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Inventory of the vascular flora of the Byblos’ islet (El Zireh), Jbeïl, Lebanon. — The biodiversity of small islands and islets of the Mediterranean coast was long neglected, but sometimes presents surprises. The vascular flora of the Byblos’ islet (0,2 ha), called “El Zireh”, was inventoried on June 1st, 2013. The inventory, presumed exhaustive, registered the presence of 19 taxa. Three are endemic of the Near East, including a misunderstood taxa considered here for the first time under a new name (Rostraria cristata var. vestita, here lectotypified). Another is endemic of Lebanon (Matthiola crassifolia) and included in the 1997 IUCN Red List. No exotic species were found. Threats seem to be low and essentially linked with human pleasure activities (fishing, diving).

Despite the generally recognized role of Mt Hermon as a key area of biodiversity, there is still a lack of sufficient data on the vascular flora of the Lebanese side of the mountain. To fill this gap a list of 221 phanerogams, collected during 2011-2014 at altitudes of 1100 to 2800 m, is presented including information on the eco-geographical traits of the taxa. Ethnobotanical knowledge of identified species was gathered through interviews and focus group meetings with herbalists, folk medicine healers, bee keepers and knowledgeable elderly people of the local Lebanese community. Among the 53 ascertained plant families Asteraceae (32 spp.), Lamiaceae (25 spp.), Apiaceae (17 spp.), Fabaceae (14 spp.) and Rosaceae (14 spp.) form the major shares. Among the observed 221 taxa, 24 endemics (Lebanon and Syria) are recorded and 115 taxa are for the first time detected in the mountain ecosystem. Associated with the valuable wealth of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge gathered, these findings can highlight the importance of Mt Hermon in terms of flora diversity and its valuable potential in enhancing the livelihood of local human communities. Thus, it is of significance to set the necessary approach to include the mountaine among the high priority areas considered for the national and global biodiversity conservation efforts.

A total of 195 species were recorded in the different sectors of Wadi Hashem cut-in the limestone plateau west of Mersa Matruh (Egypt). The distribution of these species in the different sectors of the Wadi as well as the phytochoria for the recorded species is provided. The highest number of species (157) was recorded in the stream part of the Wadi bed while the lowest number (34) was recorded in the three cliffs of the Wadi. Sixty seven species forming 34.36% of the total are typical Mediterranean (monoregional) taxa. About 93 species (47.69%) are bi- or pluriregional taxa with apparent Mediterranean affinities.

Pisolithus albus was recently collected for the first time in Tunisia. This ectomycorrhizal fungus is found associated with Eucalyptus occidentalis, a new symbiotic relationship, in the urban area of Tunis. The new record of this fungus on this tree permit to expand our knowledge on the ecology and distribution of P. albus in Tunisia. The finding is also important since this fungal symbiont has great potential in forestation efforts. Data on the morphology, molecular identification, distribution and, ecology for P. albus in Tunisia are presented for the first time.

The results of a botanical exploration to Jbel Akhtar (Cyrenaica, Libya) by the authors are here presented. On the whole 280 collections were made. The data were entered in a database, Botanical Research And Herbarium Management System (BRAHMS) and are available for future floristic contributions.

Dans l’atlas saharien oranais (Béchar), le groupement à Pistacia atlantica (Desf.) est occupé une immense aire très généralement distribué, mais localisé aux talwegs, aux dayas, aux ruptures de carapace. Mais ces espaces à groupement de Pistacia atlantica ne sont pas pris en compte dans les inventaires de patrimoine forestier local et national algérien. Le pistachier de l’Atlas (Pistacia atlantica) est une espèce rustique qui présente une grande amplitude bioclimatique thermique où elle apparait actuellement entre 0 et 3,7°C, ceci coïncide avec les étages de végétation Méso et thermo-méditerranéen. Il est d’intérêt certain sur le plan socioéconomique pour la population locale assurent la survie des nomades en leur fournissant de l’ombre, du bois de chauffage, bois d’œuvre (piquets de tentes et pilons), des tannins et de la gomme comme produit pharmaceutique et un intérêt écologique grâce à son enracinement pivotant bien adapté dans les zones arides susceptible de puiser l’eau en profondeur. Sa réhabilitation et sa conservation sont donc nécessaires pour contribuer au développement durable des zones arides.

