Floristic Studies Research Articles

TO THE 105<sup>TH</sup> ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOTANICAL CABINET OF THE YUZHNO-USSURIYSK BRANCH OF THE RUSSIAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY (NIKOLSK-USSURIYSKY)

In 2023, it will be 105 years since the formation of the first botanical scientific institution in the Russian Far East – the Botanical Cabinet of the South Ussuri Branch of the Amur Department of the Russian Geographical Society. The main direction of its research was the floristic study of the south of the Soviet Far East. Over 11 years of its existence, the staff of the Cabinet under the leadership of Ye.N. Alisova-Klobukova carried out numerous field route studies, including three large botanical expeditions in the south of Primorye Territory. The main result of the work was the publication of the Short Guide to Plants of the Far Eastern Territory (1925).

Floristic Survey of Deedwana Tehsil, District Nagaur, Rajasthan

Abstract: The present research paper presents a comprehensive floristic study of Deedwana Tehsil, District Nagaur, Rajasthan, aimed at documenting the plant diversity and understanding its ecological significance. The study involved extensive field surveys, specimen collections, and interviews with local experts to identify and classify the plant species within the region. The results revealed a diverse and unique assemblage of plant species in Deedwana Tehsil, representing various vegetation types and habitats. The enumeration of identified plant species showcased a rich floral diversity, including both native and exotic species. A total of 331 species of angiospermic plants belonging to 218 genera and 65 families were recorded including four series of natural vegetation in Deedwana tehsil: 1. Acacia nilotica-Maytenus emarginata-Balanites aegyptiaca series 2. Prosopis cineraria-Crotalaria burhia-Leptadaenia pyrotechnica series. 3. Prosopis cineraria- Capparis decidua-Tephrosia purpuria series and 4. Suaeda fruticosa-Cressa cretica–Heliotropium curassavicum series. (Quereishi, 2018). The study also provide information about the traditional uses of plants by local communities, providing insights into their cultural significance and medicinal applications. Traditional knowledge holders and local healers shared valuable information about medicinal plant practices, adding to the understanding of the region's traditional healthcare systems. The study also analyzed the major threats faced by the flora of Deedwana Tehsil, such as habitat loss, overgrazing, climate change, and unsustainable resource extraction. These findings highlighted the urgent need for conservation and sustainable management initiatives to protect the region's botanical wealth

Gomphonema Species (Bacillariophyceae) from Marikina River, Rizal (Luzon), Philippines

A floristic study of the diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) along the Marikina River in the eastern part of Metro Manila, Philippines, recorded at least 140 species belonging to 39 genera. Of these genera, one of the greatest number of species was observed in the genus Gomphonema (18species). These species were identified and described under the bright field light microscope.Some species were further observed under the scanning electron microscope. A habitat description of the occurrence of the Gomphonema species is given. Twelve (12) out of the 18species are new records for the country: G. brasiliense subsp. pacificum Moser, Lange-Bertalot & Metzeltin, G. chinense Liu & Kociolek, G. contraturris Lange-Bertalot & E. Reichardt, G. cuneolus E. Reichardt, G. exilissimum (Grunow) Lange-Bertalot & E.Reichardt, G. insigniforme E.Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot, G. javanicum Hustedt, G. kobayasii Kociolek & J.C.Kingston, G. pseudosphaerophorum H. Kobayasi, G. sundaense E. Reichardt, G. cf. qingyiensis L-X Zhang, P. Yu & Q-M You, and G. vibrio var. bohemicum (Reichelt & Fricke) R. Ross. Hence, this paper reports a total of 44 species of Gomphonema from the Philippines, including previous studies from 1937 to date.

Floristic similarity of lycophytes and ferns in the Amazonia/Cerrado transition zone in the central region of northern Maranhão state, Brazil

Floristic similarity studies make it possible to compare species richness between different phytophysiognomies and to assess whether species are typical of a phytophysiognomies or if they are common to two or more phytophysiognomies. The Immediate Geographic Region of São Luís (IGR), in the central region of northern Maranhão, is characterized by the presence of Amazonia, Cerrado, and coastal vegetation phytophysiognomies. The objectives of this work were to verify if the fern and lycophyte species in the IGR are similar to those in another Amazonia and Cerrado phytophysiognomies in Maranhão and Brazil. Sixty-three species of lycophytes and ferns were identified, with a predominance of individuals in the families Pteridaceae and Polypodiaceae. A similarity analysis indicated the study area has a greater affinity with the Amazonia. This is the first floristic similarity study that emphasizes ferns and lycophytes in Maranhão. However, the scarcity of floristic surveys in Maranhão and other ecotonal areas in Brazil hindered a more complex analysis of the floristic similarity of these phytophysiognomies.

