Flora Europaea: the background to the revision of Volume One

AKEROYD, J. R. & WALTERS, S. M. 1987. Flora Europaea: the background to the revision of Volume One. Flora Europaea, published 1964-80, is a synthetic catalogue of Europe's vascular plants. Its publication has provided a relatively stable taxonomic and nomenclatural framework for the study of the flora of the continent, and has stimulated much further research and publication. The revision of the first volume of Flora Europaea, at Reading University, has been necessary in order to accommodate new information, to satisfy the continued demand for a complete Flora of Europe, and to update the original text. The revision is being carried out in cooperation with other European and Mediterranean floristic projects.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Winter Garden Glory. Adrian Bloom
Gardening with Perennials Month by Month. Joseph Hudek
Flora Europaea. Volume 1, second edition, Psilotaceae to Platanaceae. Edited by T. G. Tutin, N. A. Burgess, A. O. Chater, J. R. Edmondson, V. H. Heywood, D. M. Moore, D. H. Valentine, S. M. Walters and D. A. Webb, assisted by J. R. Akeroyd and M. E. Newton
Bark. The Formation, Characteristics and Usefulness of Bark around the World. Ghillean Tolmie Prance and Anne E. Prance     

Application of the names Crataegus calycina Peterm. and C. oxyacantha L.

Authentic herbarium material of Crataegus calycina Petermann (1849) supports Hrabetová-Uhrová's contention in 1969 that this is conspecific with C. macrocarpa Hegetschweiler; the name C. calycina , for which a Petermann specimen in Musée Botanique Cantonal, Lausanne is designated as lectotype, had been incorrectly applied in Flora Europaea.
Examination of the specimens in the Linnaean Herbarium has led to acceptance of Dandy's proposal in 1946 that sheet 643.12 should be designated as the lectotype of C. oxyacantha L. (1753). This specimen is not, as frequently assumed, C. laevigata (Poiret) DC. (C oxyacanthoides Thuill.) but the species described in Flora Europaea as "C. calycina Peterm. subsp. curvisepala (Lindman) Franco". It is suggested that the name C. oxyacantha L. is a source of confusion and should be rejected under Article 69 of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. This gives priority to the name C. curvisepala Lindman, which should replace C. calycina Peterm. in Flora Europaea.     

Taxonomic re-evaluation of the Azolla genus in Portugal

ABSTRACT

The Portuguese and the European Flora refer to the presence of two or three Azolla species in Portugal: A. filiculoides Lam., A. caroliniana Willd. and/or Azolla mexicana Presl., the latter included in the last edition of Flora Europaea. In the present work, the taxonomy of Azolla species is reviewed using the two most important characters that can distinguish between these two/three species: papillae in the dorsal leaf lobe and perine architecture of the megaspore apparatus. Other characteristics, such as the hyaline border cells of the dorsal leaf lobes and the number of glochidia septa in microsporangium massulae, are also used. All the Azolla specimens, collected from several locations in Portugal, were identified as Azolla filiculoides Lam. This identification disagrees with previous published reports on Azolla taxonomy in Portugal as well as with herbarium identification.     

Flora Europaea Notulae Systematicae ad Floram Europaeam spectantes No. 20 Corrigenda et Addenda

Following the publication of the last of the series of Flora Europaea Notulae, No. 20 in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 76: 297–384 (1978), a number of additions or alterations have been drawn to our attention. These are published in continuation.     

Multi-species pattern analysis of Mediterranean pastures in three stages of ecological succession

Multi-species patterns were analyzed in three stages of ecological succession in oligotrophic pastures in Central Spain using a new method of analysis. The method is based on plotting the species coordinates of principal components analysis undertaken at different block sizes. It allows the detection of any heterogeneity present and reveals both microtopographical and macrotopographical trends in species patterns.Nomenclature follows Tutin et al., 1964–1980, Flora Europaea.     