Fatty acid (FA) profiles are considered as chemotaxonomic markers to define groups of various taxonomic ranks in bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. Tuber aestivum is one of the most common European truffles that has environmental and economic values. While genetic studies suggest that T. aestivum Vittad. and T. uncinatum Chatin are synonymous, there is still debate over whether this is a species complex. In this work, we evaluate the differences in the total and individual FAs content of T. aestivum and T. uncinatum morphotypes, and T. melanosporum n-hexane extracts. The higher amounts of total linoleic acid and total oleic acid are found in T. uncinatum and characterize it from the T. aestivum. The composition of FA profiles of T. uncinatum-T. aestivum were distinguished by the presence of free palmitoleic acid (a chemotaxonomic marker) in T. uncinatum and absent in T. aestivum. Cluster analysis indicated that there were two groups for the FA profiles of the Tuber spp. hexanic extract: T. aestivum extract and T. uncinatum and T. melanosporum extracts. Our results indicate that T. aestivum and T. uncinatum have to be considered as two different taxa within the T. aestivum species complex.

In 2015, an international lichenological excursion to Armenia was organized by the Young Biologists Association NGO and Organization for the Phyto-Taxonomic Investigation of the Mediterranean Area. One of the main goals of this excursion was to study lichen diversity of the Khosrov Forest State Reserve. As a result of this inventory, 176 species of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi have been found in the protected area. Out of these, 49 are reported for the first time from Armenia: Acarospora versicolor, Agonimia tristicula, Anema decipiens, Arctomia fascicularis, Arthonia intexta, A. phaeophysciae, Aspicilia cf. glomerulans, A. intermutans, Bacidina arnoldiana, Bagliettoa calciseda, Bilimbia sabuletorum, Blennothallia crispa, Chrysopsora testacea, Collema subflaccidum, Diploschistes gypsaceus, Endocarpon pusillum, Gonohymenia nigritella, G. schleicheri, Gyalolechia juniperina, Immersaria iranica, Lecania rabenhorstii, Lecanora barkmaniana, L. juniperina, L. semipallida, Leprocaulon microscopicum, Llimoniella phaeophysciae, Lobothallia recedens, Peccania coralloides, Peltula euploca, Physconia thorstenii, Piccolia ochrophora, Placidium lacinulatum, Placopyrenium fuscellum, Psorotichia schaereri, Rinodina colobina, R. obnascens, Scytinium gelatinosum, S. turgidum, Solenopsora holophaea, Thermutis velutina, Toninia candida, T. squalida, Tremella phaeophysciae, Usnea lapponica, U. wasmuthii, Verrucaria dolosa, V. macrostoma, Xanthoparmelia protomatrae and _X. t...

Solanum lanceolatum Cav. (Solanaceae) is a species native to Central America (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Panama), that has been found naturalized near Sutera and Porto Empedocle (Sicily). This is the first record in Italy and Europe.

Solanum elaeagnifolium (Solanaceae) is reported as a new alien species to the Bulgarian flora. It is native to Central America – Mexico and USA, and has been introduced and naturalized in 4 continents. The species was recorded in Valley of River Struma floristic region in Bulgaria, along the road from Sandanski to Petrich town. Inferring from its current occurrence in the country it can be said the taxon had been recently introduced, and is likely to naturalize and spread further due to its invasive traits and suitable environmental conditions in the region. The article presents brief morphological description of the species based on the material collected in the field, and discussion of its habitat preferences and invasiveness.

A new species of peony from the Sardinia island named Paeonia sandrae has been described. Relationship with P. morisii from Sardinia, P. corsica from Corsica and P. mascula from Sicily are discussed, highlighting their morphological and caryological differences and affinities.

On the basis of plant collections recently carried out in Sicily as well as the study of the herbarium material kept in PAL and PAL-Gr, a new species of Smyrnium (Apiaceae) is described here. This new taxon, named Smyrnium dimartinoi, is related to S. perfoliatum and is presently known from Sicily, Crete and realistically elsewhere in the Mediterranean. In such range it occurs in open woods and clearings of the Mediterranean-temperate and submontane belt.

This is the twenty-fifth 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 23 taxa: Sisymbrium, Eremobium, Erysimum and Schouwia from Libya and Egypt, by F. Altınordu, K. Abdel Khalik & E. Martin (Nos 1845-1849); Bellevalia from Israel and Turkey, by P. Bareka (Nos 1850-1851); Atriplex, Bassia, Salicornia, Salsola and Suaeda from Bulgaria, by N. Grozeva (Nos 1852-1858); Centaurea, Lunaria and Taraxacum from Greece and Cyprus, by E. Liveri, P. Bareka & G. Kamari (Nos 1859-1862); Delphinium from Spain, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, France, Corsica, Italy and Kriti, by M. R. Orellana, A. Rovira, C. Blanché, J. Simon & M. Bosch (No 1863); Ajuga, Arisarum, Muscari and Silene from Greece and Cyprus, by S. Samaropoulou, P. Bareka & G. Kamari (Nos 1864-1867).