Centaurea cadmea subsp. pontica subsp. nov. (Asteraceae) from northwest Anatolia,Turkey

Centaurea cadmea Boiss. subsp. pontica Wagenitz ex Y.B. Köse & Ocak (Asteraceae), a new subspecies occuring in north Anatolia, Turkey, is described and illustrated. The new subspecies grows in rocky places in the Zonguldak province. It is closely related to C. cadmea subsp. cadmea, but differs in its involucrum, achen, appendage and radiant flowers. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed and notes are presented on ecology and conservation status. In addition, the pollen characteristics of both subspecies have been examined by SEM.     

Typification of five names in Paracaryum (DC.) Boiss. (Boraginaceae)

Five names in the genus Paracaryum (DC.) Boiss. are lectotypified here: P. calycinum Boiss. & Bal. (endemic to Turkey), P. lithospermifolium (Lam.) Grande subsp. cariense (Boiss.) R. Mill var. cariense, P. kurdistanicum (Brand) R. Mill (endemic to Turkey), P. sintenisii Hausskn. ex Bornm., and P. strictum (C. Koch) Boiss.     

Allopatric divergence and secondary contacts in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphorbia spinosa</Emphasis> L: Influence of climatic changes on the split of the species

Euphorbia spinosa, a perennial xerophilous shrub naturally distributed across the Italian peninsula, was selected for examination of the role of the Ligurian Alps and Apennines in glacial survival. The Italian Peninsula is considered to be one of the principal glacial refugia in Europe, but few plant population genetic and phylogeography studies have been undertaken in this region. The combined analysis of chloroplast and nuclear loci (ITS, cpSSR and ISSR) enabled us to detect extensive DNA variation and proved to be a very powerful tool for the reconstruction of the phylogeography. Molecular data support the hypothesis of a long-term separation of the Northwestern (Maritime Alps, Sardinia, Corsica, Northern Apennines) and Southeastern (Southern Apennines and Balkan area) lineages in glacial refugia. The existence of allopatrically fragmented lineages is most probably the result of isolation in different glacial refugia, possibly due to the Last Glacial Maximum cooling and the topographic complexity of the Italian peninsula. The most plausible hypothesis assumes the formation of two migration paths during more recent periods: the first one starting with southward migration and the second one moving northwards. The Central Apennines should be considered the confluence of migration routes radiating from separate refugia according to this hypothesis.     

Klasea serratuloides subsp. karamanica subsp. nov. (Asteraceae), from the central and south Anatolia transition zone,Turkey

A new subspecies, Klasea serratuloides (DC.) Greuter & Wagenitz subsp. karamanica B. Dogan & A. Duran (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The subspecies grows on stony places in the Ayranc? and Ermenek district (C4 Karaman Province), Ere?li district (C5 Konya province) and Uluk??la (C5 Ni?de province) in the central and south Anatolia transition zone. It is morphologically similar to K. serratuloides subsp. serratuloides. Diagnostic morphological characters from closely similar taxa are discussed and arranged in a key. Ecology and conservation status of the subspecies is also presented. In addition, the geographical distribution of the new subspecies and other related species is mapped. The pollen morphology and achene surface of K. serratuloides subsp. karamanica and K. serratuloides subsp. serratuloides were examined by SEM.     

Jurinea cataonica subsp. mardinensis subsp. nov. (Asteraceae) from southeast Anatolia,Turkey

A new subspecies, Jurinea cataonica Boiss. & Hausskn. subsp. mardinensis B. Do?an & A. Duran (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The subspecies grows on abandoned fields in the Bakirkiri place (C8 Mardin Province) in southeastern Anatolia. It is morphologically similar to J. cataonica subsp. cataonica. Diagnostic morphological characters between these closely similar taxa are discussed and arranged in a key. Ecology and conservation status of the subspecies is also presented. In addition, the geographical distributions of the new subspecies and other related species are given.     

