Herbarium Collections Research Articles

Plant diversity on the edge: floristics, phytogeography, fire responses, and plant conservation of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve in the context of OCBIL theory

Context There have been few long-term studies of the flora, phenology, and ecology of specific reserves in the species-rich flora of the Southwest Australian Floristic Region. Aims This project, extending over five decades, aimed to develop an authoritative flora list and acquire data on phenology, threatened species, endemism, old and young landscapes, phytogeography, old lineages, and fire responses at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Methods The study used botanical collection on repeat surveys, herbarium studies, granite outcrop surveys and comparative phytogeographic analyses from maps on the Western Australian Herbarium’s Florabase. Key results Floristic survey recovered 853 taxa, 26% of those known in the Albany local government area. Possibly as many as 950–1000 taxa will be found in the future. The herbarium collections are the second largest of any conservation reserve in the Albany area. Flowering was most evident in spring and least in autumn. Three declared rare species and 20 conservation priority species were identified, as were short-range endemics, old clades, and natural hybrids. Conclusions The flora is dominated by species predominantly from wetter forest regions. Consequently, Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve is correctly placed within the Bibbulmun Botanical Province. Several hypotheses of OCBIL theory (which addresses old, climatically-buffered, infertile landscapes) were supported, with increased local endemism, ancient clades, and reduced rates of natural hybridisation identified for the granite inselberg OCBIL Maardjitup Gurlin/Mt Gardner. Implications Long term studies are invaluable for plant inventory. Continuing the minimal use of prescribed burning is advocated from plant data, in support of approaches to help conserve threatened animals.

Teaching of Taxonomy at Undergraduate Level in India

General Introduction(i) Denotation of the term taxonomy as used in the paper-de Candolle's analysis of classificatory procedures in Botany-Empirical and Rational. Further subdivisions of Rational Classification, Practical, Artificial and Natural.Differences between experimental and classical taxonomy. Since experimental taxonomy is beyond the scope of teaching at initial stages, the teaching of classical taxonomy will be dealt with in the paper. Experimental taxonomy is to be reserved for the post-graduate and research level.So also detailed study of taxonomy of lower groups of plants shall be set apart for post-graduate and research level. We are mainly concerned here with the teaching of taxonomy of Angiosperms.(ii) Importance of teaching taxonomy. Shortage of trained taxonomists.(iii) Present status of taxonomy. Among the biological subjects how it is neglected. Even in teaching it has become so to say an 'endemic' which may soon get 'fossilised' if not properly nurtured and cared for. The problem is involved.Suggestions for making teaching of Taxonomy interesting and effective(i) Systems of classification to be studied. At initial level the relative position of only the major taxa, say Monocotyledons, Dicotyledons, Gymnosperms only need be stressed. Only one system need be taught in detail, say that of Bentham & Hooker, which may be easily grasped by beginners. All the post-Darwinian systems may be taught only at higher levels.(ii) Mode of teaching. Students are often bored by complicated morphological terms.Greater importance should be given to genera and families. But to start with, more importance is to be given to higher taxa, i.e. teaching at first may be from above downwards. Teaching may be from below upwards only at later stages.(iii) Excursions. Short afternoon or one-day trips rather than one long excursion. Excursions should help a thorough study of the flora of small selected areas ; with special reference to ecology.(iv) Herbarium, Importance ; the handicap of the present system of herbarium preparation and submission by degree class students and even by post-graduate students. Submission of herbarium by degree class students may be stopped. Collection and preparation of herbarium by post-graduate students may be so modified and organised that within a few years we may have collected all the plant species of our country.(v) Not being satisfied by dried herbarium specimens, there should also be Botanical gardens attached to every institutions where teaching of taxonomy is undertaken ; for cultivation of rare plants and also of specimens for class work. Such Botanical gardens at district level and bigger ones at state level should also be maintained.(vi) Collection and study of lower groups of plants should also be promoted. Of these Algae are more important from the point of view of Fisheries and Agriculture. Fungi and Bryophytes also deserve special mention.(vii) Model of questions for practical examination in taxonomy. Some modifications are needed, giving greater importance to major taxa at lower levels.(viii) Students should be made to appreciate the idea of a happy co-operation between the various branches of biology, say taxonomy and anatomy (especially embryology), taxonomy and cytogenetics, etc.