Evaluation of Local Wild Plants, Including Recently Discovered Endemics, as Ornamentals: the EXPO-2021 Hatay, Türkiye Example

This study was carried out in order to determine the potential of wild plants in an Eastern Mediterranean province, Hatay (Türkiye), as ornamentals. In the light of floristic field studies that the authors have been carrying out in the region for more than ten years, plants that may have ornamental features were identified. Most of these plants were evaluated as ornamental plants within the scope of horticulture EXPO-2021 Hatay. Local endemic plants discovered by the authors in recent years have also been successfully cultivated as ornamental plants and one of them, Scorzonera pacis, was even chosen as the emblem of the event. The preference for exotic, showy species in landscape design is a common trend that is still prevalent around the world and that we witness both in Hatay and throughout Türkiye. However, due to global climate changes and the freshwater crisis, it is now necessary to use local species that are compatible with the existing habitat so they can be cultivated more easily. In addition to the advantage of easy cultivation, choosing local wild plant species for landscape design will contribute to the diversification of agricultural products and to the local economy, as well as to the conservation of endangered species and the local ecological balance. Even very rare local endemic plants can be cultivated and successfully used as ornamentals in foreign habitats, as in the examples of the Turkish endemics Origanum amanum and Tulipa sprengeri. Both species are extremely rare in nature. The former is currently almost only available in European botanical gardens ex situ. The second is a very popular and widespread ornamental plant and, after years of extinction in nature, it was replanted in its natural habitat in Türkiye where it was discovered. Moreover, the economic and ecological advantages of using native flora species instead of foreign ones will give parks and gardens unique identities. Hatay was the province that suffered the greatest destruction in the February 23, 2023 earthquake. We hope that this article, prepared before the earthquake, will guide the reconstruction of the city by suggesting alternative agricultural and economic products.

Editorial: Floristic and vegetation studies in the era of big data: challenges, trends and applications

Editorial: Floristic and vegetation studies in the era of big data: challenges, trends and applications

Spontaneous vascular flora of the historical monumental cemetery of Modena (N-Italy)

The first floristic study of the historical monumental cemetery of San Cataldo in Modena (N-Italy) is presented. The research was performed in the period 2019–2022, considering only spontaneous individuals growing within the historical area (4.8 ha). A total of 266 taxa (species and subspecies) was found, of which 1 new for the flora of Italy (Malus × robusta ‘John Downie’), 2 new for the administrative region of Emilia-Romagna (Calocedrus decurrens and Salvia haematodes) and 1 new for the province of Modena (Epilobium ciliatum). Therophytes prevail (37.6%), followed by hemicryptophytes (31.6%), phanerophytes (16.2%) and geophytes (11.7%). The chorological spectrum is dominated by Eurasian species (32.0%), followed by Mediterranean (26.3%), Cosmopolitan (24.8%), Boreal (6%) and N-American (4.5%) ones. Allochthonous species are 16.5% of the list, with neophytes always prevailing over archaeophytes (28 vs. 9 species). Invasive species are 67.8% of the neophytes; on a regional scale they are 1.5% of the list. Protected species are 2.6% of the total; 3 of them are internationally protected and 2 are included in the red list of Italian flora. This study confirms the great biological richness of urban environments and the potential of historical cemeteries as a refugium for the conservation of species that have become rare, endangered or infrequent at a regional or national level, because of the heavy human impact on the territory.

Saxicolous vascular flora of karst outcrops: An overlooked component of Brazilian biodiversity

Rock outcrops are islands in the landscape that usually harbor a xeric saxicolous flora with endemic and endangered species. They are abundant in the Neotropical region, but floristic and ecological studies are centered on quartzite and granite-gneissic lithologies, leaving a knowledge gap regarding those of calcareous origin. It is expected that outcrops of carbonate rocks, like other rock outcrops, harbor a peculiar saxicolous flora tolerant to drought, and share communities of species associated with the distinct microhabitats. To test these assumptions, we carried out a floristic survey of the saxicolous vascular vegetation of two calcareous outcrops at Lagoa Santa region, Minas Gerais, Brazil, the historical site studied in the XIX Century by Eugen Warming – one of the fathers of Ecology. We also analysed the floristic similarity between the outcrops, among the five recognized microhabitats, crevices, exposed rock, fissures, soil islands, and epiphytic, as well as the life form spectra. Our results registered 45 families, 92 genera and 124 species, standing out Orchidaceae (14 species), Bromeliaceae (11 species), Piperaceae (10 species) and Asteraceae (8 species). There was a low similarity between the outcrops (Ij = 0.45), but the cluster analysis revealed three floristic groups inhabiting the microhabitats (exposed rock, crevices-soil islands, and fissure-epiphytic), each one sharing a similar subset of species. The distribution of the life forms into the microhabitats was homogeneous in the two outcrops, meaning that there is a correspondence between them. Three saxicolous species are threatened, but most of the inventoried species (73%) were never assessed and may be under extinction risk. Our results highlight that the saxicolous flora on outcrops of carbonate rocks deserve more attention on conservation once they have high biological importance, share communities of saxicolous plants inhabiting particular microhabitats, and face strong pressures of anthropic activities, especially mining.

