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Hieracium lucidum subsp. lucidum is a critically endangered endemic taxa of the Sicilian flora. It is a relict of the Tertiary period surviving on the cliffs of Monte Gallo (NW-Sicily). This research focused on finding the best protocols for seed germination and vegetative and in vitro propagation to contribute to ex situ conservation. Seed germination tests were carried out using constant temperatures of 15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C in continuous darkness and an alternating temperature of 30/15 °C (16 h/8 h, light/dark). The seeds had no dormancy, and a high germination capacity (70–95%) was obtained at all tested thermoperiods. The possibility of vegetative propagation of the taxon was evaluated through the rooting capacity of stem cuttings treated or not treated with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). All cuttings were treated with IBA rooted within 2 months, while only 50% of the untreated cuttings were rooted within a longer time. An efficient protocol for rapid in vitro propagation from leaf portions was developed. The response of explants was tested on hormone-free Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium and MS enriched with different types of cytokinins: 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and meta-Topolin (mT) in combination with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at the same concentration. The combination of mT (2 mg L−1) and 2,4-D (1 mg L−1) in the medium was the most effective and showed the highest percentage of callus induction and the mean number of regenerated shoots. The maximum rate of root regeneration and the maximum number and length of roots were obtained on hormone-free MS and MS enriched with IBA at concentrations of 1 mg L−1. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that H. lucidum subsp. lucidum can be successfully propagated using one of the tested techniques, subject to the availability of the material for reproduction.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, present a cost-effective solution for the swift collection of data from vast and remote areas that are otherwise difficult to access. The Mediterranean Basin, known for being a hotspot for plant biodiversity, hosts several habitats and taxa of significant naturalistic value. However, many of these areas are often inaccessible to botanists, making exploration and research challenging. The aim of this paper is to involve the utilization of drone surveys and open-source software for botanical research. Our primary goal is to show the effectiveness of these tools in the field and demonstrate their practical application in Natura 2000 sites. The protected area chosen for this research is Rocca di Novara, situated in northeastern Sicily. Thanks to our drone investigations, we were able to capture images of a mountainside that is inaccessible to humans. This allowed us to observe the habitat of some species in detail. One of the most fascinating discoveries was the reappearance of Saxifraga callosa subsp. australis, which had not been confirmed in this area for over 140 years. Using drones for botanical research can boost field research, making monitoring easier and more cost-effective over time, especially in Natura 2000 sites.

Urban natural areas provide important ecological services such as biodiversity conservation, as well as opportunities for people to connect with nature and preserve cultural heritage. However, the increasing demand for access to natural areas and the expansion of human recreational activities, such as hiking and biking, pose threats to these ecosystems, especially for animal and plant species, finally resulting in biodiversity loss. This study explores the intricate link between human trampling, plant density, and the morphological and reproductive characteristics of Globularia alypum L., a plant with a peripheral population in Sardinia restricted to a natural area within an urban context. The study examined trampling effects on 75 plots along a frequently used path crossing the plant’s core population. Similar environmental conditions were assumed, with differences attributed to human trampling intensity and plant density, and morphological and reproductive traits were measured within each plot. Our results showed that human trampling caused differences in the morphological traits of plants, whereas, in contrast, reproductive traits are less vulnerable to human trampling than morphological ones. As a result, trampled areas may experience decreased plant recruitment, which can have long-term implications for plant population dynamics. Understanding the relationship between trampling effects and the sensitivity of peripheral plant populations is crucial for effective conservation and management strategies.

The Herbarium Apenninicum (international code: APP), hosted in the Floristic Research Center of the Apennines (Abruzzo, central Italy), is approximately composed of about 80,000 specimens of vascular plants; 66,352 of them are mounted with data labels and entered in a database. The specimens from the Abruzzo administrative region (central Italy) correspond to more than half of the collection (57.8% of the specimens), while immediately afterwards, other neighboring provinces of central Italy follow. Outside of Italy, the most represented areas are Morocco and southern European countries. Most of the specimens were collected between 2001 and 2020; nevertheless, the herbarium also contains two historical collections from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century. The herbarium houses 146 types.

In this research, all the published names of Jasione (Campanulaceae) in the species, subspecies, and variety ranks for populations from the Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas are reviewed, including names of taxa allied to these groups in surrounding areas. These two areas are among the main centers of diversity of the genus, albeit no recent revisions to address the regional taxonomical complexity of the genus have been published for the Balkans and Anatolia. In this work, the taxonomic status and typification of twenty-six published names are discussed, including the plethora of names within the Jasione heldreichii, J. supina, and J. orbiculata taxonomic complexes. In total, eleven lectotypes and one neotype are designated for names from the aforementioned regions, plus one from southern Italy. This nomenclatural clarification establishes a reference for ongoing and future taxonomic and evolutionary studies of Jasione in the Mediterranean basin. In a genus prone to micro-endemism and cryptospeciation, a number of the historically described forms, despite being disregarded by current taxonomic treatments, may, therefore, deserve further attention.

