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Documenting floristic diversity, its natural history traits and habitat affiliation offers crucial insights for developing conservation strategies and management plans for regional biodiversity. In this study, we employed random sampling technique to investigate the floristic composition, natural history trait diversity and habitat distribution among 12 major forest types spread across an elevational gradient of 350–3450 m a.s.l. in the western Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir. We recorded 451 species belonging to 90 families in the study region, with herbaceous growth form, perennial life span and therophyte categories dominant. We observed a steady increase in species richness from 800 to 2000 m a.s.l., with highest at 1750 m a.s.l. in the Himalayan dry temperate forest type and then a decreasing trend with elevation. In terms of species turnover, the lowest dissimilarity of 36.8% was found between the Himalayan dry temperate and Fir forests. Whereas, considering species replacement (βsne), the highest similarity of 17.3% was found between the lower western Himalayan and Himalayan dry temperate forests. This shows that beta‐diversity patterns between different forest types are mostly driven by species replacement. Multivariate analysis revealed three major groups in the entire forest species pool. Habitat‐wise, 34% species were recorded in the natural habitats, while the remaining 66% were found in human‐modified habitats (roadsides, piospheres). Our findings will improve scientific understanding of the forest vegetation of this Himalayan region and help in guiding forest policy and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire-adaptive traits in plants of tropical and subtropical grassy ecosystems have been the subject of considerable global research, but only recently studied in pyrogenic Florida subtropical grasslands. Plant growth forms, belowground organs, and post-fire recovery strategies were studied for 198 grassland specialists in peninsular Florida. Community types (dry-mesic, mesic, wet-mesic, and wet) were sampled with 1m2 plots along the edaphic-hydrologic gradient and the association between these variables and fire-related plant traits was tested using fourth-corner analysis. Caulescent herbs (43), cespitose graminoids (27), and rosette herbs (31) are the most common growth forms among species sampled. Plants with epigeogenous and hypogeogenous rhizomes dominate the sample plots, including matrix graminoids, shrub geoxyles, and an acaulescent rhizomatous fire-resilient palm (Serenoa repens). Most species (163; 82%) exhibit resprouting, including 30 facultative resprouters and 133 obligate resprouters. All woody rhizomatous species are obligate resprouters, and 35 ephemeral herbaceous species are obligate reseeders. Community type was a better predictor of species abundances than hydrology, however, hydrology was significantly associated with species traits measured, particularly rhizome texture, with woody rhizomes prevalent in all but the wet sites. Belowground organs (xylopodia, geoxylic suffructices) and growth form were associated with frequent fire and phylogeny, suggesting fire regime as a driver of community phylogenetic diversity. Persistence, rapid resilience and co-occurrence of geoxyles align Florida subtropical grasslands with other global geoxyle grasslands. The old-growth, pyrogenic grassy ecosystems of peninsular Florida are the center of geoxyle diversification on the southeastern US coastal plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Mars 160 Mission in 2016 and 2017, crews at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, USA and the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) on Tallurutit (Devon Island), Nunavut, Canada, conducted a collections‑based survey of lichen biodiversity at each of these Martian planetary analogs. Here we present the results of these studies as two annotated checklists, including 35 lichen spe‑ cies from MDRS and 13 species from FMARS, alongside details on the distribution of these species, relevant taxonomic notes, and photos of each species as an identification aid. This work adds to our knowledge of the biodiversity of these unique sites and provides an important baseline for future analog research at these stations.

Botanical surveys carried out during the last 13 years throughout central and northern Tunisia (North Africa) allow to find first national and continental N-African records of non-native taxa belonging to Bignoniaceae. The genera Catalpa, Podranea, and Tecomaria are new for N-Africa (Catalpa is new for the whole Africa). Tecomaria capensis is here considered as a naturalized alien species, whereas Campsis radicans, Catalpa bignonioides, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Podranea brycei, P. ricasoliana, and Tecoma stans are casuals. Distribution in Tunisia, phenology, and original photographs are provided for each species. A diagnostic key for Tunisian Bignoniaceae is also given. Moreover, the name Tecoma ricasoliana (basionym of Podranea ricasoliana) is lectotypified on a specimen preserved at K (isolectotypes at FI), whereas the holotype indication of the name Bignonia capensis (basionym of Tecomaria capensis), made in Flora of Tropical East Africa, is here corrected according to the Art. 9.10 of Shenzhen Code (lectotype at UPS; isolectotype, here reported for the first time, at LD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arabian Peninsula, with its rugged mountains, wadis, alluvial plains, sand dune deserts, and diverse coastlines, spans over 3 million km2. The Peninsula is situated at the crossroads of Africa and Asia and is a meeting point for diverse biogeographic realms, including the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan regions. This convergence of biogeographic zones has resulted in a remarkably diverse flora and fauna, which is adapted to the harsh and varied climates found throughout the Peninsula. Each of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula are biologically diverse and unique in their own right, but Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are the most diverse in terms of their landforms and biological diversity. The mountainous regions support a cooler and more moderate climate compared to the surrounding lowlands, thus forming unique ecosystems that function as refugia for plant and animal species, and have a high endemism of plant species. The desert ecosystems support a variety of lifeforms that are specially adapted to an extreme arid climate. Due to its long history of human habitation and subsistence agriculture, particularly in the mountainous areas, the Arabian Peninsula possesses unique crop varieties adapted to extreme arid climates, making them important genetic resources for the future in the face of climate change. The Arabian Peninsula, though rich and diverse in its biological diversity, has been greatly affected by human activities, especially in the last 50 years, including urbanization, habitat destruction, overgrazing, and climate change, which pose significant threats to the biodiversity of the region. This review presents the biogeography and background of conservation efforts made in the countries in the Arabian Peninsula and gives the progress made in botanical research and conservation practices throughout the Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve new and noteworthy fern taxa consisting