Abstract This study confirms the first certain occurrence of Juncus squarrosus L., an Atlantic species, in the Romanian native flora. Characteristic plant communities with J. squarrosus occur in the Apuseni Mts (Western Romanian Carpathians). At these sites J. squarrosus has the southeastern limit of its European distribution. The identified plant communities with J. squarrosus in Romania are devoid of some Atlantic species present in Western and Central European communities and therefore are assigned to the Nardo-Juncetum squarrosi (Nordh. 1920) Bük. 1942 association. This plant community is a new syntaxon for the Romanian vegetation.

Abstract The Solanaceae family includes plants of high economic and medicinal value. Information on endorhizal associations in Solanaceae is limited. We investigated arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungal associations in 20 solanaceous plant species (7 genera) taken from one or more sites, measuring the percentage of root length colonized in plants having different AM and DSE fungal structures. Root samples of all the plant species examined had AM fungal structures, and DSE fungal colonization was found in 80% of the plant species. Total AM and DSE fungal colonization and root length of plants with different fungal structures varied significantly between species. Significant between-site variation was found for root length in plants with fungal structures in Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Capsicum annuum L., Datura metel L., Solanum melongena L., S. nigrum L., S. trilobatum L. and S. torvum SW. AM morphology was predominantly intermediate-type (60%), followed by Paris-type (30%). Solanum melongena and S. nigrum at different sites had Paris-type or intermediate AM morphology. DSE fungal colonization also exhibited significant between-site variation in Capsicum frutescens, C. annum, Datura metel, Solanum melongena, S. trilobatum and S. nigrum. We found a significant negative correlation between AM and DSE fungal colonization.

Abstract The paper reports the first detailed study of the diversity of euglenoids recorded from the El Farafra Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt. Four of the 20 identified species are new records for the Egyptian algal flora: the colorless Peranema inflexum Skuja, and the three pigmented species Euglena adhaerens Matv., Phacus crassus Zakryś & M. Łukomska and Ph. cristatus Zakryś & M. Łukomska. A brief description and original documentation are given for each reported morphospecies.

Abstract Woronichinia Elenkin is a cyanobacteria genus characteristic of lentic ecosystems. The type species, W. naegeliana (Unger) Elenkin, often blooms in the plankton of eutrophic reservoirs but this genus also contains species sensitive to high nutrient concentrations. The study analyzed the diversity and biomass of Woronichinia in lakes in a national park, isolated from the direct impact of human activity. The lakes were in various trophic states resulting from gradual and natural changes of trophy. Trophy was assessed with the use of the trophic diatom index, according to the classification we proposed for natural lakes. The relationship between the biomass and the trophic state of lakes was investigated with the use of multivariate unconstrained analysis with supplementary variables. Five species of Woronichinia were identified in all trophic types of lakes except for two oligotrophic ones: W. compacta (Lemmerm.) Komárek & Hindák, W. delicatula (Skuja) Komárek & Hindák, W. karelica Komárek & Komárk.-Legn., W. obtusa Joosten and W. naegeliana (Unger) Elenkin. The occurrence and biomass of the species were related to the trophic state of the lakes. The absence of Woronichinia in two oligotrophic lakes could be due to the high concentration of humic compounds in the sediments. The low nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio characteristic of the oligo-mesotrophic lakes resulted in increased species diversity. The lakes’ isolation from human activity fostered the development of rare and sensitive species such as W. delicatula and W. karelica.

Abstract The taxonomic and nomenclatural history of the broadly conceived genus Bryum Hedw. is briefly outlined. Twenty-one species, originating mostly from the Southern Hemisphere and traditionally classified in this genus, have been transferred to the widely accepted segregates of Bryum, including six in Imbribryum N. Pedersen, three in Leptostomopsis (Broth.) J. R. Spence & H. P. Ramsay, one in Plagiobryoides J. R. Spence, nine in Ptychostomum Hornsch. and two in Rosulabryum J. R. Spence.

Abstract Dicranodontium schwabei Thér. & Herzog, a poorly known species from Western Patagonia in Chile, is briefly assessed taxonomically. Some morphological and anatomical details of the species are illustrated and the problems associated with the typification of its name are discussed. The conspecificity of this species and Chorisodontium aciphyllum (Hook.f. & Wilson) Broth. is confirmed and the geographical distribution and ecology of the latter species is briefly reviewed.

Abstract This paper presents seven freshwater lichen species from Western Carpathian streams: Bryobilimbia ahlesii (Körb.) Fryday et al., Rhizocarpon sublavatum Fryday, Thelidium circumspersellum (Nyl.) Zschacke, T. klementii Servít, T. pluvium Orange, T. rehmii Zschacke and Verrucaria devensis (G. Salisbury) Orange. All of them are first records for Poland. Thelidium klementii is new for the Carpathians and was previously known only from the type locality in Germany. Morphological descriptions based on Polish specimens are presented, and the ecology and geographical distribution of these lichens are briefly discussed.

Abstract A taxonomic and nomenclatural history of the moss genus Pterogonium Sw. is outlined and the illegitimacy of this name is confirmed. Nogopterium Crosby & W. R. Buck, the name of a new genus erected to replace the illegitimate Pterogonium, is accepted as validly published. This genus consists of five species, two of which, N. coreense (Cardot) Tad. Suzuki and N. tenellum (Tad. Suzuki & Z. Iwats.) Tad. Suzuki, have only recently been transferred to this genus. The transfer of the fifth species, N. tsilingense (P. C. Chen) Tad. Suzuki ex Ochyra & Bedn.-Ochyra, comb. nov., is effected in the present account.

Abstract Didymodon validus Limpr. is not universally recognised as a species in its own right but it is often considered a variety, D. rigidulus Hedw. var. validus (Limpr.) Düll. The epithet validus was used at varietal rank only in 1923, as Barbula rigidula (Hedw.) Mitt. var. valida (Limpr.) Broth., but this taxon was actually recognised as a variety, B. rigidula var. gigantea Schlieph. ex Warnst., already in 1904, and this name is lectotypified herein. Accordingly, the transfer of this variety to Didymodon Hedw., as D. rigidulus var. giganteus (Schlieph. ex Warnst.) Ochyra & Bednarek-Ochyra, comb. nov., is effected. This is the correct name for this Central European-Central Asian montane taxon at variety rank. Didymodon validus is considered a new synonym of D. rigidulus var. giganteus.

Abstract Gomphonema vibrio var. subcapitatum (A. Mayer) J. H. Lee, hitherto unknown in Poland, is reported here from six lakes in the northeastern part of the country. This diatom prefers alkaline waters of medium conductivity and low nitrate and chlorine concentrations. The taxon is documented by SEM images and LM micrographs, and its morphological variability and distribution are briefly discussed.