Groups with morphological stasis are an interesting framework to address putative cryptic species that may be hidden behind traditional taxonomic treatments, particularly when distribution ranges suggest disjunct and environmentally heterogeneous biogeographic patterns. New hypotheses of delimitation of evolutionary independent units can lead to the identification of different biogeographic processes, laying the foundation to investigate their historical and ecological significance. Jasione is a plant genus with a distribution centered in the Mediterranean basin, characterized by significant morphological stasis. Within the western Mediterranean J. gr. crispa species complex, J. sessiliflora s.l. and allied taxa form a distinct group, occupying environmentally diverse regions. At least two ploidy levels, diploid and tetraploid, are known to occur in the group. The internal variability is assessed with phylogenetic tools, viz. GMYC and ASAP, for species delimitation. The results are compared with other lines of evidence, including morphology and cytology. The fitting of distribution patterns of the inferred entities to chorological subprovinces is also used as a biogeographical and environmental framework to test the species hypothesis. Despite the scarcity of diagnostic morphological characters in the group, phylogenetic delimitation supports the description of at least one cryptic species, a narrow endemic in the NE Iberian Peninsula. Moreover, the results support the segregation of a thermophilic group of populations in eastern Iberia from J. sessiliflora. Ploidy variation from a wide geographical survey supports the systematic rearrangement suggested by species delimitation. Taxonomic reorganization in J. sessiliflora s.l. would allow ecological interpretations of distribution patterns in great accordance with biogeographical regionalization at the subprovince level, supporting geobotanical boundaries as a framework to interpret species ecological coherence of cryptic lineages. These results suggest that species differentiation, together with geographic isolation and polyploidization, is associated with adaptation to different environments, shifting from more to less thermophilic conditions. Thus, the recognition of concealed evolutionary entities is essential to correctly interpret biogeographical patterns in regions with a complex geologic and evolutionary history, such as the Mediterranean basin, and biogeographical units emerge as biologically sound frameworks to test the species hypothesis.

A thorough research on the scientific activity of Guglielmo Gasparrini, Giovanni Gussone and Augustin Pyramus De Candolle allowed the authors to adress a research in several European herbaria looking for the type of the name Senecio pygmaeus DC. The original specimen sent by Gussone and mentioned in the protologue by Candolle is still kept at G-DC and is designated as the lectotype, whilst three other herbarium sheets, preserved at NAP-GUSS, PAL and PAV herbaria respectively, in all probability belong to the same gathering, and are considered as isolectotypes. The authors provide an updated description of this taxon in order to better point out its diagnostic characters. However, further biosystematic and phytogeographic surveys are needed to ascertain the taxonomic value and the distribution range of S. pygmaeus. Indeed, it might represent just a dwarfed, salt-tolerant ecotype of S. leucanthemifolius Poir. or S. vulgaris L., hence be more widespread than previously reported, counting numerous scattered populations along the rocky shores of central and eastern Mediterranean countries.

This paper provides an updated overview, based on nomenclatural, taxonomical and distribution data published in 2021, on the native and alien vascular flora of Italy. The details on the occurrence at national and regional level and the lists of taxa occurring in Italy described in 2021 are provided.

In this paper, based on fieldwork and herbaria surveys, new data concerning the presence of 32 native and alien vascular species for Sicily (Italy) are provided. Among the native species, the occurrence of the following taxa is reported for the first time or confirmed after many decades of non-observation: Aira multiculmis, Arum maculatum, Carex flacca subsp. flacca, Mentha longifolia, Oxybasis chenopodioides, Najas minor and Xiphion junceum. Furthermore, we document the presence of three native species (Cornus mas, Juncus foliosus and Limonium avei) that, despite being repeatedly observed in Sicily and reported in the literature, are inexplicably omitted by the most recent authoritative checklists regarding the flora of Italy. Finally, fifteen alien species new to Sicily (including one new to Europe, i.e., Pyrus betulifolia) are reported and seven poorly documented allochthonous taxa are confirmed for the island, and for two of them, a status change is proposed. These new or confirmed records allow us to better define the European and national distribution of the targeted taxa and offer new insights on the native and alien flora of Sicily.

