Table of Contents

Malus crescimannoi, from the Nebrodi Mountains, N.W. Sicily, is described. This new species, belonging to Malus sect. Malus (Rosaceae, Maloideae), differs from M. sylvestris and M. domestica, both occurring in Sicily, by its smaller flowers, stamens shorter than styles, pome ovoid, usually longer than wide. Malus crescimannoi is frequent in the sub-montane belt of the Nebrodi mountains, mainly in the Flascio river basin near Floresta.

The vascular flora of Çatak valley has been studied in 2002-2004. 823 species and infraspecific taxa were found, they belong to 363 genera and 78 families. 53 are endemic to Turkey (6.43 %). 415 taxa are new records for C9 grid square. Besides, Asperuginoides axillaris (Brassicaceae), is new to the Flora of Turkey.

A systematic study of 44 taxa belonging to 10 genera of tribes Convolvuleae, Cuscuteae, Cresseae, Dichondreae, Ipomoeeae and Merremieae of the Convolvulaceae from Egypt was carried out by means of a phenetic analysis based on seventy one morphological characters, including vegetative parts, pollen grains and seeds. Based on UPGMA clustering and PCO analysis, five main groups are recognized: Convolvuleae, Cuscuteae, Cresseae, Dichondreae and a mixed group from Ipomoeeae and Merremieae. OUT’s of these groups are clustered together based on characters with high factor loading >0.60 in the PCO analysis. Our results indicate that the tribe Convolvuleae is heterogeneous and the Cuscuteae is homogeneous, and there is some degree of similarity between taxa of Merremieae and Ipomoeeae, and those Cresseae and Dichondreae.

The 178 samples belonging to the Portulaca oleracea aggregate, originating from Sicily, Cyprus, Crete, and Rhodes, seed size and seed coat micromorphology have been studied. The material was found to belong to 9 different microspecies, 5 of which are described as new to science. This raises the number of microspecies known in the aggregate to 15: 6 hexaploids (5 present in the area), 4 tetraploids (all present), 2 diploids and 3 uncounted (none present). A key for identification of all 15, based on seed coat characters, is presented and is illustrated by SEM micrographs for 14 of them.

The remarkable plant diversity that characterizes the Euro-Mediterranean region has been for long the focus of intense scientific interest. Since the data produced daily accumulate at tremendous rates, there emerges the task of organizing them into flexible and widely accessible tools for ongoing research. PhytoKaryon was conceived and built as a database that would contain all available karyological data on plants of the Euro-Mediterranean region. It currently includes more than 45,000 records, based on over 1,200 bibliographical references and relating to about 11,000 plant taxa. This wealth of electronically organized karyological data allows for relevant comparisons among different plant groups and the countries, as here demonstrated by examples of data mining.

Schistidium agassizii (Grimmiaceae, _B_ryopsida) is recorded for the first time in Turkey. The specimen was collected along the Harbiye waterfalls, Antakya (Hatay Province). The nearest localities to Turkey for this species are in Italy, Bulgaria, the Caucasus, and Iran. There are now 15 species of Schistidium occurring in Turkey.

The distribution in Italy of three species of the genus Calicotome (C. spinosa, C. villosa and C. infesta) is described and analysed, based on field observations and studied specimens from Italian herbaria. A key for their identification is provided. C. spinosa var. ligustica is included in C. infesta.

This investigation was carried on the Urban Flora of Muğla. The research area is located on C2 square acording to Davis’s grid system. In this study, 576 taxa belonging to 88 families, 327 genera, 555 species, 14 subspecies and 7 varieties were identified on the collected 1546 specimens during the period October 2001-June 2004. The chorological spectrum of the flora is: E. Medit elements 97 (16.84%), Mediterranean elements 92 (15.97%), Irano-Turanian elements 19 (3.30%), Euro-Siberian elements 12 (2.08%), unknown or cosmopolitans 356 (61.81%). The endemics are 30 and the rate of endemism is 5.20%.

