:: S. WAGNER, E. DODINET & M.-A. SELOSSE A touch of orchids from Samos (Greece) Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 251-253. Anglais Abstract The International Conference about Temperate Orchids Research and Conservation (TORC’15) was held on the island of Samos, Greece, from 14 to 18 April 2015. It was organized by the Sails-For-Science Foundation (a non-profit organization based in Germany, promoting a sustainable balance between nature and society for small island communities worldwide) under a sponsorship by the Société Botanique de France and several other societies. In this issue, we publish three papers spanning from this international meeting.
:: E. VELA, R. MARTIN & R. OUNI Ophrys pseudomigoutiana (Orchidaceae), a new species from Tunisia Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 255-261. Anglais Abstract The studied taxon has been attached since its discovery in Tunisia to Ophrys migoutiana H. Gay, a plant described in Algeria, which remains little known to botanists. This was already a net progress, ending the historical confusion that mixed many taxa under the name “O. fusca”. However, the recent observation of the true O. migoutiana near Medea in Algeria allowed us to distinguish the Algerian and the Tunisian taxa, the latter being a priori not yet formally described. The Tunisian taxon shares some similarities with oriental taxa of the Ophrys cinereophila / Ophrys creberrima group, and is named here as a new species Ophrys pseudomigoutiana. Its phenotypic variability is illustrated by several photographs and colour plates with fresh dissected flowers. Its chorology in Tunisia is detailed and suggests that it could also be present in eastern Algeria.
:: M. METSARE, A. ILVES, M. HALDNA, T. KULL & K. TALI Four seed-quality measures in orchids with different pollination systems Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 263-269. Anglais Abstract The number of seeds is an indicator of plant fitness. We compared four quality measures – seed number, abortion, viability and germination. To test as wide a span of seed variability as possible, we cross-pollinated and selfpollinated one nectarless and one nectar-rewarding orchid species, assuming that nectariferous species should be more adapted to geitonogamous selfing than the cheating one and that seed quality should reflect that. Seed number for both species was lowest in selfed fruits. Viability and germination did not show any difference in deceptive Orchis militaris treatments, but the trend was different in rewarding Platanthera bifolia. Seed number and seed abortion correlated well as did viability and germination in vitro. This shows that these two stages are controlled by different mechanisms. Therefore, seed number or seed abortion rate alone cannot be proxies for reproductive output.
:: E. VELA & J. VIGLIONE Recent inputs to the Lebanese orchid flora and proposal of a national checklist for Orchidaceae family Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 271-285. Anglais Abstract Since the publication of the last Lebanese and Syrian classical flora, the only complete work on Lebanese flora is an illustrated book based on the same taxonomy and nomenclature with a few exceptions and some additions. Specifically on the Lebanese orchids, one book has illustrated orchids in the field with an unusual taxonomic point of view. Several Euro-Mediterranean monographs propose a conflicting taxonomy that is not always useful in identifying living specimens. Several years of exploration throughout Lebanon allowed the authors to build considerable knowledge of the orchid flora and its taxonomy. Other works made on adjacent areas completed the investigations and provided some useful indications to build taxonomic understanding and compile a preliminary checklist of Orchidaceae. Historical nomenclature was reanalysed from a modern point of view; recent critical appellations were confronted with biogeography and integrative evolutionary taxonomy, and some poorly known taxa are highlighted and their taxonomy is reinvestigated. A total of 51 species and subspecies are listed for Lebanon. Two new chorological records for Lebanon (Epipactis helleborine “subsp. praecox” nom. provis.; Ophrys alasiatica) and four new nomenclatural combinations (Androrchis × ehdenica, Epipactis helleborine subsp. turcica, Ophrys episcopalis subsp. libanotica, Serapias vomeracea subsp. levantina) are presented. At least 14 taxa are regionally endemic, seven of which are limited to two border countries, the other seven being too poorly known for conclusions about their biogeography.