The westernmost European nucleus of the 5220* Habitat of Community Interest (HCI) is located in the province of Málaga (Andalusia). In this area, the 5220* HCI is characterized by the presence of scrublands of Gymnosporia senegalensis subsp. europaea. This is a relict species in Europe, with inhabits only in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The westernmost Iberian nuclei of the 5220* HCI are constituted by three isolated nuclei (Málaga–Rincón de la Victoria; Torremolinos; and Pizarra). These nuclei have been only partially mapped. The objectives were: to map the 5220* HCI characterized by G. senegalensis subsp. europaea in detail; to evaluate its degree of conservation (DC); and to identify the chronosequences of the evolution of this habitat from 1957 to 2021, and its fragmentation. Our results have contributed to generating a 1:10,000 scale cartography of the habitat. In general, the DC obtained was from good to excellent. With an excellent DC value, one inland locality (Pizarra) was highlighted. However, the highest reduction in the value of DC was observed in the localities of Torremolinos and Málaga–Rincón de la Victoria which, in addition, have reduced the area of occupancy (AOO) and are fragmented. It is important to note that some areas of Málaga–Rincón de la Victoria reached excellent values of DC, indicating the need to carry out protection.

Ranuculus gracilis is endemic to the SE Euro-Mediterranean area and its presence in Italy is controversial. Based on analysis of the relevant literature, field surveys and examination of herbarium specimens, a revised distribution of this species in Italy is presented and its conservation status is assessed. Ranunculus agerii, described by Antonio Bertoloni from Bologna (Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy), and R. schowii, described by Vincenzo Tineo from Vittoria and Terranova (Sicily), usually regarded as synonyms of R. gracilis, are here lectotypified and their taxonomic status discussed. Thanks to our study, the presence of R. gracilis in Italy is confirmed and, now, it is reported in a national conservation framework.

Genista etnensis is a remarkable and well-known tree endemic to Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica (Mediterranean Basin). Nevertheless, its morphological variability and its native status throughout its range need to be further investigated. In this study, we aim to clarify some aspects of this infraspecific variability by molecular means. Sequences of one nuclear and five plastid markers were analyzed under maximum parsimony by using TCS software. Plastid data were also time-calibrated under a Bayesian Inference framework. Plastid data revealed strong isolation between the populations from the Cyrno-Sardinian biogeographical province, which are also the most diverse and presumably the most archaic, and those from Sicily and Southern Italy (in this latter area, the species is naturalized). The calibration analysis indicates that the last common ancestor between G. etnensis and its sister group G. fasselata dates back to the middle Pliocene or slightly later, when sclerophyllous Mediterranean vegetation spread, whereas G. etnensis itself might have originated in the middle Pleistocene. The current, rather unusual distribution of G. etnensis could be explained by long-range seed dispersal from the western part of the range or by anthropogenic introduction into Sicily, with extinctions of transported haplotypes in the region of origin. Interestingly, the Vesuvius population, introduced from Sicily in recent times and locally naturalized, shows private genotypes, and was richer in both genotypes and haplotypes than the Sicilian ones.

In the Mediterranean Basin, a critical focal point for the conservation of plant diversity, there has been a large increase in practical conservation actions for many plant species to prevent extinction and to improve their conservation status; quantifying the effectiveness of these initiatives in reversing species declines is urgently important. In 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) launched a new tool that allows the impact of conservation actions on plant species to be assessed. The Green Status of Species is a new set of metrics under the Red List of Threatened Species that assigns species to recovery categories, complementary to the classic extinction risk categories. Crucially, the Green Status of Species provides methods to evaluate the impact of past conservation, and the potential for future conservation impact, on species status and recovery in a standardized way. Considering the efforts made so far for the conservation of Mediterranean threatened plants, using the Green Status of Species would be highly useful to direct future conservation policies. We, therefore, encourage botanists and practitioners working on threatened plants in the Mediterranean area to use this new assessment tool to inform conservation and recovery programs.

The first inventory of the flora of Appia Antica Regional Park (Italy), one of the largest protected urban areas in Europe (4580 ha), its biological, ecological and biogeographical composition, and notes of the vegetation physiognomies and landscape are presented; physical characteristics of the territory (geomorphology, lithotypes, and phytoclimate) are also given. The landscape is defined by an agricultural matrix with natural and seminatural areas as patches, and riparian vegetation communities as corridors. The vegetation physiognomies are represented by types linked to the Mediterranean climate (mixed, Mediterranean, and riparian forests; scrubby, rocky, aquatic, and helophytic vegetation; anthropogenic communities). The floristic list includes 714 taxa (104 families and 403 genera). Therophytes prevail over hemicryptophytes; woody flora comprises about 30% of alien species. As regards chorotypes, together with a considerable number of Mediterranean species, there are many exotic species with wide distribution areas testifying to a long-lasting anthropic impact. Floristic novelties (european, national, and regional levels) for 21 taxa are reported. The extraordinary species diversity discovered (43% of flora of Rome and 20% of regional flora) is linked to the landscape heterogeneity, the characteristics of which are: (1) persistence of residual natural patches, (2) occurrence of quite well-preserved aquatic habitats and humid meadows, (3) a rich anthropogenic flora, (4) an interesting flora of archeological sites, (5) occurrence of species not common in Latium, (6) occurrence of populations of aliens in crops (which cause economic impact), (7) presence of aliens on archeological ruins (which cause economic-social impacts). The extensive set of data provided represents a general base framework for guiding future research efforts and landscape action plans consistent with environmental sustainability.

