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This study presents the taxonomic, cytometric and phytosociological characteristics of Nasturtium ×sterile as well as four areas of its occurrence in Poland. One of these areas was probably mistakenly identified near Cracow in 1916, but the other three still exist and are located in the geographical region of Wielkopolska (18 localities). Fruit-bearing specimens were found in two localities (Kłębowo and Biała). In the other localities only barren specimens were found, which were identified using flow cytometry. Further research on N. ×sterile is necessary to verify whether it has similar functional and therapeutic properties as one of its parent species.

Streszczenie W pracy przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 18 rzadkich (lub regionalnie rzadkich) roślin naczyniowych w Polsce (rodzimych i obcych), tj. Allium victorialis , Asclepias syriaca , Carex brizoides , Cephalanthera rubra , Cypripedium calceolus , Eragrostis albensis , Erysimum pieninicum , Gentiana cruciata , Lepidium coronopus , L. latifolium , Limosella aquatica , Lycopodiella inundata , Orobanche centaurina , O. lutea , Silaum silaus , Taraxacum paucilobum , Tragus racemosus oraz Trapa natans .

Chamaenerion palustre is distributed in Poland mostly in mountains. It was found in the lowland of Wielkopolska at two ruderal localities on rocky substrates: in 2008 in the town of Buk on a railway siding, and in 2019 in the town of Głogów near railway tracks at the train station.

A new local population of a Carpathian endemic plant species, Erysimum wittmannii, was found in Szczawnica in concrete-filled crevices between large stones on a steep slope falling to the Dunajec River, slightly downstream from the stream Grajcarek, when walking from Krościenko. This is certainly its largest, although anthropogenic, local population in the Polish Carpathians. On 14 July 2020, it included 45 fruiting individuals and two flowering ones.

Streszczenie W pracy przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 12 rzadkich (lub regionalnie rzadkich) roślin naczyniowych w Polsce, tj. Cochlearia danica , Colchicum autumnale , Cuscuta campestris , Lythrum hyssopifolia , Ostericum palustre , Pedicularis sylvatica , Plantago coronopus , Ranunculus arvensis , Rosa gallica , Sesleria uliginosa , Succisella inflexa oraz Veronica prostrata .

Carpological and molecular variation among the 14 species of Erysimum distributed in Central Europe was examined. Special attention was paid to the group of six wallflowers ( E. hungaricum, E. pieninicum, E. wahlenbergii , E. virgatum , E. durum and E. hieracifolium ) that are morphologically difficult to distinguish forming a complex taxonomic group. It was found that the sculpturing of seed testa and the micromorphological patterns regarding the surface of silique septum obviously vary among the studied wallflowers, while seed dimensions and shapes overlap and are not adequately informative. The highest carpological dissimilarity was noted between E. cheiri and E. crepidifolium , whereas the taxa in the mentioned taxonomic complex were carpologically very similar, only E. virgatum was slightly different. The molecular techniques used here including SSCP and restriction endonuclease-digested rDNA amplified by PCR and combined with RAPD, strongly support the genetic distinctiveness of all Erysimum species studied. Moreover, the results obtained here indicate that the group of five out of six taxonomically problematic Erysimum species consist of distinct, closely related species and may constitute a complex of cryptic species.

Burial sites shaped in accordance with the traditions cherished by the local community are a foundation of cultural identity and valuable components of the cultural landscape. The aim of this research was to assess the implications of cemeteries for the biodiversity of local flora, taking account of cemeteries’ size, usage and location. The field research was conducted in the Roztocze region, which is among the less transformed areas of Europe, having a large proportion of natural and semi-natural landscapes. The investigated area covered 1314 km2 and included 78 cemeteries. We collected 5004 floristic samples, which form the basis of this study. The cemetery flora is rich (523 species, 75 families) and diverse (Marczewski–Steinhaus J-index below 40 %) and displays a high level of naturalness (60–80 % of all species are native). Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis based on extensive species characteristics, such as species number and cover, their origin, life-form and socio-ecological group, indicates that the use or non-use of burial sites is the most important factor shaping local flora. Isolation due to location in a protected area is ranked second in importance, while cemetery size is the least important factor. We discuss the importance of cemeteries for the protection of local biodiversity.

The paper characterises a new locality of Melampyrum cristatum identified in Debno upon Warta (Wielkopolska region, Poland). Its ecological conditions are presented, along with the size of the popula- tion, phytosociological affiliation, as well as a characteristics of the species focusing on new traits of seed sculpture.

Flow cytometry estimation of 2C nuclear DNA content of the examined Nasturtium species resulted in taxonomic identification of N. × sterile in eight new localities, N. microphyllum in four new localities and N. officinale in one new locality in western Poland. Scanning electron microscopy proved a few of the micromorphological traits of seeds and fruits (size and shape of cells on the fruit septum surface, their anticlinal walls; secondary sculpture on the outer periclinal walls of cells on the siliqua valve internal surface) to be of taxonomic importance.

