scholarly journals Pharmacognosticaly interesting endemic plant species in the flora of Republic of Macedonia

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 41-55
Author(s):  
Jana Jovanovska ◽  
Gjoshe Stefkov ◽  
Marija Karapandzova

Flora in the Republic of Macedonia comprises about 3200 species in 147 families. According to some sources there are 115 endemic higher plants, of which, 114 belong to gymnosperm. According to other sources, there are 135 species of endemic plants and about 111 of which are local endemic species and 24 are stretched in the border mountains. The exact number has not been determined yet. Eastern part of Macedonia, east of the river Vardar almost poses no endemics, while the rest of the territory, west of the Vardar is very rich in such species. The richest areas with endemic plants are Galicica Mountain, Treska River Gorge and the lowlands surrounding the city of Prilep. Despite the wealth of endemic and relict species, any pharmacognostical data for these plants have not been published yet. Of all these endemic species, 30 could be pharmaconosticly interesting for future investigation of the chemical composition, isolation of potentially active substances and testing biological-pharmacological activity. Modern analytical techniques utilized in the examination of the chemistry of medicinal plants and natural products require a very small amount of material does not pose a risk of endangering endemic species. An additional challenge is the development of an appropriate program for the protection of all endemic, pharmaconosticly interesting species.

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Haxhi Halilaj ◽  
◽  
Lirika Kupe ◽  
Avdyl Bajrami ◽  
Pirro Icka ◽  
...  

This paper aims to present the diversity of endemic plants in the Shutman area and an analysis of chorological groups and life forms. The flora of Shutman comprises 31 endemic plant species. Among them, there are 20 Balkan endemics, 1 stenoendemic and 5 sub-endemic species. They belong to 20 genera and 13 families. The richest among the endemics are families Asteraceae and Caryophyllaceae, both with 4 species. All endemics are herbaceous perennials. Hemicryptophytes dominate among life forms, accounting for 58.06%. Most of the species are Balkan floristic elements (20 species or 64.52%), followed by Southeast European and South European floristic elements, both with 3 taxa (9.68%). A total of 27 species have national or international conservation status. Reporting of Ranunculus degenii Kümmerle & Jav. for the first time in Shutman makes this area the second distribution record of this plant in Kosovo.


Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe J. Hardman ◽  
Sophie Williams ◽  
Bryan Naqqi Manco ◽  
Martin A. Hamilton

AbstractInvasive species are one of the main threats to the loss of global biodiversity. Controlling such species requires a high input of effort and resources and therefore it is important to focus control on areas that will maximize gains for conservation. We present a spatial modelling approach that will help target control efforts. We used presence-only data to develop habitat suitability models for the invasive tree Casuarina equisetifolia and three endemic plant species on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. Substantial overlap was found between suitable areas for the endemics and C. equisetifolia. Evidence for the potential harm that C. equisetifolia could cause to native vegetation was assessed using paired areas with and without invasion. Areas with C. equisetifolia present had lower native plant species richness than areas where it was absent, which suggests a negative effect of invasion on the growth of native plants. No endemic plants were found in areas where C. equisetifolia was present. Based on the data collected we recommend that the three endemic species be categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. By highlighting areas where the endemic plants are found and demonstrating a potential threat to these habitats, we provide a plan for the designation of six Important Plant Areas to promote conservation of these endemic species.


Kew Bulletin ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Cheek ◽  
Jean Michel Onana