This paper provides an updated overview, based on nomenclatural, taxonomical and distribution data, on the native and alien vascular flora of Italy, with details on the occurrence at national and regional administrative level. Recently described taxa occurring in Italy, which were not included in the checklists published in 2018, are listed. The list of extinct or possibly extinct native taxa and that of alien taxa of EU concern are updated.

The description of seed shape by comparison with geometric models allows shape quantification, providing the means for an accurate comparison between different species or populations. Geometric models described for the lateral and dorsal views of the seeds of Silene species are applied to the quantification of the shape in the seeds belonging to twenty populations of the eleven taxa of S. mollissima aggregate. Cardioid models LM1, LM5 and LM6 adjust differentially to the lateral views of the seeds, while models DM1, DM5 and DM6 are applied to the dorsal views of the seeds. Quantification of the lateral view of seeds with LM5 results in two groups of species of different geographic origin. The seeds more resembling DM5 include S. andryalifolia, S. badaroi, S. gazulensis, S. hifacensis and S. tomentosa, i.e., the taxa with a continental distribution from southern Spain to northern Italy; in contrast, the group of seeds with lower similarity to DM5 includes those from species in northern Africa and the Mediterranean Tyrrhenian islands: S. auricolifolia, S. hicesiae, S. ichnusae, S. mollissima, S. oenotriae and S. velutina. The description of the seed shape based on geometric models contributes to investigating the relationships between related species and constitutes a promising technique for taxonomy.

In this paper, Allium ducissae (the LSID for the name Allium ducissae is: 77254606-1) is described as a new species based on morphological and molecular analyses, and its taxonomic relationships are discussed. It grows in crevices on calcareous rocks, rocky slopes and grassy ledges in the subalpine belt, within two regional protected areas in the Lazio and Abruzzo administrative regions (Central Apennines, Italy). Previously, these populations were attributed to A. strictum, a species described from Siberia, belonging to A. sect. Reticulatobulbosa. The new species is distinct from A. strictum in the morphology of vegetative and reproductive structures. Indeed, it is close to A. palentinum, an endemic species to Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain). Both molecular and morphological data support the recognition of the Allium populations coming from the Central Apennines as a new species. Allium ducissae can be clearly distinguished from A. palentinum by longer and wider tepals, longer filaments, tooth of inner filament, flower pedicels, spathe appendage, and smaller seeds. Moreover, seed testa micro-sculptures revealed slight differences between A. ducissae and A. palentinum. Chromosome counts showed that A. ducissae is diploid with 2n = 16 chromosomes, as already known for A. palentinum. Molecular analyses support the affiliation of A. ducissae and A. palentinum to A. sect. Falcatifolia, contrary to what is known for the latter species, usually included in A. sect. Daghestanica. Finally, the IUCN assessment for the newly described species is proposed and briefly discussed.

The vascular flora of Sardinia has been investigated for more than 250 years, with particular attention to the endemic component due to their phylogeographic and conservation interest. However, continuous changes in the floristic composition through natural processes, anthropogenic drivers or modified taxonomical attributions require constant updating. We checked all available literature, web sources, field, and unpublished data from the authors and acknowledged external experts to compile an updated checklist of vascular plants endemic to Sardinia. Life and chorological forms as well as the conservation status of the updated taxa list were reported. Sardinia hosts 341 taxa (15% of the total native flora) endemic to the Tyrrhenian Islands and other limited continental territories; 195 of these (8% of the total native flora) are exclusive to Sardinia. Asteraceae (50 taxa) and Plumbaginaceae (42 taxa) are the most representative families, while the most frequent life forms are hemicryptophytes (118 taxa) and chamaephytes (106 taxa). The global conservation status, available for 201 taxa, indicates that most endemics are under the ‘Critically Endangered’ (25 taxa), ‘Endangered’ (31 taxa), or ‘Least Concern’ (90 taxa) IUCN categories. This research provides an updated basis for future biosystematics, taxonomic, biogeographical, and ecological studies and in supporting more integrated and efficient policy tools.

This article describes the flora of the northern slopes of the Triglav Peak (Julian Alps). Further, we discuss the flora of Dubrovnik (the old town area) and the flora of the towns of Budva and Podgoritsa.