of one North American record for a non-native species (Dryopteris hangchowensis), one native species state record (Asplenium heteroresiliens), four non-native species state records (Anisocampium niponicum, Ceratopteris aff. thalictroides, Lygodium microphyllum, and Pteris quadriaurita), three noteworthy native species (Crepidomanes intricatum, Dryopteris australis, and Vandenboschia boschiana), and three naturally occurring hybrids (Asplenium ×gravesii, Asplenium ×kentuckiense, and Asplenium ×trudellii) of interest are reported and described herein as significant additions to the flora of Alabama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coleostephus myconis (L.) Cass. ex Rchb. subsp. discolor (Guss.) Arrigoni (Asteraceae, Asteroideae, Anthemideae) has been previously reported to occur naturally in western Italy and its Mediterranean islands. In 2013, native populations of Coleostephus myconis subsp. discolor were recorded for the first time in Tunisia. This is also the first report of this taxon to North Africa. In Tunisia, Coleostephus myconis subsp. discolor grows in coastal areas, on open clayey soils, and in communities of thermophilous herbs. The two populations observed are relatively small, covering 1000 m² and 3000 m². Further records of this taxon in other localities in neighbouring countries in North Africa are highly probable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated regional and site level diversity for alpine and subalpine systems. The aim was to assess whether differing analytical methods could track diversity through time. The study was undertaken within Kosciusko National Park in south‐eastern Australia (6900 km2) which encompasses most of the alpine zone (~2500 km2 or 48% of its occurrence on mainland Australia). Multivariate ordination, species richness and the relationship of diversity to landscape patterns were assessed and considered in relation to changes predicted to impinge upon these systems over coming decades. Species richness had limited capacity to detect predicted changes; however, ordination based on floristic patterns may have more capacity to detect change if adequate replication is applied. Complex patterns across landscapes and at the site level contributed to these analytical challenges. Species richness is commonly used to assess ecosystem status and to provide benchmark values, but it had very limited capacity to do so in the assessed alpine and subalpine ecosystems, including the most threatened. Government agencies often rely heavily on species richness to assess ecosystem change and this urgently needs re‐evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic flora of Dagestan, the diverse region connecting the Caucasian and Aralo-Caspian floristic provinces, received little research effort. Therefore, we conducted two expeditions across aquatic and wetland habitats of Dagestan in June and September 2021 and analyzed public records of aquatic plants from the GBIF database. We report new data on distribution of 35 aquatic vascular plants taxa in Dagestan. A hybrid between Ranunculus peltatus and R. trichophyllus was firstly reported in Russia, although no occurrences of R. peltatus are known in the country. Najas major and hybrid Potamogeton × salicifolius (P. lucens × P. perfoliatus) are new to the Caucasus, and five more species are new to Dagestan (Myriophyllum sibiricum, Najas graminea, Potamogeton pusillus, Typha domingensis, Utricularia minor). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clearcutting has tended to simplify forest structure and species composition, with potential negative consequences for biodiversity. Retention forestry emerged as an alternative to minimize this concern in intensively managed forests. In central Mexico, this approach was first implemented a decade ago in temperate forests, but an examination of its effects on floristic diversity and composition is non-existent. We evaluated and compared richness, diversity, and floristic composition among harvested, retention, and conserved areas in a conifer-dominated forest of central Mexico, with various parametric and non-parametric analyses. Species' ecological and structural importance was also evaluated. We recorded 138 species, 95 genera, and 44 families of plants. Harvested areas listed the most species (99) with herb dominance, tree homogeneity, and the highest number of exotics. Retention and conserved areas' floristic composition was similar, with the presence of epiphytes and terrestrial orchids, considered indicators of conservation. The retention areas recorded rare and endangered species, tree heterogeneity, and juveniles of structural species of temperate forests. Conserved areas showed a greater number of structural mature elements and exclusive species, though there was a smaller species number (75). We demonstrated that retention forestry is achieving its goal by maintaining the structural elements, habitats, and plant diversity of the temperate forests analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Vochysiaceae A.St.-Hil. (Order: Myrtales) has been reported to occur in South and Central America and the equatorial region of West Africa. Six genera and approximately 160 species belonging to this family occur in Brazil. The objective of the present study was to morphologically describe the species of Vochysiaceae that occur in the Cerrado fragment of the Federal University of Rondonópolis (UFR), to present identification keys and boards with images and illustrations, in addition to include taxonomic comments and on the distribution of species. For this, monthly surveys and collections were carried out in the area, which resulted in the description of five species: Qualea grandiflora Mart., Qualea multiflora Mart., Qualea parviflora Mart., Vochysia cinnamomea Pohl and Vochysia divergens Pohl. The present study contributed to expand knowledge about the Vochysiaceae family and the flora of the region, in addition to being able to serve as a subsidy for discussions on the preservation of the Cerrado.

Abstract Background The Yucatan Peninsula (YP) is one of the most important regions in global apiculture. Hence, this work reviews and integrates the knowledge of the species diversity, growth habits, ecosystems, floral calendars during the apiculture production cycles and the types of vegetation represented in the melliferous flora (MF) of the YP; as a basis for proposing selection strategies locating suitable apiculture production areas for local beekeepers and help in the economic development of the region. Methods A comprehensive review of the MF literature was carried out using the snowball method to determine and update the number of species useful for apiculture. The growth habits and flower calendars were determined through a review of the literature and databases of specimens from the herbaria CICY, UCAM and MEXU. Results The YP reports a total of 935 taxa of MF (98 families and 498 genera); of these, Campeche has 812 taxa, followed by Quintana Roo (786) and Yucatán (767). The MF is made up of herbs (282), followed by shrubs (260), trees (229), climbers (82), woody climbers (67) palms (14) and parasitic plant (1). Conclusion Of the 935 species of MF registered at the regional level, a high number of species have flowering throughout the year, however, not all of these species are considered useful for local commercial apiculture. Only a select group of 23 species are considered of major importance for local apiculture industry.