Haplotype and ribotype diversity of Saxifraga cuneifolia s. l. (Saxifragaceae)

Saxifraga cuneifolia L. (sect. Gymnopera, Saxifragaceae) is a plant distributed in the main mountain ranges of southern Europe, from the eastern Pyrenees to the eastern Carpathian. Currently, two subspecies are recognized based on morphological characteristics: S. cuneifolia subsp. cuneifolia grows in the Maritime Alps and North Apennines and S. cuneifolia subsp. robusta is located in the remaining area of distribution. A more delicate form and a smaller number of flowers in S. cuneifolia subsp. cuneifolia are the morphological characteristics that differentiate this subspecies from the widespread S. cuneifolia subsp. robusta. To explore the genetic diversity and the subspecific geographic patterns of S. cuneifolia s. l. we conducted a molecular study of nuclear and plastid sequences. Samples of S. cuneifolia s. l. have been analysed throughout the distribution area of this species. Our results, based on nuclear (ITS) and plastid (rbcL, trnL–F, and psbA–trnH) markers, showed a genetic characterization of both subspecies presenting discriminant haplotypes and ribotypes that confirm the current subspecific systematics.     

Armeria saviana sp. nov. (Plumbaginaceae) from central Italy

The new species Armeria saviana, endemic to an isolated mountain chain of the Tyrrhenian Antiappennine system in south Tuscany, central Italy, is described and illustrated. The plant is diploid with 2n=18. It can be distinguished from the related species A. denticulata (Bertol.) DC and A. canescens (Host) Ebel, mainly by leaf characters, capitula, bracts and flowers. The systematic position of the controversial taxon A. majellensis Boiss. subsp. ausonia F. Bianchini, to which the new species has formerly been assigned by some authors, is discussed. A lectotype for A. denticulata is designated.     

Revision of Launaea Cass. (Compositae) in Egypt with special references to cypselar diversity

A systematic revision for the species of Launaea Cass. in Egypt has revealed the presence of fourteen taxa belonging to 12 species, of which L. acanthodes (Boiss.) Kuntze is a new recorded. One new combination “L. fragilis subsp. tenuiloba (Boiss.) Zareh & Mohamed” is made. Achene diversity of the studied taxa of Launaea was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The taxonomic relationships between the studied taxa were discussed as well as SEM micrographs of achenes are provided. Synonyms and key for the identification of the investigated taxa based on morphological characters as well as notes on distribution are provided.     

Phytogeographical significance of Wadi Wateer (Sinai), Egypt, with special reference to Cocculus hirsutus (L.) W.Theob.

The botanical survey of Wadi Wateer, located in the southeastern Sinai, revealed the presence of a plant that provides an important new record to the Flora of Egypt: Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Theob. This plant has not been recorded previously as existing in its wild form in the Flora of Egypt. The plant cover in Wadi Wateer is dominated by plant taxa belonging to the Saharo-Sindian phytogeographical element. However, many plants in the wadi have been attributed to the Sudanian chorotype, such as Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne subsp. raddiana (Savi) Brenan, Chrozophora brocchiana Vis., Lycium shawii Roem & Schult., Moricandia sinaica (Boiss.) Boiss., Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Theob. and Cocculus pendulus (J.R. & G. Forst.) Diels. The presence of Sudanian chorotype plant taxa [including the newly recorded Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Theob.] provides evidence that Wadi Wateer and Aqaba Gulf functioned as migratory tracks for these African plants, assisting their penetration into the Saharo-Sindian, Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian phytogeographical regions in the Sinai and Asia. This study suggests that Wadi Wateer should be declared a protected area for its habitat and climatic diversity as well as for its phytogeographical significance.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clinopodium</Emphasis> L. (Lamiaceae) in Bolivia

A species-level review of the genus Clinopodium in Bolivia is presented. Characters used to distinguish taxa are discussed and evaluated with emphasis being given to nutlet characteristics for the first time. Nine species are described, seven from Bolivia, one of which, C. pilosum J. R. I. Wood is described as new. Bystropogon uniflorus Rusby ex Briq. is treated as subsp. uniflorum (Rusby ex Briq.) J. R. I. Wood of C. axillare (Rusby) Harley and its typification is discussed. Three subspecies of C. bolivianum are recognised, one of which subsp. diffusum J. R. I. Wood is described as new. Notes on salient characteristics of each taxon, on intermediate forms and on the distribution of each species are provided, as well as a key to species, maps and illustrations.     

