Hacquetia

Validation of a hybrid name in genus Beta (Amaranthaceae) from Armenia

Duilio Iamonico — 2026-03-22

A recently published hybrid in the genus Beta (Amaranthaceae s.l.) was proposed based on both morphological and molecular data. However, from the nomenclatural point of view, no type (holo-) was reported and according to the Arts. 40.1 and 40.7 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, the hybrid name resulted as not validly published. The validation of the new hybrid is proposed in the present paper (Beta × vardenyatensis hybr. nov.).

Waiting through the ice age: a low altitude record of Daphne blagayana near its north-eastern distribution range limit (Danube Gorge, Carpathian Mountains)

Adriana Petruș-Vancea — 2026-06-04

Daphne blagayana is a relict laurel forest species with a restricted distribution in southeastern Europe. It is also sporadic in Romania, where it was previously reported only from one location in the Apuseni Mountains and a few locations in the Southern Carpathians. We identified the Balkan Daphne in a region where it had not previously been reported, in the Danube Gorge (Iron Gates Natural Park) at about 4 km from the Danube, in the Banat Mountains, southwestern Romania. It populates steep slopes, covered with rare Quercus petraea forests in the upper basin of the Mraconia Valley. The altitude of only 647 m is lower than in other cases in Romania. The new distribution record is a connection between the populations from the Southern Carpathians and those from the Balkan Peninsula. During the last glacial maximum, the region likely served as a refugium for D. blagayana, as the Southern Carpathians also acted as a refugium for other species. From this region, it advanced along the Romanian Carpathians. The altitude of this population fits within a broader context, as in this region, other mountain species were recorded at lower altitudes than usual. This is true for the Mraconia Valley, thereby supporting its status as a refugium. Daphne blagayana represents a new proof of the Danube Gorge region's biogeographic peculiarities. Although D. blagayana is an endemic and relict species, it is not protected by law in Romania; however, its presence in a protected area and the region's difficult access will likely ensure its survival.

Numerical Phytosociological Classification of the Vegetation of the Bozburun Peninsula (Southwestern Anatolia)

Kenan Akbaş — 2026-07-11

Vegetation patterns of the Bozburun Peninsula (southwestern Anatolia) were investigated using numerical phytosociological methods to classify plant communities and evaluate their relationships with environmental factors. A total of 168 vegetation plots were sampled using the Braun–Blanquet approach. Cluster analysis, Multiple Response Permutation Procedure (MRPP), Indicator Species Analysis (IndVal), and Bray–Curtis polar ordination were applied. Three major vegetation units were identified: phrygana, maquis, and Pinus brutia forests. Ordination analyses showed that elevation and precipitation are the main environmental gradients controlling vegetation distribution. Phrygana occupies lower and drier habitats, maquis occurs under intermediate conditions, whereas Pinus brutia forests are associated with higher and relatively wetter sites. The study also describes three new syntaxa and demonstrates that numerical phytosociological methods provide an effective framework for vegetation classification and syntaxonomical interpretation in southwestern Anatolia.

Vegetation of mesic hay meadows and pastures in the Asiago Plateau (south-eastern Prealps, Veneto, Italy)

Stefano Tasinazzo — 2026-01-24

The vegetation of mesic mown meadows and areas under summer cattle pastures in the prealpine carbonatic Asiago Plateau was surveyed through 114 original phytosociological relevés that were collected according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. A further 12 vegetation-plots come from the literature, totalling 126 relevés analysed. Cluster analysis was first applied to local stands before being applied in a comparison of the resulting relevé groups to selected associations from the alpine range, allowing the recognition of several associations/plant communities. Mesic hay meadows belong to the associations Holcetum lanati, Ranunculo repentis-Alopecuretum subass. anthriscetosum and the widespread Centaureo carniolicae-Arrhenatheretum. Within the latter, the new meso-xeric subassociation Centaureo carniolicae-Arrhenatheretum avenuletosum pubescentis is described. Some examples of mountain hay meadows (Centaureo transalpinae-Trisetetum flavescentis) which are declining just about everywhere in the Alps were also discovered. Mat-grass grazings were classified into Festuca stricta/sulcata-Nardus community and Homogyno alpinae-Nardetum. The most common pasture type with dominating Festuca rubra agg. and Cynosurus cristatus grasses still has not an appropriate syntaxonomic classification.

