this region are as follows: Crocus L. (6) Allium L. and (5) Gagea Salisb. (4).

We present a new assessment of the exotic flora of continental Portugal, six years after our last study. In 1999, we have assessed 500 exotic species of vascular plants (invasive or more or less naturalised). From 1999 to 2005, 64 new plant species records were added (12.8 % more), attaining a total of 564 taxa (including, as in precedent works, species, subspecies and some hybrids), belonging to 113 families (Almeida & Freitas 2006). At the present time, we have a list of 667 taxa (18.3 % more than at our previous work, and more than 17.9 % of the total number of taxa of the Portuguese flora), included in 124 different families.

Botanical data in the development and creation of nature protection policy is one of the most important elements. Herbarium, museum and botanical gardens gives possibility plant visually to see and obtain information if they reach the ground. However plant banks provide both views the same thing on the screen in a very short time and able to gain relative-inquiring each other information about the plant or plants in intended area. Obtained this information contributes primarily to scientific research, to prepare of the EIA report, to create a resource base and current to environmental regulation and protection work, and to eliminate curiosity of them interested in plants. This Plant Bank has been built for the first time with all of these reasons by us. BOTANIC 2010 data base was created with the aim of actuating Plant Bank's and constituting and updating plant taxa existed as native and foreign plants in our country, and botanical features of these taxa. Pioneer of this data base was the plant of Eastern Mediterranean region which has the transition zone and the most plant diversity contains a large part of the Anatolian diagonal. This region includes up to 50% richness when it compares with plant diversity of Turkey. "Plant Bank" will be completed representing in also other regions in result of the continuation of data entry. These days, it has been came half-way point in the completion of The Plant Bank of Turkey. BOTANIC 2010 Data Base includes 65 features fo...

Eryngium heldreichii Boiss. (=E. bourgatii subsp. heldreichii (Boiss.) Davis) is closely related to E. davisii Kit Tan & Yıldız. The main differences are in shorter stem height, prickly petiols, prickly margin of involucral leaves, linear-lanceolate bracts, oblong-obovate fruits without ridges, small vittae in mesocarp and crystals in endocarp.

In the current work the data of the isozyme analysis of all the twenty studied Italian Centaurea taxa were compared. They belong to Centaurea parlatoris, C. cineraria, C. tenorei and C. jacea groups. The following parameters of the genetic variability were considered: the total number of the alleles, the mean number of alleles per locus (A), the mean percentage of polymorphic loci (P95), the expected heterozygosity (He) that is a measure of the intra-population diversity, the Wright’s fixation index (F) and inbreeding coefficient (FIS) that are measures for the deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The present study contributes to insight some aspects of the genetic diversity related to the distribution range (endemics or widespread taxa) of the studied Centaurea species. The mean proportion of polymorphic loci and the mean number of alleles per locus (A) in the endemic species are comparable with the widespread ones, while the intra-population diversity (He) results about 40% higher in the populations of the widespread taxa than the endemics. The loci with a major role for the processes of differentiation and evolution of the genus Centaurea in South Italy and Sicily are: Mdh-1, Pgi-2 and Idh-1. Italian Centaurea species with the highest genetic diversity usually inhabit extreme habitats (rocky, sandy places, etc.) and localities with significant human impact or the borderline of their area of distribution. Sicily could be considered a centre o...

Bras, distinguished French amateur botanist and author of a catalogue of the flora of his home province (département de l’Aveyron), built a considerable personal herbarium through 50 years of active collecting (1833-1882). That herbarium, long believed lost, was auctioned in 2008 and acquired by the first author for the Palermo Herbarium (PAL-Gr). Its c. 25,000 specimens are being mounted and databased, with a view of making the digital images and label data available for online consultation. An analysis based on a first sample of 1550 specimens is presented, with explanations of Bras’ labelling and numbering systems and a list of other collectors and correspondents (81 to date) who contributed to the herbarium.

The distribution of the orchid Barlia metlesicsiana is restricted to the Canary Island of Tenerife. We monitored Barlia metlesicsiana and its pollination success in four representative subpopulations on Tenerife during the years 2004 to 2010. Despite some yearly fluctuations (Bernhardt & al. 2009), the study years 2004, 2005, and 2007 indicated relatively constant population sizes (230 to 246 plants observed per year), and reproductive success was also relatively constant throughout the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 (yearly fruit set of 26.0% to 36.6%). However, following a fire in July 2007 number of plants, proportion of flowering plants, and pollination success dropped down dramatically: in the first two years after the fire (i.e. 2008- 2009) altogether only three plants managed to flower, and only one of those plant individuals obtained pollination. In 2010, subpopulations beginning recreation were still characterised by low absolute number of plants, but with the highest proportion of individuals flowering as observed throughout all seven study years (33.7%). However, pollination success (fruit set of 21.0%) was still at the lower end of the regular yearly fluctuations of this species. Therefore, our data show a strong influence of catastrophic events (i.e. fire) not only on the appearance and dormancy of terrestrial orchids in general, but also more specifically on the pollination success of the endangered orchid Barlia metlesicsiana on Tenerife.

Specimens of personal collecting and Herbaria exsiccata (AO, APP, CLU, FI, HBBS, HLUC, IS, MSNM, PESA, RO, ROV, TOHP, UTV) were analyzed to update the distribution of the genus Rosa in Italy. Some units are new to Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto, Liguria, EmiliaRomagna, Toscana, Umbria, Marche, Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sardegna. Rosa marginata Wallr. collected in Piemonte and Liguria in the last century, is nowadays cultivated ex situ in the Rome Botanical Garden. Rosa abietina and R. sicula were recorded by mistake for Toscana and Puglia respectively. The rarest species: Rosa stylosa, Rosa sherardii and Rosa viscosa are recorded only for Lazio, Piemonte and Calabria respectively. Exsiccata of the alpine species Rosa abietina, Rosa uriensis and Rosa rhaetica are preserved in the Herbaria of the Natural Museums of Bergamo and Brescia.

