Changes in Assumption Day Herbal Bouquets in Poland: A Nineteenth Century Study Revisited<Superscript>1</Superscript>

Changes in Assumption Day Herbal Bouquets in Poland: A Nineteenth Century Study Revisited. The aim of this study is to compare a list of plants blessed in herbal bouquets on Assumption Day (August 15th) in Poland over a century ago with the bouquets blessed in the same locations in 2009. Assumption Day has been the main occasion when plants are blessed in Polish Roman Catholic churches for centuries. Such bouquets, composed of medicinal herbs and crop plants, are long believed to possess apotropaic properties. In 1894–1899, Seweryn Udziela made an herbarium documenting the composition of these bouquets (over 100 species) in 13 locations in the Kraków area. In 2009, 482 bouquets were photographed on Assumption Day and the plant species were identified. Results indicate that only half the species from Udziela’s list are still blessed. A total of 233 taxa were found in the bouquets in 2009, an average of nine species per bouquet. The proportion of cultivated ornamentals has increased over time, whereas the proportion of wild species and dry grassland plants has decreased. The proportion of crop plants, as well as species from grassland and forest habitats, remained the same. The most commonly blessed species were Solidago spp., Tanacetum vulgare, Dahlia sp., Sanguisorba officinalis, Anethum graveolens, Achillea millefolium, Mentha spp., Zinnia elegans, Triticum sp., Avena sativa, and Sorbus aucuparia. The tradition of blessing bouquets continues, although the composition of the plant species has changed. These changes are due to alterations in the surrounding vegetation and the species of plants in cultivation, the transformation of species’ value from medicinal and apotropaic, the maintenance of floral traditions, and artistic competition.     

A study of the genetic variation of the aquatic fern Marsilea quadrifolia L. preserved in botanical collections in Poland and originated from natural populations in Europe

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of selected European populations of Marsilea quadrifolia L. and to assess the applicability of those genetic resources of Marsilea quadrifolia L. that have been preserved in Polish botanical gardens, for the reintroduction of this species into its historical range in Poland. Three Polish populations that originated from botanical collections (Zabrze, ?arów and Pu?awy) and four natural populations (two from Slovakia (Slovakia I and Slovakia II), one from France and one from Germany) were analyzed using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A very low level of genetic variation was found both within and between the populations in the study, which likely resulted from a genetic bottleneck probably caused by human activities. Plants with the same AFLP fingerprint were found across several populations; however, singleton samples with a unique AFLP band pattern were also present within all of the populations. The presence of singletons led to relatively high values of Simpson's diversity index, which may suggest a considerable effect of mutations and some possibility of sexual reproduction as sources of the observed variation. The partitioning of molecular variance was calculated using hierarchical AMOVA, which showed that a negligible value of only 0.81% of the variation was explained by the category of population, i.e. plants originating from the botanical collections or from the natural habitats. This result indicates that M. quadrifolia populations from botanical collections resemble natural populations in terms of the level of their genetic variation and that the populations that were obtained from the Polish collections could be used for the successful reintroduction of this species into its historical range in Poland, and a similar situation may be given also in other areas of occurrence of this plant that is under threat throughout its area of occurrence in Europe.     

The occurrence of Ambrosia pollen in Rzeszów,Kraków and Poznań, Poland: investigation of trends and possible transport of Ambrosia pollen from Ukraine

Previous studies have shown that ragweed pollen arrives in Poland from sources in the south, in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria. It is likely that ragweed pollen also arrives from sources in the southeast (e.g. Ukraine). This hypothesis was investigated using 13 years of pollen data and back-trajectory analysis. Ambrosia pollen data were collected at three sites in Poland, Rzeszów, Kraków and Poznań. The amount of ragweed pollen recorded at Rzeszów was significantly higher than in Poznań and Kraków. This can be related to either a higher abundance of local populations of Ambrosia in south-east Poland or the proximity of Rzeszów to foreign sources of ragweed pollen. The combined results of pollen measurements and air mass trajectory calculations identified plumes of Ambrosia pollen that were recorded at Rzeszów, Kraków and Poznań on 4 and 5 September 1999 and 3 September 2002. These plumes arrived at the pollen-monitoring sites from an easterly direction, indicating sources of Ambrosia pollen in eastern Poland or Ukraine. This identifies Ukraine as a possible new source of ragweed pollen for Poland and therefore an important source area of Ambrosia pollen on the European Continent.     