The genus Alchemilla (Rosaceae) in the Republic of Mordovia flora

In the flora of the republic, 41 Alchemilla species have been registered. Of the previously noted species, the presence of A. devestiens, A. glaucescens, and A. heptagona in the region is not confirmed by herbarium collections. The species A. atrifolia, previously listed for the republic but included in the most recent synopses only as a synonym of A. lindbergiana, is considered by us as a separate species. Previous works of co-authors have supplemented the Alchemilla list of the Mordovia flora with such species as Alchemilla argutiserrata, A. barbulata, A. cheirochlora, A. homoeophylla, A. kemlensis, A. longipes, A. mininzonii, A. psiloneura, A. pustynensis, A. schmakovii, A. sibirica, A. tichomirovii, A. vorotnikovii, and A. zimoenkensis. Here, two species are recorded for the first time for the republic – A. hians and A. prasina. The presence of A. litwinowii in Mordovia, which was previously noted exclusively on the basis of collections attributed subsequently to the newly described species A. tichomirovii, has also been confirmed. An original key, comprising all species of the genus registered in the middle part of the Volga River basin, has been compiled.

Degradation exposure scenario in the Brazilian Amazon: Edge effect on hyperdominant C-cycle tree species

The Amazon basin strongly influences the global carbon cycle, storing billions of tonnes of carbon in a relatively small number of ‘hyperdominant’ tree species. However, the Amazon carbon stock is threatened by land-use change. In the remaining forest patches, trees close to the forest border bear various physical and biotic edge effects that alter plant growth and survival. To assess how edge effects influence tree mortality and carbon storage, we investigated the occurrence of hyperdominant tree species in the Brazilian Amazon between 1988 and 2021. Evaluating tree records from a network of permanent plots and herbarium collections, we found that 22 % of tree occurrence records were in deforested areas, 35% within 1 km of the forest edge, and 43 % in continuous forest. At the local scale in Central Amazonia, tree monitoring data over 30 years revealed that forest fragments hyperdominant trees had twice the mortality rate of continuous forest ones due to edge effects during the 15 years following edge establishment. Although trees in fragments had higher initial growth, this pattern declined over the years and eventually resulted in significant carbon loss, mainly from tree mortality. Edge effects have led to annual declines in the biomass of forest remnants, suggesting that hyperdominant species are also susceptible to disturbances that lead to degradation and forest losses. Conservation of the Amazon forests requires an approach that considers the effects of local disturbances on carbon stocks in the region.

The plant germplasm and herbarium (WIR) collections maintained at VIR as contributors to grape genetic diversity conservation, expansion and utilization

Improving the standards of collecting and maintaining valuable genetic resources accessions and information about them is currently of crucial importance for the successful development of the world viticulture in the light of the challenges caused by the spread of grape diseases and climate change. This review briefly characterizes the global grapevine gene pool, approaches to its conservation, including base and duplicate conservation techniques, and the current status and prospects of the progress in in vitro and cryogenic preservation methods. The genetic potential of grape wild relatives is assessed focusing on particular species as sources of resistance genes to biotic and abiotic stressors. Achievements in the application of gene editing technologies to increase grape resistance to diseases are discussed. It is noted that a common practice at this stage is to knock out the genes responsible for grapevine susceptibility to diseases, whereas a more advantageous approach in the future will be to make targeted changes in the grape genome based on the knowledge of resistance genes in its wild relatives. Therefore, grape wild relatives need to be studied thoroughly using modern methods of forward and reverse genetics. Regarding the issues of grape genetic diversity conservation and expansion at the current technological stage, the status and significance of the plant germplasm and herbarium (WIR) collections held by VIR are scrutinized in detail. Authentication of grape germplasm accessions is marked as important, along with the role of the WIR herbarium, a unique collection incorporating physical carriers of reference genetic information on the national grapevine gene pool. Promising trends in the development of the WIR herbarium are outlined in connection with the establishment and preservation of nomenclature standards for domestic grape cultivars.

