Anthyllis Vulneraria Research Articles

Clinal variation in quantitative traits but not in evolutionary potential along elevational and latitudinal gradients in the widespread Anthyllis vulneraria.

Strong elevational and latitudinal gradients allow the study of genetic differentiation in response to similar environmental changes. However, it is uncertain whether the environmental changes along the two types of gradients result in similar genetically based changes in quantitative traits. Peripheral arctic and alpine populations are thought to have less evolutionary potential than more central populations do. We studied quantitative traits of the widespread Anthyllis vulneraria in a common garden. Plants originated from 20 populations along a 2000-m elevational gradient from the lowlands to the elevational limit of the species in the Alps, and from 20 populations along a 2400-km latitudinal gradient from the center of the distribution of the species in Central Europe to its northern distributional margin. Most traits showed similar clinal variations with elevation and latitude of origin, and the magnitude of all measured traits in relation to mean annual temperature was similar. Higher QST values than FST values in several traits indicated diversifying selection, but for others QST was smaller than FST. Genetic diversity of quantitative traits and neutral molecular markers was not correlated. Plasticity in response to favorable conditions declined with elevation and less strongly with latitude of origin, but the evolvability of traits did not. The clinal variation suggests adaptive differentiation of quantitative traits along the two gradients. The evolutionary potential of peripheral populations is not necessarily reduced, but lower plasticity may threaten their survival under rapidly changing climatic conditions.

VOLKSMED Database: A Source for Forgotten Wound Healing Plants in Austrian Folk Medicine

AbstractThe global increase in the incidence of wounds is concerning and fuels the search for new treatment options. The use of traditional medicinal plants in wound healing represents an appreciated available therapeutic possibility. This work introduces the VOLKSMED database, which contains plants and other materials used in Austrian folk medicine, either as monographs or mixtures. This work focuses on the monographs of the database. Concerning wound healing, Hypericum sp., Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis, Plantago sp., and Malva sp. are the most commonly used plants. The focus of this paper is set on selected lesser-known plants (Abies alba, Anthyllis vulneraria, Brassica sp., Gentiana sp., Larix decidua, Picea abies, Sambucus sp., Sanicula europaea) and their status quo in literature concerning wound healing. A systematic search using the databases SciFinder, SCOPUS, and PubMed yielded substantial evidence for the wound healing potential of Brassica sp., Gentiana sp., the Pinaceae A. abies, L. decidua, and P. abies, as well as Sambucus nigra. In vivo and clinical studies substantiate their use in Austrian folk medicine. According to the literature, especially A. vulneraria, Sambucus racemosa, and S. europaea would be worth investigating in-depth since data concerning their wound healing effects – even though scarce – are convincing. In conclusion, the VOLKSMED database contains promising opportunities for further treatment options in the field of wound healing. Future research should consider the listed plants to support their traditional use in Austrian folk medicine and possibly promote the implementation of old knowledge in modern medicine.

Using priority effects for grassland restoration: Sequential sowing can promote subordinate species

AbstractAimsThe influence of priority effects on plant community succession is increasingly discussed in community ecology. However, most grassland restoration approaches involving seed addition transfer all target species at the same time. Our objective was to tackle the question: does the order of arrival influence the establishment of restored communities?LocationLa‐Bâtie‐Neuve, Southern Alps, France.MethodsWe applied sequential sowing using two groups, one set of dominant species and one set of subordinate species, each comprising three different perennial plant species. We tested four sowing treatments: control (without any sowing), two sequential sowing treatments (dominants first or subordinates first) and synchronous sowing. We analysed plant cover each year for three years after sowing and calculated priority and earliness indices (the third year) for each group and each sown species.ResultsManipulating the order of arrival shaped community composition and trajectories. Some species of both groups were positively affected by being sown first compared to being sown synchronously. However, dominant and subordinate groups differed in their earliness index, showing a significant benefit for subordinates to be sown first. The subordinate species Onobrychis viciifolia and Plantago lanceolata established only when they were sown first, while Festuca cinerea showed greater establishment when sown first and simultaneously, compared to late sowing. The dominant Anthyllis vulneraria was not affected by date or type of sowing. However, the cover of the most dominant Bromopsis erecta was lower when being sown second, allowing a control of its dominance by delayed sowing.ConclusionThe strength of priority effects differs between species, which may depend on niche characteristics or microenvironment, influencing (negatively or positively) the establishment of late‐arriving species and affecting their competitive abilities. Our study provides evidence that plant community assembly was influenced by the order of arrival, but demonstrated a strong species‐specific response to priority effects.

