Table of Contents

The conservation of species in situ is one of the least understood issues of biodiversity conservation and probably the least addressed. The main general aim and long-term goal of in situ conservation of target species is to protect, manage and monitor selected populations in their natural habitats so that the natural evolutionary processes can be maintained, thus allowing new variation to be generated in the gene pool that will allow the species to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In situ species conservation covers a broad spectrum of activities ranging from the preparation and implementation of detailed single-species recovery plans in the case of species that are critically endangered (which the CBD includes under ex situ conservation), through vigilance and monitoring for those species that are rare, not threatened or only vulnerable, to various forms and degrees of management intervention which affect either the species populations concerned or the habitats/areas in which they occur or both. In situ species conservation is usually contrasted with ex situ conservation but various types of intermediate situations exist which make a transition between the two. An approach that has gained widespread acceptance in some parts of Europe is the establishment of micro-reserves. Globally, most countries have put little if any effort into species conservation although in Europe several countries (including some in the Mediterranean region), as well as Nor...

The Republic of Uzbekistan is a Central Asian country with rich native flora. The territory belongs to the Irano-Turanian region in the Ancient Mediterranean (Tethyan) floristic subkingdom of Holarctic. The flora of Uzbekistan accounts more than 4250 species of vascular plants including large numbers of endemic species, but the check-list is still incomplete. 17 new records for Fabaceae family in the flora of Uzbekistan were found in 2012-2013 during the field studies and examination of herbarium collections of TASH.

The typification of Atropa frutescens L. (≡ Withania frutescens (L.) Pauquy) (Solanaceae) is discussed. The designation of the nomenclatural type is based on the consultation of Linnaeus’s original material and the literature cited in the protologue. An original specimen conserved in the Linnean Herbarium at the Linnean Society of London (LINN) is designated as the lectotype.

This study focuses on the differences in total phenolic content and its seasonal variations in two temperate brown algae, Cystoseira amentacea (C. Agardh) Bory and Dictyopteris polypodioides (A.P. De Candolle) J.V. Lamouroux, inhabiting respectively the infralittoral fringe and the upper infralittoral zone. Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites, found in almost all brown algal orders, that function as defense against grazers, epiphytes and UV radiation. Total phenolic content was determined colorimetrically with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Results showed significant differences in total phenol content between D. polypodioides and C. amentacea with higher values observed in the first one. Differences in the seasonal pattern of total phenolic content and in the period of maximum production were also observed between the two species. The observed differences could result from differences in morphology, life-cycle and bathymetric level.

The common European Arum maculatum L. is an acknowledged medicinal plant. Although the uses of the plant are widely acknowledged, little is known about the actual exploitation potential in natural and cultivated conditions. We aim to address this question. The first step in knowing if a resource is exploitable is checking where the plant is present. In this study, we first gathered information based on a critical revision of the deposited herbarium samples of genus Arum L. in the national Bulgarian herbaria. Secondly, we organized this information in a database, which was used to construct UTM-grid maps of the current known distribution of the taxa in Bulgaria. Thirdly, we compiled the presented information on the UTM-grid maps together with our field study data which we collected during the period April – July 2013 by visiting locations known from the literature and from the herbarium vouchers (see above) and checking for the presence of Arum. When considering the potential exploitation of the plant in natural conditions, our preliminary field survey suggests a more limited potential in Bulgaria, when compared to previous investigations. Also, the fact that the proper identification is difficult even to specialists could lead to a serious hazard, since plant collectors may confuse species, and thus may improperly use them. Based on all the mentioned above, it appears that the most appropriate solution for any pharmaceutical exploitation would be to develop a...

Orobanche cohenii a new species belonging to Orobanche sect. Trionychon is described and illustrated from Mt. Hermon, Israel. Its relationships with the other species of Orobanche sect. Trionychon occurring in this area are examined.

A non-sporulating fungus was isolated from different organs of Helleborus bocconei subsp. intermedius (Ranunculaceae) endemic to southern Italy and Sicily, known for the traditional use of dried roots in the treatment of lung diseases of cattle and horses. Molecular characterization of endophytic fungus based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene sequences was done. The DNA sequence of full length ITS region of the studied fungus was a 100% match to that of Chaetomium strumarium strain dH 21642 (GenBank accession number JX280851.1). The morphological characters of colony and mycelium of this microfungus are reported here.

