Hacquetia

Soil pH as a strong driver of plant species distribution in alpine-nival ecotone of the Central Caucasus

2024-06-04T12:33:14+02:00

Soil pH can be a strong driver of species distributions in general, however, its role in alpine-nival ecotone is little known. We compared the composition of plant species of two locations located 25km apart from each other, one near Mt. Kazbegi and another near Mt. Gudauri (Georgia). These locations have similar abiotic environments but significantly different soil pH levels. The sampled communities were located at 3000 m a.s.l., which in the Central Caucasus corresponds to the alpine-nival ecotone. North- versus south-facing slopes were sampled with a standardized stratified-random design. Soil samples were collected from the same vegetation sampling plots. The analysis of climate data from available databases showed that these two locations were climatically similar but distinguishable in soil pH values. In total, 74 species were recorded, of which the relatively frequent 33 species (those with a frequency of occurrence ≥10) were used for multivariate statistical analyses. The floristic similarity between the locations was low. Axis 1, which was primarily linked to soil pH and, to a lesser extent, vegetation cover, accounted for nearly all the variation in the Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) ordination. Our results suggest that soil pH is a key factor in community assembly in the alpine-nival ecotone of the Central Caucasus.

Diversity and botanical characterization of polyfloral honey from Bosnia and Herzegovina

2025-03-18T08:36:28+01:00

As part of the research, 50 polyfloral honey samples from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) were collected and analyzed. The study aimed to determine the botanical specificity and degree of diversity of polyfloral honey originating from B&H. Melisopalynological preparations were prepared and interpreted by the Regulation on Methods for the Control of Honey and Other Bee Products of Bosnia and Herzegovina and methods proposed by the ICBB. Melissopalynological analysis revealed 15,000 pollen grains from 50 polyfloral honey samples and from 24 plant families. The most prominent number of pollen grains was from Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Asteraceae. Through the analysis of micromorphological characteristics, 51 different pollen types were identified. The Shannon-Weaver (H) index value of the analyzed samples were from 1.65 to 2.72, while the Shannon uniformity index (J') was from 0.7 to 1. Each analyzed palynological profile represents a unique combination of pollen from honey plants and reflects the floristic diversity of the apiflora B&H.

Phytosociological Patterns Along a Soil Nutrient Gradient in Sacred Groves of Haryana

2025-04-25T06:59:32+02:00

Sacred groves (SGs) are patches of natural vegetation traditionally protected by local communities for religious, cultural, or spiritual reasons. This study evaluated the phytodiversity and soil nutrient profile of four SGs in semi-arid Western Haryana, outside the protected area network. Quadrat sampling recorded floristic composition, species richness, dominance, evenness, and Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′). Soil parameters included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density (BD), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic carbon (OC). Tree, shrub, and herb density was highest in Bidola SG, while basal area was greater in Sultanpur (19.77 m²/ha) and Dhingsara (15.51 m²/ha) than in Makrana Johra (7.69) and Bidola (4.49). Dominant species were Acacia tortilis (Bidola), Salvadora oleoides (Sultanpur), and invasive Prosopis juliflora (Dhingsara). H′ ranged 0.61–3.26 for trees, 0.05–0.58 for shrubs, 0.39–0.88 for herbs, and 0.32–4.59 for climbers. Soils showed highest EC, N, P, K, and OC in Makrana Johra, maximum BD in Dhingsara, and highest pH in Bidola. Findings highlight that SGs of Western Haryana sustain notable biodiversity and soil fertility, but agricultural expansion threatens their integrity, requiring urgent conservation and community–scientist collaboration.

Holotypes of three Turczaninow’s species names in Malvaceae s. str. rediscovered at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW), with nomenclatural comments

2025-08-06T14:17:45+02:00

Turczaninow je sredi 19. stoletja objavil vsaj 58 binomov (imen vrstnega ranga) v družini Malvaceae sensu stricto. Fryxell in Krapovickas (leta 1990) sta v svojem nomenklaturnem pregledu Turczaninowovih imen v družini Malvaceae navedla, da več domnevnih holotipov nekaterih imen “not located”. Tukaj poročamo o ponovnem odkritju treh holotipov imen vrstnega ranga, ki jih je Turczaninow objavil v družini Malvaceae, Malva mathewsii (ki se zdaj šteje za sinonim za Fuertesimalva peruviana), M. scorpioides (sinonim za Fuertesimalva chilensis), Sphaeralcea galeottii (sinonim za Phymosia umbellata), razpravljamo o trenutnem taksonomskem statusu teh imen in podajamo več različnih nomenklaturnih komentarjev o nekaterih drugih imenih taksonov te družine. Potrdimo naš prejšnji sklep, da so holotipi (če so primerni) imen, ki jih je Turczaninow objavil v svoji seriji Animadversiones…, običajno shranjeni v spominski zbirki Turczaninow (KW-TURCZ, zdaj v Nacionalnem herbariju Ukrajine, KW), če v protologu ni navedeno drugače. Poročamo tudi o dodatnem izoneotipu imena Sphaeroma floribunda Schltdl., odkritem v KW, in komentiramo nekatere prejšnje tipske oznake glede na naše novo odkrite holotipe. Predložene so digitalne slike štirih tipskih primerkov (treh holotipov in enega izoneotipa). Nadaljnje naloge digitalizacije pri KW so poudarjene, zlasti glede na trenutne vojne grožnje.