Alpine meadows emerged as the hallmark vegetation type, embodying the essence of botanical richness. In this research endeavor, the focus was on exploring the intricate tapestry of alpine flora nestled within the Madhmaheshwar Valley, spanning elevations ranging from 3200 to 4950 meters above sea level. This comprehensive study yielded a trove of botanical insights, documenting an impressive assemblage of 462 distinct plant species. These species were carefully cataloged across 237 genera, encompassing a rich diversity represented by 61 distinct families. In the study area, the family Asteraceae was the dominant family with 58 species and 30 genera followed by Rosaceae with 33 species and 16 genera, and Ranunculaceae with 27 species across 15 genera. Among the genera Carex L., with 10 species, was the dominant, followed by Saxifraga Tourn. ex L., Gentiana Tourn. ex L., Pedicularis L., and Primula L. followed closely behind with nine species each. Additionally, Rhodiola L., Bistorta (L.) Scop., and Epilobium Dill. ex L. displayed their vitality with seven species each. The study used meticulous research methodology to categorize forest types based on floral diversity and altitude distribution. Rigorous verification processes ensured the reliability of findings, with specimens identified using up-to-date references and cross-referenced with authentic herbarium samples. Fieldwork occurred between early May and late October, aligning with seasonal accessibility due to heavy snowfall the rest of the year. Alpine meadows and scrubs dominated the study area, highlighting their resilience. Alpine plants showcased various adaptive morphologies, such as cushion-forming and mat-forming structures, with thick cuticles defending against desiccation. Despite harsh conditions, these plants displayed modified structures enabling growth and blossoming. Many were highly specialized, emphasizing unique adaptations to their habitats.

We present a key to identify and an annotated list of lycophytes and ferns of the Immediate Geographical Region of São Luís, Maranhão State, which has ecotonal characteristics of Amazonian Forest, Cerrado, and Coastal Vegetation. Specimens were collected monthly between April 2020 and September 2022 in the 13 municipalities of this region. A total of 64 species were identified, including 61 species of ferns, in 18 families and 38 genera, and three species of lycophytes, in two genera and one family. The most representative families were Pteridaceae (18 species) and Polypodiaceae (nine species). The most recorded substrate of occurrence was terrestrial with 35 species (54.6%), followed by epiphytic with 15 species (23.4%), aquatic with four species (6.2%), rupicolous with three species (4.6%), and hemiepiphytic with two species (3.1%). Five species (7.8%) had more than one life form. This study expands the knowledge about the geographic distribution of fern and lycophyte species in the central region of Northern Maranhão, in Northeastern Brazil, which until now had several sampling gaps. Maranhão has a diversity that is still poorly reported and known compared to other states in South and Southeast Brazil. Therefore, floristic surveys are essential to increase what is known about the flora, especially in areas under anthropic pressure and places with few collections, such as the ecotonal areas in Maranhão. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ibitipoca Mountains occur in southeastern Minas Gerais state, Southeast Brazil, and includes a mosaic of different vegetation types, as part of the Atlantic Forest domain. Such heterogeneity results in the occurrence of several ecotones in the region, considered essential buffer zones for maintaining biodiversity and structure among adjacent ecosystems. Given the importance of these environments for biodiversity conservation, floristic surveys are important to catalogue plant richness in natural areas, where species and landscapes have been destroyed, especially over the last decades. To contribute to increase the knowledge on the vascular Flora in the Ibitipoca Mountains, a floristic inventory was undertaken in private properties located in the boundaries of "Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca" (Ibitipoca State Park). Relevant findings of the present study include: characterization of the different vegetation types, 17 new records for the Flora of Minas Gerais, collection of 288 species never recorded in the state park (80% dissimilarity - especially due to the occurrence and size of different phytophysiognomies between these areas) and presence of 31 threatened species. In addition, discussions about conservation efforts and public policies are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Alpine ecosystems are threatened by warming and an associated increase in fire frequency. There is a gap in our knowledge of succession in Tasmanian alpine heath more than 50 years after fire. The literature suggests that the alpine successional progression usually involves decreasing rates of change, decreasing differences among fire ages, ongoing transitions among shrub species, ongoing transitions from some lifeforms/species to others, and that warming results in increases in species richness. Aims: We test for these tendencies up to 75 years from fire in alpine vegetation on kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Tasmania, Australia. Methods: We documented the changes in vegetation structure and composition between 1998 and 2022 in plots on either side of an alpine fire boundary in the alpine heathland and used earlier data and observations to extend the record of change after fire to 75 years. We put these changes in the context of the only area of alpine vegetation that was not burnt in 1947 or later. Key results: The area last burnt in 1947 exhibited declines in all lifeform covers between 1998 and 2022. All lifeforms except tall shrubs and mat shrubs declined in cover in the area last burnt in 1962. By 2022, shrub cover in the 1962-burnt area had not attained equivalence with the area last burnt in 1947. Herbs had the most dramatic decline in both fire-age classes. There were few shrub seedlings in 2022. All but six taxa, three being exotic, were observed in both the plots and previous broader surveys. Increases in species richness caused by the upward migration of lower-elevation species were not observed. The long-unburnt patch lacked the