Phenological mismatch between trees and wildflowers: Reconciling divergent findings in two recent analyses

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that community science and herbarium datasets yield similar estimates of species' phenological sensitivities to temperature. Despite this, two recent studies by Alecrim et al. (2023) and Miller et al. (2022) found very different results when using different data sources (community science and herbarium specimens, respectively) to investigate whether warming threatens wildflowers with phenological mismatch in relation to shading by deciduous trees. Here, we investigated whether differences between the two studies' results could be reconciled by testing four hypotheses related to model design, species, spatiotemporal data extent and phenophase. Hybrid model structures brought results from the two datasets closer together but did not fully reconcile the differences between the studies. Neither the species nor the phenophase selected for analysis seemed to be responsible for differences in results. Cropping the datasets to match spatial and temporal extents appeared to reconcile most differences but only at the cost of much higher uncertainty associated with reduced sample size. Synthesis: Our analysis suggests that although species‐level estimates of phenological sensitivity may be similar between community science and herbarium datasets, inherent differences in the types and extent of data may lead to contradictory inference about complex biotic interactions. We conclude that, until community science data repositories expand to match the range of climate conditions present in herbarium collections or until herbarium collections match the spatial extent and temporal frequency of community science repositories, ecological studies should ideally be evaluated using both datasets to test the possibility of biased results from either.

The use of ecological niche models improves biogeographic regionalization of the Balsas Depression, Mexico

AbstractAimBiogeographic regionalization classifies zones in terms of their biotas and contributes to understanding the ecological and historical factors that affect the distribution of species. We use Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) to complement missing information on species distribution and thus improve the accuracy of biogeographic boundaries.LocationBalsas Depression Floristic Province, Mexico.MethodsBased on parameters documented in herbarium collections and environmental variables, ENM was carried out to determine the most suitable environmental conditions for a species to thrive (i.e., the species' ecological niche). The ENM and spatial analysis were used to obtain the biogeographic regionalization of the seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) in the Balsas Depression (BD), Mexico, through spatial analysis. Using the Maxent algorithm, we constructed ecological niche models (ENMs) of 134 flowering plant species distributed preferentially in the SDTF (characteristic species), most of them endemic to the BD. Subsequently, we obtained an incidence matrix based on the information from the 134 ENMs, which was used to analyze the turnover of species in Biodiverse software. The turnover matrix was used for Non‐metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination and clustering analyses. Finally, the environmental predictors most related to species turnover were identified using the relative environmental turnover method.ResultsThe clustering analysis divided the SDTF in the BD into four floristic districts — two located in its western part and two in the eastern region. The NMDS differentiated, in the first component, two districts in the western region and one in the eastern. Seven environmental variables contributed significantly to explaining the turnover of species in these districts; the most significant were the elevation, pH, and precipitation of the coldest quarter.Main ConclusionsThe use of ENM for the regionalization of areas with high species richness allows for a more detailed classification of subregions and the distribution patterns of the species that define their limits. This provides a more solid theoretical basis for the investigation of biogeographic patterns.

Catalogue of Asplenium septentrionale (L.) (Tracheophyta, Polypodiopsida, Aspleniaseae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The detailed analysis of origin of the Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. specimens, deposited in the main collection of vascular plants’ herbarium in the SMNH NASU, has been carried out. Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. – northern spleenwort – is a perennial fern of the genus Asplenium, the family Aspleniaceae, a Holarctic petrophilous species with a disjunctive Eurasian-North American natural range (Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Western Siberia, Mongolia, Himalayas, Far East, North America). Its localities are confined to petrophilic communities, mainly on granite outcrops devoid of calcium (rock crevices, rocky slopes, landslides, boulders, shady spruce forests, etc.), and the species rises to the upper mountain belt. In Ukraine, this species occurs within the Carpathians, the Crimea, Steppe (Prydniprovska and Azov uplands, Donetsk Ridge) and Forest-Steppe (Volynska and Prydniprovska uplands) zones, Polissya (occasionally in Volynske and Zhytomyrske Polissya). Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. has been included into the official lists of regionally rare plants in many regions of Ukraine (Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Zhytomyrska, Zaporizka, Ivano-Frankivska, Kyivska, Kirovohradska, Luhanska, Rivnenska, Chernivetska provinces and the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea). The main collection of the Herbarium of Vascular Plants in the SMNH NASU contains 26 herbarium specimens of A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., all being included into the electronic database "Biodiversity of Ukraine" (http://dc.smnh.org/) and digitized. The geography of the herbarium collections of A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., besides the modern territory of Ukraine (Dnipropetrovska (1901), Donetska (1939, 1947, 1965, 1966), Zhytomyrska (1949), Zakarpatska (1948, 1957, 1961, 1969), Ivano-Frankivska (1967), Kirovohradska (1900), Rivnenska (1948) provinces and the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea (1900)), has been represented also by the territories of Poland (1905), Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Romania (1905), Finland (1898) and the Russian Federation (North Ossetia, 1898). In descending order of the number of collected herbarium specimens with the participation of 16 collectors, the following series has been formed: Slobodian M. (3 herbarium specimens), Vainagii I. (2), Voloshchak E. (2), Hanieshyn S. (2), Lazebna A. (2), Malynovskyi K. (2), Zinger M. (2), Berko J. (1), Golde K. (1), Kotov M, Karnaukh E. (1), Markovych V. (1), Melnychuk V. (1), Rheman A. (1), Stoyko S. (1), Finn V. (1), Khrzhyzhanovskyi V., Lazebna A. (1), Shokhin V. (1). The chronology of the herbarium collections covers the period from 1898 to 1969. The earliest specimens (second half of the 19th century) were collected in Finland (V. Shokhin collection) and North Ossetia (V. Markovych collection). This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Elliptic Fourier analysis of leaf shape of Callicarpa pedunculata and Callicarpa rubella (Lamiaceae)