Variability and structure of natural populations of Hordeum murinum L. based on morphology

Based on a detailed statistical analysis of 19 quantitative and four qualitative characters of 31 samples of Hordeum murinum from Poland, it was stated that the small variability of these characters does not permit to distinguish any intra-specific units. Only a slight geographical differentiation of populations was found. Based on the differences discovered, the populations have been divided into two groups: one with the centre of distribution in the North-East (group E) and the second in South-West Poland (group W). This differentiation might result from the different routes of migration of this species into Poland. The chromosome number (2n = 28) confirms earlier reports from Poland. New data concerning the distribution of H. murinum in north-eastern Poland are also presented. A detailed study on the distribution of H. murinum in Poland is under way. It is the fourth paper from the series: Biodiversity of wild Triticeae (Poaceae) in Poland. The first is: Mizianty M. (2005). Variability and structure of natural populations of Elymus caninus (L.) L. based on morphology. Pl. Syst. Evol 251: 199–216, the second: Mizianty M. et al. (2006). Variability and structure of natural populations of Elymus caninus (L.) L. and their possible relationship with Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Jess. ex Harz as revealed by AFLP analysis. Pl. Syst. Evol. 256: 193–200, the third: Mizianty M. and Szklarczyk M. (2005). Systematic significance of Elymus caninus morphological characters revealed by AFLP analysis. In: Frey L. (red.) Biology of grasses. W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences. Kraków, pp. 9-21.     

First Report of Soil‐Borne Wheat Mosaic Virus (SBWMV)‐Infecting Triticale in Poland

The virus in naturally infected, stunted triticale plants was identified as soil‐borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV). The infected plants were collected in the Southern Wielkopolska region (Western Poland). Molecular analysis including RT‐PCR, and sequencing of the complete coding sequence of coat protein gene, was performed. The sequence of the Polish isolate of SBWMV (SBWMV‐Pol1) shared 100, 99 and 98% identities with the corresponding regions of De1 (AF519799), OKL‐1 (X81639) and US‐Nebraska (L07938) isolates of SBWMV, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Polish isolate, SBWMV‐Pol1, clustered together with other SBWMV isolates. This is the first report of the occurrence of SBWMV in Poland and the second of its presence in Europe.     

War in Ukraine – Changing the Polish paediatric population as a consequence of forced migration (a preliminary study)

The study aimed to briefly analyse the basic anthropometric characteristics of Ukrainian adolescents against their Polish counterparts. The study was school-based, carried out April–June 2022 and followed a cross-sectional model. It included 642 children from Poland and Ukraine (aged 10–15) who attended ten randomly selected primary schools in Kraków (Poland). Noticeable differences between Polish and Ukrainian adolescents were observed. As the analysed characteristics included features such as the amount and distribution of body fat, they can be crucial in the indirect assessment of health status, particularly the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This in turn, can help to properly accommodate the changing needs of the population.     

Polish Glomales

Spores of Acaulospora dilatata and Scutellospora dipurpurascens found in Poland are described and illustrated and their occurrence and distribution are characterized and mapped. Spores of Acaulospora dilatata from Poland do not differ from those originally described in the United States of America. The germination shield found in a number of spores is described and illustrated, and compared with that occurring in members of the genus Scutellospora. Acaulospora dilatata was found in five of the 303 soil samples taken from around the roots of Ammophila arenaria colonizing maritime sand dunes of the Sowinski National Park. Polish specimens of S. dipurpurascens are similar in size, wall structure, and reaction in Melzer's reagent to those described from the type localized in the United States of America. However, some spores from Poland have a thicker wall, greater sporogenous cells, and are somewhat darker coloured. They were recovered from 34 soils sampled from forests, gardens, sand dunes, and both cultivated and uncultivated soils. S. dipurpurascens was commonly associated with different plants of the Hel Peninsula and occurred regularly among the roots of Ammophila arenaria growing in the Slowinski National Park. Both species were found for the first time in Poland and are probably new to Europe.     

Population structure,colonization processes and barriers for dispersal in Polish common hamsters (Cricetus cricetus)

The phylogeographic relationships of common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) populations in Poland were determined by the analysis of three partial mtDNA sequences: control region, cytochrome b and 16S rRNA. A phylogenetic tree as well as parsimony network, consistently separate Polish common hamsters into two groups: E1 being so far specific for the area of Poland, and P3 which clusters inside a Pannonian lineage, previously described from the Carpathian Basin. Polish hamsters do not share any haplotypes with the ‘North’– lineage from Germany and Western Europe, although Poland most likely represents the main migration corridor from the eastern distribution centre to the western boundary of the species range. Fossil and DNA data indicate a very recent appearance of the E1 lineage in the Polish Uplands, probably at the very end of the last glaciation. On the other hand, the Pannonian group entered southern Poland as early as the second stadial of the last glaciation (Middle Vistulian 53.35 ka). The hamster lineages in Poland seem to show different population structures and demographic histories.     