In this study, the vascular flora of the endemic Cedrus brevifolia in Pafos’ forests in Cyprus was investigated. Pinus brutia, C. brevifolia and Quercus alnifolia are the main floristic elements of these forests. The dominance of the Mediterranean element and the remarkable presence of the Eurasiatic – European as well as, of the other chorological elements, give a submediterranean character to the flora. Annual herbs predominate followed by the herbaceous perennials. Therophytes are the most abundant followed by hemicryptophytes, typical of the flora of Mediterranean zone. Comparative analysis was done between Cedar, Pine and mixed Cedar – Pine forests. The geographical distribution of the floristic elements, according to the altitude and the biotopes they were found, is presented in analytical tables and on the map of the study area. New taxa for this area have also been recorded for the first time.

A checklist of vascular plants found in the Sevastopol area (SW tip of the Crimea) is presented. The area roughly equals the Sevastopol administrative district (excluding northernmost part) and occupies ca. 600 sq. km. History of the botanical exploration of SW Crimea is described. The checklist includes 1385 species confirmed by specimens, 72 species recorded in literature but not confirmed by specimens, and 60 species collected in adjacent localities outside the area. 194 taxa are reported for the first time for the Sevastopol area. One variety is new to science (Allium jajlae var. bajdarense), two new subspecies names are combinations based on species names (Lythrum hyssopifolia subsp. melanospermum, Sideritis taurica subsp. catillaris), and one new name (Lotus juzepczukii) replaces later homonyme.

This paper presents the results of a ten-year fieldwork on aquatic and wetland plants of Sardinia (Italy), and a compilation and evaluation of the data published in the literature. My own data are supported by voucher specimens, including eight species new to the island, presently in my herbarium which will eventually be deposited in the Conservatoire Botanique of Geneva. Since 1974 thirty-three species new for Sardinia have been reported in the literature.

Limonium postii and L. mouterdei, two new species belonging to the L. palmare aggr., are described and illustrated from the coast near Beirut, Lebanon. Their relationships with L. graecum, L. sieberi and L. galilaeum are examined.

Most of the deserts of Egypt lie within the Sahara regional transition zone, with the exception of the western Mediterranean coastal region which lies within the Mediterranean-Sahara regional transition zone and the Gebel Elba region in southeast Egypt which constitutes a part of the Sahel regional transition zone. The vegetation types in the Egyptian deserts and oases are briefly described with mention of their most characteristic elements. Some neighbouring desert regions in Libya, Palestine, the Arabian peninsula and Sudan are compared with those of the Egyptian deserts. The palaeoclimatic conditions in Egypt are briefly discussed in relation to the past climatic changes and their effect on the present-day vegetation.

Salvia cadmica was investigated morphologically, anatomically and karyologically. Glandular and eglandular hairs were determined in the cross sections from the stem, leaf, petiole, flower and pedicel. The hairs were clasified in respect to the numbers of base, stalk and head cells. In karyological studies, chromosome numbers and morphology of the species were determined. Chromosome numbers of Salvia cadmica was counted as 2n = 14.

Anchusa aegyptiaca (L.) DC., a taxon considered native to the Eastern Mediterranean has been recognized in the province of Murcia (south-eastern Spain). Its identity was confirmed by a comparative macromorphological study between Spanish individuals and herbarium specimens from other countries, and a scanning electron microscope study of its floral characters. The presence of this species in the Eastern Mediterranean represents an important disjunction of great paleobiogeographic relevance.

In this article charophytes are reported from the three Aegean Islands, Khios, Lesvos and Limnos, where they have been found in freshwater, brackish water and in saline lakes. Chara vulgaris was found in four freshwater localities in Khios. One of these is a spring where also Chara gymnophylla was found. This find is interesting as the species is rare in the Greek islands. In Limnos the brackish water species Chara canescens and Lamprothamnium papulosum were found. Two of the localities here were saline lakes. One of these saline lakes, Asprolimni lake has no traces of human activities, and should be protected as a reference locality for saline lakes in Greece.