Leaves play an important role in species discrimination. An elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA) based morphometric technique was used to assess divergence between the poorly differentiated species, Callicarpa pedunculata and C. rubella. Using leaf specimen images from herbarium collections, principal components (PCs) were extracted from the Fourier coefficients and used to describe leaf outline and leaf shape descriptors: circularity, aspect ratio, and solidity. The results indicate that symmetric (54%) and asymmetric (35%) components of the leaves of C. pedunculata and C. rubella are sources of shape variation, as shown in the width and leaf tips among the samples. MANOVA revealed significant interspecific differences (P = 0.03) between C. pedunculata and C. rubella. The jack-knife cross-validation showed 71% of correctly classified species both in C. pedunculata and C. rubella. Furthermore, the results of this study were able to reveal significant leaf shape descriptors like aspect ratio, circularity, and solidity as important diagnostic characters in discriminating C. pedunculata and C. rubella. Thus, in conclusion, leaf serrations, leaf size, and leaf lobes are important characteristics in discriminating between C. pedunculata and C. rubella.

Reinstatement and lectotypification of Phyllanthus rosellus (Phyllanthaceae), an endemic species from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Phyllanthus rosellus, an endemic species from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, was treated under Phyllanthus niruri subsp. lathyroides. After analyzing herbarium collections, including all types related to the names P. niruri and P. rosellus, we conclude that both species are morphologically distinguishable, and consequently we propose the reinstatement of P. rosellus. Additionally, as the latter is a species usually known from literature dating from the 19th century, where its description overlaps with that of some congeners, we provide its description, illustrations, preliminary conservation status, images in their habitat, as well as designate a lectotype for it.

Collections of the wild <I>Daucus carota</I> L. preserved at VIR

Carrot is a crop cultivated worldwide. That is why a study of the Daucus carota L. diversity maintained at VIR is of interest, since it helps to assess its potential for breeding practice and genetic research. Presently, carrot is represented in the VIR collection by 3,227 accessions, 236 of which are wild carrots from 33 countries. Morphological characters of 183 wild carrot accessions were studied for seven years (2016–2022), and taxonomic affiliations were ascertained for 106 of them. The material was delivered from Eurasian and African countries.The VIR herbarium (WIR) contains carrot specimens brought by collecting missions from various countries. In total, the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) launched 66 collecting missions whose objectives included wild carrots as one of the priorities. Those expeditions explored the territories of Russia, Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. The herbarium now contains 323 carrot specimens, with 249 belonging to the wild D. carota species. Intraspecific taxa of D. carota are represented. The herbarium of cultivated carrots consists of 74 specimens.The studied 106 wild carrot accessions from the VIR collection were identified, herbarized, arranged, incorporated into the WIR database, and placed into the permanent herbarium collection. As a result of this work, the WIR herbarium now contains 351 wild D. carota specimens, while the collection of cultivated carrots has been replenished with 4 accessions requiring verification.