The distribution of the threatened fern Ophioglossum vulgatum L., a plant with extremely small populations (PSESPs) in Sardinia, is characterized by small disjunct populations with only a few individuals, and little is known about its status in the wild. To provide information for the conservation of O. vulgatum and with the aim to develop an in situ conservation strategy, we investigated its distribution, population size, and habitat. Field surveys confirmed that the species grows in only five localities. Two representative populations were selected for this study (Funtanamela and Gedili), and in each population, all plants were mapped and monitored monthly from April to August over an 8-year period. During the study, the populations had a very low number of reproductive plants and the populations appeared to be in decline, with the total number of plants per population slightly decreased in Gedili while a sharp reduction was recorded in Funtanamela due to wild boar threat. A fence was built in order to protect the site from further damage, but no noticeable signals of recovery were observed. The most urgent conservation requirement for this species is to preserve the threatened habitat of the remnant populations. Further field surveys and research are also required for an improved understanding of the species’ status.

Mediterranean wetlands are severely affected by habitat degradation and related loss of biodiversity. In this scenario, the wide number of artificial farm ponds can play a significant role in the biodiversity conservation of aquatic flora. In the present contribution we show the preliminary results of a study on Mediterranean farm ponds of north-western Sicily (Italy), aimed to investigating the environmental factors linked to the occurrence of submerged macrophytes (vascular plants and charophytes). We studied the aquatic flora of 30 ponds and determined the chemical and isotopic composition of their water bodies on a subset of the most representative 10 sites. Results show that (1) farm ponds host few but interesting species, such as Potamogeton pusillus considered threatened at regional level; (2) Chara vulgaris, C. globularis and P. pusillus behave as disturbance-tolerant species, occurring both in nitrates-poor and nitrates-rich waters, whereas Stuckenia pectinata and Zannichellia palustris occur only in nitrates-poor waters. Although farm ponds are artificial and relatively poor habitats, these environments seem to be important for the aquatic flora and for the conservation of the local biodiversity, and can give useful information for the use of macrophytes as bioindicators in the Mediterranean area.

Helianthemum caput-felis is an Endangered plant species growing in the western Mediterranean basin. Its distribution is well known to the European and Moroccan regional populations, but no data from its distribution in Algeria have been reported since the middle 20th century. In this study, we provide an up-to-date report on the distribution of the species in Algeria. Fieldwork surveys in the classical locations were unsuccessful in finding the species, probably due to human habitat disturbances; however, a relict location was found in Ain-el-Kerma, near one of the historical known locations. As there is reduced distribution we point out the main causes that threaten the habitat of H. caput-felis according to IUCN threats classification scheme and we also propose to label it in the Algerian Red List as regionally Critically Endangered (CRreg B1ab(i,ii,iii, v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v); C2a(i,ii); D).

A new species of Brassica sect. Brassica is described here from Sicily (Italy), which is known to be one of the centers of the diversification of wild taxa of this group. The new species (named Brassica tardarae) is restricted to the carbonate cliffs in the Tardara Gorges between Menfi and Sambuca di Sicilia (Agrigento province), an area with a peculiar geological history and where another strictly endemic species was recently described. The morphological relationships between the new species and other similar taxa are discussed, and an analytical key to the Sicilian taxa belonging to the genus Brassica sect. Brassica is also provided.

Human-induced biodiversity loss has been accelerating since the industrial revolution. The climate change impacts will severely alter the biodiversity and biogeographical patterns at all scales, leading to biotic homogenization. Due to underfunding, a climate smart, conservation-prioritization scheme is needed to optimize species protection. Spatial phylogenetics enable the identification of endemism centers and provide valuable insights regarding the eco-evolutionary and conservation value, as well as the biogeographical origin of a given area. Many studies exist regarding the conservation prioritization of mainland areas, yet none has assessed how climate change might alter the biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of an island biodiversity hotspot. Thus, we conducted a phylogenetically informed, conservation prioritization study dealing with the effects of climate change on Crete’s plant diversity and biogeographical patterns. Using several macroecological analyses, we identified the current and future endemism centers and assessed the impact of climate change on the biogeographical patterns in Crete. The highlands of Cretan mountains have served as both diversity cradles and museums, due to their stable climate and high topographical heterogeneity, providing important ecosystem services. Historical processes seem to have driven diversification and endemic species distribution in Crete. Due to the changing climate and the subsequent biotic homogenization, Crete’s unique bioregionalization, which strongly reminiscent the spatial configuration of the Pliocene/Pleistocene Cretan paleo-islands, will drastically change. The emergence of the ‘Anthropocene’ era calls for the prioritization of biodiversity-rich areas, serving as mixed-endemism centers, with high overlaps among protected areas and climatic refugia.