major dominant of the 1947-burnt plots, namely Orites acicularis , and was dominated by a gymnosperm absent from most of the mountain. Conclusions: Succession follows the initial floristic composition model. The differences in trajectories from the 1947 and 1962 fires could possibly be due to desiccation or abrasion damage from increasing wind speeds and temperatures. There are strong indications of further potential change in the absence of fire. Implications: The slow rate of recovery and its on-going nature emphasise the importance of keeping fire out of this vegetation type. We compared vegetation in alpine heath plots that regenerated after fires of 1947 and 1962. Herbs and graminoids plummeted in cover and species richness between 1998 and 2022, whereas shrubs continued to increase in cover in the 1962-burnt, but decreased in the 1947-burnt area. Shrubs exhibited compositional change up to 75 years after fire. A failure of the shrub layer to be more similar between the fire years might be due to stronger winds and higher temperatures. A predicted climate change-induced increase in diversity did not occur. Image by Jamie Kirkpatrick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nativa is the property of Revista Nativa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The Yucatan Peninsula (YP) is one of the most important regions in global apiculture. Hence, this work reviews and integrates the knowledge of the species diversity, growth habits, ecosystems, floral calendars during the apiculture production cycles and the types of vegetation represented in the melliferous flora (MF) of the YP; as a basis for proposing selection strategies locating suitable apiculture production areas for local beekeepers and help in the economic development of the region. Methods: A comprehensive review of the MF literature was carried out using the snowball method to determine and update the number of species useful for apiculture. The growth habits and flower calendars were determined through a review of the literature and databases of specimens from the herbaria CICY, UCAM and MEXU. Results: The YP reports a total of 935 taxa of MF (98 families and 498 genera); of these, Campeche has 812 taxa, followed by Quintana Roo (786) and Yucatán (767). The MF is made up of herbs (282), followed by shrubs (260), trees (229), climbers (82), woody climbers (67) palms (14) and parasitic plant (1). Conclusion: Of the 935 species of MF registered at the regional level, a high number of species have flowering throughout the year, however, not all of these species are considered useful for local commercial apiculture. Only a select group of 23 species are considered of major importance for local apiculture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Iguazú region, where the Iguaçu National Park (Brazil) and the Iguazú National Park (Argentina) are located, encompasses one of the largest continuous remnants of the Atlantic Forest. It is considered a hotspot of biodiversity and an example of a region that is poorly known botanically. Even though non-tree taxa represent most of the Atlantic Forest’s plant diversity, some botanical families that are mainly herbaceous or shrubby, such as Plantaginaceae and Scrophulariaceae, are underrepresented in floristic treatments within this domain. Here, we provide a floristic account for the Plantaginaceae and Scrophulariaceae from the Iguazú and Iguaçu National Parks, including identification keys, illustrations, comments on distribution, habitat, and phenology. A total of 13 species and seven genera were documented. Of these, Stemodia is represented by three species, Bacopa, Buddleja, Mecardonia, and Scoparia are each represented by two species, and two genera, namely Plantago and Veronica, are represented by a single species. Our findings expand the knowledge about the flora of the Southern Cone, contributing important information for the establishment of biodiversity management plans and conservation priorities.

ABSTRACT White-sand vegetation (campinarana) is a type of vegetation restricted to oligotrophic and highly leached white sand soils in the Amazon phytogeographic domain that includes grassland to forest phytophysiognomies. Campinaranas cover about 5% of this phytogeographic domain and are impacted by various anthropic activities that put plant species, especially endemic ones, at risk. Myrtaceae has significant representativeness in oligotrophic edaphic environments, but floristic and taxonomic studies on the family in campinaranas are still few and geographically limited. We present a checklist of Myrtaceae species known from campinaranas of the Brazilian Amazon based on the survey of herbarium specimens and literature data in order to assess the level of endemism of these species for this vegetation type. We compiled occurrence records of 72 species and six genera. Myrcia and Eugenia were the genera with the highest number of species. Overall, 38 species (53%) occurred only in the Amazon and two were endemic to campinaranas (Eugenia campina and Myrcia psammophila). Four species are new records for the Brazilian Amazon: Blepharocalyx salicifolius, Eugenia hatschbachii, Myrcia anceps and Myrcia racemosa. The specific richness of Myrtaceae in Brazilian campinaranas is likely to be underestimated since extensive areas, especially those farther from the riverbanks, in the states of Amazonas and Roraima, have not yet been intensively surveyed.

Inselbergs are granitic and/or gneissic rocky outcrops and, in Brazil, the dome-shaped ones in the Atlantic Forest Domain are called sugarloaves (pães de açúcar). They have an extremely specialised vegetation with high levels of endemism. Even though, they are poorly studied and highly degraded. In north-eastern Espírito Santo State, south-eastern Brazil, the Monumento Natural dos Pontões Capixabas (MONAPC) is a federal protected area created to guard some inselbergs mainly threatened by mining, which is one of the main economic activities in the State. In this work, we provide the first checklist of the vascular plant species in this protected area.We recorded 108 species in 36 families and 75 genera that inhabit the vegetation islands on the inselbergs within the official limits of MONAPC. A new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) and a new species of Cololobus (Asteraceae) were discovered as new to science and they are being described in other articles.