Some recent computer-based developments in plant taxonomy

Review is presented of some of the recent computer-based projects in botany, including: ILDIS (the International Legume Database and Information Service), ESFEDS (European Science Foundation-European Documentation System), Flora Europaea, TDWG (Taxonomic Databases Working Group), Species Plantarum Project, 'Names in Current Use' and BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles) database project.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus content in plant species of Mediterranean ecosystems in Greece

The values of nitrogen phosphorus ratios measured in green parts of evergreen sclerophylls, seasonal dimorphic, deciduous and herbaceous plants found in Mediterranean-type ecosystems of Greece, form a homogeneous group, which is comparable only with those of analogous ecosystems of California but not with Mediterranean systems of the southern hemisphere.Nomenclature follows: Tutin et al., 1964. Flora Europaea.Support of National Research Foundation (Greece) and NATO (SRG-12) is gratefully acknowledged.     

Sesquiterpene lactones as chemotaxonomic markers in genus Anthemis

Sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the genus Anthemis are used as chemotaxonomic markers. The obtained results support with some exceptions the botanical classification in Flora Europaea. Discrepancy between the lactone profile, cluster analysis and classification of A. melampodina, A. macedonica and A. austriaca in the genus Anthemis is discussed. The lactone composition of the undescribed as an European species A. plutonia correlates well with the guaianolide containing group of sect. Hiorthia.     

Nomenclatural notes on some species of Solanum L. found in Europe

The nomenclatural changes which have become necessary for several species belonging to Solanum section Solanum since they were revised during the preparation of Flora Europaea are given and discussed. S. villosum is now recognized as the correct name for S. luteum , and this has necessitated a new combination for the eglandular subspecies of this taxon, namely, S. villosum Miller subsp. puniceum (Kirschleger) Edmonds. The two species were described simultaneously by Miller, and the precedence of the epithet villosum over the epithet luteum is fully discussed, together with the reasons for the selection of puniceum as the second subspecific name. The species previously referred to as S. melanocerasum is now known to be synonymous with S. scabrum , while S. chenopodioides becomes the correct name for S. sublobatum. Complete lists of synonyms are given for these three species, together with extensive notes on the more controversial and difficult synonymy. Finally, reasons are given to justify the spelling of S. sarrachoides with two r's.     

The alien flora of Europe: a taxonomic and biogeographic review

Abstract. A geographic and taxonomic overview of the non-indigenous plant species of Europe, based on the ‘Flora Europaea’ is given. The flora of Europe includes 1568 species which have either expanded their ranges within Europe under human influence (naturalized European species) or are of non-European origin (exotic species). The latter group consists of 580 species (37%) which form a diverse group in terms of their taxonomic composition and geographic origin. The exotics are represented by 113 families, of which the Compositae, Rosaceae and Gramineae are most important. The ratio of species to families is low. Most exotic species in Europe originate from the Americas and Asia. Countries of southern Europe have a higher relative number of exotics in their non-native flora than northern ones. The species-range size distribution differs between naturalized European and exotic species; the latter are on average more widespread than the naturalized.     

中英文版《中国植物志(省沽油科)》的比较

以中文版《中国植物志·第46卷》中收载的省沽油科植物分类群为基础,通过与英文修订版“Flora of China(Vol.11)”中相应分类群进行比较,报道了2部著作中植物分类群的学名和分类位置的变动及收载种类的增减情况,以资正确鉴定和编目应用。     

FIRST WORLD CONGRESS OF HERPETOLOGY

THE CONGRESS will be held at University of Kent and in Canterbury. H.R.H. Prince Philip, President of the World Wildlife Fund, will serve as Patron of the Congress and Professor Angus A. Bellairs as Honorary President. The Congress will also serve as the official 1989 meetings of Societas Europaea Herpetologica, Herpetologists' League, and Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. It will be co-hosted by the Zoological Society of London, Fauna and Flora Preservation Society, Societas Europaea Herpetologica and The British Herpetological Society.
The Scientific Programme, subject to modification, is listed below. Plenary speakers and Convenors are now being invited. Persons who wish to participate in events should contact the Convenors, whose names and addresses may be obtained from the Secretariat (see below). There will be poster sessions open to all persons but no oral contributed papers. All presentations will be in English, but discussions can be in other languages.     