Comparing Non-Thermal Plasma and Cold Stratification: Which Pre-Sowing Treatment Benefits Wild Plant Emergence?

Meadow restoration and creation projects have faced a lack of local seed diversity due to the limited availability of seed sources. Non-thermal plasma technologies are being developed for agriculture and do not cause damage to heat-sensitive biological systems. This technology has shown the potential to improve agronomic seed quality by enhancing germination and promoting plant growth. However, there is almost no information about the effect of non-thermal plasma pretreatment on the seedlings' emergence of wild plant species. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of non-thermal plasma on the emergence of 17 plant seeds originating from local meadows in Lithuania and compare it with the cold stratification pretreatment. The results obtained indicate that there were differences in emergence parameters among the species. However, NTP did not show statistically significant differences from the control. Non-thermal plasma improved the kinetic parameters of emergence for a few specific species' seeds, such as Anthyllis vulneraria and Prunella grandiflora, while the cold stratification pretreatment enhanced emergence for a broader range of plants. Significant differences were observed between non-thermal plasma and stratification pretreatment, as well as between the control and stratification groups. Both methods also had a negative impact.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as an Important Factor Enabling the Adaptation of Anthyllis vulneraria L. to Zn-Pb-Polluted Tailings.

The old Zn-Pb-contaminated (calamine) tailings in southern Poland are spontaneously colonized by metal-tolerant Anthyllis vulneraria L. (Fabaceae), which can form simultaneously symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and phosphorus-acquiring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). So far, fungal colonization and the AMF diversity of calamine-inhabiting legumes have been poorly studied. Thus, we determined AMF spore density in the substratum and the mycorrhizal status of nodulated A. vulneraria plants occurring on calamine tailings (M) and on a reference non-metallicolous (NM) site. The results indicate the presence of the Arum-type of arbuscular mycorrhiza in the roots of both Anthyllis ecotypes. Despite the presence of AM fungi in M plant roots, the dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungi (hyphae and microsclerotia) were occasionally also detected. Metal ions were accumulated mainly in the nodules and intraradical fungal structures rather than thick plant cell walls. Mycorrhization parameters (frequency of mycorrhization and intensity of root cortex colonization) for M plants were markedly higher and differed in a statistically significant manner from the parameters for NM plants. Heavy metal excess had no negative effect on the number of AMF spores, the amounts of glomalin-related soil proteins and AMF species composition. Molecular identification of AMF using PCR-DGGE analysis based on the 18S rDNA ribosomal gene by nested-PCR with primers AM1/NS31 and NS31-GC/Glo1 revealed similar genera/species of AMF in the roots of both Anthyllis ecotypes: Rhizophagus sp., R. fasciculatus, and R. iranicus. The results of this work indicate the presence of unique fungal symbionts, which may enhance A. vulneraria tolerance to heavy metal stress and plant adaptation to extreme conditions on calamine tailings.

Phenolic Profile, EPR Determination, and Antiproliferative Activity against Human Cancer Cell Lines of Anthyllis vulneraria Extracts.