Variability and structure of natural populations of Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Jess. ex Harz and Leymus arenarius (L.) Hochst. as revealed by morphology and DNA markers

Seven populations of Hordelymus europaeus and four populations of Leymus arenarius from Poland were subjected to examination of 36 morphological characters. This study showed that both species are relatively uniform and that morphological variation of their populations represents a continuum. Of those, three populations of either species were selected for analysis with molecular markers – RAPDs and AFLPs. These populations differed with respect of geographical location as well as syntaxa and habitat. RAPD-PCR was performed for individual plants and clearly grouped them according to the population origin. For either H. europaeus or L. arenarius - the studied populations differed in degree of their intrinsic variation while none of them as a whole was significantly different from the remaining ones. In AFLP analysis the studied populations were represented by DNA pools of several individual plants. Also this approach allowed discrimination among the population samples of both H. europaeus and L. arenarius. Both RAPDs and AFLPs were accordant in indication that H. europaeus exceeds L. arenarius with respect to variation accumulated at the DNA level. It is the sixth paper of the series: Biodiversity of wild Triticeae (Poaceae) in Poland. The first is: M. Mizianty (2005). Variability and structure of natural populations of Elymus caninus (L.) L. based on morphology. Pl. Syst. Evol. 251: 199-216. The second: M. Mizianty, and M. Szklarczyk (2005). Systematic significance of Elymus caninus morphological characters revealed by AFLP analysis. In: L. Frey (ed.) Biology of grasses. W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences. Kraków, pp 9–21. The third: M. Mizianty et al. (2006). Variability and structure of natural populations of Elymus caninus (L.) L. and their possible relationship with Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Jess. ex Harz revealed by AFLP analysis. Pl. Syst. Evol. 256: 193–200. The fourth: M. Mizianty (2006). Variability and structure of natural populations of Hordeum murinum L. based on morphology. Pl. Syst. Evol. 261: 139–150. The fifth: B. Paszko Variability and structure of natural populations of Brachypodium pinnatum and B. sylvaticum based on morphology. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. (in press).     

Forecasting the start of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus</Emphasis> pollen season using several methods – the evaluation of their efficiency

Forecasting the time when the atmospheric pollen season of allergenic plants begins is particularly important for doctors and their patients. The aim of this paper is to determine whether it is possible to forecast the start of the oak (Quercus) pollen season in Rzeszów, Poland. In the elaboration of the most effective model, various forecasting techniques were tested: growth degree days (GDD°C); meteorological factors; bioclimatic factors; and indicator taxon. The aerobiological monitoring was carried out in 1997–2005 and 2007 in Rzeszów (SE Poland). In the presented investigation, three methods defining the start of the Quercus pollen season were selected on the basis of accumulated sums of pollen or the constant occurrence of pollen grains in air. Despite the application of different combinations of GDD°C methods and threshold temperatures, the correlation coefficients between the expected and obtained values were low. In some cases, however, they proved highly effective for the test years (2005, 2007) with the accuracy of a few days. For GDD°C methods, the best threshold temperatures range between 5 and 6°C. Models based on bioclimatic indices and meteorological variables were not satisfactory. On the basic of the 10 years of results, the method of indicator species were good for forecast the start of oak pollen season. Birch was the best indicator taxa.     

First Mesozoic record of the scleractinian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Madrepora</Emphasis> from the Maastrichtian siliceous limestones of Poland

The objective of the present article is to document the first stratigraphic occurrence of the colonial oculinid Madrepora, known from the modern seas as an azooxanthellate taxon that contributes to the formation of deep-water coral reefs. The Upper Cretaceous specimens of Madrepora sp. reported herein from Poland were recovered from Upper Maastrichtian (Nasiłów and Bochotnica localities) and Lower Maastrichtian (Bliżów locality) siliceous limestones. The corals are preserved as imprints of the branch fragments and molds of the calices. Despite their moldic preservation, the coral remains exhibit key generic features of the genus Madrepora; including (1) sympodial colony growth form with calices arranged in opposite and alternating rows in one plane of the branch, and (2) imprints of the granular coenosteum texture, occasionally showing peculiar reticulate patterns. Some features of the Cretaceous Madrepora sp., such as the reticulate coenosteum texture, the range of the corallite diameter (2.8–4 mm), and the arrangement of the septa in three regular cycles resemble the skeletal features of the modern, typically constructional, species M. oculata (type species). The lack of any evidence of coral buildups and related debris in the whole Upper Cretaceous/Paleogene sequences from Poland and the sparse occurrence of colony fragments, suggests that the Cretaceous Madrepora sp. formed small, isolated colonies.     

