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Ethanolic extracts from the roots and aerial parts of the hitherto chemically uninvestigated lettuce species Lactuca racemosa Willd. (Cichorieae, Asteraceae) were chromatographically separated to obtain eight sesquiterpenoids, two apocarotenoids (loliolide and (6S,9S) roseoside), and three phenolic glucosides (apigenin 7-O-glucoside, eugenyl-4-O-β-glucopyranoside, and 5-methoxyeugenyl-4-O-β-glucopyranoside). Four of the isolated sesquiterpene lactones (8-α-angeloyloxyleucodin, matricarin, 15-deoxylactucin, and deacetylmatricarin 8-β-glucopyranoside) have not previously been found either in Lactuca spp. or in Cicerbita spp. In addition, HPLC-PAD chromatographic methods were used to estimate the deacetylmatricarin derivatives, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, and caffeic acid derivatives contents in the analyzed plant material. The aerial parts contained c. 3.0% dry weight of chicoric acid and equal amounts (0.4%) of caftaric acid and luteolin 7-O-glucoside. The roots contained fewer phenolic metabolites but were rich in deacetylmatricarin glucoside (c. 1.3%). The aglycone of the most abundant sesquiterpene lactone was evaluated with respect to its neuroprotective effect in H2O2- and 6-OHDA-treated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. This compound, at concentrations of 10 and 50 μM, provided partial protection of undifferentiated cells, and at a concentration of 50 μM, it provided partial protection of retinoic acid-differentiated cells from H2O2-induced damage. In a model of 6-OHDA-evoked cytotoxicity, the sesquiterpenoid was less effective. Our findings may support the inclusion of this plant into the human diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work on the catalogue of type specimens of vascular plants deposited in the KRAM herbarium has highlighted uncertainties and errors in references to place of valid publication of numerous taxa described by Hugo Zapałowicz in his Conspectus florae Galiciae criticus - Krytyczny przegląd roślinności Galicyi (1904- 1914). Zapałowicz published his work in an excerpt series, a serial publication and a multi-volume book, with much duplication amongst these three different forms. Despite the importance of this work, no studies have clarified the dates of publication of its various parts, as relevant to the nomenclature of numerous new taxa of Central European vascular plants described therein: 94 species and hybrids, 10 subspecies and more than 2000 other infraspecific taxa. Here, the publication dates of the component parts of Zapałowicz's work are clarified and discussed. Archival sources that made it possible to determine publication dates of these works are described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gagea minima (L.) Ker Gawl. is a rare species characteristic of meso- and eutrophic deciduous forest communities of the Fagetalia sylvaticae order. It is an inconspicuous spring geophyte easily overlooked in the field, occurring in oak-hornbeam and oak-beech forests, thickets, mountain glades and meadows. The paper gives information about the historical and present occurrence of G. minima within the administrative boundaries of the city of Kraków. Eight historical (6 published and 2 found in KRA herbarium material) and 4 new localities are described. The study demonstrates that rare plant species associated with natural forest communities may still occur in remaining fragments of these biotopes even within such a heavily urbanized area as the city of Kraków. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viola uliginosa (bog violet) is a declining species throughout its range due to - mostly anthropogenic - drying out of the wet habitats it occupies. Using AFLP markers, we aimed to estimate the genetic diversity in Polish populations, that may give an insight into the situation of plant populations facing rapid loss of natural habitats. Bog violet from several dispersed Polish populations is generally characterized by very low genetic diversity ( HT = 0.048), even lower than several other endangered violets; therefore, we suggest that it should preserve at least EN rank in the red lists/red data books. The mean gene diversity within all populations ( HS) was much lower than gene diversity ( GST) between populations (0.020 versus 0.583, respectively) which supports the prevalence of clonal propagation of the species (mainly by stolons) but may also point to some significance of autogamy in cleisto- and chasmogamous flowers. A high FST value and the Mantel test for all populations revealed significant isolation by distance. Geographically neighboring pairs of populations formed genetic clusters supported by all (in the case of two closest populations) or most statistical analyses applied. Special attention should be paid to the locus classicus of the species in Rząska, consisting of a small number of individuals, forming a genetically distinct group, revealing very low gene diversity ( Hj = 0.009) and the longest genetic distance to the remaining populations. Our results can contribute to planning future protection measures for the species at this and other locations. Genetic structure of the studied populations suggests local affinities of populations but does not generally support hypothesized recent continuity of V. uliginosa range along the river valleys of southern Poland; this view may, however, be altered with widening of the scope of studied populations and chosen molecular markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogeography of species associated with European steppes and extrazonal xeric grasslands is poorly understood. This paper summarizes the results of recent studies on the phylogeography and conservation genetics of animals (20 taxa of beetles, butterflies, reptiles and rodents) and flowering plants (18 taxa) of such, "steppic" habitats in Eastern Central Europe. Most species show a similar phylogeographic pattern: relatively high genetic similarity within regional groups of populations and moderate-to-high genetic distinctiveness of populations from currently isolated regions located in the studied area. This distinctiveness of populations suggests a survival here during glacial maxima, including areas north of the Bohemian Massif-Carpathians arc. Steppic species generally do not follow the paradigmatic patterns known for temperate biota (south-north 'contraction-expansion'), but to some extent are similar to those of arctic-alpine taxa. There are three main groups of taxa within Eastern Central Europe that differ in their contemporary distribution pattern, which may reflect historical origin and expansion routes. Present diversity patterns of the studied steppic species suggest that they share a unique genetic signature and distinct assemblages exist in each of the now isolated areas rich in steppic habitats. At least some of these areas probably act as present 'interglacial refugia' for steppic species. This study strongly supports the need to protect steppic species throughout their entire ranges in the region, as the continuous destruction of steppic habitats in some areas may lead not only to the disappearance of local populations, but also to the extinction of unique evolutionary units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents proposals to amend Article 41.6 of the International Code of Nomenclature (ICN) covering the use of a basionym or replaced synonym. Specific changes include errors in bibliographic citations, the ambiguity in the publication of the name and/or protologue of the basionym and synonym, and the use of Cylindrocladium infestans as an example. A provision on the errors in the names published on or after January 1, 1953 is mentioned.