Climate change poses a great challenge for biodiversity conservation. Several studies exist regarding climate change’s impacts on European plants, yet none has investigated how climate change will affect the extinction risk of the entire endemic flora of an island biodiversity hotspot, with intense human disturbance. Our aim is to assess climate change’s impacts on the biodiversity patterns of the endemic plants of Crete (S Aegean) and provide a case-study upon which a climate-smart conservation planning strategy might be set. We employed a variety of macroecological analyses and estimated the current and future biodiversity, conservation and extinction hotspots in Crete. We evaluated the effectiveness of climatic refugia and the Natura 2000 network of protected areas (PAs) for protecting the most vulnerable species and identified the taxa of conservation priority based on the Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) index. The results revealed that high altitude areas of Cretan mountains constitute biodiversity hotspots and areas of high conservation and evolutionary value. Due to the “escalator to extinction” phenomenon, these areas are projected to become diversity “death-zones” and should thus be prioritised. Conservation efforts should be targeted at areas with overlaps among PAs and climatic refugia, characterised by high diversity and EDGE scores. This conservation-prioritisation planning will allow the preservation of evolutionary heritage, trait diversity and future ecosystem services for human well-being and acts as a pilot for similar regions worldwide.

The name Elatine campylosperma Seub. is generally treated as one of the synonyms of E. macropoda Guss. However, recent morphological, phylogenetic and karyological studies indicate that this judgement should be revised. In the present paper we typify the name E. campylosperma, review its taxonomic history and provide a thorough description, with compilation of previously published data and our new measurements from in vitro cultures. Based on our herbarium survey, we outline its Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution area (Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Algeria). Habitat preferences are summarized from our field observations, water quality measurements and the label information of the herbarium specimens examined. Intact E. campylosperma seeds were found in faecal samples of the Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra L.) in southern Spain and two of them were germinated, suggesting that E. campylosperma has a capacity for long distance dispersal via endozoochory.

Carex sylvatica subsp. paui is a poorly studied taxon considered endemic from a few places in the western Mediterranean. It has been frequently misidentified as C. sylvatica subsp. sylvatica. To date, it has been reported only from the NE Iberian Peninsula and the NW Africa. We use molecular —nuclear ribosomal and plastid sequences— and morphological data to shed light on the taxonomic circumscription and distribution of this taxon, especially regarding its distinction from the type subspecies. The genetic data support the recognition of C. sylvatica subsp. paui as an independent taxon, and confirm new records from the Balearic and Tuscan archipelagos. It implies a considerable increase in its range and a new taxon for the Italian flora. Strikingly, the morphometric analyses revealed that the Sicilian type specimen ofC. laxula identifies this species with C. sylvatica subsp. paui. We consider that the taxon should be ranked at the species level. Based on the priority of the name C. laxula over C. paui, we subsume C. sylvatica subsp. paui in C. laxula. We also provide notes on the ecology of the species.

Sclerophyllous forest is among the most representative types of woody plant communities in central Chile where Quillaja saponaria is considered to be one of the most important species. In this study, we analysed the main factors that explain the geographical patterns of variation in composition, richness and phylogenetic diversity of woody plant communities in the Chilean sclerophyllous forest where Quillaja saponaria is present. Vegetation surveys were performed for trees and shrubs in thirty-nine sites from 30° to 38° of latitude South in the Mediterranean biome of Chile. Composition, richness, alfa diversity and phylogenetic diversity metrics of the communities were calculated and associated with spatial (latitude, longitude and altitude), climate (annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, aridity), and disturbance variables (type of adjacent vegetation matrix) using multiple regression models. Sixty taxa were identified, distributed in 29 families, including 23 trees and 37 shrubs. A significant effect of the type of adjacent vegetation matrix (i.e. agricultural land, commercial forestry plantation or natural forest) on diversity and composition of the sampled communities was found. Significant effects of latitude on diversity, and altitude, latitude and annual mean temperature on composition were also found. Metrics of phylogenetic diversity and structure were only associated with altitude and latitude. In conclusion, diversity, composition and phylogenetic structure patterns of sclerophyllous forest communities are associated with spatial and climate variables, and anthropogenic disturbance has also caused important changes in these communities.