High vascular plant species richness in the Usumacinta River Basin: a comprehensive floristic checklist for a natural region in the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot

Background: Mesoamerica is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots on the planet. Despite significant efforts made over two centuries to contribute to the floristic knowledge of this region, our understanding of its flora is still scattered and uneven.
 Questions: What is the magnitude of the vascular plant species richness in the Usumacinta River Basin?
 Study site and dates: Usumacinta River Basin (Guatemala and Mexico), 1838-2018.
 Methods: We compiled the checklist by systematizing the floristic information acquired from various sources derived from numerous floristic and ecological studies.
 Results: We recorded 6,977 species, 1,892 genera and 274 families. The largest numbers of species (5,746) and records (58,859) correspond to the Mexican portion of the Usumacinta River Basin, compared to its Guatemalan counterpart (4,445 species and 19,952 records). The most species-rich families were Orchidaceae (598 species), Fabaceae (512), and Asteraceae (476). The prevalence of these and all other families with significant contributions to the flora varied among three elevation-defined sectors into which the Usumacinta River Basin was subdivided (lower, middle, and upper basin).
 Conclusions: The Usumacinta River Basin is a strategic region for plant biodiversity conservation as it hosts almost one third of all vascular plant species known for Mesoamerica and ca. 6 % of the entire flora in the Americas. Further botanical exploration should focus on those areas of the basin for which little or no information is available in order to gain a better appreciation of its flora.

Biodiversity of epiphytic marine macroalgae in Mexico: composition and current status

Abstract Marine epiphyte studies in Mexico, including macroalgae, are lacking in the published literature. Floristic studies have been mainly focused on identifying the algae growing on rocky substrata, and epiphytic algae have been recorded, but only occasionally. The aim of this work is to establish the current state of knowledge of the epiphytic macroalgae and their hosts on the Mexican coasts. A systematic revision of the literature published from 1950 to 2021 is also reported, the literature information is included, and the composition, species richness, current state of knowledge of the epiphytic marine macroalgae, and their relationship with the various marine Mexican ecoregions are reported. Sixty-one publications since 1950 included at least one record of epiphytic macroalgae. In this study, 615 species of epiphytic macroalgae and 224 species of hosts for Mexico are reported. This checklist will provide a baseline for future taxonomic and biogeographic studies of the epiphytic marine algae in the country.

Floristic diversity of Lawder District, Abyan Governorate, Yemen

The present study provides a detailed depiction of the floristic composition of Lawder District which located in the Centre of Abyan between longitudinal range 45º 20¯ to 45º 50¯ E and latitudinal range 13º 00¯ to 14º 00¯ N, with and altitudinal range of 1000 masl to 2500masl. This work was carried out to identify the floristic composition in Lawder District. The floristic study of Lawder District indicated the presence of 243 species belonging to 154 genera and 58 families. The major families based on the number of species were Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Capparaceae and Boraginaceous, The biological spectrum explains that Chamephytes (35.80%), were the dominant, followed by Therophytes (25.52%, Hemicryptophytes (20.16%), Phanerophytes (14.40 %), Geophytes (2.06%), parasite (1.65 %), and Epiphytes (0.41`%). The dominance of Chamaephytes and Therophytes reveals a thero-chamaephytic phytoclimate for the investigated area.The number of species was higher in the Herbs, which was represented by 52.27% of species, followed by the Shrubs 30.45%, Trees were represented by 13.17%, Lianas were represented by 2.90% and Parasite 1.23%.