A new winter deciduous forest and its associated Eurosiberian flora and vegetation in a Mediterranean mountain climatic refuge (Sierra Nevada, Spain)

Manuel Pavón Núñez — 2026-02-15

Sierra Nevada (south of the Iberian Peninsula) is an isolated mountain range (3481 m), a climatic and geographic island with vegetation refuges, including the Eurosiberian-type deciduous forest on its northern slope selected for this study. In this paper, we present the floristic and phytocoenological diversity, focusing on the deciduous forest, its associated vegetation and their value as protected habitats.We publish a new floristic catalogue with 440 taxa (19% of Sierra Nevada flora), of which 20 species are strictly endemic, 19 protected and 31 critically endangered. We publish also 75 unpublished relevés recorded from all altitudinal ecosystems.We describe a new type of climatophilic forest (Poo nemoralis-Prunetum avium ass. nova), distinct from the only previously recognized biogeographically type Adenocarpo-Quercetum pyrenaicae, one hydrophytic mountain community (Montio fontanae-Ranunculetum omiophylli ass. nova) and two sub-associations and one community with Eurosiberian floristic influences (Genisto versicoloris-Juniperetum nanae rosetosum villosae subass. nova, Lonicero arboreae-Crataegetum granatensis ribetosum austroeuropaei subass. nova and Fraxinus excelsior community).

First records of Amaranthus cacciatoi (Amaranthaceae) out of locus classicus

Duilio Iamonico — 2026-03-22

Amaranthus cacciatoi was discovered in north-western Italy (Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto regions), where it was registered in corn fields and roads margins. The records reported here represent the first ones out of locus classicus of the species (Rome city) and are considered as casual alien occurrences.

Status and dispersal map of orchid populations of Chréa National Park (southwest of Algiers, Algeria)

Sihem Louhi Haou — 2026-05-16

In recent years, knowledge about orchids in Algeria has improved, but it remains poorly understood in certain regions, such as the National Park of Chréa (northern Algeria). To study orchids in this area, an inventory was carried out from April 2022 to June 2023 across ten locations within the park, based on systematic surveys and sampling. Nineteen orchid species were identified, including two sub-endemic species. The most represented genus is Ophrys (7 species), followed by Anacamptis, Himantoglossum, Neotinea, and Orchis (2 species each). In total, 378 orchid individuals were recorded. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) showed that each group of orchid species is linked to a specific exposition, altitude, and set of co-occurring species. Furthermore, the number of individuals and the size of each orchid population appear to be correlated with local vegetation density. The study area is subject to various disturbances, but many sites reveal remarkably rich flora, particularly orchids. Given the vastness of the park, fieldwork should continue, with a specific focus on hybrids.

Galanthus elwesii Hook.f. (Amaryllidaceae), a naturalized species in Serbia (chorology, ecology, and taxonomy)

Filip Jovanović — 2026-03-20

The distribution and ecology of naturalized Galanthus elwesii Hook.f. in Serbia, is presented for the first time, along with notes on the species’ morphology and taxonomy, comparing it to the native and morphologically similar G. graecus Orph. ex Boiss. To date, G. elwesii has been recorded at 16 localities distributed across eight floristic regions in the country, as herein mapped and listed with chorological and ecological data. It occurs in a variety of habitats, such as mixed deciduous forests (e.g., Fagus sylvatica L., Acer campestre L., Quercus spp.), scrub, forest clearings and meadows, on various substrates (limestone, loess, sand, etc.), at altitudes from ca. 80 m to 850 m. Further research is required to assess the ecological impacts of this non-native species and its potential interactions with native flora in Serbia.

Petiole Anatomical Study in Some Taxa of the Genus Alcea (Malvaceae) from Iran

Maneezheh Pakravan — 2026-02-15

Different species of the genus Alcea, due to the presence of mucilaginous compounds, are considered valuable medicinal plants in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industries. In recent years, numerous biosystematics studies have been conducted to help resolve classification and identification issues of species. In this study, the anatomical characteristics of petioles in 15 taxa of Alcea in Iran were investigated. Middle parts of leaf petioles in the lower inflorescence were sectioned, double stained, and photographed under microscope. The most important traits examined in this study included the number of layers of collenchyma, parenchyma and the chlorenchyma cells in the cortex, the thickness and number of layers of sclerenchyma fibres in the phloem and the structure of vascular bundles. Based on the anatomical traits of the petioles, cluster analysis was carried out based on Euclidean distance using the Ward method. The results of the cluster analysis showed that some closely related taxa were grouped together, while the placement of others did not align with taxonomic proximity. The findings of this research indicate that certain anatomical characters of petioles, observed in closely related species, can only be used for species identification, but less so for taxonomic grouping.

The distribution of Valeriana dacica Porcius in Poland and Slovakia

Pawel Kwiatkowski — 2026-06-20

The distribution of Valeriana dacica Porcius in Poland and Slovakia has been summarized based on herbaria and literature data. It occurs mainly in the Eastern Carpathians, and in eastern part of the Beskid Niski (Western Carpathians) in Poland. The knowledge of this species in Slovakia is low because of lack of data from the northern part of eastern Slovakia. The isolated locality in the Pieniny Mts. suggests that it might be found in the region along the borders with Poland. Valeriana dacica occupies wet habitats: banks of streams, springs, screes on the slope bases, and alluvial forests with Alnus incana, in montane and submontane zones, especially on the northern periphery of the Carpathians in Poland.