Seasonal changes in antioxidant level of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles exposed to industrial pollution. II. Enzymatic scavengers activities

The involvement of enzymic antioxidant system, superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase in defense reaction to environmental stress evoked by air and soil pollution, was seasonally studied on three populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing on experimental areas close two industrial objects in Poland. The first of them (Luboón) is localised near a phosphate fertiliser factory, the second (Głogów) near a copper foundry, and control stand is placed in Kórnik. Głogów is the most polluted site, where in 1998 monthly mean daily concentrations was: SO₂ - 17 μg·m⁻³, NO_x- 12 μg·m⁻³ and dust containing heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd) - 29 μg·m⁻³. Trees in Luboń were influenced for many years by high concentration of SO₂ and fluor compounds. Few years ago emissions were markedly reduced, but changes in the soil (low pH and high concentration of aluminium ions) still influence the growth of trees. In needles of two populations: 3 (Russia) and 8 (Poland), from the polluted sites Głogów and Luboń, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (PO) were significantly higher compared to Kórnik. However, in one population (16 - Slovakia), such dependance was not evident. Activity of ascorbate peroxidase (AP) measured in winter was also higher in needles from polluted sites. The results indicated that the sensitivity of free radical scavenging system in Scots pine needles differs among populations.     

Leaves and pollen of bamboos from the Polish Neogene

Recently discovered fossil bamboo leaves and pollen are described from the Neogene of Poland. Morphological analysis of fossil leaves from the Late Miocene deposits of the Bełchatów Lignite Mine, Central Poland have allowed them to be determined as “Bambusa” lugdunensis Saporta. It is the first record of this species in the Cenozoic of Poland. The fossils have been compared with other records of bamboos from the Cenozoic of Europe. Pollen grains from the Middle Miocene (Badenian) deposits from the Legnica brown coal deposit (Lower Silesia) provide additional evidence of bamboos. These are assigned to Graminidites bambusoides Stuchlik, and are similar to those of recent Arundinaria. We infer that plant (plants?) that produced the pollen of G. bambusoides could have grown in swamp forests and/or reed marshes. This report provides a general survey of the occurrence of bamboos in the European Neogene, from which the leaves and pollen documented here present important data on the distribution of this group of monocots in Poland and eastern Europe.     

Occurrence of infections with C burnetii (Q fever) in persons from increased risk groups in Poland--serological survey and evaluation of studied methods]

During years 1988-1991 at Regional Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations in Bia?ystok, Kielce, Lublin, Leszno, Piotrków Trybunalski, Lód?, Poznań, Plock, Opole, Sanok, Skierniewice and Zielona Góra--serological studies in persons amenable to compulsory check-up against brucellosis were performed for detection of infections with C. burnetii. In whole, 20651 persons were investigated on the Polish territory and it was found that in 22.8% antibodies against antigens of C. burnetii are present. Percentage of persons with detected antibodies varied in different regions from 0 to 41.7%. No antibodies were found in persons inhabiting regions of Kielce, Piotrków Trybunalski and Skierniewice. Most persons with antibodies indicating contact with C. burnetii were found in West Poland, namely in the Leszno and Poznań region. As in diagnosis of Q fever two methods (OWD and OMA) or OWD only were applied, it is difficult to compare results obtained in regions using two or only one method of determination.     

The skull of an early Late Triassic aetosaur and the evolution of the stagonolepidid archosaurian reptiles

Disarticulated bones of several individuals recovered from the Late Triassic fluvial and lacustrine deposits at Krasiejów, Poland, are here described, allowing the restoration of the skull structure of a new aetosaurian archosaur: Stagonolepis olenkae sp. nov. The Krasiejów deposits probably correspond in age to the Lehrberg Beds (late Carnian) of Baden‐Württemberg, Germany. The stratigraphical position of the new taxon combined with other available evidence is used to propose a model of aetosaurian evolution. The proposed phylogenetic position of Aetosaurus ferratus (Norian, Germany) as the basal aetosaurid is refuted and this species is instead proposed to be the most derived member of the Stagonolepis–Aetosaurus evolutionary lineage. Gradual change in several morphological characters can be observed from Stagonolepis robertsoni, through the new species from Krasiejów, to the stratigraphically youngest Aetosaurus ferratus. These changes include a decrease in the number of teeth and a decrease in the convexity of the ventral profile of the maxilla. The anterior elongation of the maxilla is associated with the expansion of the anterior tip of the maxilla towards the naris. In S. robertsoni and S. olenkae, the maxilla extends to middle of the naris, whereas in Aetosaurus, it reaches the anterior half of the naris. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 860–881.     