:: A. MOULY Validation of the name Cyclophyllum memaoyaense, a rare species in New Caledonia Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 287-288. Anglais Abstract The name Cyclophyllum memaoyaense Mouly is here validated by the citation of the holotype location.
:: A. GIOVINO, G. DOMINA, G. BAZAN, P. CAMPISI & S. SCIBETTA Taxonomy and conservation of Pancratium maritimum (Amaryllidaceae) and relatives in the Central Mediterranean Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 289-299. Anglais Abstract Pancratium maritimum L. (Amaryllidaceae) is a geophyte occurring in the Mediterranean region, from the Black Sea to part of the Atlantic coast. This plant is receiving much attention from the international scientific community due to its value as a bioindicator, the potential industrial value of its chemical compounds, and its use as a commercial ornamental plant. Plant morphometry and sequences of three plastid DNA regions (rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA) were used to assess the phenotypic and genetic variability of this taxon and its closest congeneric species (in particular Pancratium linosae, from the volcanic island of Linosa) in the Central Mediterranean (Sicily, Tunisia and surrounding islands). Pancratium maritimum and P. linosae cannot be distinguished based on morphological and genetic data and should belong to the same taxon. Our results also highlight a diversified gene pool in P. maritimum that is worth preserving. The lectotypes of the names Halmira stellaris, Pancratium angustifolium and Pancratium foetidum are here designated.
:: M. NOBIS, A. L. EBEL, A. NOWAK, B. PASZKO, A. A. BOBROV, Y. A. KOTUKHOV, A. N. KUPRIYANOV, A. NOBIS, J. ZALEWSKA-GAŁOSZ, M. V. OLONOVA, F. VERLOOVE, WEN-LI CHEN, M. KUSHUNINA, D. KWOLEK, N. N. LASHCHINSKIY, R. PIWOWARCZYK, A. P. SUKHORUKOV, S. NOWAK, V. PLÁŠEK & A. PLISZKO Contribution to the flora of Asian and European countries: new national and regional vascular plant records Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 301-316. Anglais Abstract The paper presents new records for 20 vascular plant species from 13 Eurasian countries. Four taxa (Calamagrostis sichuanensis, Klasea dissecta, Ptilagrostis milleri and Stipa klimesii) are reported from China, four (Aconogonon valerii, Carex siderosticta, Poa tanfiljewii and Potamogeton × subobtusus) from Russia, three (Amorpha fruticosa, Carduus acanthoides and Plantago minuta) from Tajikistan, two (Achillea sergievskiana and Delphinium barlykense) from Kazakhstan, one (Calamagrostis effusiflora) from Bhutan and India, one (Campanula wolgensis) from Mongolia, one (Orobanche coerulescens) from Georgia, two (Dysphania geoffreyi and Ptilagrostis milleri) from Nepal, one (Stipa × alaica) from Afghanistan, one (Stipa × manrakica) from Kyrgyzstan, one (Ranunculus × gluckii) from Poland and one (Sporobolus cryptandrus) from Italy. Four of the taxa presented (Amorpha fruticosa, Carduus acanthoides, Carex siderosticta and Sporolobus cryptandrus) are regarded as alien to the studied areas, whereas the remaining 16 are native elements to the flora of the countries. For each species synonyms, general distribution, habitat preferences, taxonomy with remarks on recognition and differentiation of the species from the most similar taxa occurring in a given country, as well as a list of recorded localities (often far from the previously known areas) are presented. Based on the spikelet morphology, we have proposed in Ptilagrostis a new section Barkworthia M. Nobis, A. Nobis & A. Nowak, which comprises two species Ptilagrostis yadongensis and Ptilagrostris milleri, with distinctly unequal glumes, lemmas and paleas.