Psammogeton hirsutus Bhellum and Magotra (Apiaceae), a novel species collected from the lowlands of Jammu and Kashmir, north‐west India's subtropical region, is described and illustrated. Psammogeton hirsutus resembles one its close relatives P. canescens and P. shivalikense; however, it differs significantly in terms of the plant being hirsute, sheaths of leafbases, ciliate peduncle degree of pubescence, bracts and bracteoles, and fruit shape. We provide data on phenology, distribution map, a comparison of species with comparable morphologies, and a key to closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study area, Mount Soffeh in Isfahan, with an elevation range of 1700 to 2250 m, is situated at the southernmost tip of Isfahan city, making it one of the most significant mountains in Isfahan. This research aimed to discover the botanical diversity and floristic composition of this mountain. Accordingly, plant specimens were collected from various regions of Mount Soffeh during the growing season, from March 2021 to December 2023. According to this study, a total of 258 species were identified, belonging to 189 genera and 46 families. The largest identified families in the area, in order, include: Asteraceae with 57 species, Poaceae with 24 species, Brassicaceae with 18 species, Amaranthaceae with 15 species, Fabaceae with 15 species, Lamiaceae with 15 species, Boraginaceae with 13 species, Apiaceae with 11 species, and Caryophyllaceae with 8 species. The flora comprises 40 dicotyledon families, 4 monocotyledon families, one gymnosperm family, and one pteridophyte family. The life forms, according to the Raunkiaer system, include 37.2% Therophytes, 35.27% Hemicryptophytes, 16.27% Chamaephytes, 5.03% Phanerophytes, 5.41% Cryptophytes (Geophytes and Helophytes), and 0.77% Parasites. Furthermore, in terms of geographical distribution, 45.34% of the plants in this area are related to the Irano-Turanian area, with the rest belonging to two or more geographical points. Forty-four species are also endemic or sub-endemic to Iran. Our research represents a significant leap in understanding the botanical diversity of Mount Soffeh. While historical records documented approximately 100 species on Mount Soffeh until 2021, our study exposes a notable increase, with over 250 species identified. Particularly significant is the discovery of about 190 taxa reported for the first time on Mount Soffeh, emphasizing the importance of ongoing botanical exploration in the region. Additionally, we report the first documentation of Tanacetum stapfianum (Rech.f.) Podlech in Isfahan province and specifically on Mount Soffeh, expanding our knowledge of the regional flora. Despite the absence of grazing, Mount Soffeh faces threats from tourism, climbing, and infrastructure development such as roads and cable cars, endangering its delicate ecosystem and species diversity. Conservation measures are essential for the protection of Mount Soffeh's botanical richness for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Inselbergs are granitic and/or gneissic rocky outcrops and, in Brazil, the dome-shaped ones in the Atlantic Forest Domain are called sugarloaves (pães de açúcar). They have an extremely specialised vegetation with high levels of endemism. Even though, they are poorly studied and highly degraded. In north-eastern Espírito Santo State, south-eastern Brazil, the Monumento Natural dos Pontões Capixabas (MONAPC) is a federal protected area created to guard some inselbergs mainly threatened by mining, which is one of the main economic activities in the State. In this work, we provide the first checklist of the vascular plant species in this protected area. New information We recorded 108 species in 36 families and 75 genera that inhabit the vegetation islands on the inselbergs within the official limits of MONAPC. A new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) and a new species of Cololobus (Asteraceae) were discovered as new to science and they are being described in other articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kitaibelia is the property of University of Debrecen and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chamabainia cuspidata Wight (Urticaceae), Debregeasia orientalis C.J.Chen (Urticaceae), and Hydrocotyle himalaica P.K.Mukh. (Araliaceae) are being reported here as new additions to the flora of Himachal Pradesh, India. All three species were collected from Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kullu district. Of these, H. himalaica also forms an addition to the flora of western Himalayan region. Detailed description, distribution, information on habitat and colour photographs of all three species are provided for easy identification in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (JBRJ) has an arboretum with 58 hectares of green space, including thematic collections. The ex situ collection of ferns and lycophytes is in two greenhouses: Mestre Valentim and the Shade Greenhouse of Horto Florestal. Although the JBRJ Arboretum is a cultivated area, it is adjacent to Parque Nacional da Tijuca (PNT), which is a fragment of the Atlantic Forest that may influence the flora in the garden. Specimens were collected and identified between 2020 and 2023 from all areas of the JBRJ, including the greenhouses. There are 101 species of ferns and lycophytes that belong to 47 genera and 24 families. Pteridaceae (21%) and Polypodiaceae (19%) are the most species-rich families. The collections in the Mestre Valentim and Shade greenhouses comprise 70 species, 35 genera, and 20 families. Five cultivated species are at risk of extinction: Adiantum mynsseniae, Dicksonia sellowiana, Anemia blechnoides, Doryopteris rediviva, and Pteris congesta. Most of the species inventoried in the JBRJ collection are native to Brazilian ecosystems (70%), including 10 endemic species. A list of species found in the JBRJ, with information about the location, distribution range, vouchers and type of occurrence (collection or spontaneous), is provided.

Abstract Ferns and lycophytes are plants often overlooked in most floristic inventories, leading to considerable gaps in the knowledge of their diversity and geographic distribution. To address this issue, we conducted a study aimed at reducing these gaps for the restingas of Santa Catarina, south Brazil. This involved conducting a series of field works in strategic sites within the municipality of Laguna, representing all three main restingas phytophysiognomies (herbaceous/subshrubby, shrubby, and arboreal), across different abiotic conditions and conservation degrees. Two species of lycophytes (one family) and 31 ferns (14 families) were recorded in the restingas of Laguna, almost three-quarters of the diversity reported for the restingas of the state of Santa Catarina. Besides, 11 of these species are mentioned here for the first time for Santa Catarina restingas. These numbers were obtained through extensive field surveys, but considering the area of restinga remnants, some of which are still relatively unexplored, it is plausible that the diversity of ferns and lycophytes in Laguna may be even greater. These findings reinforce the need to carry out floristic surveys aimed at ferns and lycophytes in the different phytophysiognomies of the restinga, because only with an increase of sampling effort, considering the environmental heterogeneity, it will be possible to better estimate the diversity of these and other plant groups. This study also provides important data for the management and conservation of the restingas, which are among the ecosystems historically most impacted by human activities.