Phytodiversity Estimation of High-altitude Pastureland Above Yonphula, Kanglung Gewog, Trashigang Dzongkhag

High altitude pasturelands (Tsamdro) are important grazing grounds of livestock in Bhutan. Pasturelands are degrading due to overgrazing and shrub encroachment along with climate change. The lack of floristic knowledge of such pastureland would mean permanent loss of phytodiversity if not studied timely. This floristic study was conducted for two seasons using quadrat method of vegetation analyses. Phytodiversity was determined using different biodiversity indices. A total of 83 species in 60 genera belonging to 35 families were recorded from the pastureland including two endemic species, Halenia elliptica D. Don and Viola bhutanica H. Hara. Asteraceae, Rosaceae and Gentianaceae are species rich families. Species indicated a high richness with 2.17, dominance index was 0.92 for species like Elsholtzia strobilifera (Benth) Benth, Swertia spp., Fragaria nubicola (Lindl. ex. Hook.f.) Lacaita, Potentilla sp., Trifolium repens L., Euphorbia griffithii Hook. f., and Plantago erosa Wall. The diversity value was 2.97, indicating low diversity with even distribution (0.91). Similarity index of 0.70 indicated fairly similar floristic composition in autumn and spring seasons. This study provides basic information on floristic composition and phytodiversity of pastureland, which can be incorporated for pastureland management and conservation.

Alfonso Palanza (1851–1899): a late nineteenth-century Italian botanist and his herbaria

During his years in Naples, Alfonso Palanza (1851–1899) devoted himself to the study of the flora of Abruzzo and Naples and to the arrangement of his “Erbario Generale”. After moving to Apulia, he created the “Flora della Terra di Bari” herbarium. The “Erbario Generale” consists of approximately 7,000 specimens of both Italian and continental European origin, the latter from the mathematician Magnus Gustaf Mittag-Leffler (1846–1927). The “Flora della Terra di Bari” herbarium consists of 3,000 specimens from central Apulia. The excellent state of preservation of the specimens and the unique nature of those within the “Flora della Terra di Bari” herbarium clearly suggest that their floristic, taxonomic and nomenclatural study could provide a detailed picture of the floristic biodiversity of Apulia during the period when they were collected.

Cactaceae Inventory of Venezuela: Estimates from Herbarium Collections

Cactaceae-Angiospermae, of American origin, with worldwide naturalized distribution, includes promising species in economics and ecology; being a threatened group, it requires floristic studies that support conservation programs. This study estimates the number of cacti species present in Venezuela, and it contributes to the knowledge of the family in the country by reviewing herbaria specimens. The information came from the herbaria (FLASA, IUTAG, HERZU, HMBLUZ, MER, MY, MYF, PORT and VEN) of the country. It was transcribed into a database and organized by herbaria, genus and species, based on the labels of the exsiccatae and digital photographs of the specimens. In addition, foreign specialists were consulted to resolve doubts about the identity of some taxa. The botanical specimens reviewed totaled 2,293. In Venezuela the family Cactaceae is represented by 26 genera, 63 species, 13 synonymies, six subspecies, one variety and 17 genera with unidentified species, including wild, cultivated and endemic species. Opuntia stood out for its greatest number of species (15), followed by the genera Melocactus (10), Epiphyllum and Cereus (6), Selenicereus, Pilosocereus and Cylindropuntia (4), Hylocereus (3), Rhipsalis, Mammillaria, Pereskia and Leuenbergeria (2). The other genera presented one species. The information generated here can be an input for the design of strategies for conservation, selection, production or other uses of the species of this important botanical group.

ARCHAEOPHYTES IN THE FLORA OF EUROPEAN RUSSIA

The division of alien species into groups according to the time of invasion is widely used in biogeographic and floristic studies, but such information is not available for many regions of Russia. Based on the analysis of regional floras of European Russia (ER), 184 species of archaeophytes (i.e., alien species intentionally or unintentionally introduced by humans in the early historical period, until the end of the 16th century) were identified for ER regions. The substantiation of the prescription of their invasion was carried out by a number of criteria (type of habitat, presence of fossils and historical evidence, geographic distribution, frequency of known naturalizations, identification of possible means of introduction, human use). Some species are archaeophytes only for a part of the ER regions; in neighboring areas, they can be either species of natural flora or alien neophytes according to their status. Eighty one species of the archaeophytes are confirmed by archaeobotanical data belonged to some of the early historical periods, mostly to the Middle Ages, but from a limited number of regions. Taking into account the peculiarities of natural conditions, as well as the history of the development of anthropogenic cultures, the territory of the ER is divided into six regions: Karelian-Kola, East-Baltic, Dvina-Upper-Volga, Volga-Don and South-Eastern. For each of the big regions, the more or less unified set of archaeophytes has been proposed. For the entire group of archaeophytes in ER as a whole, it should be noted 1) the great similarity of the composition of archaeophytes with other European regions, 2) the low diversity compared to European countries, given the large area of ER, 3) the heterogeneity of the status of species in different regions and differences between different parts ER by species composition, 4) a large proportion of segetal weed species as a result of high contamination of crops with weed species at the beginning of the development of agricultural culture, 5) a significant percentage of species of Asian origin as evidence of the influence of eastern vectors on the formation of flora, including the eastern centers of agricultural culture. For a significant part of the species from the list of archaeophytes, species factsheets are presented according to the criteria mentioned above.