:: V. L. D. CABELIN, P. J. S. SANTOR & G. J. D. ALEJANDRO Evaluation of DNA barcoding efficiency of cpDNA barcodes in selected Philippine Leea L. (Vitaceae) Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 317-324. Anglais Abstract The genus Leea L. includes some species that are known to have ethnomedicinal properties. They have been used as cures against common ailments such as skin infections and arthritis. To augment the morphological identification of this taxon, four candidate chloroplast DNA barcodes (matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA and trnL-F) were tested for their efficiency as single-locus barcodes for four Leea species. Genomic DNA from silica-dried leaf samples were isolated and used as template for generating DNA barcodes. Pairwise sequence divergence using the Kimura two-parameter model was used to analyse interspecific and intraspecific variations among the barcodes whereas BLAST and neighbourjoining analyses were employed to examine discrimination success. The results show that matK is the most efficient single-locus barcode for Leea by yielding the highest rate of universality as well as the best discriminatory and authentication power among the barcodes examined.
:: A. POPIELA, A. ŁYSKO, A. MOLNÁR V., Z. KĄCKI & B. A. LUKÁCS Distribution, morphology and habitats of Elatine triandra (Elatinaceae) in Europe, with particular reference to the central part of the continent Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 325-337. Anglais Abstract Elatine triandra Schkuhr is the most variable and widespread species within the genus Elatine L.; it has been recorded in all continents, except Antarctica, but it is mainly located in Europe. The study is based on an extensive data set of European literature, herbaria and web data that covers the period 1828–2012. The range of the species in Europe is disjunctive, covering the southern and western parts of the Central European Plain and the southern part of the Fennoscandian Shield. At a smaller scale, the species can also be found along some river valleys. In Central Europe many localities, particularly isolated ones in the northern part of the range, are now only historical. From the data set we determined that E. triandra may be best observed between May and October. We found that species records show a near-significant shift since 1828. Depending on the environmental conditions, individuals of the taxon develop as one of two morphs: terrestrial or aquatic. The aquatic morph is characterized by stems, internodes, lamina and petiole that are twice as long as those of the terrestrial form. Elatine triandra seeds show consistent characteristics, both in terms of morphs and populations. Our studies show that the best diagnostic features, in addition to the construction of flowers, are the size, shape and surface structure of seeds. In Central Europe, E. triandra occurs exclusively in communities classified as Isoëto-Nano-Juncetea.
:: G. GHEZA Terricolous lichens of the western Padanian Plain: new records of phytogeographical interest Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 339-348. Anglais Abstract Very little is known of the earlier lichen flora of the Padanian Plain, the most heavily anthropized and industrialized part of Italy, which is currently extremely poor. Terricolous lichens in particular are the most sensitive to threats, and have almost totally disappeared from the western Padanian Plain. This paper reports new findings of 20 terricolous lichen species, several of which are rare or poorly known in Italy or are of some phytogeographical interest because they are found at lower altitudes than their usual distribution (i.e. Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia uncialis). In addition, Cladonia humilis is new for Lombardy and two other species, Cladonia portentosa and Stereocaulon condensatum, are reported for the second time in the same region. The significance of these species is discussed with regard to their historical records from the same area and their current altitudinal distribution; they were probably much more widespread in the past, but the decline and disappearance of their habitats in lowland areas have been followed by their own disappearance in many localities. A modification of the rarity status of some of these species in the considered phytoclimatic belts, based on the new records, is proposed.
:: F. GUZZON, J. V. MÜLLER, T. ABELI, P. CAUZZI, N. M.G. ARDENGHI, A. BALESTRAZZI, G. ROSSI & S. ORSENIGO Germination requirements of nine European Aegilops species in relation to constant and alternating temperatures, Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 349-354. Anglais Abstract The genus Aegilops represents the secondary gene pool of wheat. A better understanding of the germination behaviour of Aegilops species is important to improve their use in breeding programmes and strengthen their in situ/ex situ conservation. In this study, we investigated the germination behaviour of nine Aegilops species, five of them not yet investigated, under two alternating and two constant temperatures. Seed germination was higher than 60% in all temperature treatments and species. Alternating temperatures promoted higher germination rates in all the species and significantly enhanced seed germination in three species (Aegilops biuncialis, Aegilops geniculata and Aegilops neglecta), in comparison with constant temperatures. One of the rarest and least productive species in the genus (Aegilops uniaristata) displayed the highest germination. This study suggests that different (seed) regeneration strategies/ niches occur across Aegilops species.