Botanical and chemical evaluation of Atractylodes lancea plants propagated in vitro and by division of the rhizome

Summary A single plant of Atractylodes lancea, a perennial herb of Asteraceae, was propagated in vitro by shoot culture from floral buds and shoot tips. The reproduced plants were then grown under field conditions for up to four years and their botanical and chemical characteristics were compared to those of control plants that were propagated by dividing the rhizome of the parent plant. The first-year-plants of the micropropagated plants were scanty, but in the second year they were comparable to the control in most botanical features. On the other hand, the contents of two sesquiterpenes (hinesol and -eudesmol) and a polyacetylenic compound (atractylodin) in the rhizome of the micropropagated plants remained low for the first two or three years of cultivation and at the third or fourth year they reached to the same level as that of the control. Accordingly micropropagation yields clonal plants of A. lancea comparable to those obtained by conventional propagation methods within three or four years of cultivation.     

Possibilities and limitations of seed production of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don under Polish climatic conditions

The studies were carried out at Radzików, Central Poland in the years 1982–1991, using a progeny of an Indian population. It was proved that Catharanthus roseus may be grown in Poland under field conditions as an annual crop, using plants previously raised in glass or plastic houses. However, the culture of C. roseus in the greenhouse resulted in a higher yield of herb and particularly in a better setting of fruits and seeds than under field conditions. The yield of seeds obtained under cover was several times higher than in the field. Growing of plants under cover may be justified, as greenhouses usually are not utilised in the summertime. Consequent mass selection conducted during successive seasons has lead to obtaining the lines better adapted to the conditions of a cool climate and hence more productive. Improvement of generative traits, resulting from selection, was more pronounced than improvement of the vegetative indices. The ‘yellow silique’ has been recognised as an optimal stage for harvest, as at this stage siliques could be easily separated from the stems, whereas the risk of seed shedding was still minimal. Germinability of seeds obtained from siliques harvested at this stage was high and uniform.     

Temporal oviposition patterns of Heliothis zea and Spodoptera ornithogalli

Egg production under laboratory conditions was examined over the lifespan of Heliothis zea (Boddie) and Spodoptera ornithogalli Guenée (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Although H. zea oviposits singly and S. ornithogalli oviposits in masses, temporal trends were similar. Egg numbers peaked shortly after mating and then rapidly declined. Egg weights also peaked shortly after mating, but decreased gradually over time. Temporal oviposition patterns were more erratic for unmated than mated females, suggesting the importance of mating in establishing the shape of the oviposition curve.

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Résumé La production d'ufs d'Heliothis zea (Boddie) et de Spodoptera ornithogalli Guenée (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) durant toute la vie adulte a été examinée au laboratoire. Bien que H. zea dépose ses ufs isolément et que S. ornithogalli les dépose en groupes, les courbes temporelles d'oviposition chez des individus fécondés sont similaires. Le nomber d'ufs culmine peu après l'accouplement, puis décline rapidement. Le poids des ufs culmine aussi peu après l'accouplement, puis décroît graduellement. Des femelles fécondées produisent environ deux fois autant d'ufs que les femelles non fécondées, quoique la longévité ne diffère pas significativement entre les deux groupes. Des femelles non fécondées montrent des distributions temporelles plus irrégulières que des femelles fécondées, en ce qui concerne le nombre des ufs et leur poids. Ces irrégularités ont été attribuées à la tendance des femelles non fécondées à retenir leur ufs, ce qui suggère que l'accouplement exerce une influence sur la forme de la courbe temporelle d'oviposition. Des femelles d'H. zea contenant un, deux ou trois spermatophores n'ont pas produit des nombres d'ufs significativement différents.

     

Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522–1605): The Study of Trace Fossils During the Renaissance

The Renaissance was a time of flourishing for literature, art and science. A prominent figure in Renaissance science was the Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi, considered today to be one of the founding fathers of modern paleontology. Aldrovandi is known to have widely studied body fossils, but his work on trace fossils has yet to be explored by science historians. This paper proposes to critically analyze Aldrovandi's approach to trace fossils, based on his writings (most of which are still unpublished) and on the illustrations that accompany them. In his studies, the Bologna-born naturalist accurately describes such ichnological celebrities as Gastrochaenolites and Cosmorhaphe and discusses a few theoretic principles on the trace-making process. The study of the works of Aldrovandi brings to light a fascinating and little-known source of the history of ichnology.