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Gladiolus palustris (marsh Gladiolus) of wet grasslands is an extremely rare and highly endangered species in Central Europe. Ongoing loss of habitat, population fragmentation, drought, and higher mean annual temperatures caused by global warming have all contributed to a severe decline in its population over the past few decades. Additionally, hybridization with other species, such as G. imbricatus and G. illyricus, and genetic depletion may pose a significant threat to the species' survival. The focus of this study is to characterize major gene pools of the species in southern and southwestern Germany. Using molecular AFLP markers and ITS DNA sequencing, this study shows that past hybridization and introgression in Central Europe are more extensive than previously thought, posing a challenge to conservation strategies targeting taxonomically defined species. The region of the Rhine River in southwestern Germany (Upper Rhine Valley) has seen the emergence of various scattered populations of G. palustris over the past three decades, which are believed to have been introduced by humans. Introduced populations in this area (comprising the German Federal States of Baden–Württemberg and Rhineland–Palatinate) likely descend from a large source population near Lake Constance. Therefore, the study suggests promoting and protecting these new populations, given their long-standing presence in the region. Furthermore, the research proposes that naturally occurring hybrids and introgressed populations should also be the primary target of conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: stonewort Chara intermedia, liverworts Fossombronia wondraczekii and Pseudomoerckia blyttii, mosses Hamatocaulis vernicosus and Hookeria lucens, monocots Gladiolus palustris, Neotinea tridentata, and Orchis militaris and dicots Cardamine serbica, Cardamine waldsteinii, Hieracium kotschyanum and Pilosella petraea are given within SE Europe and adjacent regions.

Gladiolus palustris (marsh Gladiolus) of wet grasslands is an extremely rare and highly endangered species in Central Europe. Ongoing loss of habitat, population fragmentation, drought, and higher mean annual temperatures caused by global warming have all contributed to a severe decline in its population over the past few decades. Additionally, hybridization with other species, such as G. imbricatus and G. illyricus, and genetic depletion may pose a significant threat to the species’ survival. The focus of this study is to characterize major gene pools of the species in southern and southwestern Germany. Using molecular AFLP markers and ITS DNA sequencing, this study shows that past hybridization and introgression in Central Europe are more extensive than previously thought, posing a challenge to conservation strategies targeting taxonomically defined species. The region of the Rhine River in southwestern Germany (Upper Rhine Valley) has seen the emergence of various scattered populations of G. palustris over the past three decades, which are believed to have been introduced by humans. Introduced populations in this area (comprising the German Federal States of Baden–Württemberg and Rhineland–Palatinate) likely descend from a large source population near Lake Constance. Therefore, the study suggests promoting and protecting these new populations, given their long-standing presence in the region. Furthermore, the research proposes that naturally occurring hybrids and introgressed populations should also be the primary target of conservation efforts.

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Premise Gladiolus palustris (Iridaceae) is an endangered European perennial tetraploid herb with special conservation interest in the European Union. Microsatellite markers can serve as effective tools for the conservation genetics of this species. Methods and Results We utilized a 454 pyrosequencing approach to identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) regions in a microsatellite‐enriched library. Of all SSR regions, 46 were screened for specific PCR amplification, and 15 were found to be applicable in the target species. We found 1.62–3.08 alleles per population (effective alleles: 1.58–2.08) that indicated moderate to high genetic diversity values (0.28–0.44) in three pilot populations. Cross‐species amplification was less effective in G. imbricatus and G. tenuis. Conclusions The primers reported here can be used for the population genetic characterization of G. palustris. They will help us to better understand the conservation genetics of this highly endangered species.

Many endangered plant species suffer from the effects of ongoing fragmentation of their populations leading to a loss of genetic diversity through genetic drift. In addition, populations of rare plants may also be affected by hybridization with other plant species. We studied the genetic population structure of populations of the endangered Gladiolus palustris in the western limit of its distribution area using AFLP markers. In addition, we clarified the taxonomic status of populations where hybridization with the closely related G. imbricatus was suspected based on morphology by sequencing the ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA as well as two regions of the chloroplast DNA. Our analysis of the genetic population structure of G. palustris revealed a strong differentiation among geographical regions, which was much higher than the differentiation among populations within regions. Most populations retained a considerable amount of genetic variation. To counteract the future loss of genetic diversity through drift, we recommend using the largest populations per region as seed source to increase genetic diversity in genetic depauperate populations of the same region. Our genetic analyses indicated that some French populations of G. palustris are of hybrid origin. These hybridization events are likely to be ancient as these populations are very isolated and some parent taxa went regionally extinct. As these hybrid populations may elucidate post-glacial distribution patterns of related Gladiolus taxa, we advocate that they deserve the same conservation efforts as purebred ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On very steep dolomite slopes in the western foothills of the Kamnik Alps (Ravni hrib, Javorov vrh, Zaplata, Kriška gora) and southwestern Karavanke Mountains (Dobrča) we conducted a phytosociological study into montane grasslands (former hay meadows, partly pastures) where Gladiolus palustris, a species of European conservation concern, also occasionally occurs. They were compared with similar montane grasslands (former hay meadows) on sunny slopes of the Stol ridge above Breginj in the southwestern foothills of the Julian Alps. Based on this comparison we described three new syntaxa: Centaureo julici-Laserpitietum sileris gladioletosum palustris, Festuco amethystinae-Seslerietum calcariae and Pediculari julici-Bromopsietum transsilvanicae. Both new associations are classified into the alliance Caricion austroalpinae and treated as a long-term successional stage in the belt of altimontane beech forests from the association Ranunculo platanifolii-Fagetum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Gladiolus palustris (Iridaceae) is an endangered European perennial tetraploid herb with special conservation interest in the European Union. Microsatellite markers can serve as effective tools for the conservation genetics of this species. Methods and Results: We utilized a 454 pyrosequencing approach to identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) regions in a microsatellite‐enriched library. Of all SSR regions, 46 were screened for specific PCR amplification, and 15 were found to be applicable in the target species. We found 1.62–3.08 alleles per population (effective alleles: 1.58–2.08) that indicated moderate to high genetic diversity values (0.28–0.44) in three pilot populations. Cross‐species amplification was less effective in G. imbricatus and G. tenuis. Conclusions: The primers reported here can be used for the population genetic characterization of G. palustris. They will help us to better understand the conservation genetics of this highly endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]