New Plant Species Research Articles

Origin and significance of macroscopic organic aggregates from the lacustrine Aptian Crato Konservat-Lagerstätte

The Crato Konservat-Lagerstätte is one of the main Mesozoic fossil sites from Gondwana, recording a wide diversity of terrestrial and non-marine aquatic fossils of great paleobiological and evolutionary significance. This conservation deposit is recorded in a 9 m-thick interval of laminite, microbialite, and grainstone deposited in a lake system with variable water level, alternating moments of hypersaline and freshwater conditions. Despite numerous studies describing new species of plants, arthropods, fish, pterosaurs, birds, and many others, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of the most common and archetypal fossils, which are the rod-shaped macrofossils found on bedding surfaces in distinct stratigraphic intervals of the Crato Konservat-Lagerstätte. The rod-shaped macrofossils are up to 1.6 cm-long and 0.1 cm-wide, straight to curved compressions that preserve pyritized microfossils. Here we interpret the rod-shaped macrofossils as macroscopic organic aggregates that sank into the lakebed in a process called lake snow. During high organic productivity periods in the epilimnion, planktonic organisms thrived and produced exopolymers responsible for aggregation. Their concentrations in the limestone bedding planes reflect intensity of lake snow and environmental seasonality. Aggregates are prolate particles that are commonly oriented, suggesting their transport as bedload for short distances, which was facilitated by biostabilization by microbes and their exopolymers. Finally, pyritization was mediated by microbial communities living in the lakebed.

ENRICHMENT OF THE FLORA OF ZAKARPATIA WITH NEW AROMATIC SPECIES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND PROSPECTS FOR THEIR APPLICATION

The possibility of introduction of new species of aromatic medicinal plants in the lowland zone of Transcarpathia and their subsequent use for improving the health of the population has been investigated and proven. An analysis of ways to use promising types of aromatic medicinal plants both to expand the range and preserve and enrich the local flora with new plants, and to replenish the market with new vitamin products (seasonings, herbal compositions for canning and herbal teas) for the prevention of the most common diseases. According to the results of the conducted research, the formulation and normative documentation of the innovative product - phytocollections for the Carpathian region were developed. Key words: phytotea, aromatic plants, species, herbal compositions, assortment, properties, effectiveness

New alien species of vascular plants for the flora of Sakhalin Island

The article provides data on ten alien species of vascular plants – new to the flora of Sakhalin Island: Cosmos bipinnatus, Lamium maculatum, Lysimachia punctata, Mentha × gracilis, Nepeta cataria, Papaver rhoeas, Ptarmica vulgaris var. multiplex, Pyrethrum parthenium, Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensia, Symphytum caucasicum. Of these, Lamium maculatum, Papaver rhoeas are new species for the flora of the Russian Far East. The locations of new alien species, brief information about their geographical distribution and growing conditions are indicated. 
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New Plants, New Resources, New Knowledge: Early Introductions of Exotic Plants to Indigenous Territories in Northwestern North America.

Plants have always been important for the Indigenous Peoples of Northwestern North America. Collectively, these peoples named and used hundreds of different native plant species, along with diverse animal species. When traders and settlers from Europe and other parts of the world arrived in the region, they brought many new species of plants with them. Some (e.g., turnips (Brassica rapa) and onions (Allium cepa)), were from Europe, and some (e.g., potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)) were from South America or elsewhere. Other plants, like dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, probably arrived unintentionally, as weeds. Examining the ways in which the Indigenous Peoples have incorporated these new species into their lexicons and lifestyles provides insight into processes of acquiring and embracing new products and expanding the cultural knowledge base for human societies in general.

Changes in the species composition of the wood and shrubs vegetation due to anthropogenic impact in the Kuzminsk forest park

The article considers the structure, composition and condition of trees and shrubs in the eastern part of the forest park in Moscow region. It is shown that in the process of use and recreation, new species of plants are introduced in the territory, including those capable of natural distribution in these natural and climatic conditions. Due to biological characteristics, some species such as white maple or cerapadus are able to actively spread and replace local species.

Floristic findings in the valley of the river Chulyshman (Altai). Part 2

Based on the authors’ fieldwork in 1976-2022 and herbarium funds from the river Chulyshman, stored in the Central Chernozem Reserve, the second part of the information (Magnoliophyta: Liliopsida, including the Poaceae Barnhart family) is given on new and rare species of vascular plants for this territory. New localities of 9 plant species from the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Data Book of the Altai Republic (Allium altaicum, Cypripedium calceolus, C. macranthon, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Orchis militaris, Platanthera bifolia, Tulotis fuscescens, Stipa pennata, S. rubens) are presented; of these, 8 species were recorded within the forest-steppe territory of the Altai Reserve (all species except Stipa rubens) and 3 species in the Ak Cholushpa Natura Park (Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Orchis militaris, Platanthera bifolia). For the modern territory of the Altai Reserve, 5 additional species are indicated (Dactylorhiza incarnata, Achnatherum splendens, Leymus ovatus, L. paboanus, L. tuvinicus), for the forest-steppe valley of Chulyshman -7 species (Lemna trisulca, Achnatherum confusum, Catabrosa aquatica, Leymus chinensis, L. pubescens, Poa trivialis, Stipa kirghisorum). 2 species (Asparagus tamariscinus, Stipa kirghisorum) are recommended for inclusion to the Red Data Book of the Altai Republic.

