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The « Pedicularis » of the series « Foliosae » Maxim, in the Italian Flora. - The paper deals with the badly known distribution of Pedicularis foliosa L., P. hoermanniana K. Maly and P. hacquetii Graf (ser. Foliosae Maxim.) both in Europe and in Italy. The illyrian P. hoermanniana occurs also in central Italy, being therefore a typical periadriatic entity. It completely substitutes the two others species in the Italian peninsula.

Influence of altitudinal, seasonal and environmental factors on the production of the active principles in Helleborus odorus subsp. laxus (Host.) Merxm. & Pod. - The influence of some factors (altitude, season, environment) on the production of the active principles of Helleborus odorus subsp. laxus (Host) Merxm. & Pod. is examined. The samples have been taken at different altitudes and from different environments during various phases of the biological-cycle, in an area on the southern border of the Carnia-prealps zone (Friuli-Venezia Giulia). Only the two main active principles present in the hypogeous organs of such entity, hellebrin and saponin (Rf = 0.63), are considered because in previous works it was demonstrated that such secondary metabolites are chemotaxonomic markers for these entities. Quantitative analysis undertaken separately on roots and rhizomes, have shown a connection between variations of hellebrin and saponin (Rf = = 0.63) contents and physical-environmental factors. In particular it has been found that during the activity period of the plant the quantity of the two previously mentioned principles increases according to the altitude. Various anomalous environmental characteristics such as reafforestation, inhabited areas, steep sunny slopes, seemed to increase the production of the two active principles.

Chromatic variability of tepals in species of Crocus L. of South-eastern Alps.—The anthocyanidins causing the color of tepals of some species of Crocus L. in the Italian South-eastern Alps were determined and characterized. The genus Crocus of this region is represented by four entities: C. napolitanus Mord. & Loisel., C. albiflorus Kit. ex Schult., C. reticulatus Stev. ex Adam. and C. weldenii Hoppe ex Baker.The distribution of anthocyanidins in the four entities confirms the existence of a systematic distance among the species belonging to Reticulati and the species belonging to Anulati. Two anthocyanidins, i.e. delphynidin and petunidin, which are always present in other entities, have not been found in C. weldenii; this species is characterized by the only presence of malvidine.The anthocyanidins assume therefore in this case a chemotaxonomic meaning.

Flower colour and anthocyanidin pigments in some species of the Italian flora.—The anthocyanidin pigments, cyanidin and peonidin, of Corydalis cava and C. solida have been identified. The chromatic variation of C. cava is due to quantitative variation of the pigments. Only quantitative differences exist between the two species C. cava and C. solida. The pigments are absent in the white flowers.The pigments of Pulmonaria visianii in all flower ages are delphinidin, petunidin and malvidin. The blueing of flowers with ageing depends on pH; being 5.6 for red, 6.0 for purple and 6.7 for blue flowers.

Centaurea forojuliensis, sect. Jacea DC. s. str., new entity from Friuli.—The new endemic entity Centaurea forojuliensis present in the marshes of Friuli (Northeastern Italy), is described. It is probably an ecotypical differentiation inside the polymorphic cycle of Centaurea Jacea due to the particular habitat. A taxonomic account of the whole cycle in the Southeastern Alps and Northadriatic carstic regions is also given.

Lembotropis emeriflorus (Rchb.) Skalicka in the Carnian Alps too.—Lembotropis (=Cytisus) emeriflorus, endemic species between the lakes of Lugano and Como, occurs also in the Southern Carnian Alps, where it grows either on gravelly habitats or on rocky slopes or under Austrian pine woods of the mountain zone. After this discovery its distributional pattern is now a typical bicentric one.

The new endemic species Brassica glabrescens Poldini is described from the Friuli, Italy. It is a perennial caespitose hemicryptophyte belonging to sect. Brassicaria (Godr.) Coss. (= Oreobrassica Prantl), which shows close affinity to the very complex species B. repanda (Willd.) DC. and particularly to its subsp. saxatilis (DC.) Heywood from South France.

Gentiana froelichii Jan a new species for the Julian Alps. - The paper deals with the discovery of this species on Mountain Plauris in the western Julian Prealps, where it was completely unknown, its main-distribution being confined to the Karavanken at the austrian-yugoslavian boundary. This new finding links together this principal areal of distribution with the minor one on the Carnic Prealps (western Friuli). The phytosociological releves and the function of shelter pocket of these new localities during the glaciations are discussed.

New localities of «Festuca laxa» Host in the Italian territory and systematic considerations about its indipendence from «F. dimorpha» Guss. Some new localities of Festuca laxa are given for the Alps of Friuli (Northeastern Italy), which show that this species takes part also of Italian Flora. Until now it was known only for Austria and Jugoslavia. The paper furthermore deals with some anatomical differences in the leaf — structure of the two fescues, as to see in transections. F. laxa has normally 3 larger vascular bundles, which are wholly enclosed by T-shaped sclerenchyma and 4(8-9) smaller veins, where the sclerenchyma occurs only in the abaxial face of the blade. F. dimorpha on the contrary has 5 larger bundles and usually 6 smaller ones. The number of the secondary veins depends in both cases on the various sizes of the leaves. Also the cenotic and ecological behaviour of F. laxa is shortly illustrated on the basis of two phytosociological records.

« Centaurea haynaldii » Borb. subsp. « julica » (Hayek) E. Mayer new for the Italian Flora. — A new locality of « Centaurea haynaldii » Borb. subsp. « julica » (Hayek) E. Mayer is given for the Mount Zajavor (Western Prealpi Giulie) which for the first time shows that this species takes part also of Italian Flora. On top of this mountain « Centaurea haynaldii « subsp. » julica » appears in the association of the « Seslerio-Semperviretum » from 1.500 m onward.

Two abnormal stands of SAXIFRAGA INCRUSTATA Vest, on the Karst of Trieste. — Near of Trieste there are two dolines (sinkholes), where Saxifraga incrustata occurs. The average height of the zone is 300 m above the sea. This unusual presence of a subalpine plant at so low altitude is to relate to a temperature's decrease owing to a very intensive evaporation. In summer time develops a draft between the opposite sides of the dolines and produces the strong evaporation of percolation water in one case and of the imbibition water of a thick moss layer at the other hand.