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Microorganisms play a key role in plant adaptation to the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of toxic metals present in the soil on the biodiversity of plant‐related, endophytic mycobiota. The mycobiome of plants and soil from a Zn–Pb heap and a metal‐free ruderal area were compared via Illumina sequencing of the ITS1 rDNA. The biodiversity of plants and fungi inhabiting mine dump substrate was lower than that of the metal free site. In the endosphere of Arabidopsis arenosa from the mine dump the number of endophytic fungal taxa was comparable to that in the reference population, but the community structure significantly differed. Agaricomycetes was the most notably limited class of fungi. The results of plant mycobiota evaluation from the field study were verified in terms of the role of toxic metals in plant endophytic fungi community assembly in a reconstruction experiment. The results presented in this study indicate that metal toxicity affects the structure of the plant mycobiota not by changing the pool of microorganisms available in the soil from which the fungal symbionts are recruited but most likely by altering plant and fungi behaviour and the organisms' preferences towards associating in symbiotic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Koenigia divaricata (L.) T.M. Schust. & Reveal [syn. Polygonum divaricatum L.; Aconogonon divaricatum (L.) Nakai; Persicaria divaricata (L.) H. Gross], a perennial herb of Polygonaceae, is native to temperate Eastern Asia and usually occurs in steppes, dry meadows and thickets. In recent decades, the expansion of the species to the west and north of its native range has been observed. Moreover, it was introduced to Western and Southern Siberia and Europe. The naturalisation of K. divaricata was confirmed in some countries of Northern Europe and some parts of Russia (the European part of it, as well as Western and Southern Siberia). In Europe, it is a rare species, known mainly for its cultivation as an ornamental or fodder plant. Within its primary and secondary range in Russia, it spreads effectively along transport routes, occupying roadsides, railway embankments and wastelands in their vicinity. In this paper, we report the first spontaneous occurrence of K. divaricata in Poland. It was found in September 2021 in Stare Opole near Siedlce, eastern Poland, and confirmed in July 2022. Photographic documentation of the species and phytosociological characteristics of its habitat are presented. Moreover, the locality of the species is mapped using the ATPOL cartogram method. Most likely, K. divaricata was introduced by rail transport. Currently, it should be treated as a casual alien species in the Polish flora. However, its naturalisation in Poland is likely due to suitable climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geophytes are a characteristic element of deciduous forests in the temperate zone, as well as a common component of urban green spaces due to their early flowering and high decorative value. Nevertheless, in urban areas, geophytes are constantly threatened by recreational activities, especially in parks where intensive trampling occurs. In this study, we tested the effect of the distance from formal paths on the species richness, abundance and diversity of geophytes in relation to habitat conditions in urban forests and parks. We established a total of 400 plots (1 m × 1 m) located close (CL) to and further (FU) from paths in 10 forests and 10 parks in Kraków, southern Poland, in spring 2022. We recorded 23 species from nine groups of geophytes forming different underground storage organs, i.e., bulbs (B), hypocotyl bulbs (HB), rhizomes (RH), runners (RU), runners and rhizomes (RU-RH), runner-like rhizomes (RL-RH), runners and runners with tuberous tip (RU-TU), runners and shoot tubers (RU-ST) and root tubers (RT). The differences in the number, share and cover-abundance of geophytes between the CL and FU plots were statistically insignificant. In contrast, the total number, share and cover-abundance of geophytes were significantly higher in forests than in parks. Additionally, the share and cover-abundance of RH and RT were significantly higher in forests than in parks. Moreover, in CL plots in forests and parks, the cover-abundance of RH and RT were negatively correlated with soil compaction. Urban forests provide a high abundance of RH, RU-RH and RT, while parks support a high abundance of BU. To protect forest geophytes in urban forests and parks, it is recommended to limit trampling and soil eutrophication, as well as reduce the increase in soil pH along paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous hybrids between alien and native plant species are alien taxa and they threaten native biodiversity due to their high competitive ability or introgression. Thus, we tested the effect of soil conditions, elevation and type of ramet clusters (clonal clumps of shoots) on sexual and asexual ramets of Solidago xniederederi, a hybrid between the invasive alien S. canadensis and the native S. virgaurea. We also tested the relationships between the size of sexual ramets and habitat conditions in the hybrid and its parental species, based on ten sites in NE and S Poland, respectively. The hybrid and its parental species occurred on mineral soils with a wide range of textures (sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, silty loam and loam) and pH (from strongly acidic to slightly alkaline). Sexual ramet clusters dominated in S. xniederederi populations, while the total number of ramets was highest in mixed ramet clusters. The cluster x site interaction had a significant effect on the length and biomass of sexual ramets in hybrid populations. Moreover, we found a significant effect of the taxon x site interaction in the case of biomass of sexual ramets and synflorescences (capitula arranged in panicles). Based on the biomass of sexual shoots and synflorescences, the competitive abilities of the hybrid may be more or less similar to S. canadensis or S. virgaurea albeit depending on site conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the taxonomic confusion surrounding the name Oenothera muricata. The name was originally described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1767, but its interpretation has varied over the years, leading to confusion among taxonomists and geneticists. Different illustrations and descriptions have been used to interpret the name, resulting in conflicting interpretations of the species. To preserve nomenclatural stability, the article proposes rejecting the name Oenothera muricata. Accepting this proposal would prevent the misapplication of the name and maintain the established names of Oenothera species. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, phytosociological plots are used to describe species composition and ecological conditions of habitats in which Solidago xniederederi, a natural hybrid between the North American S. canadensis and the European S. virgaurea, was found as established in Poland. Four groups of phytosociological plots have been distinguished based on the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean. The groups did not differ significantly in the mean number of species per plot and in the species evenness, in contrast to the mean values of Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson index. In each group of phytosociological plots, S. xniederederi and S. virgaurea had the highest value of constancy degree. Meadow species of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea had the highest share in all groups of phytosociological plots. Considering the Ellenberg's indicators, the groups of phytosociological plots differed significantly in the mean values of the light and thermal conditions, soil moisture, soil reaction, and nutrients. The results suggested that S. xniederederi can be established in well light places with partial shade and temperate conditions, on moist, moderately acidic to almost neutral soils with average fertility and is strongly associated with S. virgaurea and meadow species of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]