Clotting and Proteolytic Activity of Freeze-Dried Crude Extracts Obtained from Wild Thistles Cynara humilis L. and Onopordum platylepis Murb.

The rising interest in finding alternatives to animal rennet in cheese production has led to studying the technological feasibility of using and exploiting new species of herbaceous plants. In this research work, and for the first time, freeze-dried extracts from Cynara humilis L. (CH) and Onopordum platylepis Murb. (OP) were studied for mineral and protein content, and their clotting and proteolytic activity were compared to those of Cynara cardunculus L. (CC). The effect of extract concentration (5-40 mg extract/mL), temperature (20-85 °C), pH (5-8), and CaCl2 concentration (5-70 mM) on the milk clotting activity (MCA) of CC, CH and OP extracts was evaluated. The MCA values were significantly higher in CC at the same extract concentration. The extract that showed the most significant increase in clotting activity due to increased temperature was OP, with maximum activity at 70 °C. The pH value for maximum milk clotting was 5.0 for both CC and CH, whereas, in the case of OP, the pH value was 5.5. CaCl2 enhanced the clotting capacity of the extracts, particularly for OP and CH. Furthermore, proteolytic activity (PA) and the hydrolysis rate increased with increasing time and enzyme concentration, with CC being the extract that achieved the highest caseinolytic activity.

Records of New Species of Vascular Plants in the Northern Koryakia, Kamchatka Territory

New data on distribution of 8 vascular plant species in Northern Koryakia (mainland part of Kamchatka Territory) is presented. Five native species (Bryanthus gmelinii D. Don, Cassiope lycopodioides (Pall.) D. Don, Listera cordata (L.) R. Br., Lonicera chamissoi Bunge ex P. Kir., Saxifraga tolmiei Torr. et Gray) and 3 alien species (Galium mollugo L., Leucanthemum vulgare Lam., Linaria vulgaris Mill.) are new to the mainland of the Kamchatka Territory.

Findings of new and rare species of vascular plants in mires of the Urals and the Trans-Urals

The materials of the article contain data on the findings of 30 species of vascular plants from the territory of the Urals and the Trans-Urals. Among them, there are two new species for this territory, one for the Sverdlovsk Region – Phragmites altissimus, and one for the Kurgan Region – Rhinanthus songaricus. The second finding of the alien species Bidens frondosa for the Kurgan Region is reported. An information about the new locality of Liparis loeselii, which is included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, is presented as well, along with the data about the findings of 26 other rare species of vascular plants in the mires of the South Ural region, listed in the Red Data Books of the region. The article makes important additions to the knowledge of the distribution of protected vascular plant species in the study region.

Evaluating caprine remains of the Swedish Funnel Beaker culture through ZooMS

In northern Europe, the first indications of a Neolithic lifestyle appear around 4000 cal BC from northern Germany up to middle Sweden and south-eastern Norway in an apparently short period of time, largely carried by immigrant populations bringing new species of plants and animals into the region. However, the nature of this domestication “package” is not everywhere the same, whereby both environmental and cultural filters acted on the particular set of species cultivated and bred in different regions. In Neolithic Scandinavia, cattle, pigs, and caprines (sheep and goat) are all present in varying proportions, with cattle more prominent in Denmark and pigs more prominent in more northerly areas. However, little is known about the ratio of sheep to goat remains within this region, largely due to difficulties in morphologically separating the two species. In this paper, we report the results from ZooMS analysis of 45 sheep/goat bone samples from two recently excavated Funnel Beaker settlements in Karleby, Falbygden, Sweden. The ZooMS analyses gave a clear and somewhat surprising result: 33 of the samples were classed as sheep, one as deer, and none of them as goat. In all likelihood, goats have not been present at all on these sites. A survey of the literature shows that while small numbers of goats are likely present in Denmark from the Early Neolithic, their presence in Sweden at this time is ambiguous and the few claims merit reassessment. Furthermore, the low numbers in Scandinavia compared to central and southern Europe suggests an overall geographic trend, with decreasing proportions of caprines as well as goats in the north.

Bioactive Molecules Derived from Plants in Managing Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti (Linn.).