In the current work, the leaf and flower extracts of Anthyllis vulneraria were evaluated for their chemical characterization using HPLC-MS and for their radical scavenging capacity toward methoxy radicals produced by a Fenton-type reaction using an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy assay. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of these extracts against several human-derived cancer cells (breast: MCF-7; cervical: HeLa; hepatocellular: HepG2) was also evaluated. The results showed that the Anthyllis vulneraria leaf extract was characterized by 17 different phenolic compounds, among which phenolic acids were the most abundant, while its flower extract exhibited higher contents of flavonoids. Furthermore, Anthyllis vulneraria extracts demonstrated a potent radical scavenging activity against methoxy radicals. Both extracts also significantly reduced the viability of the different cancer cell lines. The results of the current study suggested that Anthyllis vulneraria extracts are a promising source of antioxidant compounds with health benefits and pointed to their potential use for treating cancer and developing novel therapeutic agents.

Cover crops affect soybean yield components, but not grain quality

AbstractCover cropping is mainly used to prevent soil erosion, but the effects of individual cover crops on the subsequent soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are hardly known. Therefore, two annual field trials with 15 cover crop species and bare fallow as control were conducted in semi‐arid East Austria in 2016 and 2017. Cover crops were sown in July in 3‐ × 10‐m plots in a randomized block design with three replicates and were incorporated in mid‐April before soybean were seeded. Cover crop biomass differed between plant species and year (2016, 626 ± 390; 2017, 84 ± 86.1 g m−2). Aboveground cover crop biomass did not affect soybean establishment, but single cover crop species such as ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. var. westerwoldicum Wittm.), kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria L.), and corn cockle (Agrostemma githago L.) impeded soybean seeding due to high root densities and prevented germination or fostered outbreak of two‐spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch). These three cover crops reduced soybean grain yield by 12–84%. Grain yield was a function of grain density m−2 in a three‐way interaction with year and cover crop treatment, but not by plant or pod density. Protein, oil, and sucrose content of soybean were unaffected by cover crop treatments. Overall, with the exception of ryegrass, kidney vetch, and corn cockle, cover crops can be grown ahead of soybean without any yield loss and can be used for their versatile ecosystem services.

Potential of Rhizobia Nodulating Anthyllis vulneraria L. from Ultramafic Soil as Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Alleviating Nickel Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana L.

Rhizobia, which enter into symbiosis with legumes, can also interact with non-legumes and promote plant growth. In this paper, we explored the effects of nickel (Ni, 200 µM) on Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0) inoculated with plant growth-promoting (PGP) rhizobia nodulating ultramafic Anthyllis vulneraria. The isolated PGP strains tolerant to Ni were identified as Rhizobium sp. and Bradyrhizobium sp. The isolates highly differed in their PGP abilities and Ni resistance. Without Ni-stress, the plants inoculated with most isolates grew better and had higher photosynthetic efficiency than non-inoculated controls. Nickel treatment increased Ni concentration in inoculated plants. Plant growth, leaf anatomy, chloroplast ultrastructure, efficiency of photosynthesis, and antioxidant defense system activity were significantly impaired by Ni, however, the majority of these effects were diminished in plants inoculated with the most effective PGP rhizobia. Real-time PCR revealed an increased expression level of genes involved in auxin and gibberellin biosynthesis in the inoculated, Ni-treated plants, and this may have improved shoot and root growth after inoculation with effective isolates. Our results also suggest a positive correlation between Ni-stress parameters and antioxidant defense system activity, and also between the effectiveness of photosynthesis and plant growth parameters. We showed that the selected rhizobia, naturally nodulating Anthyllis on Ni-rich ultramafic soils can promote Arabidopsis growth and increase plant tolerance to Ni by improving different physiological and biochemical mechanisms.

Analysis of 3-nitropropionic acid in Fabaceae plants by HPLC-MS/MS.