The cytogeographical distribution pattern ofAllium (Alliaceae) in the Greek Peninsula and Islands

Greece is considered as a secondary centre of evolution for the genusAllium since it possesses about 50% of the species known from the whole Flora Europaea area. In the present investigation 44 GreekAllium spp. have been studied and new chromosome counts are reported from 40 populations and 17 species. The distribution of the different cytotypes (x = 7, x = 8, x = 11 and 2n = 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x) in Greece is discussed. From the four phytogeographical subdivisions recognized, South continental Greece shows the greatest species and karyotype diversity. This phenomenon is probably due to the geographical position and to the geological history of this area which has received species and populations from different directions. Subsequently, hybridization apparently has been of evolutionary importance.The genusAllium in Greece I.     

中英文版《中国植物志(夹竹桃科)》的比较

本文将中文版的《中国植物志·第６３卷（夹竹桃科）》（１９７７）与英文版的《中国植物志·第１６卷（夹竹桃科）》（１９９５）进行对照比较,报道了两专著中植物分类群学名和分类位置的变动以及收载种类的增减等情况,以资正确鉴定应用。     

Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Bhandari, M. M. 1990. Flora of the Indian Desert (Revised 2nd edition).
Nayar, M. P., Thothatri, M. & Sanjappa, M. (eds). 1988. Fascicles of Flora of India.     

Interspecific relationships of the glacial relics Swertia perennis L. and Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum L. in a Rumanian fen

In a eutrophic peat bog impregnated with mineral springs in the Carpathians, where the glacial relics Swertia perennis and Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum have earlier been shown to occupy different microhabitats, an analysis of the relationships of these species with accompanying species has been made on the basis of numerous quadrats and a correlation method. The closest floristic associates of the two species are quite different, and the results of this analysis are broadly in agreement with subjective assignments made earlier by phytosociologists.Nomenclature follows T. G. Tutin & V. H. Heywood (eds.), Flora Europaea, Vols. I–V. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980 for Cormophyta and R. van der Wijk (ed.), Index Muscorum, Vols. I, II. Utrecht, 1959, 1962 for Bryophyta.     

The influence of climatic factors on the distribution of C4 species in Europe

A checklist of the currently-known C4 species which occur in Europe was compiled, and the number of these found in European territories was ascertained. Their contribution to the local floras range from 4.35% in the Azores to 0% in Svalbard. Subsequently, a stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to correlate the relative abundances of four subdivisions of C4 species with climatic variables derived for each territory from meteorological tables. The four subdivisions were: (a) total number of C4 species; (b) number of native C4 species; (c) C4 monocots and (d) C4 dicots. These values were expressed as percentages of either the total flora, (a), or the native flora ((b), (c) and (d)) for the regressions. The abundance of each C4 subdivision was found to be strongly correlated with temperature, and to a lesser extent, negatively with precipitation. Habitat information about the European C4 species was also analysed and it was concluded that their apparent preference for maritime and ruderal habitats indicates some form of competitive advantage of the pathway under saline or disturbed conditions. A small number of European C4 species was identified whose distribution appears to be anomalous with respect to temperature and/or soil moisture content.Nomenclature follows Tutin et al. Flora Europaea.     

Die zönologischen Verhältnisse der dazischen und dazisch-balkanischen arten aus dem rumänischen Karpatenraum

The initiatives adopted in Rumania for conserving the native flora pointed out the importance of identifying syntaxa which contain endemic and relict species. The Dacian endemic plants, form the most representative phytoelement in the flora of the Rumanian Carpathians. They include the species whose extension is limited to the Carpathian-Pontic-Danubial area (Pax, 1898).On the basis of caryological information some considerations concerning the origin of certain Dacian plant pecies as well as the vicarious relationship with species in other mountain-mass of Eurasia are presented. In order to contribute to the protection of the Dacian and Dacian-Balkan phytoelement within the natural reserves, the sociological affinity of these species and the specification of the alliances where they find their sociological optimum, are persued.

Die Sippennomenklatur richtet sich nach Flora Europaea, Vol. 1–5, Cambridge University Press (1964–1980). Flora Republieii Populare Romîne, Vol. 1–10, Edit. Acad. R.P. Romîne (1952–1965). Flora Republicii Socialiste România, Vol. 11–13, Edit. Acad. R.S. România (1966–1976). Index Kewensis, Vol. 1–2, Oxford Clarendon Press (1960).