A Synopsis of Introduced and Native Seaweeds from 14 Open Coastal and Estuarine Sites within Southern Maine and New Hampshire, U.S.A.

Floristic studies of introduced and native seaweed populations from 14 open coastal and estuarine sites within southern Maine and New Hampshire were documented between 1965 and 2017. A total of 186 seaweed taxa were recorded, including 15 introduced (8.1%) and 171 native (91.9%) species. The highest species diversity (123 taxa) occurred at the open coastal Seapoint Beach site in Kittery, Maine, and an estuarine tidal rapid site at Dover Point, New Hampshire, with 106 taxa. The numbers of introduced species per site ranged from 2–11. The percent occurrence patterns for the 15 introduced seaweeds were highly variable, with Codium fragile subsp. fragile and Ulonema rhizophorum being restricted to single sites (7%), Melanothamnus harveyi occurring at 12 sites (86%), and Agarophyton vermiculophyllum and Dasysiphonia japonica at 13 sites (93%). The geographical origins and initial collection dates for the 15 introduced taxa were highly variable, with their initial collections ranging from 1848 (M. harveyi) to 2007 (D. japonica). Codium fragile subsp. fragile had the most protracted period between its initial occurrence at Orient Point, New York, in 1957 and in northern New England 40 years later (i.e., 1997). By contrast, several other introduced taxa had rapid geographic expansions within five years. The numbers and abundance of introduced species in the Gulf of Maine have increased dramatically between 1986 and 2017, with nine recorded in 1986 and 15 in 2017. Two native warm-water red algae (Agardhiella subulata and Gelidium crinale) showed sudden northward expansions during 2016 and 2017, respectively. Their presence may be associated with global warming, which is presently occurring at an alarming rate within the Gulf of Maine and exceeds many areas within the world.

Diversity of the Pteridoflora of Montane Northwestern Mexico

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.

Trying to Understand the Complicated Taxonomy in Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae): Insights on Seeds Micromorphology

Amaranthus is a genus taxonomically complex because of its high morphological variability, which led to nomenclatural disorders, misapplication of names, and misidentifications. Floristic and taxonomic studies on this genus are still incomplete, and many questions remain open. Seed micromorphology has been shown to play an important role in the taxonomy of plants. Regarding Amaranthaceae and Amaranthus, investigations are rare, and they refer to one or a few species. With the primary aim to test if seed features are helpful in the taxonomy of Amaranthus, we here present a detailed SEM study on seed micromorphology in 25 Amaranthus taxa using morphometric methods. Seeds were collected from field surveys and herbarium specimens; 14 seed coat features (7 qualitative and 7 quantitative) were measured on 111 samples (up to 5 seeds per sample). The results obtained revealed that seeds micromorphology provides interesting new taxonomic data concerning some taxa (species and below ranks). In fact, we were able to distinguish a few seed types, including one or more taxa, i.e., blitum-type, crassipes-type, deflexus-type, tuberculatus-type, and viridis-type. On the other hand, seed features are not useful for other species, for example, those included in the deflexus-type (A. deflexus, A. vulgatissimus, A. cacciatoi, A. spinosus, A. dubius, and A. stadleyanus). A diagnostic key of the studied taxa is proposed. Subgenera cannot be distinguished using seed features, thus confirming the published molecular data. All these facts reveal, once again, the taxonomic complexity of the genus Amaranthus since, e.g., just a few seed types can be defined.

Rinodina gennarii Bagl., a new record of lichenized fungi for Antarctica

In a project aiming to determine the lichen biodiversity of James Ross Island which is located in the NE Antarctic Peninsula, 3 specimens growing on basaltic rocks were identified as Rinodina gennarii, a cosmopolite bipolar species which was never reported from Antarctica. This species is characteristic by having Dirinaria-type ascospores lacking a distinct torus and swelling around the septa in KOH. Detailed morphological and anatomical properties of this species along with photographs based on the Antarctic specimens are provided here. Our study and newly reported R. gennarii suggest that the lichen biodiversity of Antarctica is far from being fully known and detailed floristic and taxonomical revision studies should be carried to determine it.

Floristic and phytogeographic study of the vegetation of Djebel Médjounes (Setifian High Plains, Algeria)

Floristic and phytogeographic study of the vegetation of Djebel Médjounes (Setifian High Plains, Algeria)