SummaryWe revise and update the records of strict and near-endemic species of Mt Kupe, Cameroon respectively from 31 strict endemics in 2004, to 25 today, and with near-endemic species 30, unchanged in number but with turnover. The changes result from new collections, discoveries and taxonomic changes in the last 16 years. While 15 of the provisionally named putative endemic species have now been formally published, a further 18 have not. The majority of the 30 near-endemic species (18) are shared with the adjacent Bakossi Mts, far exceeding the numbers shared with the more distant Mt Etinde-Mt Cameroon, Rumpi Hills and Ebo forest areas (sharing three near-endemic species each with Mt Kupe). We test the hypothesis that a further one of the provisionally named putative Mt Kupe species, Vepris sp. 1 from submontane forest near the summit, is indeed new to science. We compare it morphologically with the two other bicarpellate high altitude Cameroon Highland tree species V. montisbambutensis Onana and V. bali Cheek, concluding that it is a new undescribed species here named as Vepris zapfackii. The new species is illustrated and its conservation status assessed as Critically Endangered using the 2012 IUCN standard, due to habitat clearance from agricultural pressures at its sole location which is unprotected. Vepris zapfackii and V. bali appear unique in African trifoliolate species of the genus in having opposite leaves. Vepris zapfackii differs in having hairy petiolules and midribs and petiolules with the blade decurrent distally, narrowing towards a winged-canaliculate base (vs glabrous and petiolule long, terete), and sparsely golden hairy pistillodes and a glabrous calyx (vs densely black hairy pistillodes, and sepals hairy).


Author(s):  
Morgan Shields ◽  
Jean-Marie Tompkins ◽  
David J Saville ◽  
Colin D Meurk ◽  
Stephen Wratten

Vineyards worldwide occupy over 7 million hectares and are typically virtual monocultures, with high and costly inputs of water and agro-chemicals. Understanding and enhancing ecosystem services can reduce inputs and their costs and help satisfy market demands for evidence of more sustainable practices. In this New Zealand work, low-growing, endemic plant species were evaluated for their potential benefits as Service Providing Units (SPUs) or Ecosystem Service Providers (ESPs). The services provided were weed suppression, conservation of beneficial invertebrates, soil moisture retention and microbial activity. The potential Ecosystem Dis-services (EDS) from the selected plant species by hosting the larvae of a key vine moth pest, the light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), was also quantified. Questionnaires were used to evaluate winegrowers’ perceptions of the value of and problems associated with such endemic plant species in their vineyards. Growth and survival rates of the 14 plant species, in eight families, were evaluated, with Leptinella dioica (Asteraceae) and Acaena inermis ‘purpurea’ (Rosaceae) having the highest growth rates in terms of area covered and the highest survival rate after 12 months. All 14 plant species suppressed weeds, with Leptinella squalida, Geranium sessiliforum (Geraniaceae), Hebe chathamica (Plantaginaceae), Scleranthus uniflorus (Caryophyllaceae) and L. dioica, each reducing weed cover by > 95%. Plant species also differed in the diversity of arthropod taxa that they supported, with the Shannon Wiener diversity index (H') for these arthropods ranging from 0 to 1.3. G. sessiliforum and Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Polygonaceae) had the highest invertebrate diversity. Density of spiders was correlated with arthropod diversity and G. sessiliflorum and H. chathamica had the highest densities of these arthropods. Several plant species led to higher soil moisture content than in control plots. The best performing species in this context were A. inermis ‘purpurea’ and Lobelia angulata (Lobeliaceae). Soil beneath all plant species had a higher microbial activity than in control plots, with L. dioica being highest in this respect. Survival proportion to the adult stage of the moth pest, E. postvittana, on all plant species was poor (<0.3). When judged by a ranking combining multiple criteria, the most promising plant species were (in decreasing order) G. sessiliflorum, A. inermis ‘purpurea’, H. chathamica, M. axillaris, L. dioica, L. angulata, L. squalida and S. uniflorus. Winegrowers surveyed said that they probably would deploy endemic plants around their vines. This research demonstrates that enhancing plant diversity in vineyards can deliver SPUs, harbour ESPs and therefore deliver ES. The data also shows that growers are willing to follow these protocols, with appropriate advice founded on sound research.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwame Appiah ◽  
Zhenhao Li ◽  
Ren-sen Zeng ◽  
Shiming Luo ◽  
Yosei Oikawa ◽  
...  