We studied the morphological variability of Sonchus asper (L.) Hill in the western Mediterranean region by means of multivariate analysis. A two-step clustering method indicated that selection of a two-cluster model was optimal, with anther length and ligule length as the main characters contributing to cluster delimitation. These variables presented a general bimodal pattern of frequency distribution, denoting the presence of two floral morphotypes in the complex that, although partially sympatric, seem to show distinct geographical ranges and important differences in their reproductive systems. In addition, a preliminary karyological analysis yielded differences in chromosome morphology between the two morphs. Possible taxonomic implications of this variability are discussed. We propose the segregation of plants showing different flower morphotype as different taxa at specific level: large-flowered plants should be designated as Sonchus nymanni Tineo & Guss. in Guss., while small-flowered plants correspond to Sonchus asper (L.) Hill.

Kosovo plain is influenced by continental climate, whereas Dukagjini plain, by modified Submediterranean and Mediterranean climate coming from Adriatic Sea through the river valley Drini i Bardhë. Geographical position, relief, distance from the sea and other factors have influenced in the alliance Ostryo-Carpinion orientalis in Kosovo to be rich with habitats and species that belong to Mediterranean floristic element. This alliance is extended throughout the whole territory of Kosovo up to 900 m altitude. The objective of the study is research of the Mediterranean floristic element and its influence in the phytocenosis which belongs to the alliance Ostryo-Carpinion orientalis. Some of the species which belong to Mediterranean floristic element are: Colutea arborescens, Asparagus tenuifolius, Pyrus amigdaliformis, Acanthus balcanicus, Juniperus oxycedrus, Coronilla emeroides, Paliurus spina-christi, Syringa vulgaris, Scutelaria orientalis, Euphorbia myrsinites, Teucrium polium, etc.

In the last twenty years a growing number of studies emphasized the occurrence of female-sterile reproductive systems within the monocot order Liliales. The occurrence of male flowers is here documented for the first time in Fritillaria involucrata, F. messanensis, F. montana, F. persica, Lilium bulbiferum subsp. croceum and Tulipa sylvestris. Increasingly frequent observations of female-sterile systems within the order, and particularly in Liliaceae, suggest they could have an evolutionary significance.

Fritillaria baskilensis Behçet (Liliaceae) was described as a new species in 1998 from Turkey. It grows in Elazığ-Baskil province (Şelil Dağı) in East Anatolia and known only from one locality. In this study, endemic F. baskilensis is presented with anatomical, morphological and palynological features. Plant samples have been collected from the type locality. The most important features that distinguish this species from other are: a shorter stem, smaller perianth and exerted stamens. In addition to the morphological features described in the flora of Turkey, fruit and seed characteristics are also given. The anatomical and palynological features of F. baskilensis are reported for the first time in this study. For anatomical studies cross-sections of the root, stem and leaves and surface sections of the leaves of F. baskilensis have been investigated. It has been determinated that pollen type is monosulcate, pollen shape is subprolate, ornamentation is reticulate in investigated species. Although threat category of the species is given as Endangered (EN) in the Red Data Book of Turkish Plants, its category could be reclassified as Critically Endangered (CR) according to our field observations.

Within the framework of the ethnobotanical researches conducted between 2007 and 2009 in the areas in and around Havran and Burhaniye (Balıkesir), the medicinal plants collected with commercial purposes in the region and sold in local markets were studied in addition to other uses. In this respect, the patterns of usage of these plants collected extensively by the local people on commercial purposes were examined. Studies in the villages and local markets in the region have revealed that the taxa of nine medicinal plants have been extensively collected and sold. It was also observed that some of the plant taxa defined have been used not only as medicinal plants but also as spices.

The name “Prunus cupaniana” was created, but not validly published, by Gussone in 1843 for a taxon of N Sicily closely related to Prunus mahaleb. The nomenclature of this taxon has been mishandled, and the valid publication of its name by the Huet brothers, on printed herbarium labels distributed in 1857, has remained unnoticed. The authors confirm their earlier view, that the plants in question are best considered a subspecies of Prunus mahaleb, and draw attention to the appropriate combination that was published by Arcangeli in 1882 but has been similarly ignored. The correct name is therefore Prunus mahaleb subsp. cupaniana (Guss. ex E. Huet & A. Huet) Arcang. In the absence of unquestionable original herbarium material, an illustration on one of Cupani’s plates is designated as lectotype, with an epitype to aid its interpretation. Updated distributional data for the taxon are provided.

A database for the management of the Seedbank of the Palermo’s Botanical Garden has been set up. Its structure and functioning are illustrated. Since November 2010 about 2000 records relating to 460 taxa have been inputted and are accesible via web. Links with other seedbank databases and with the database of the Herbarium Mediterraneum Panormitanum and of the Palermo’s Botanical Garden are explained.

Galanthus L. belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, consists of 19 species (22 taxa) and it is represented by 12 species (14 taxa) and one hybrid in Turkey. G. elwesii has a wide natural distrubution and can be found in Bulgaria, northeastern Greece, the eastern Aegean Islands, southern Ukraine and Turkey. Within Turkey, this species has the widest distrubution among others and naturally grow in northwestern, western and southern Anatolia: Edirne, Adapazarı, Bolu, Yozgat, Ankara, Eskişehir, Afyon, İzmir, Isparta, Konya, Karaman, Niğde and Antalya provinces. In this study, morphological features of G. elwesii has been investigated. Leaf and flower morphology were studied on live material, both in the field and in cultivation, and herbarium specimens.