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) is a toxic compound that can accumulate in esterified form in the Fabaceae family. In the Lotae tribe, many species have been identified as 3-NPA producers (e.g., Securigera varia), while some of the genetically close Lotae plants were formerly reported as 3-NPA-free (e.g., Lotus corniculatus and Anthyllis vulneraria). These plants are used as forage and have a tradition in ethnomedicine, also, the extracts of A. vulneraria are used in cosmetics. Our aim was to investigate the 3-NPA content of these selected Fabaceae species and to develop a validated quantitative method to evaluate 3-NPA concentrations in extracts of different herbal parts and cosmetic products. A UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS method was applied for detection and identification of 3-NPA derivatives in the form of glucose esters. For the quantitative analysis, an optimized sample processing method was developed. The free 3-NPA content was determined using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. 3-NPA esters could be detected in all three species, but their quantity showed a high variation. S. varia contained 0.5-1.0g/100 g of 3-NPA, while in L. corniculatus samples only trace quantities were detectable, below the LOQ (25 ng/ml). Most of the A. vulneraria samples showed similarly low concentrations, but one sample had 3-NPA levels comparable to S. varia. 3-NPA could not be detected in the tested cosmetics containing A. vulneraria extracts. Using highly sensitive analytical methods, new 3-NPA-containing species were identified. The developed validated quantitative method is suitable for the determination of 3-NPA concentrations in herbal samples.

Genetic diversity and differentiation of populations of Anthyllis vulneraria along elevational and latitudinal gradients.

The abundant centre model (ACM) predicts that the suitability of environmental conditions for a species decreases from the centre of its distribution toward its range periphery and, consequently, its populations will become scarcer, smaller and more isolated, resulting in lower genetic diversity and increased differentiation. However, little is known about whether genetic diversity shows similar patterns along elevational and latitudinal gradients with similar changes in important environmental conditions. Using microsatellite markers, we studied the genetic diversity and structure of 20 populations each of Anthyllis vulneraria along elevational gradients in the Alps from the valleys to the elevational limit (2500 m) and along a latitudinal gradient (2500 km) from Central Europe to the range margin in northern Scandinavia. Both types of gradients corresponded to an 11.5°C difference in mean annual temperature. Genetic diversity strongly declined and differentiation increased with latitude in line with the predictions of the ACM. However, as population size did not decline with latitude and genetic diversity was not related to population size in A. vulneraria, this pattern is not likely to be due to less favorable conditions in the North, but due to serial founder effects during the post‐glacial recolonization process. Genetic diversity was not related to elevation, but we found significant isolation by distance along both gradients, although the elevational gradient was shorter by orders of magnitude. Subarctic populations differed genetically from alpine populations indicating that the northern populations did not originate from high elevational Alpine ones. Our results support the notion that postglacial latitudinal colonization over large distances resulted in a larger loss of genetic diversity than elevational range shifts. The lack of genetic diversity in subarctic populations may threaten their long‐term persistence in the face of climate change, whereas alpine populations could benefit from gene flow from low‐elevation populations.

Mesorhizobium ventifaucium sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium escarrei sp. nov., two novel root-nodulating species isolated from Anthyllis vulneraria

Ten mesorhizobial strains isolated from root-nodules of Anthyllis vulneraria by trapping using soils from southern France were studied to resolve their taxonomy. Their 16S rDNA sequences were identical and indicated that they are affiliated to the genus Mesorhizobium within the group M. prunaredense/M. delmotii/M. temperatum/M. mediterraneum/M. wenxiniae and M. robiniae as the closest defined species. Their evolutionary relationships with validated species were further characterized by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using 4 protein-coding housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, glnII and dnaK), that divides the strains in two groups, and suggest that they belong to two distinct species. These results were well-supported by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analyses, wet-lab DNA-DNA hybridization (≤58%), and genome-based species delineation methods (ANI < 96%, in silico DDH < 70%), confirming their affiliation to two novel species. Based on these differences, Mesorhizobium ventifaucium (STM4922T = LMG 29643T = CFBP 8438T) and Mesorhizobium escarrei (type strain STM5069T = LMG 29642T = CFBP 8439T) are proposed as names for these two novel species. The phylogeny of nodulation genes nodC and nodA allocated the type strains into symbiovar anthyllidis as well as those of M. metallidurans STM2683T, M. delmotii STM4623T and M. prunaredense STM4891T, all recovered from the same legume species.

Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean Legumes

The search for new sources of plant protein for food and animal feed is driven by an increasing demand in developing countries and the interest in healthy alternatives to animal protein. Seeds from 23 different wild legumes belonging to tribes Gallegeae, Trifolieae, and Loteae were collected in southern Spain and their total amino acid composition was analyzed, by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), in order to explore their nutritional value. Protein content in the seeds ranged from 15.5% in Tripodium tetraphyllum to 37.9% and 41.3% in Medicago minima and Medicago polymorpha, respectively. Species belonging to tribe Trifolieae, such as Melilotus elegans and Trifolium spp., showed the most equilibrated amino acid composition and the best theoretical nutritional values, although all species were deficient in sulfur amino acids. The amino acid composition of the seeds from some of these legumes was characterized by high levels of the anticancer non-proteic amino acid canavanine This amino acid was found free in the seeds from some of the species belonging to each of the three tribes included in the present work. Astragalus pelecinus in tribe Gallegea, Trifolium angustifolium in tribe Trifolieae, and Anthyllis vulneraria in tribe Loteae have 3.2%, 3.7%, and 7.2% canavanine, respectively. Seeds from Anthyllis vulneraria, Hymenocarpus lotoides, and Hymenocarpos cornicina have the highest contents in canavanine overall. In conclusion, the seeds from some of these legumes could be used for human consumption and for feeding animals because they contain protein of good nutritional quality. These plants could be useful in domestication and breeding programs for production of new varieties with improved nutritional and functional properties. In addition, some of these species may be of interest as a source of the bioactive compound canavanine.

Oviposition behaviour and emergence through time of the small blue butterfly (Cupido minimus) in a nature reserve in Bedfordshire, UK

Climate change affects butterflies in many ways, influencing the timing of emergence and reproduction, habitat preferences, and behaviour. The small blue (Cupido minimus Fuessley, 1775) is highly specialised in its host plant requirements, feeding on the seeds of a single species, kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), on which the larvae occur singly to avoid cannibalism. The butterfly is likely to be vulnerable to temperature-related changes in oviposition, adult emergence, and host plant flowering times, and is, therefore, a good model species for investigating climate change-related impacts. Using 26 years of data from the national UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (1993–2019) from one nature reserve, and 4 years of targeted egg searches (2006, 2007, 2008, 2020) from three reserves in Bedfordshire, UK, we investigated the effects of local temperature on small blue emergence date and total abundance, whether flowerhead or local environmental characteristics predicted small blue oviposition behaviour, and whether this changed between years. Small blue adults emerged on earlier dates over time, and earlier in years with higher maximum February temperatures. Total adult abundance was not predicted by monthly temperatures or total abundance in the previous year. Oviposition behaviour was broadly consistent across years, with egg presence more likely and egg abundance higher on kidney vetch flowerheads that were taller than the surrounding vegetation, and surrounded by taller vegetation and fewer mature flowerheads. The effect of solar radiation differed between years, with a negative effect on the probability of egg presence in 2007 and 2008, but a positive effect in 2020. Egg abundance per flowerhead was highly variable between years, with 2006 having four times more eggs per flowerhead than other years. This was likely driven by high adult abundance in 2006, which could have increased competition for flowerheads.Implications for insect conservationOur results indicate that management for greater availability of taller kidney vetch amongst taller vegetation would encourage small blue oviposition on a greater number of flowerheads, providing a possible means of reducing competition and increasing larval survival, and that this would be effective despite variation in adult abundance between years. The high level of competition we observed in the year with the highest adult abundance indicates that higher numbers of host plants should be encouraged to reduce competition and larval cannibalism in peak years, increasing the likelihood of long-term population persistence and growth.