Peridotite outcrops have special lithological (serpentine) and soil characteristics; they also support an unique flora and vegetation “that clearly differ from that of other soil types. One of the most important peridotite outcrops in the Western Mediterranean Basin is located in Sierra Bermeja (Andalusia, Spain). The establishment of a complete ecological-floristic checklist of serpentinophytes in this area, and a comparison with other serpentine-endemic floras in the Mediterranean Basin, is essential for the assessment, management and conservation of these special areas. The recognition of serpentinophytes was made following six criteria used for floras inhabiting special substrata,. The list of species exclusively or partially found on peridotite comprises 27 taxa with a variable degree of serpentinophily: obligate serpentinophytes (obligate endemics), preferential serpentinophytes (populations located mainly on serpentine) and subserpentinophytes (with some populations located on magnesium-rich substrata). As observed in other Mediterranean outcrops, the number of obligate serpentinophytes increases with the area of the outcrop, and the genera Alyssum, Arenaria, Armeria, Centaurea and Silene were the most frequent. Most of the studied serpentinophytes, except for a few xerothermophilous taxa, present a wide bioclimatic (altitudinal) range and grow in shrublands and pastures in rocky places with shallow soils. As many as 56% of the serpentinophytes are threatened and, among obligate serpentinophytes, 45% are categorized as critically endangered or endangered, emphasizing the need for urgent conservation measures on the species and their habitats Based on this checklist, more detailed studies may focus on serpentinophytes for their particular physiology, adaptive traits, functional types, phenology and applications.

Apium bermejoi is a stoloniferous plant endemic to the island of Menorca (Balearic Islands). It is found only at one locality, and it is listed as Critically Endangered (according to the IUCN criteria). We describe the main results of population restoration actions undertaken under the Recovery Plan for this species, including the following: 1) introduction at two new localities (2008), 2) reinforcement of the original wild and the introduced populations, and 3) a programme for monitoring population dynamics (including both wild and introduced populations) spanning four years (2006-2010). The plant material for the introduction and reinforcement projects was generated from seeds gathered in the wild. We carried out a monthly census of all of the individuals/patches and emerged seedlings, from which we assessed their survival at 3-4months. The survival rates of the planted individuals in the two new localities after three months were found to be 59.0% and 56.3%, and more than 80% of the surviving plants produced fruits. A seasonal pattern was observed based on the minimum cover values recorded in the censuses taken at the end of summer, with an increase detected during autumn, and maximal cover values recorded during May/June. The A. bermejoi populations showed large inter-annual fluctuations in both the number of patches and area of occupancy. The number of seedlings varied across the study years, and their survival was linked to specific meteorological events, such as severe storms and dry and hot spells during autumn. The initial phase of introduction for this species has been overall successful, but a final evaluation can only be made on a longterm basis.