We present the first records of Lindsaea leprieurii Hook. and Lindsaea angustipinna A.Rojas & Tejero from Panama. Images, taxonomic comments, conservation assessments, and geographic notes are provided.

Clearcutting has tended to simplify forest structure and species composition, with potential negative consequences for biodiversity. Retention forestry emerged as an alternative to minimize this concern in intensively managed forests. In central Mexico, this approach was first implemented a decade ago in temperate forests, but an examination of its effects on floristic diversity and composition is non-existent. We evaluated and compared richness, diversity, and floristic composition among harvested, retention, and conserved areas in a conifer-dominated forest of central Mexico, with various parametric and non-parametric analyses. Species’ ecological and structural importance was also evaluated. We recorded 138 species, 95 genera, and 44 families of plants. Harvested areas listed the most species (99) with herb dominance, tree homogeneity, and the highest number of exotics. Retention and conserved areas’ floristic composition was similar, with the presence of epiphytes and terrestrial orchids, considered indicators of conservation. The retention areas recorded rare and endangered species, tree heterogeneity, and juveniles of structural species of temperate forests. Conserved areas showed a greater number of structural mature elements and exclusive species, though there was a smaller species number (75). We demonstrated that retention forestry is achieving its goal by maintaining the structural elements, habitats, and plant diversity of the temperate forests analyzed.

Abstract The present study is an integral part of the project Flora of Ceará: knowing to conserve. The goal of this work was to conduct a floristic-taxonomic survey and update the geographic distribution of the tribe Hibisceae (Malvaceae) in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The study is based on an analysis of specimens in national and international herbaria, collections made during fieldwork from January 2020 to May 2021, and literature. Eight genera and 20 species were recorded for Ceará, which mostly occur in areas of Stepic Savanna and Dense Ombrophylous Forest. Pavonia varians and P. vinosa are restricted to a single municipality. Malachra fasciata and Peltaea lasiantha are new records for the state of Ceará. Eleven species occur within 14 conservation units.

Fourteen new taxa are reported as new to Albania: 60 at the regional level and 18 confirmations of pre-1950 records. The total number of taxa reported for Albania is now 548, which stands for an increase of almost 75% since the publication of the preliminary checklist in 2006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I present my recently observed floristic data on the Danube-Tisza Interfluve. I report a total of 117 species of vascular plants, of which 27 are protected and 3 are strictly protected. As the landscape of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve is diverse, these data come from a wide range of habitats: disturbed and natural dry, mesophilic and wet grasslands, forest edges, and different weed communities. I also provide a considerable amount of data from various sec ondary habitats: forest plantations, cemeteries, buildings, habitats along railroads, road verges, dry canal beds, water-filled canals, and ruderal habitats in urban environments. My data cover a total of nine microregions, the most prominent of which are: the Bácska Loess Plain, the Bugac Sand Ridge, the Dorozsma-Majsa Sand Ridge, the Kiskunság Sand Ridge and the Kiskunság Loess Ridge. For protected plant species, most noteworthy are the new observations of Apium repens, Epipactis bugacensis, E. atrorubens, Ranunculus illyricus, Muscari botryoides, Ophrys sphegodes, Vicia biennis. From a phytogeographical perspective, the most important new records are those of Galium tenuissimum, G. parisiense, Spiranthes spiralis and Bifora radians in the Kiskunság, and that of Ornithogalum refr actum in the Praematricum. From secondary habitats, I report the occurrence of five fern species, one of which (Asplenium ceterach) was not previously reported from the Great Hungarian Plain. I also present recent localities for certain alien plant species, some of which have barely known occurrence or historical data even at the country level (Echium plantagineum, Persicaria orientalis, Periploca graeca), and some of which are poorly known for the Danube-Tisza Interfluve (e.g., Lepidium densiflorum, L. virginicum, Geranium purpureum, Taeniatherum caput-medusae, Humulus scandens). The paper also describes the occurrence of several species for which there are no previous records from the region or microregion, only historical records are available, or data are scarce (Alcea biennis, Arabis glabra, Arctium minus, Chenopodium botrys, Ch. murale, Herniaria incana, Melilotus dentatus, Potentilla inclinata, Reseda luteola, Vicia pannonica subsp. striata, Vulpia myuros etc.). New records for several aquatic plant species (e.g., Najas marina, Lemna gibba, Wolffia arrhiza) are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent lichenological investigations add new and noteworthy records of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi to the Aggtelek National Park, especially from the Szalonna-Karst region (Mt Esztramos near Bódvarákó, Mt Szár-hegy near Martonyi). Altogether 64 records of 38 species of lichen-forming fungi and 13 species of lichenicolous fungi are presented and annotated. Agon imia globulifera, Lecanora compallens and The alloidima physaroides have been reported from the Aggtelek National Park for the first time, and all the lichenicolous fungi (Athe lia arachnoidea, Bryostigma parietinarium, Bryostigma phaeophysciae, Didymocyrtis slaptonensis, Illosporiopsis christiansenii, Lichenochora obscuroides, Lichenoconium erodens, Lichenodiplis lecanorae, Pronectria robergei, Pyrenochaeta xanthoriae, Roselliniella cladoniae, Xanthoriicola physciae, Zyzygomyces physciacearum) are also new to the Aggtelek National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is a floristic study of Selaginella in Maranhão. The species survey is based on collections from fieldwork conducted between April 2006 and February 2023 and specimens from Maranhão deposited at the CCAA, HBRA, MG, and SLUI herbaria. Ten species were identified: Selaginella conduplicata, S. convoluta, S. erythropus, S. flagellata, S. gynostachya S. marginata, S. minima, S. radiata, S. simplex, and S. sulcata. We report the first record of S. gynostachya for Maranhão and the Cerrado domain in Brazil. Until now, this species was only known from areas of Amazonia. We provide a map with records, an identification key, and comments about the identification and geographic distribution of Selaginella species in Maranhão state. For the new record, we also provide photos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilimbia fuscoviridis (≡ Bacidia fuscoviridis) is newly reported from North America where it is shown to be widespread in the temperate eastern United States and adjacent Canada, frequently occurring on shaded calcareous rocks and siliceous rocks in humid habitats near waterways. A detailed