Monodesmosidic oleanene-type saponins from kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria L.) with hemolytic activity

• Two saponins (anthylloside A and B) were isolated from Anthyllis vulneraria L. • First detection of saikosaponins in the legume (Fabaceae) family. • Saponin structures were assigned by 1D- and 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS experiments. • Anthylloside A exhibits strong hemolytic activity in a blood agar assay. Two undescribed monodesmosidic oleanene-type saponins, namely 3 β - O -{[ β -D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]- α -L-arabinopyranosyl}-saikogenin G ( 1 ) and 3 β -O-{[ β -D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]- α -L-arabinopyranosyl}-16-deoxysaikogenin F ( 2 ), named anthylloside A and B, have been isolated from an acetone-water extract from aerial parts of kidney vetch ( A. vulneraria L.). Isolation of 1 and 2 was achieved by solvent partition with EtOAc and subsequent repeated chromatographic purification. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectrometric (HR-MS) and spectroscopic methods ( 1 H- and 13 C-NMR, UV, IR and CD), as well as GC–MS analysis of samples after 1 N HCl hydrolysis and subsequent derivatization. The configuration and conformation of both 1 and 2 were assigned by means of comprehensive 2D-NMR analyses including 1 H- 1 H−COSY, ROESY, decoupled g HSQC, g HMBC and selective 1D-TOCSY experiments. Moreover, 1 and 2 possess significant hemolytic activity, which was assessed in a blood agar assay and compared to that of three reference saponins.

Altitude and latitude have different effects on population characteristics of the widespread plant Anthyllis vulneraria

Widespread plants may provide natural models for how population processes change with temperature and other environmental variables and how they may respond to global change. Similar changes in temperature can occur along altitudinal and latitudinal gradients, but hardly any study has compared the effects of the two types of gradients. We studied populations of Anthyllis vulneraria along a latitudinal gradient from Central Europe to the range limit in the North and an altitudinal gradient in the Alps from 500 m to the altitudinal limit at 2500 m, both encompassing a change in annual mean temperature of c. 11.5 °C. Plant size and reproduction decreased, but plant density increased along both gradients, indicating higher recruitment and demographic compensation among vital rates. Our results support the view that demographic compensation may be common in widespread species in contrast to the predictions of the abundant centre model of biogeography. Variation in temperature along the gradients had the strongest effects on most population characteristics, followed by that in precipitation, solar radiation, and soil nutrients. The proportion of plants flowering, seed set and seed mass declined with latitude, while the large variation in these traits along the altitudinal gradient was not related to elevation and covarying environmental variables like annual mean temperature. This suggests that it will be more difficult to draw conclusions about the potential impacts of future climate warming on plant populations in mountains, because of the importance of small-scale variation in environmental conditions.

Phytochemical screening and evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-bacterial activity of Woundwort (Anthyllis vulneraria L.)

For millennia, medicinal plants have been used to prevent and cure diseases. Up to now there is a growing interest in their use in several areas as conducted for Anthyllis in our investigation. Actually the present research aims to investigate the biochemical characterisation of a medicinal plant collected from Tunisia named Woundwort [Anthyllis vulneraria L. (Jones and Turrill 1933)] by determining the mineral content, phenolic compound contents and biological activities of its leaf and flower extracts. On the one hand, the results obtained showed that A. vulneraria accumulated minerals at different amounts with significant differences between leaves and flowers extracts. On the other hand, the data revealed that the hydroethanolic flower extract contained the highest content of total polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannin, as it exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. The flower extract also showed better antibacterial effect than leaf extract. These results support the exploitation of active compounds extracted from the leaves and especially the flowers of A. vulneraria, which can provide new alternatives to the use of certain drugs, additives, among others, as they can be used as structure–activity models for the development of new products.

Anthyllis apennina (Fabaceae), a new species from central Apennine (Italy).

A new species of Anthyllis endemic to central Apennine growing in dry pastures on limestone in the montane belt, within Abruzzo and Lazio administrative regions (central Italy), is here described and illustrated and the IUCN assessment is proposed. This new species belongs to the morphologically very variable Anthyllis vulneraria species complex and it is close to A. pulchella (south-eastern Europe and Caucasus), but it can be clearly distinguished by its smaller flowers, mainly light yellow-coloured, bracts longer than flowers, calyx pink-coloured (usually only at apex) and size of cauline leaves and leaflets. Furthermore, the name A. pulchella is here lectotypified, by a second-step typification, on a specimen preserved at PAD.