Note critiche sulla Flora d'Italia. V. Nuovi appunti miscellanei

Abstract

Critical notes on the flora of Italy. V - Further miscellaneous remarks.—The present paper includes a number of changes of rank and nomenclatural transfers in the genera Salix, Dianthus, Papaver, Anthyllis, Vitaliana, Armeria, Gentianella, Vinca, Micromeria, Odontites, Pedicularis, Cephalaria, Phyteuma, Laurentia, Bellis, Oglifa, Senecio, Andryala, Rhaponticum, Tolpis, Tragopogon, Hieracium, Hordelymus, Bromus, Trisetum, Trisetaria, Lophochloa, Typhoides, Cymbopogon, some of them of others collaborators to the flora (F. Bianchini, E. Pignatti Wikus); the infraspecific variability of Laserpitium garganicum (Ten.) Bertol. and in the group of Acinos alpinus (L.) Moench are discussed in detail. The typus of Luzula italica Parl. is described and precised. Armeria majellensis Boiss, subsp. ausonia Bianchini and Phyteuma ovatum Honck. subsp. pseudospicatum Pign. are described as new subspecies.     

On the taxonomic position ofSilene thebana (Caryophyllaceae)

Silene thebana Orph. exBoiss. is transferred as a subspecies toS. fabaria (L.)Sm., resulting in the new combinationS. fabaria (L.)Sm. subsp.thebana (Orph. exBoiss.)Melzh. The chromosome count of 2n = 24 is recorded for the first time for this taxon.Dedicated to Prof. DrK. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday, 16th October 1986.     

Karyological studies on eight species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Onobrychis</Emphasis> genus in Turkey

This study used karyological techniques to determine the chromosome numbers and morphology of eight species of Onobrychis L. (O. caput-galli (L.) Lam, O. aequidentata (Sibth. & Sm.) d’ Urv, O. fallax Freyn & Sint. var. fallax, O. lasiostachya Boiss, O. viciifolia Scop., O. oxyodonta Boiss. subsp. armena (Bois. & Huet) Aktoklu, O. hypargyrea Boiss. and O. cappadocica Boiss.). The results of this study determined the chromosome numbers of O. cappadocica as 2n = 16; O. viciifolia as 2n = 28 and the other species as 2n = 14 The karyotypes of species consisted of median-centromeric (m) or submedian-centromeric (sm) chromosomes. However, O. oxyodonta Boiss. subsp. armena (Bois. & Huet) Aktoklu was found to have only the median-centromeric (m) chromosomes. According to the results of the present study, of the eight Onobrychis taxa, only O. hypargyrea has a pair of satellite chromosomes (sat-chromosome). Furthermore, this study detected karyotype asymmetry.     

Karyological notes on another eight species of Achillea (Asteraceae) from Turkey

The chromosome number and morphology in eight species of the sections Ptarmica (Mill.) W. D. J. Koch, Anthemoideae (DC.) Heimerl, Arthrolepis Boiss., Santolinoideae (DC.) Heimerl and Achillea of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) were investigated using karyological techniques. Sample plants and seeds of A. biserrata M. Bieb., A. fraasii var. troiana Aschers. & Heimerl, A. multifida (DC.) Boiss., A. brachyphylla Boiss. & Hausskn., A. pseudaleppica Hub.-Mor., A. cretica L., A. latiloba Ledeb. ex Nordm., and A. kotschyi Boiss. subsp. kotschyi) were collected from natural habitats in 2003 and 2004. The chromosome number found in seven species was 2n = 18, while only A. kotschyi had 2n = 36. All chromosomes had median point (M), median region (m), and submedian (sm) centromers. In addition, only A. biserrata species had one subterminal (st) chromosome. An increase in asymmetry was not observed in the karyotypes of the species studied. None of the studied species had any B chromosomes.     