Natural interspecific hybridization between Typha latifolia L. and Typha angustifolia L. was analyzed by morpho-anatomical and molecular methods to determine whether the hybrid Typha glauca Godr. is present in Poland and to identify the best diagnostic traits for its identification. Eighty-three samples of the Typha species were collected. Nine random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers provided 12 fragments specific for T. angustifolia and eight fragments specific for T. latifolia. DNA of all sampled individuals was analyzed with 20 diagnostic RAPD markers. The morpho-anatomical variability of T. glauca F1 was found to be quite similar to that observed in parental plants. All of the 41 traits examined in the hybrids overlapped with those observed in the parents, however, the hybrids were visibly closer to T. angustifolia than to T. latifolia. The most discriminate characteristics were the length and pedicel width, as well as the epidermal cell thickness located above vascular bundles in leaf blades. Moreover, preliminary observations of seed sculpture showed that the length of testa cells could also be used to identify T. glauca. Clusters and the hybrid index (for molecular and morphological data) were highly coincident and support the hybridization hypothesis.

Rubus occidentalis L., native to eastern North America, is recorded for the first time as natu - ralized in Poland. Its spontaneous occurrence in Europe has hitherto been mentioned only from several stands in the Czech Republic and from single localities in Slovakia and Russia. The increasing popularity of black raspberry cultivation and its ability to survive under different environmental conditions suggest that the number of instances of its appearances in semi-natural habitats will grow over time. At the moment, R. occidentalis can be considered as a locally established, non-invasive neophyte.

A study of the three Malus species (M. domestica, M. sylvestris, and a hybrid species, M. domestica × M. sylvestris, which was named M. ×oxysepala) was carried out based on the morphological and micromorphological features and molecular investigation. Observations performed for 47 quantitative traits showed that this hybrid species exhibits intermediate values between M. domestica and M. sylvestris, or are similar to traits of one of the parents. Sepals proved to be the best diagnostic feature because they were acuminate and much longer than sepals in M. domestica and M. sylvestris. Seed testa cells are distinct, rimmed with straight anticlinal walls and strongly bulged periclinal walls. Simultaneous genetic analyses based on PCR RAPD reactions fully confirmed earlier morphological observations. Genetic profiles of the hybrid obtained with the use of 30 primers, next to species-specific amplification products, contain common products with each of the parents. However, both the profile analysis and the dendrogram constructed on its basis showed that the hybrid is genetically closer to M. sylvestris.

The paper presents a systematic list of vascular plant species recorded at 78 cemeteries in the Roztocze region and surrounding areas. 543 species belonging to 75 families were recorded. Of these, 99 foreign and 43 native species were cultivated. 41 species introduced by humans to cemeteries can be regarded as the so-called established cemetery species. These species, once planted on graves, continue to grow or even spread after people stopped cultivating them.

The paper presents the results of the study on seed morphology of eight following Allium species: A. pyrenaicum Costa & Vayr., A. rotundum L., A. sphaerocephalon L., A. vineale L., A. moly L., A. karataviense Regel, A. fistulosum L. and A. nutans L. The study confirmed the substantial diversity in testa characters, especially curvature and relief of anticlinal walls as well as microsculpture of outer periclinal walls. The occurrence of raised anticlinal walls - an unusually rare feature in Allium seeds, previously observed only in a few species, was found in A. karataviense. It was also found that the testa type in A. pyrenaicum did not match the typical character combination, described before for subg. Allium sect. Allium.

The most common and widespread species of Nasturtium in central Europe are the tetraploid Nasturtium officinale (2n = 4x = 32), the octoploid Nasturtium microphyllum (2n = 8x = 64), and their hexaploid hybrid Nasturtium × sterile (2n = 6x = 48). For the first time, flow cytometry was used to measure the genome size (2C DNA content) of these taxa. The highest nuclear DNA content was found in the octoploid N. microphyllum (2C = 1.43 pg) and the lowest in the tetraploid N. officinale (2C = 0.76 pg). Some differences in the amount of nuclear DNA were observed for the hexaploid N. × sterile (2C = 1.09–1.12 pg). Genome size analysis was thus proposed as a very useful tool for the identification of species of Nasturtium in their vegetative stage.

This paper presents all taxa of the genus Rosa recorded in 2005–2015 in old cemeteries in Wielkopolska. In the past, roses were frequently planted in cemeteries as ornamentals, contributing to their beauty and specific atmosphere, but they also had many symbolic meanings. Today, historical roses are rare. As a result of floristic research in 2,169 old, neglected cemeteries in Wielkopolska, 35 taxa of roses were found. These include 21 alien taxa and 6 taxa new to Poland.