Considerable differences in rhizome anatomy of the six reed species known from the Mediterranean area, may serve as excellent diagnostic characters which may be used to distinguish between Phragmites and Arundo species. There is an air-storing tissue (aerenchyma) of rectangular or rounded holes at the rhizome periphery of Phragmites. In the periphery of the Arundo rhizome there is a thick layer of parenchyma with occasional bundles of conducting elements. The solid pachyrhizomes of Arundo donax cannot be confused with those of the other reeds which are hollow.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile leaves are one of the most important substrates for the establishment of epiphytic algae in Mediterranean coastal areas. To date most of the literature on epiphytic algae living on Posidonia oceanica focuses on their importance as primary producers and on the seasonal or low scale spatial variations of the community. The effects of nutrient enrichment on the biomass of seagrasses epiphytes have also been the subject of numerous publications. Nevertheless, studies considering the floristic composition of the epiphyte communities and high scale spatiotemporal (hundreds kilometres; several years) variations are scarce. The goal of this paper is to compare floristic inventories of Posidonia oceanica leaves algal epiphytes made in different regions of the Western Mediterranean. Compared inventories are those published between 1971 and 1999 by several authors and related to nine different meadows located in Spain, France, Corsica, Italy and Sicily. New records, made in the Revellata Bay (Calvi, Corsica, France) between 2002 and 2005 are presented and have been included in the comparison. Floristic inventories have been compared at the species level and at a higher taxonomical level using group-average clustering and non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) based on Bray-Curtis similarity measures. Results revealed that the overall diversity is huge: at least 199 taxa may occur on Posidonia oceanica leaves in the whole Western Medi...

The wild and cultivated tamarisks flora of Calabria is here up dated. The presence of T. africana var. africana is confirmed while T. africana var. fluminensis, T. arborea var. arborea, T. arborea var. subvelutina, T. dalmatica, T. hampeana and T. parviflora are new reports from Calabria.

The pollen morphology of 20 species of Malvaceae growing in Yemen was investigated by light (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The studied taxa belong to 9 genera and three different tribes. These taxa are: Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus trionum, H. micranthus, H. deflersii, H. palmatus, H. vitifolius, H. rosa-sinensis, H. ovalifolius, Gossypium hirsutum, Thespesia populnea (L.) Solander ex Correa and Senra incana (Cav.) DC. (Hibiscieae); Malva parviflora and Alcea rosea (Malveae); Abutilon fruticosum, A. figarianum, A. bidentatum, A. pannosum, Sida acuta, S. alba and S. ovata (Abutileae). Pollen shape, size, aperture, exine structure and sculpturing as well as the spine characters proved that they are of high taxonomic value. Pollen characters with some other morphological characters are discussed in the light of the recent classification of the family in Yemen.

Fifteen Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes found on litter of several plants of mediterranean maquis in Pantelleria are described. Anungitea raimondoi and Pleurotheciopsis asymmetrica are proposed as new species.

Fumana laevipes (Cistaceae) was discovered for the first time in the Maltese Islands in the year 2007 on the coastal boulder screes at iż-Żewwieqa, South Gozo, bringing the total number of Fumana recorded for the Maltese Islands to 3. Details regarding population structure, accompanying vegetation and distributional range are given.