&lt;strong&gt;Nomenclatural notes on Fabaceae described from Sicily&lt;/strong&gt;

A note about some taxa in Anthyllis and Trifolium (Fabaceae) described from Sicily is presented. Concerning Trifolium, we provide the lectotypification of the name T. pratense var. semipurpureum (≡ T. pratense subsp. semipurpureum), using a specimen preserved at PAL (Todaro’s collection). Concerning the Lojacono-Pojero’s name Vulneraria heterophylla var. parvula, it is lectotypified by a specimen at G. A neotype at NAP is proposed for the Gussone’s name Vulneraria heterophylla var. albiflora. As this latter name is applied to a taxon accepted here at specific rank, a new combination is validated. On the contrary, A. heterophylla var. parvula is considered as a new heterotypic synonym of Anthyllis vulneraria var. rubriflora. Finally, this latter is typified by a specimen deposited at TO.

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes in Alpine Ecosystems: a Vegetation Experiment

The natural nitrogen-15 abundance method does not always make it possible to calculate the rate of symbiotic nitrogen fixation by legumes and needs to be improved. Five legume species typical for the alpine belt of the Teberda Nature Reserve (Anthyllis vulneraria, Astragalus levieri, Hedysarum caucasicum, Oxytropis kubanensis, and Trifolium polyphyllum) have been grown from seeds under conditions of laboratory vegetation experiment. The results show that nodules on the roots of these plants are formed at early stages of their development; Trifolium polyphyllum does not form nodules either under high-mountain conditions or during growth in the laboratory. The natural 15N abundance in the leaves of legume plants in alpine ecosystems makes it possible to calculate the contribution of atmospheric N2 to nitrogen nutrition as early as the first year of their development, while the isotopic nitrogen composition of the roots does not allow this parameter to be determined. The calculation of atmospheric nitrogen fixation rate should take into account isotope fractionation between symbiotic bacteria (nodules) and the host plant; otherwise, the proportion of fixed nitrogen in plant nutrition may be underestimated.

Creating Your Own Environment: Ecosystems Sustained by Cushion Plants

Photo 1: Mountains such as the Spanish Sierra Nevada are biodiversity hotspots teeming with endemic species. At high altitude (3200 m asl), these environments are sustained by cushion plants. Photo credit: Gianalberto Losapio. Photo 2: Ecosystem engineers Arenaria tetraquetra (left) and Hormathophylla spinosa (right) can tolerate stress, ameliorate the environment and facilitate other plant species. Photo credit: Gianalberto Losapio. Photo 3: The cushions of Arenaria tetraquetra hosts different blooming plants such as Jasione amethistina, Lotus corniculatus subsp. glacialis, Galium pyrenaicum, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. pseudoarundana, Leontodon boryi, and Nevadensia purpurea. Photo credit: Gianalberto Losapio. Photo 4: The flower visitor network is characterized by more than 50 species of insects. These include the cosmopolitan honeybees (Apis mellifera), which moved at high altitude for foraging on flowers of Sideritis glacialis. Photo credit: Gianalberto Losapio. Photo 5: Not all the insects visiting flowers are actual pollinators, but they are also predators, parasitoids, or herbivores, like the weevils Otiorhynchus (Curculionidae). This way, cushion plants enrich also the functional diversity and complexity of insect communities. Photo credit: Gianalberto Losapio. These photographs illustrate the article “An experimental approach to assessing the impact of ecosystem engineers on biodiversity and ecosystem functions” by Gianalberto Losapio, Bernhard Schmid, Jordi Bascompte, Richard Michalet, Pierfilippo Cerretti, Christoph Germann, Jean-Paul Haenni, Rainer Neumeyer, Francisco Javier Ortiz-Sánchez, Adrian C. Pont, Pascal Rousse, Jürg Schmid, Daniele Sommaggio, and Christian Schöb in Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3243