description on the basis of North American material is provided, the distribution is mapped, and color photographs are provided. The species is likely common but overlooked because of its inconspicuous appearance and the absence of diagnostic secondary metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first records of Lindsaea leprieurii Hook. and Lindsaea angustipinna A.Rojas & Tejero from Panama. Images, taxonomic comments, conservation assessments, and geographic notes are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A floristic checklist of vascular plants was conducted at Shenandoah River State Park (SHSP) in Bentonville, Virginia during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. SHSP encompasses 665 hectares (1619 acres) of the northern Shenandoah Valley between the Massanutten Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. The park lies in Warren County which has been botanically underexplored, consistently ranking last in plant collection metrics among the five northern Shenandoah Valley counties. SHSP contains 11 community types that span 165–296 meters above sea level from inland wetlands and river scour communities to upland forests, including endemic Central Appalachian Shale Barrens. A total of 797 collections yielded 536 unique taxa from 109 vascular plant families. These collections were secondarily extended with in-field pictures that were aggregated on an iNaturalist project page. Quick Response (QR) codes were used to link herbarium vouchers to their respective iNaturalist entry. Sixty-four county records of taxa not yet observed in Warren County and one state record, Equisetum laevigatum, were documented. As a first for SHSP, this floristic checklist provides baseline botanical knowledge of the park and expands the available digital data of vascular plants for Warren County by 20%. This augmented knowledge, in tandem with the accompanying iNaturalist project page, will not only be useful to park managers for future development and conservation plans but will also serve as a tool for community scientists to enhance their knowledge of the local flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A revision of the species of Hymenophyllum subg. Hymenophyllum in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest domain is presented. Morphological and molecular analyses were performed based on herbarium material and samples collected during fieldwork. Molecular analyses were performed with data of the plastidial markers rbcL, rbcL-accD, rps4-trnS, and trnG-R. The results demonstrate the existence of three distinct and independent lineages of H. subgenus Hymenophyllum in the Atlantic Forest domain. Three taxa were recognized: H. fucoides, H. megachilum, and a new species, H. bradeanum, endemic to the Itatiaia Massif, southeast Brazil. Distribution maps, identification keys, descriptions, and illustrations are provided, together with a preliminary update of the conservation status of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compiles and updates the checklist of ferns and lycophytes from the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMOc). For this, we revised information on these taxa from regional floristic studies, databases, and herbaria. Our updated list includes 312 species, of which 276 are ferns and 36 are lycophytes integrated into 27 families and 75 genera. The richest families are Pteridaceae (118), Polypodiaceae (31), Selaginellaceae (30), Aspleniaceae (25), and Dryopteridaceae (25). The three most diverse genera were Selaginella (30), Asplenium (25), and Myriopteris (22). The species-rich Mexican states that include the SMOc are Durango (166 species), Chihuahua (149), and Jalisco (146). As in other tropical mountains, species richness in the SMOc is concentrated at the elevation interval of 1500 to 2000 m (236 species). The mid-mountain vegetation forests (Quercus and Pinus-Quercus forests) harbor the most pteridoflora richness (52% of the species). Four species of ferns are listed as threatened in the Mexican Official Norm NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, 17 species are listed in the IUCN, and only one tree ferns are in CITES. The SMOc has a Nearctic affinity, and its fern and lycophyte diversity are lower than in other Mexican Transition Zone mountain chains, such as the Sierra Madre del Sur, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and the Sierra Madre Oriental. Notwithstanding, its biological composition is unique and distinctive. The species number reported in the SMOc represents 31% of the pteridoflora diversity recorded in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The California Floristic Province (CA-FP) encompasses North America's Mediterranean-type climatic region and is a global biodiversity hotspot in temperate North America. Fine-scale phylogenetic studies and increasing scrutiny of morphological, ecological, and geographic variation in the CA-FP vascular flora continue to reveal novel, often cryptic diversity warranting taxonomic attention. The prevalence of such discoveries warrants caution about potential for loss of undescribed or unrecognized biodiversity from human-related impacts, including insufficiently informed conservation-related actions (e.g., genetic augmentation or assisted migration). Broader-scale molecular phylogenetic studies have yielded other examples of more extensive CA-FP diversification than previously resolved. For example, clades uniting CA-FP taxa not earlier thought to be such close relatives have been discovered in a wide diversity of tribes of composites and legumes. This understanding adds additional weight to the conclusions of Raven and Axelrod (1978) that in situ evolution, especially since the pronounced mid-Miocene transition toward summer-drying, has been a major factor in the origins of Californian vascular plant diversity. The importance of paleo-endemism in gymnosperms and (especially woody) angiosperms of the CA-FP flora also has been corroborated and refined by molecular phylogenetic studies, with improved understanding of the timing of divergence and relationships of isolated lineages, such as the extinct island-endemic Hesperelaea A. Gray (Oleaceae). On a regional scale, studies of spatial patterns of Californian species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and phylogenetic endemism by the California Plant Phylodiversity Project (CPPP) have reinforced the floristic importance of areas of high topographic complexity, or environmental heterogeneity more generally, where relatively high levels of habitat diversity, speciation, and lineage persistence may be expected. The CPPP's finding that particularly young plant lineages and significantly high phylogenetic endemism are concentrated in drier regions of the CA-FP and in the adjacent Californian deserts has corroborated earlier preliminary findings and aligns with Stebbins's (1952) hypothesis of aridity as an evolutionary stimulus. A recent conservation gap analysis by the CPPP incorporating flora-wide phylogenetic and geographic occurrence data plus land-protection status and habitat-integrity information for California has demonstrated the potential of an integrative, evolutionary approach for identifying high-priority land conservation targets.