The The high valley of the Aït-Bou-Guemmez is right in the center of the High Atlas and is entirely located between 1800 m and 3729 m a.s.l. From the ecological point of view its hypsometrics determine the occurrence of a peculiar biotope distribution in which higher Mediterranean, Mountainous Mediterranean and Oromediterranean vegetation belt are well represented. Moreover, owing to the general or local relives, altitudinal vegetation ditribution is also influenced by the exposition of slopes. Taking into account the above factors, a survey of the region has been carried out following an oriented transect, which is representative of the strong climatic gradients. General indications provided by vegetation are included in the realization of a linear phyto-environmental sampling. The study of plant distribution and the calculation of mutual mean information species-variables has allowed us to specify nature and field of these climatic gradients

Lojacono described and named 89 new Compositae taxa (32 species, 52 varieties, 5 formae), mostly in his Flora sicula, in 1903, but sometimes in earlier, lesser known papers. In spite of problems (here discussed) to find and recognise his original material in the Palermo Herbarium (PAL), for 58 names types (mostly here designated) have been found in Palermo. Discounting 3 names typified by illustrations and 5 with lectotypes designated in Naples and Geneva, 23 remain that cannot be typified for the time being. Eleven of Lojacono’s new species names are still in use currently. Among them is Filago cuneata, long forgotten but here redeemed.

The results of a floristic survey carried out in Mount Stratonikon (GR1270005), a Site of Community Importance included in the European NATURA 2000 network are presented. A total number of 404 vascular plant taxa were recorded, belonging to 260 genera and 83 families. Hemicryptophytes are prevailing (43.4% of the taxa), followed by Therophytes (19.2%) and Phanerophytes (18.7%). Eurasiatic taxa represent 40.1% of the chorological spectrum, followed by Mediterranean taxa (34.8%). One NE Greek endemic, Acinos alpinus subsp. nomismophyllus, was recorded. Moreover, 13 Balkan endemics (3.3% of the taxa recorded) were found, among them some, restricted in N Greece taxa (Rorripa thracica, Berteroa orbiculata, Cephalaria flava subsp. flava and Digitalis viridiflora). Finally, seven spontaneously growing xenophytes were found.

The list of bryophytes collected during the VIII Iter Mediterraneum of O.P.T.I.M.A., held in Calabria, is provided. 177 taxa (37 liverworts and 140 mosses), 22 of wich new to Calabrian bryoflora, are reported. Among them Brachythecium mildeanum, Racomitrium microcarpon and Rhabdoweisia crispata are new to southern Italy and rare or absent in central Italy. Other findings of phytogeographic interest are those of Pseudoleskea radicosa, Syntrichia calcicola, S. norvegica and Racomitrium elongatum, being new species to southern part of Italian peninsula. The latter is a rare moss in Italy. Moreover, since the presence of Racomitrium microcarpon in Italy was previously based on data before 1950 it is here confirmed. Likewise, 3 taxa (Ptycodium plicatum, Sphagnum palustre and Thuidium delicatulum) had not been found in southern Italy and 13 in Calabria since before 1950. In addition, new localities are recorded for other 20 rare taxa in southern Italy or throughout the entire peninsula.

This is the eighteen of a series of reports of chromosomes numbers from Mediterranean area, peri-Alpine communities and the Atlantic Islands, in English or French language. It comprises contributions on 43 taxa: Allium, Cyclamen, Muscari, Ornithogalum from Cyprus, by E. Christou, P. Bareka & G. Kamari (Nos 1645-1649); Anthriscus from Israel, Eryngium from Cyprus, Daucus, Ferula, Orlaya, Smyrnium from Crete, Lagoecia, Pimpinella, Tordylium from Israel and Crete, by M. G. Pimenov & Ju. V. Shner (Nos 1650-1663); Saponaria, Dianthus, Trigonella, Teucrium, Inula, Taraxacum from Bulgaria by D. Pavlova (Nos 1664-1669); Lathyrus from Bulgaria, by A. Tosheva (Nos 1670-1676); Pinguicula from Italy, by K. F. Caparelli, F. Conti & L. Peruzzi (Nos 1677-1678); Genista from Spain, Portugal, France, Helvetia, Germany, Rumania, by T. Cusma Velari, L. Feoli Chiapella, V. Kosovel & S. Patui (Nos 1681-1682); Adenocarpus from Morocco, Ulex from Spain, Genista from Morocco and Spain, by H. Tahiri, P. Cubas & C. Pardo (Nos 1683-1687).