Mosquitoes are the potential vectors of several viral diseases such as filariasis, malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Zika fever and encephalitis in humans as well as other species. Dengue, the most common mosquito-borne disease in humans caused by the dengue virus is transmitted by the vector Ae. aegypti. Fever, chills, nausea and neurological disorders are the frequent symptoms of Zika and dengue. Thanks to various anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, industrialized farming and poor drainage facilities there has been a significant rise in mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases. Control measures such as the destruction of mosquito breeding places, a reduction in global warming, as well as the use of natural and chemical repellents, mainly DEET, picaridin, temephos and IR-3535 have proven to be effective in many instances. Although potent, these chemicals cause swelling, rashes, and eye irritation in adults and children, and are also toxic to the skin and nervous system. Due to their shorter protection period and harmful nature towards non-target organisms, the use of chemical repellents is greatly reduced, and more research and development is taking place in the field of plant-derived repellents, which are found to be selective, biodegradable and harmless to non-target species. Many tribal and rural communities across the world have been using plant-based extracts since ancient times for various traditional and medical purposes, and to ward off mosquitoes and various other insects. In this regard, new species of plants are being identified through ethnobotanical surveys and tested for their repellency against Ae. aegypti. This review aims to provide insight into many such plant extracts, essential oils and their metabolites, which have been tested for their mosquitocidal activity against different life cycle forms of Ae. Aegypti, as well as for their efficacy in controlling mosquitoes.

The Known and Unknowns of Aphid Biotypes, and Their Role in Mediating Host Plant Defenses

Insect species are subjected to disparate selection pressure due to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Management practices including the heavy use of chemical insecticides and introduction of insect-resistant plant cultivars have been found to accelerate these processes. Clearly, natural selection coupled with human intervention have led to insect adaptations that alter phenotypes and genetic structure over time, producing distinct individuals with specialized traits, within the populations, commonly defined as biotypes. Biotypes are commonly found to have better fitness in the new environment and, in the case of aphids, the most commonly studied system for biotypes, have the ability to successfully infest previously resistant host plants and new species of host plants. Although a large number of studies have explored biotypes, the concept for defining biotypes varies among scientists, as we lack a consistency in estimating biotype behavior and their variation within and between biotypes. The concept of biotypes is even more complicated in aphid species (Aphidoidea), as they undergo parthenogenetic reproduction, making it difficult to understand the source of variation or quantify gene flow. In this review, we aim to illuminate the concept of biotype and how it has been used in the study of aphids. We intend to further elaborate and document the existence of aphid biotypes using sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) as a model to understand their differences, level of variation, evolution, and significance in pest management.

New Locations of Some Plant Species in the Mountain Part of Yardimli, Lerik and Astara Districts (Azerbaijan)

During the ecological phytocenological research conducted in 2020-2021 eleven new species of plants distributed in the ecosystems of mountain part of Yardimli, Lerik and Astara Districts (Azerbaijan) was found. In the current ecological phytocenological research of the Lenkoran mountain and when studying herbarium collections on Poaceae, the new sites of kinds from Festuca — F. picta Kit. and Avena — A. persica Steud.; Apiaceae — Chaerophyllum — Ch. bulbosum L., Johrenia paucijuga (DC.) Bornm., Plantaginaceae — Plantago — P. media L.; Asteraceae — Cirsium — Cirsium horridum (Adams) Petr. Centaurea salicifolia M. Bieb., 1803; Caryophyllaceae — Cerastiumarvense L; Brassicaceae — Arabis auriculata Lam.; Crassulaceae — Rosularia persica (Boiss.) Berger and Cistaceae — Helianthemum salicifolium (L.) Mill. which are kept in herbarium fund of Botany Department in Baku State University, were found out.

ROLE OF SOME MICRONUTRIENTS IN IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF SEEDS IN CHIA PLANTS (SALVIA HISPANICA L.) IN SANDY SOIL

L.) is a new crop introduced to the Egyptian agriculture system to enrich it with new species of medicinal plants that have healthy and beneficial ingredients. The purpose of this work was to study the possibility of improvement growth, seed yield, fixed oil production and chemical constituents of chia plants in response to various micronutrients under sandy soil conditions. The field experiment was conducted in the Experimental Farm of EL-Quassassin, Horticulture Research Station, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. The treatments were (1) control (spray only with tap water), (2) boron (B) at 50 ppm, (3) boron (B) at 100 ppm, (4) iron (Fe) at 100 ppm, (5) iron (Fe) at 200 ppm, (6) zinc (Zn) at 100 ppm, (7) zinc (Zn) at 200 ppm, (8) combination of B (50 ppm) + Fe (100 ppm) + Zn (100 ppm) and (9) combination of B (100 ppm) + Fe (200 ppm) + Zn (200 ppm). In general, the results showed that the growth, seed yield, fixed oil yield, and chemical measurements of chia plant, such as fixed oil composition (fatty acids), photosynthetic pigments content, macro-and micronutrients, total carbohydrates, protein content, total phenols and antioxidant activity of the oil were improved by foliar application of micronutrients solely or in combination compared to control in both seasons. Combination of boron (50 ppm) + iron (100 ppm) + zinc (100 ppm), followed by a combination of B (100 ppm) + Fe (200 ppm) + Zn (200 ppm) led to the highest increases with no significant difference between them in most cases. GC for fixed oil of chia seeds revealed the estimation of seven components