The Cemetery of the Meritorious is the oldest preserved burial site in the city of Poznań (western Poland). It was created in 1808, but after World War II it was subject to gradual devastation. In 1961, it was classified as a historic site, completely protected by law and cared for by the Cultural Heritage Officer. Field research shows that the vascular flora of the cemetery is composed of 140 taxa: 15 in the trees, 26 in the shrubs, and 99 in the herbaceous plants. The flora comprises 84 taxa (57.1%) that were planted there. Most of them are herbaceous: 45 species (30.6%), including 14 native (9.5%) and 31 alien ones (21.1%). Plants with symbolic meanings are represented by 13 taxa in the trees, 16 in the shrubs, and 30 in the herbaceous plants. Currently, however, the symbolism of cemetery plants is of little significance, as they are cultivated primarily because of their ornamental value. Special attention was paid to groundcover plants, represented by 37 species (25,2%), including 21 taxa introduced a long time ago and 16 recently (during the last 10 years or so).

Seed size and shape, seed coat surface pattern, seed coat thickness, and endosperm structure were investigated in Androsace septentrionalis, Cortusa matthioli, Hottonia palustris, Primula elatior, Soldanella carpatica (Primulaceae), Anagallis arvensis, A. minima, Cyclamen purpurascens, Glaux maritima, Lysimachia nemorum, L. vulgaris, Trientalis europaea (Myrsinaceae), and Samolus valerandi (Theophrastaceae). Three seed size categories were distinguished on the basis of biometric measurements. Almost all seeds examined were found to be small with an angular shape classified as sectoroid or polyhedral. A new type of seed shape, suboval, was identified for H. palustris. Cyclamen purpurascens seeds differed from seeds of all other species examined because of their large size, subglobose shape, and concave hilar area. Despite the different shape types, the length/width ratio of the seeds examined was constant, while their hilum length/width ratio was a highly variable feature. Three types of seed surface patterns were observed: (1) reticulate, (2) tuberculate with secondary striations, and (3) poroid-alveolate with the presence of a spongy outer layer. For seeds of Anagallis arvensis, A. minima, Cortusa matthioli, Lysimachia nemorum, and Soldanella carpatica, secondary seed sculpture was described. The seed coats of all species examined were two-layered, and great differences in testa thickness were found (9.9–128.6 μm). In general, seeds of the Myrsinaceae species were more often characterized by thick testa. Different proportions in thickness of the inner and outer testa layers were observed. In seeds with reticulate seed patterns, the inner testa layer was twice to several times thicker than the outer layer, while the opposite proportions were observed in seeds with the tuberculate or poroid-alveolate seed sculpture pattern. In seeds of all species examined, oxalate crystals were present on the surface of the inner testa layer. Thus, the presence or absence of oxalate crystals in testa is not a feature distinguishing species with angular or subglobose seeds. Four types of endosperm structure were identified according to the thickness of the endosperm cell walls and the relief of their inner surface: (1) with evenly thickened and smooth cell walls, (2) with evenly thickened cell walls and circular or helical thickenings on their inside surfaces, (3) with very thick, but not evenly thickened cell walls with constrictions (“pitted”), and (4) with very thin papery and undulate cell walls. There is no rule concerning the seed shape, type of the seed sculpture, testa thickness, or endosperm structure that corresponds to the family affiliation of the species examined.

The genus Taraxacum is taxonomically complicated due to apomixis. Therefore, there are significant differences in knowledge of regional Taraxacum-Floras among European countries. Similarly, some taxa are well characterised with well-known distribution, whereas some ones are known e.g. from a single locality. Taraxacum scanicum of section Erythrosperma is one of the most common microspecies of this section in Europe. Recently, this taxon was split into three microspecies. In this study we map the distribution of three described taxa of this group in Poland, i.e. T. scanicum s.s., T. prunicolor and T. cristatum. The survey showed that T. scanicum has a similar distribution as T. prunicolor in Poland. This is in contrast with the hitherto known distribution of both taxa. T. cristatum was found at a single locality that is quite distant from the distribution in southern central Europe. We also provide with new morphological characteristics of achenes and pollen for T. scanicum s.s. and T. prunicolor.

A new species of eriophyid mite, Paraphytoptus moliniae Skoracka, n. sp. inhabiting purple moorgrass, Molinia coerulea (L.) Moench (Poaceae), is described from Austria. This is the first species of the genus Paraphytoptus described from grass. A new host plant, alpine bluegrass, Poa alpina L. (Poaceae), for Aculus sayanicus Skoracka is recorded. Aculus sayanicus was described from Arshan in southern Russia and is recorded in Europe for the first time.