Santuario de la Naturaleza Yerba Loca (SN Yerba Loca), Metropolitan Region (MR), 33º S, Chile is analyzed for its conservation value and efficiency in protecting native vascular plants in a regional context. The reserve's flora of 500 species and subtaxa was evaluated for species richness, endemism, range size and marginally distributed taxa, using species-area analysis, and tendencies in the floras of the MR (1.434 species and subtaxa) and MR-Fifth regions (1,841 species and subtaxa) to set the regional pattern. The reserve (0.7 % of MR land area and 0.3 % MR-Fifth land area) contains 34 % of the MR and 27% of the MR-Fifth floras, and around 16-17 % of the mediterranean-climate area (regions IV-VIII) flora of central Chile. Veech's Relative Richness Index (RRI) revealed that SN Yerba Loca houses exaggerated richness in relation to its land area (28 % more species than expected from the regional model). However, endemism rates (35 % Continental Chile endemics, 22 % Mediterranean endemics, 3% MR-Vth endemics) are statistically lower than in the MR (44 %, 29 %, 9 %) and the MR-Vth (48 %, 31 %, 11 %) floras, and SN Yerba Loca houses proportionately fewer MR endemics (2 %) than the MR (6 %). Compared with the regional floras, the reserve contains statistically fewer marginally distributed species, and range size (median = five administrative regions) is significantly larger. The reserve's outstanding species richness compensates for its low endemism rates bringing the absolute number of endemics to 92 % of the regional expectation. Corresponding values for marginally distributed species are 81 % (northern limits), 63% (southern limits) and for median and shorter range taxa, 100 %. It is concluded that SN Yerba Loca is a highly efficient reserve from the point of view of vascular plant conservation, and represents an excellent conservation choice. SN Yerba Loca and MN El Morado (a second state protected area in the MR), conservatively, house 39 % of the native vascular plant flora of the MR (30 % of that of the MR-Fifth) on 0.9 % of MR land area. Our study emphasizes that relatively small land areas in central Chile can house significant amounts of biodiversity, and that moreover, the RM and RM-Fifth are areas of high species richness within the central Chilean biodiversity hotspot. The outstanding conservation value of SN Yerba Loca calls for a management plan designed to assure the integrity of the reserve under increasing pressures from the Metropolitan Region with six million inhabitantsSantuario de la Naturaleza Yerba Loca (SN Yerba Loca), 33ºS, un área protegida en la Región Metropolitana (RM) de Chile, es analizado en términos de su aporte a la conservación de la flora vascular y su eficiencia en un contexto regional. Se analizó la flora vascular nativa, compuesta por 500 taxa en terminos de riqueza de especies, endemismos, rango de distribución, y presencia de taxa con límites de distribución geográfica en la zona de estudio, empleando análisis de especie-área y en base de tendencias en las floras de la RM (1-434 especies y subtaxa) y RM-Quinta Región (1.841 especies y subtaxa). La reserva (de 0,7 % de la superficie de RM y 0,3 % de RM-Quinta Región) contiene el 34 % de la flora nativa de RM y el 27 % de RM-Quinta Región, y alrededor de 16-17 % de la flora mediterránea (regiones IV-VIII) de Chile central. El Índice de Riqueza Relativa (IRR) de Veech indica que SN Yerba Loca alberga una riqueza extraordinaria en relación a su superficie (28 % más especies de lo esperado del modelo regional). Sin embargo, los niveles de endemismo para SN Yerba Loca (35 % endémicos de Chile continental, 22 % endémicos de la zona mediterránea y 3 % endémicos a RM-Quinta Región) son estadísticamente más bajos que los niveles regionales (RM: 44, 29 y 9 %; RM-Quinta Región: 48, 31, y 11 %), y SN Yerba Loca alberga proporcionalmente menos taxas endemicos a RM (2 %) que RM (6 %). En comparasión con las floras regionales, SN Yerba Loca contiene menos especies marginalmente distribuidas, y los rangos geográficos para especies presentes en SN Yerba Loca (mediana = cinco regiones administrativas) son significativamente mayores que en las floras regionales. La riqueza destacada de la reserva compensa su bajo nivel de endemismos, con el número absoluto de taxas endemicos llegando al 92 % de la expectación regional. Valores correspondientes para especies con distribuciones marginales son 81 % (límites norte), 63 % (límites sur) y para taxas con rangos cortas, 100 %. Se concluye que SN Yerba Loca es una reserva muy eficiente desde el punto de vista de conservación de la flora vascular. SN Yerba Loca y MN El Morado (un segundo área protegida en RM) constituyen el 0,9 % de la superficie de RM. Albergan alrededor del 39 % de la flora de la RM (y 30 % de la flora de RM y RM-Quinta Región). Nuestro estudio indica que áreas pequeñas en Chile central pueden albergar mucha biodiversidad, y que RM y RM-Quinta Región son áreas de alta riqueza de especies dentro del "hotspot" Chile central de biodiversidad. El sobresaliente valor de SN Yerba Loca en lo respecto a la conservación exige un plan de manejo para asegurar la integridad de la reserva frente de presiones de la Región Metropolitana con seis millones de inhabitantes

A new triploid apomictic species (Limonium perplexum) is described from a single coastal locality of E Spain. The new species has been previously confused with L cavanillesii Erben, which is only known from few herbarium specimens and it is believed to be extinct. Overall morphology, chromosome number, and the pollen/stigma combination suggest that L perplexum belongs to the L. duriusculum complex. Based on morphological grounds it is suggested that L. cavanillesii Erben could have been originated through a crossing between L perplexum and L dufourii.

An apomictic Limonium with a single pollen-stigma combination (B type), Limonium interjectum, is proposed as a new species to replace the invalid name Statice dianiae Pau. The new species has a restricted distribution on the sea costs of eastern Spain (Alicante Province). It shows a striking morphological similarity to L. virgatum (Willd.) Fourr. and L. girardianum (Guss.) Girard; on this basis it is suggested that L. interjectum is a hybrid derived from the two species.

In the context of research into the lipids of higher plant, the fatty acid composition of eleven species is reported. These species belong to nine families, and most of them are common in the Mediterranean flora. Oils from some plants (Arctium tomentosum, Hypericum perforatum, Linaria vulgaris. Pulicaria dysenterica, Smilax áspera) were partially hydrolyzed, and contained free fatty acids. Arctium tomentosum seed oil and, to a lesser extent, Smilax áspera seed oil, showed a trans absorption band in their IR spectra. Small quantities of waxes were present in Pulicaria dysenterica and Silybum marianum seed oil. The fatty acid composition of the oils from these plants approaches levels found in food oils as well as industrial oils. Three species showed high levels of their predominant fatty acid: Alliaria petiolata (erucic acid, 41.5%), Linaria vulgaris and Pulicaria dysenterica (linoleic acid, 70 and 72% respectively). In the seed oil of Arctium tomentosum four fatty acids were not identified: one of them could be 3(t), 9(c), 12(c)- octadecatrienoic acid. But the most complex composition was that of Atriplex hortensis oil, which contained thirty three fatty acids, of which fifteen were unknown.