Microchilus culuenensis (Orchidaceae, Goodyerinae): a new species from Southearn Brazilian Amazon

During the UFMT Herbarium collection study, an undescribed species of Goodyerinae (Orchidaceae) was found on the banks of the Culuene River, a tributary of the Alto Xingu basin, state of Mato Grosso, Southern Brazilian Amazon. We described and illustrated Microchilus culuenensis, a species morphologically related to M. amazonicus, M. juruenensis and M. stigmatopterus, which can be differentiated from them by a set of characteristics: narrow-lanceolate leaves, lip with an oblong callus and truncated at the mesochile, presence of a rounded, bilobed callus in the center of the epichile, and a rounded apex of the lobes of epichile. The new species is classified as Data Deficient (DD) regarding the conservation status.

Taxonomic revision of Rhynchosia Lour. (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Phaseoleae) in South America

Rhynchosia Lour. has a pantropical distribution and comprises approximately 230 species, of which ca. 55 occur in the Neotropics and 31 in South America. The only existing taxonomic review that treated the South American species of the genus was carried out in 1978. It does not account for many new collections and several recently described species, and the delimitation of taxa remains problematic. Consequently, we undertook a comprehensive review of the South American species of Rhynchosia and present here a new taxonomic revision. The revision is based on our own fieldwork, extensive study of the relevant literature, and analysis of ca. 2000 herbarium collections including the nomenclatural types for all published names that have been linked to the South American taxa of Rhynchosia. Twenty-seven species are recorded for South America, where they are distributed in a variety of open and forested habitats, with the greatest diversity concentrated in the Cerrado domain. Most of the South American taxa are widely distributed in this region and some also occur in Central and North America. Rhynchosia minima is the only species in South America with a larger distribution that extends to the Old World. We provide an identification key, morphological descriptions for all of the recorded taxa, information about the nomenclatural types, synonyms, geographical distributions, habitats, phenology, and conservation status, as well as distribution maps, illustrations and photos of selected species in the field. We present six new synonymizations and 50 lectotypifications, of which 30 are second-step.

Updated List of Bryophytes from Cape Verde Archipelago

The aim of the present study is to update the list of bryophytes in the Cape Verde archipelago, with a focus on its distinctive terrestrial biota. The research was carried out through a combination of herbarium collections revision and fieldwork conducted from 2016 to 2019. The revised list includes 185 bryophyte taxa (175 species, 5 subspecies, and 5 varieties) from 93 genera and 42 families. Notably, 8 taxa are endemic, and the inclusion of 35 new taxa further enriches the bryophyte diversity of the archipelago. The distribution of bryophyte taxa varies across islands, with Santo Antão, São Nicolau, and Fogo exhibiting particularly high diversity. Acrocarpous mosses are the most common growth form (58.4%), followed by pleurocarpous mosses, thalloid liverworts (15.1% each), and leafy liverworts (11.4%). In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the bryophyte diversity of southern Macaronesia enhancing our understanding of its unique flora and emphasizing the imperative need for conservation efforts.

Database and Digitization of Regional Historical Herbaria: A Case Study of Margittai Collection in the Uzhhorod National University Herbarium (UU)

The digitization of herbarium collections guarantees a preservation and long-term use of scientifically valuable objects, e.g., wide and convenient access to these materials online and exchange between institutions. These are also important elements in the education and popularization of botanical knowledge. No less significant is the practical aspect of these studies due to the danger of these collections’ destruction as a result of Russian aggression—some of them have already been destroyed. The analyzed Margittai collection (1500 specimens) is kept at the Uzhhorod National University Herbarium (UU) and belongs to the historical and regional ones. This material is valuable because of its scientific, historical and cultural significance. By the initiative and thanks to the efforts of Prof. S. Fodor, the studied collection (most of which are doublet specimens) was transferred in 1965 from the Hungarian Natural History Museum (BP), where the main herbarium of the researcher is preserved (40,000 specimens), to the Uzhhorod State University. Due to the fact that the collection has not been studied, in 2021, the authors began a special investigation of this collection and assessment of its current state. The structure of the database has been developed, it is being filled, and the digitization of type materials has begun.