The majority of management plans for birds on public lands across the western United States do not recognize the geographic variation in a given species’ habitat. We examined associations of plant species and functional groups with occupancy of 19 bird species across 5 biogeographic subregions of the Great Basin (central, western, Sierra Nevada, northern, and eastern), USA. We hypothesized that occupancy was associated with floristics (individual plant species) within subregions, and with physiognomy (characterized by functional groups) across the Great Basin. We used two methods to evaluate bird-vegetation associations within and across subregions. First, we examined which covariates of floristics and physiognomy were significantly associated with occupancy in each subregion. Second, for each bird species, we compared covariate estimates between each of the 10 pairs of subregions. We classified the effects of covariates on occupancy in 2 subregions as significantly different if <5% of their posterior distributions overlapped. The plant species and functional groups that were associated significantly with occupancy varied considerably among subregions. Twenty-four percent of bird-plant associations that were significant at the Great Basin level were not significant in any subregion. Associations between occupancy and floristics differed the most between the Sierra Nevada and central or western subregions, and the least between the eastern and western subregions. Associations between occupancy and physiognomy differed the most between the Sierra Nevada and western and central subregions, and the least between the northern and western subregions. These differences and similarities may reflect variations in climate or bird communities or differences in sampling effort. In addition, the number and strength of associations between occupancy and floristic or physiognomic covariates varied substantially among bird species and subregions. We recommend that the management of birds across the Great Basin or other large ecoregions evaluate and account for geographic variation in environmental attributes associated with occupancy, and not assume bird-plant relations are consistent across the Great Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolation effects on the distributions of plant species in fragmented forests appear to be weak over tens to hundreds of years and strong over geological eras. The 250 km wide, 6.5 millennia old Bass Strait, and other millennium‐scale disjunctions in the range of Eucalyptus regnans forests, were used to determine the effects of intermediate periods of isolation on plant species occurrence and composition. Three of six floristic communities were found on both sides of Bass Strait. The residuals from multiple regression models using climatic variables on the latitude vector were not explained by latitude, indicating negligible isolation effects from Bass Strait. However, there was a lesser compositional effect of disjunctions within land masses than between land masses, suggesting some effect of the larger barrier. No species that commonly occurred with E. regnans and were largely confined to wet forest exhibited absences from any region where the climate and soils were within their range. If areas isolated from each other for millennia can maintain their vascular plant biota, the expenditure of conservation funds on creating corridors to connect large areas separated by anthropogenic landscape modification might require more justification than it is currently afforded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper new floristic records for 41 taxa (species and subspecies) are reported. In particular, 30 taxa are natives and 11 aliens. Among the natives 1 is new for Veneto, 7 are new or confirmed for Marche, 1 is new for Lazio, 9 are new or confirmed for Abruzzo, 2 are new or confirmed for Molise; 13 aliens taxa are new for Abruzzo, Lazio and Marche. Some findings are very interesting from a phytogeographic and/or conservation point of view, such as Allium guttatum subsp. dalmaticum new for Italy, Astragalus austriacus and Myosotis minutiflora subsp. minutiflora new for the Apennines, and, a species deserving urgent conservation actions, of which we report the second location at national scale. Furthermore, we report some new locations for very rare species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper new floristic records for 21 units are reported. In particular, 8 taxa are native, 1 is cryptogenic and 12 aliens, 9 are new or confirmed for Molise, 7 are new or confirmed for Abruzzo, 1 reported as doubtful for Abruzzo, 2 are new for Lazio and Basilicata, 1 is new for Marche. Two alien taxa are new to Italy: Acer tataricum subsp. tataricum and Campanula grandis subsp. grandis. The last one is new to Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botanical surveys undertaken in several regions of Tunisia (N Africa), mainly around salty wetlands and flats and along railways since 2015, yielded new records of non-native shrubby plants of the genus Euphorbia. These included Euphorbia canariensis, E. cotinifolia subsp. cotinoides, E. cooperi var. cooperi, E. cyathophora, E. milii, E. pulcherrima, E. tirucalli and E. trigona. Among these records, three (E. cotinifolia subsp. cotinoides, E. cooperi var. cooperi, and E. cyathophora) are new for the non-native flora of the Mediterranean area, one for the nonnative flora of the continental Africa (E. canariensis) whereas E. trigona and E. milii var. splendens are first reports to the non-native flora of N Africa. Moreover, Euphorbia pulcherrima is here assigned as first report for the non-native flora of the continental N Africa and E. tirucalli is confirmed as an established taxon and its distributive area is here updated. Distributions and brief morphological descriptions are given for each of these new records. Notes on their habitats and their main distinguishable features together with field photographs are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]