:: S. RHIZOPOULOU, E. SPANAKIS & A. ARGIROPOULOS Study of petal topography of Lysimachia arvensis grown under natural conditions Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 355-364. Anglais Abstract The present study revealed that adaxial and abaxial petal epidermises of the blue-flowered Lysimachia arvensis consist of elongated, multi-micro-papillate cells, which may aid the rapid petal expansion. The epidermal cells are covered by a wrinkled relief, which is further ornamented by submicron features that increase in size the surface area of lobes; this may be a well-adapted mechanism of the small-sized flowers of L. arvensis with the short life span. The sculpturally increased surface area of adaxial epidermal cells of petals is expected to contribute to optical and adhesive properties, and wettability of the floral tissues. The adaxial and the abaxial petal surfaces of L. arvensis possess submicron cuticular folds, smaller than the sub-wavelength visible spectrum, which reflect radiation of shorter rather than longer wavelengths, whereas intense absorption was detected in the red spectral region. Also, three-celled capitate trichomes with a pigmented spherical head, which are densely distributed at the corolla margins of L. arvensis, may be involved in adhesive, defensive and functional properties of the floral tissues.
:: F. BULDRINI, A. SIMONCELLI, S. ACCORDI, G. PEZZI & D. DALLAI Ten years of citizen science data collection of wetland plants in an urban protected area Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 365-373. Anglais Abstract Floodplain landscape is the result of man’s presence over a long period of time. This has caused the degradation, or even loss, of several habitats, especially wetlands, which frequently preserve rare biodiversity, even though they are subjected to intense human presence. Human activities can be of value, but can also cause problems in species preservation. The protected area “Ansa e Valli del Mincio” (northern Italy) is an outstanding case study in this respect: it is located in a densely urbanized context, but has great value from a conservation standpoint. This paper presents the results of 10 years of monitoring (2003–2012) of the spatial distribution of two native species (Trapa natans and Nymphaea alba) and the invasive Nelumbo nucifera. Data collected by volunteers from the protected area were processed in GIS and analysed using a number of configurational landscape metrics. Nymphaea alba and N. nucifera became more widespread; T. natans underwent a serious decline, mostly due to the interference of N. nucifera. An oscillating trend of this species is visible until 2008, followed by substantial stability. Furthermore, the potential area of each species was calculated. On the whole, citizen science is a valuable tool to enhance biodiversity knowledge and safeguarding, especially in wetlands that are used for tourism and surrounded by residential areas. As in other contexts, the volunteer contribution was particularly helpful in data collection on a local scale, over a considerable time span.
:: B. DE FOUCAULT Contribution au prodrome des végétations de France : les Adiantetea capilli-veneris Braun-Blanq. ex Braun-Blanq., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Paru dans Acta Botanica Gallica, 2015, 162 (4), pp. 375-403. Français Résumé Dans le cadre du prodrome des végétations de France, sous l’égide de la Société française de phytosociologie, l’auteur présente ici la classe des Adiantetea capilli-veneris : déclinaison au niveau européen, puis présentation de fiches par association connue au niveau français.
Abstract Within the framework of the prodromous of French vegetations, under the sponsorship of French Society of plant sociology, the author presents the Adiantetea capilli-veneris: declination at the European level, then presentation of cards by known association at the French level. Only one order is recognized, Adiantetalia capilli-veneris, with three alliances (Adiantion capilli-veneris, Pinguiculion longifoliae, and Polysticho setiferi – Phyllitidion scolopendrii). Some systematic structures are also defined which imply several species in Pinguicula, Primula, and Hypericum genera.