Primer registro de <i>Tagetes imbricata</i> (Asteraceae, Tageteae) en Perú

Tagetes imbricata, a species recently described from Argentina and Bolivia, is reported here for the first time from Peru based on herbaria collections and field observations available at biodiversity online repositories. This new record significantly expands the distribution area of this species to the north, covering a total of more than 2000 kilometers along the Andes Mountains. An illustration for T. imbricata is here provided for the first time, detailing morphological aspects. Two vernacular names, “kita-chick-chipa” and “chichijsa”, are reported for this species.

Effects of Climate Change on the Distribution of Prosthechea mariae (Orchidaceae) and within Protected Areas in Mexico.

The impact of climate change on the distribution of native species in the Neotropics remains uncertain for most species. Prosthechea mariae is an endemic epiphytic orchid in Mexico, categorized as threatened. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of climate change on the natural distribution of P. mariae and the capacity of protected areas (PAs) to safeguard optimal environmental conditions for the species in the future. Historical records were obtained from herbaria collections and through field surveys. We utilized climate variables from WorldClim for the baseline scenario and for the 2050 period, using the general circulation models CCSM4 and CNRM-CM5 (RCP 4.5). Three sets of climate data were created for the distribution models, and multiple models were evaluated using the kuenm package. We found that the species is restricted to the eastern region of the country. The projections of future scenarios predict not only a substantial reduction in habitat but also an increase in habitat fragmentation. Ten PAs were found within the current distribution area of the species; in the future, the species could lose between 36% and 48% of its available habitat within these PAs. The results allowed for the identification of locations where climate change will have the most severe effects, and proposals for long-term conservation are addressed.

Flowering time responses to climate differ between species in mesic and xeric habitats in Alberta

Ongoing climate change is likely to put increased selection pressures on the phenology of plants, yet for many species their abilities to respond to environmental cues are unknown. The present research focuses on using herbarium specimens to examine how 14 native plant species in Alberta have adjusted or adapted to changes in temperature and precipitation over the past century. We specifically investigate the impact of flowering-time responses and determine (1) whether herbaria collections contain sufficient evidence of these phenological responses to climate in plant species in Alberta, and (2) whether the responses are dependent on the typical moisture regime of their habitat. We compared plants from mesic and xeric habitats in terms of their phenological responses to air temperature and precipitation. In this study, the taxonomic relationships between the species were considered by selecting 14 species representing seven different angiosperm orders (one pair of species for each order). By collating data on the peak flowering date over the past century using preserved specimens, we found that on average, species from xeric habitats are more responsive to temperature, but not precipitation. This tendency might be explained by the thermal properties of mesic habitats, a finding that may lead to ways to predict the degree to which environmental cues will govern flowering.

The complete chloroplast genomes of three Alismataceae species, including the medicinally important Alisma orientale

Alismataceae is one of the early diverged families of monocotyledonous plants. We report the complete chloroplast genomes of three Alisma species, including Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep. 1934, A. subcordatum Raf. 1908, and A. triviale Pursh 1813, of which A. orientale is a traditional Chinese medical plant used widely to treat diuretics, diabetes, hepatitis, and inflammation. We sequenced the complete chloroplast genomes with the Illumina Nova-Seq 6000 platform using herbarium collections. The chloroplast genomes of A. orientale, A. subcordatum and A. triviale are 159,861 bp, 160,180 bp, and 159,727 bp in length, respectively. The three chloroplast genomes each contain 113 genes, including four rRNAs, 30 tRNAs genes, and 79 protein-coding genes, and the average GC content is 36.0%. Based on the whole chloroplast genomes of 19 species of Alismataceae and the close allies, the medicinally important A. orientale was found to be closely related to another medicinal plant Alisma plantago-aquatica L. 1753 in the phylogenetic analysis. The genus Alisma was supported to be monophyletic.

Genus Xanthium (Asteraceae) in flora of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Russia)

The history of Xanthium genus research in a protected area in European Russia (Mordovia State Nature Reserve) has been reviewed based on available data (herbarium collections, publications, archive of Chronicles of Nature). We found that X. strumarium was the only species, which has been mentioned in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve since 1939. However, the overview of available data allowed us to conclude that all Xanthium plants found in this protected area to date belong to Xanthium orientale, an invasive alien species.