Independence of the genera Merendera and Bulbocodium has been discussed for almost a century. In recent studies the monophyly of the genus Androcymbium has been questioned as well. This work attempts to analyze peculiarities of the geographic distribution, ecology, flower morphology (the structure of the stamens and stillodia), and chromosome numbers of the species of Merendera and Bulbocodium. The data obtained by this study are farther compared to the published data on the genera Colchicum and Androcymbium. As a result of this investigation new important distinctions among the questionable genera were found. Most important are the evolutionary trends in their pollination system, such as intensification of the tendency toward cross pollination across entire species range of the questionable genera. This trends was likely connected to the secondary development (or preservation) of their apopetalous corolla. It defined peculiarities of the genera Merendera and Bulbocodium, their ecological niche preferences, dispersal abilities, developmental features and speciation. On the basis of these findings the author concludes that the status of Merendera and Bulbocodium should be preserved and they should be recognized as independent genera.

First finding of Riella notarisii (Mont.) Mont. (Hepaticae, Riellaceae) in peninsular Italy; an aquatic liverwort included in the red list of Italian flora. The occurrence in Calabria (South Italy) is reported. Some notes on its ecology, taxonomy and corology are presented.

The weather conditions directly influence pollination by determining time of onset of flowering, the number of pollen grains produced, and by controlling the amount of pollen that is discharged into the air from day to day. The climate in the Mediterranean is mild and wet during the winter and hot and dry during summer. In this area plant physiology is controlled by temperature, but some plants flower when water is available or as day length increases in spring or decreases in summer. Some species respond to a combination of these environmental parameters which interact with both the initial steps of the flower initiation and the speed of the flower development. In the last decades, it has been an evidence of a significant increase of air temperature with consequent changes on the airborne presence of anemophilous pollen. The changes recorded involve, above all, the timing in which occur the pollination, the peak date, the behaviour of pollen release, whereas any significant influence on the total pollen emission is found. Many studies carried out on long time series of airborne pollen counts have shown an earlier start of pollination in spring flowering trees, such as Platanus, Quercus, Betula, Pinus, Olea. For taxa flowering in winter, such as Corylus, Alnus and Ulmus, this trend is not linear and could even be delayed by autumn higher temperatures which determine insufficient chilling accumulation and later start of the season. On the contrary of areas of...

This research focuses on the flora of Melendiz Mountains and its surroundings, situated in the province of Niğde in Central Anatolia, entirely within the Irano -Turanian phytogeographic region. In the area, 498 taxa belonging to 58 families, and 244 genera were determined. The families with the most taxa in the research area are Asteraceae (67 taxa), Fabaceae (51 taxa) Poaceae and Lamiaceae (41 taxa), Caryophyllaceae (38 taxa), Brassicaceae (23 taxa), Apiaceae (20 taxa), Boraginaceae (21 taxa), Rosaceae (16 taxa). Concerning the number of species, the major genera in this region are as follows: Astragalus (11), Veronica (10), Silene (9), Trifolium (9), Centaurea (7), Ranunculus (7), Minuartia (7), Lathyrus (7). According to the life forms, hemicryptophytes come first with a rate of 45.58 % in the region, followed by therophytes (27.71 %), cryptophytes (10.84 %), chamaephytes (10.04 %), phanerophytes (4.81 %) and vascular parasites (1.00 %). The distribution rates of phytogeographic elements are as follows: Irano -Turanian 24.09 %, Mediterranean 9.23 %, Euro -Siberian 4.61 % and others 62.04 %. The number of endemic taxa is 73 (the endemism rate is 14.6 %) in the study area. The 22 taxa are new records for square B5 and 1 taxon is for square C5

In 2013 three Greek islands, Samos, Ikaria and Skiathos were visited. Charophytes were found in Samos and Ikaria but not in Skiathos. Out of 23 visited localities charophytes were found in 12. Seven species of charophytes were found in Samos (Lamprothamnium papulosum, Chara canescens, C. vulgaris, C. gymnophylla, C. corfuensis, Tolypella nidifica_ and T. glomereta) and in Ikaria one species (Chara vulgaris). Species richness in Samos is due to a variety of different habitats including brackish water lakes, running brackish water, fresh water pools and slowly moving rivers.

The Valencian Plant Micro-reserves network comprises 298 protected sites, and considerable experience has been progressively accumulated during 15 years of continued management. However, an evaluation of its effectiveness as a tool to protect wild rare, endemic or endangered plants has not yet been made. As part of a larger evaluation effort, this paper assesses the effectiveness of the Valencian PMR network to incorporate the most relevant plants species targeted for conservation in the Valencian region. The results show that 77% of endemic, about 50% of rare and 57% of threatened species are represented in the PMR network. However, a comparison of these results is not possible today due to the lack of good analysis of networks of small protected sites focused on plant protection.