Centaurea rahiminejadii sp. nov. and a new record in the genus Centaurea (Asteraceae,Cardueae–Centaureinae) from Iran

A new species, Centaurea rahiminejadii Negaresh (Asteraceae) in C. sect. Cynaroides Boiss. ex Walp., is described and illustrated from the Kermanshah Province, west Iran. It is morphologically similar to Centaurea regia Boiss. subsp. regia. Diagnostic morphological of this and closely related taxa are discussed and presented. The ecology, habitat and conservation status of the new species are also described. In addition, Centaurea regia subsp. cynarocephala (Wagenitz) Wagenitz is reported as a new record to the flora of Iran. Finally, the geographic distribution of the new species and closely related species is presented and mapped.     

Micromorphological and chemical characterisation of Stachys recta L. subsp. serpentini (Fiori) Arrigoni in comparison to Stachys recta L. subsp. recta (Lamiaceae)

Stachys recta L. is a very polymorphous species in which numerous subspecies were recognised. S. recta L. subsp. serpentini (Fiori) Arrigoni is a typical endemism growing on serpentine soils in northern Apennines and particularly in Tuscany (Italy). In order to contribute to a better knowledge of this plant and to its differentiation with respect to S. recta L. subsp. recta, the micromorphological characters (non-glandular and glandular trichomes) and the essential oil composition of the two subspecies were investigated. Micromorphological characters were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, while light microscopy was used for histochemical observations. Essential oil analysis was carried out by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.In the two examined taxa, the morphology and distribution of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, and the different essential oil composition, may be considered distinctive characters at subspecies level. This is consistent with the taxonomic classification considering S. recta subsp. serpentini a subordinate taxon of S. recta.     

Antibacterial activity of Penicillium spp. strains isolated in extreme environments

Penicillium spp. isolated from the sediments of ponds in continental Antarctica have been studied and compared with species obtained from similar environments in the Apennines of the Liguria region, in northwestern Italy. The antibacterial activity exhibited by some strains was evaluated against standard strains using both liquid and solid media. The preliminary data suggest an antibacterial activity similar to β-lactam antibiotics. Accepted: 24 October 1999     

Early–Middle Holocene vegetation history, climate change and human activities at Lago Riane (Ligurian Apennines, NW Italy)

The radiocarbon-dated palaeoecological study of Lago Riane (Ligurian Apennines, NW Italy) presented here forms part of a wider investigation into the relationships between Holocene vegetation succession, climate change and human activities in the northern Apennines. The record of vegetation history from Lago Riane indicates that, since the end of the last glaciation, climate change and prehistoric human activities, combined with several local factors, have strongly influenced the pattern and timing of natural vegetation succession. The pollen record indicates an important change in vegetation cover at Lago Riane at ~8500–8200 cal. years b.p., coincident with a well-known period of rapid climate change. At ~6100 cal. years b.p., Fagus woodland colonised Lago Riane during a period of climate change and expansion of Late Neolithic human activities in the upland zone of Liguria. A marked decline in Abies woodland, and the expansion of Fagus woodland, at ~4700 cal. years b.p., coincided with further archaeological evidence for pastoralism in the mountains of Liguria during the Copper Age. At ~3900–3600 cal. years b.p. (Early to Middle Bronze Age transition), a temporary expansion of woodland at Lago Riane has been provisionally attributed to a decline in human pressure on the environment during a period of short-term climate change.     

Ranunculus giordanoi sp. nov. from the R. auricomus complex (Ranunculaceae), central Apennines (Italy)

A new species, Ranunculus giordanoi, belonging to the R. auricomus complex is described from Latium, central Apennines (Italy). It grows in damp meadows on Monti della Laga (National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga), the largest sandstone massif of central Italy. The new species differs from the closely related R. silanus, endemic to Sila (Calabria, southern Apennines), by leaf aperture, shape of the basal leaves, entire or sometimes deeply lobed cauline leaves, gynoclinium without intervallum and longer carpellophores.