Результаты флористического мониторинга в национальном парке «Орловское полесье» в 2022 году

The report describes the results of floristic monitoring realized by the authors in 2022 on the territory of the Znamensky and Khotynetsky Districts of the Oryol Region within the boundaries of the Orlovskoye Polesye National Park. For the park, 7 new species of vascular plants were noted, of which 3 are reported for the first time for the flora of the Oryol Region, and the growth of 1 species was confirmed 120 years after the discovery in the specified territory. During the research, as far as possible, the number of individuals in the coenopopulation was recorded, morphometric indicators, the occupied area were determined, and information on the dynamics of the coenopopulation size was collected. Herbarium materials confirming the records were transferred to the Herbarium of the Oryol State University named after V. N. Khitrovo (OHHI).

Introduction to Сulture, Reproduction, and Productivity of Aromatic Plants of the Lamiaceae Family in the Central Polissia of Ukraine

The introduction of new types of aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family into the culture is relevant for the enrichment of the biological diversity of the flora of the Central Polissia of Ukraine, as well as for the expansion of the raw material base of spicy-aromatic, medicinal, food, decorative, and honey-bearing plants. The purpose of this study is to find methods of propagation of aromatic plants, best sowing times and feeding areas, and to obtain phytoraw and seed materials. Research methods: laboratory, field, statistical. It was established that the best period for sowing plants of the Lamiaceae family in the conditions of the botanical garden of the Polissia National University is the third decade of April. The use of various methods of propagation proves the expediency of propagation of all annual and perennial plant species under study by seeds, and for M. didyma, S. officinalis, L. vera, and O. vulgare – also by particles, rhizomes, transplanting, and propagule. It is recommended to place S. hortensis, D. moldavica, E. cristata, H. officinalis according to the scheme of 30x45 cm, L. vera, L. anisatus, N. transcaucasica, S. officinalis – 30x50 cm, and O. vulgare, S. sclarea, M. didyma, – 40x50 cm. Among the annual species, the highest productive potential was found in D. moldavica, the above-ground mass productivity of which was 24.7±1.7 t/ha; among perennials – in H. officinalis (38.9±0.2 t/ha) and L. anisatus (44.1±0.9 t/ha). The highest yield of essential oil in terms of absolutely dry substance was found in S. officinalis (1.2%), L. vera (1.808%) and H. angustifolius (2.054%). The results of research on reproduction methods can be used for growing new species of aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family both on homesteads and in agricultural enterprises. The most productive types of aromatic plants should be introduced into production for further use of phytoraw materials and essential oil in pharmacy, food, and other sectors of the national economy.

Новые виды растений для Ботанического сада-института ДВО РАН и полуострова Муравьева-Амурского

Thirty-eight new species of vascular plants from 25 genera, 20 families were discovered on the forest territory of the Botanical Garden-Institute FEB RAS. The plants checklist includes seventeen new species that were not indicated on the Muravyev-Amursky Peninsula. Seven new genera for the botanical garden natural flora were identified. Among them, two genera are new for the Muravyev-Amursky Peninsula flora (Achudemia, Spuriopimpinella).

New and rare alien species of vascular plants in the Primorye Territory

The article provides information on twelve new species of alien plants for the flora of the Primorye Territory, assesses the prospects for their further settlement. Data on new and confirmed localities of the adventive species of vascular plants rare for the regional flora are also provided, including the growth of Myosoton aquaticum confirmed by herbarium collections on the territory of the Russian Far East for a number of years in the only location.

Tovomita cornuta (Clusiaceae): a new and threatened species from the Amazonian campinaranas revealed by ecological field research

High species diversity, large area, and taxonomically under-studied groups are some of the explanations for the frequent discovery of new species of plants during ecological field campaigns in the Amazon region. Some of these new species are already being threatened from unplanned urban expansion associated with deforestation and habitat loss. Here we describe Tovomita cornuta, a new species discovered during ecological studies in the white-sand campinaranas of the Amazon, which is also threatened. The species is endemic to the state of Amazonas, Brazil, where it occurs in the understory of forested campinaranas physiognomies and is easily recognized by its narrowly obovoid fruits with dilated free styles. We provide a description, taxonomic and ecological comments, assessment of conservation status, geographic distribution, phenology, and illustrations for the new species.

Review: Verde, by Federico Rios Escobar

Review: <i>Verde</i>, by Federico Rios Escobar