The bryoflora of the Gorges de l’Ardèche has been bryoflostically investigated. The previously published records, corresponding to 27 taxa, have been taken into account. Today, 216 bryophyte taxa are confidently recorded in the Gorges de l’Ardèche site. It is considered as a local hot-spot of bryological diversity in a south-eastern France context. Several genera are of special ecological interest: Didymodon, Orthotrichum, Bryum, Fissidens and Riccia. More than 20 remarkable species are additionally recorded: Acaulon triquetrum, Aleniella besseri, Barbula bolleana, Bryum canariense, Cheilothela chloropus, Cinclidotus danubicus, Didymodon nicholsonii, Ephemerum recurvifolium, Fissidens fontanus, Grimmia tergestina, Homalia lusitanica, Homalothecium aureum, Mannia californica, Marchantia paleacea, Orthotrichum philibertii, Orthotrichum sprucei, R. trabutiana, Radula lindenbergiana, Riccia cavernosa, Scorpiurium sendtneri, Timmiella anomala and Tortella inflexa. A significant number of species is largely dependant upon the natural functioning of the Ardèche river, with an intense alluvial activity and remodelling of river banks. Most forest stands are young ones, originating from forest recolonization of ancient pastoral areas. The conservation of the bryophyte communities is very simple and shall be based upon the principle of minimum intervention. An improvement of the waste water disposal systems of many campsites is needed.

Six subtropical weeds of the Cyperaceae family (Bulbostylis thouarsii, Cyperus compressus, C. distans, C. iria, C. pumilus and Fimbristylis dichotoma) are reliably reported for the first time from Spain (and probably from Europe as well). All were found in a municipal nursery near Valencia, destined for the restoration of natural habitats, and have probably been introduced, inadvertently, with coconut fiber from tropical Asia (possibly Sri Lanka). These species are briefly characterized and their weed status in the world is assessed. To prevent a future naturalization eradication of these weeds is recommended.

Tulipa akamasica (Liliaceae) is described as new to science. Its occurrence is restricted to a small area on serpentine substrate in the Akamas peninsula in the western part of Cyprus. The diploid plant belongs to the controversial T. orphanidea species group, but differs from its segregates by the delicateness of most organs.

Michele Lojacono Pojero (1853-1919) is among the most prolific Italian authors of plant names of his era. A list is presented of the names of 581 new Italian (almost invariably Sicilian) vascular plant taxa he published (303 species, 272 varieties, 6 formae), with reference to existing lectotype designations.

A morphometric study aimed at comparing Italian and Balkan populations of Astragalus muelleri is carried out. Based on univariate (ANOVA, Tukey HSD test) and multivariate (DA) analysis results, a new subspecies to accommodate the Italian populations (A. muelleri subsp. etruscus subsp. nov.) is described. This subspecies is slightly distinct from the typical Balkan populations for its fewer and larger flowers, producing shorter fruits.

The recent discovery of natural truffle grounds of the prized Tuber magnatum Pico in Sicily (southern Italy) allows to up-to-date the ecology and distribution of this choice edible mushroom in Italy and opens new economic opportunities in rural areas traditionally suffering from the economic point of view. The two new localities reported expand the southern range border of the species in Italy and Europe.

Comparative studies on the pollen grains biometry and morphology of the most common species of Amaranthaceae s. lat. (incl. Chenopodiaceae) relieved in the Italian territory were carried out by Light Microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope in order to compare similarities and differences among them. Many pollen characters like diameter, volume, exine thickness, number of pores, pore density, interpore distance, pore size were considered and analyzed from statistical points of view. Fisher’s Least Significant Difference Test allowed clustering of groups and ordination analysis of taxa. Pollen analysis does not allow easy distinction of the pollen grains of the considered taxa. However, in spite of the many similarities shared by the two groups, some morphological and biometrical traits still allow the distinction of some taxa: interpore distance, exine thickness and above all microechinae density on pollen surface. These spinulous processes are more densely arranged on pollen from species of Amaranthus than from those formerly referred to Chenopodiaceae. The results obtained support the inclusion of the former Chenopodiaceae into Amaranthaceae.

This is the twenty-four 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 21 taxa: Hymenonema from Greece by E. Liveri, P. Bareka & G. Kamari (Nos 1824-1825); Fritillaria from Turkey by Mine Koçyiğit, N. Özhatay, U. Rastgeldi & E. Kaya (Nos 1826-1836); Hieracium from Sicily by E. Di Gristina, G. Domina & A. Geraci (No 1837); Bellevalia and Leopoldia from Tunisia by A. Troia, G. Domina & V. Spadaro (Nos 1838- 1839); Bubon, Centaurea, Crepis, Rindera and Scaligeria from Greece by Ch. Kyriakopoulos, P. Bareka & G. Kamari (Nos 1840-1844).