Checklist of the Bryophytes of Bogotá, D. C., Colombia

2024-10-03T12:54:26+02:00

In Colombia, ecosystems such as the páramos and high Andean forests are characterized by their high diversity of bryophytes. These include mosses, liverworts and hornworts. They lack complex tissues, which contribute to their relatively small size and their ability to grow on various substrates, even in nutrient-poor or polluted environments such as cities. Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, is known for its plentiful water resources and cold climate. It also encompasses one of the world's largest paramo ecosystems. This study compiles specimen distribution data from databases and herbaria, refining the nomenclature to produce a list of 450 bryophyte taxa reported within Bogotá. Of these, 279 are mosses, 167 are liverworts and, for the first time, four species of hornwort have been reported. This study highlights Bogotá’s significance as a refuge for important Neotropical bryophyte diversity.

New community of sycamore maple in northwestern Slovenia (Aconito paniculati-Aceretum pseudoplatanii ass. nov.)

2025-03-16T18:03:04+01:00

Primerjali in analizirali smo večje število popisov gorsko-podvisokogorskih javorovih gozdov v severozahodni in zahodni Sloveniji in jih večino uvrstili v asociacije Lamio orvalae-Aceretum pseudoplatani. Izstopali so nekateri popisi iz Julijskih Alp, ki smo jih naredili na pobočnem grušču in podornem skalovju na nadmorski višini med 940 m in 1540 m in jih uvrščamo v novo asociacijo Aconito paniculati-Aceretum pseudoplatani (podzveza Lamio orvalae-Acerenion pseudoplatani, zveza Tilio-Acerion). Po vrstni sestavi, ne pa po rastiščih, so njeni sestoji najbolj podobni sestojem zgornje gorsko-podvisokogorske bukovo-javorove asociacije Aconito paniculati-Fagetum sylvatica (podzveza Saxifrago rotundifolii-Fagenion sylvaticae, zveza Aremonio-Fagion). Sestoji obeh združb so lahko sindinamsko povezani. V članku obravnavamo tudi pionirske sestoje gorskega javorja na nekdanjih njivah, pašnikih ali senožetih v prigorju južnih Julijskih Alp ter v Trnovskem gozdu, ki jih uvrščamo v za zdaj provizorično opisano novo asociacijo Senecio fuchsii-Aceretum pseudoplatani nom. prov.

Rod Carex (Cyperaceae) v Sloveniji

2025-05-29T12:22:23+02:00

V tem prispevku predstavljamo posodobljeno znanje o rodu Carex v Sloveniji, ki temelji na terenskih raziskavah, reviziji herbarijskih zbirk v LJU in LJS ter analizi podatkov iz literature. Trenutno je v Sloveniji znanih 94 vrst rodu Carex, vključno z dvema tujerodnima vrstama. Prisotnost šestih taksonov je dvomljiva. Posebna pozornost je namenjena križancem, ki so pri šaših precej pogosti. V prispevku podajamo pregled 35 domorodnih redkih vrst šašev Sloveniji in 20 križancev. Za vse te taksone so objavljeni zemljevidi razširjenosti.

On a new Molinia caerulea grassland association in the Central Apennines (Italy)

2025-05-01T06:59:44+02:00

Molinia caerulea meadows represent a well-known Natura 2000 Habitat with a large potential distribution area in Europe. As for Italy, at present they were recognized only in its Northern and Southern part. The present study analyzes for the first time a new Molinia caerulea plant community found in a karst montane plateau of Central Italy. Its floristic-sociological characteristics allow the authors to propose the new association Centaureo jaceae-Molinietum caeruleae, with two subassociation (-typicum and -caricetosum hostianae, along with one variant. Despite of these Purple moorgrass meadows show some affinities with some Western Balkan plant associations belonging to Trifolio-Hordeetalia, the study suggests that the new association should be better referred to the Molinietalia caeruleae order.

Salvia hispanica (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) novost v tunizijski tunizijski flori, drugi uradni zapis v celinski Afriki

2025-08-06T14:10:39+02:00

Pričujoči članek poroča o odkritju v naravi več razpršenih cvetočih primerkov Salvia hispanica v Tuniziji. Ta ugotovitev predstavlja drugi uradni zapis taksona na afriški celini in razširitev njegove razširjenosti v južno Sredozemlje (Severna Afrika). Morfološki opis, fenologija, skupaj z informacijami o dejanski razširjenosti in habitatu ter originalne fotografije te aromatične vrste so tukaj najprej zagotovljeni iz Tunizije. Poleg tega so zaradi obsežnih botaničnih raziskav, opravljenih v zadnjih dveh desetletjih, tukaj prvič poročali o novih podatkih o razširjenosti še dveh tujerodnih salvij. Predlaga se tudi ključ do tujerodnih vrst rodu Salvia, prijavljenih za Tunizijo.