<p>The Sino-Japanese Floristic Region appears as one of the major centers of development of higher plants. This region have been relevant for the study of evolution and systematics of many flowering plants. The taxonomic richness of endemic plant species in this region have survived several years of extreme climate conditions. Endemic mountainous plant species that have survived extreme climate conditions are of allelopathic and medicinal interest. For this reason, 251 plant species collected from the Sino-Japanese Floristic Region were screened for allelopathic plant species. Sandwich method and dish pack method were respectively used to screen plant leaf leachates and volatile materials with lettuce (<em>Lactuca sativa</em> CV. Great Lakes 366) as receptor plant. Among the 84 species that showed inhibitory effect on lettuce radicle elongation in our sandwich bioassay, <em>Photinia glabra </em>showed complete inhibition of lettuce radicle elongation (0% radicle elongation). In the dish pack bioassay, <em>Photinia glabra</em>, <em>Liquidambar styraciflua</em>, and <em>Cinnamomum camphora</em> (90.6%, 61.4%, and 50.2% respectively) were among the nine species that were observed with strong inhibitory effect on lettuce radicle growth. On the other hand, nine other species promoted lettuce radicle growth when compared to the control. <em>Aesculus turbinata</em> and <em>Quercus gilva</em> were the species with the highest growth stimulatory effect (33.0% and 16.1% respectively). We hereby present <em>Photinia glabra </em>as an allelopathic candidate species for both leachate and volatile compounds.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 17045-17048
Author(s):  
P. Raja ◽  
N. Dhatchanamoorthy ◽  
S. Soosairaj ◽  
P. Jansirani

Euphorbia kadapensis Sarojin. & R.R.V. Raju (Euphorbiaceae) and Lepidagathis keralensis Madhus. & N.P. Singh (Acanthaceae) an endemic species are first time reported for Karnataka in southern India. A detailed description, photographs and herbarium sheets of the taxon are provided for easy identification.


2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-491
Author(s):  
Carel C.H. Jongkind ◽  
Frans J. Breteler

Background and aims – While searching the banks of a lagoon close to Monrovia for known local endemic plant species, an unknown tree species was discovered. Its unijugate leaves allowed to quickly establish that this legume belongs to Englerodendron. This paper formally describes the finding as a new species and assesses its conservation status.Material and methods – The paper is based on data from fieldwork and morphological investigation of available herbarium material.Key results – The novelty named here E. libassum is one more endemic species from the special coastal vegetation on old beach sand. Only five mature trees were found in a relatively well-known area where not much original forest is left. The species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered.


Author(s):  
Gildas Gâteblé ◽  
Laure Barrabé ◽  
Gordon McPherson ◽  
Jérôme Munzinger ◽  
Neil Snow ◽  
...  

The New Caledonian biodiversity hotspot contains many micro-hotspots that exhibit high plant micro-endemism, and that are facing different types and intensities of threats. The Belep archipelago, and especially Île Art, with 24 and 21 respective narrowly endemic species (1 Extinct, 21 Critically Endangered and 2 Endangered), should be considered as the most sensitive micro-hotspot of plant diversity in New Caledonia because of the high anthropogenic threat of fire. Nano-hotspots could also be defined for the low forest remnants of the southern and northern plateaus of Île Art. With an average rate of more than one new species described for New Caledonia each month since January 2000 and five new endemics for the Belep archipelago since 2009, the state of knowledge of the flora is steadily improving. The present account of eight new species from Île Art (Bocquillonia montrouzieri Gâteblé &amp; McPherson, Cleidion artense Gâteblé &amp; McPherson, Endiandra artensis Munzinger &amp; McPherson, Eugenia belepiana J.W.Dawson ex N.Snow, Eugenia insulartensis J.W.Dawson ex N.Snow, Macaranga latebrosa Gâteblé &amp; McPherson, Planchonella serpentinicola Swenson &amp; Munzinger and Psychotria neodouarrei Barrabé &amp; A.Martini) further demonstrates the need both to recognise the Belep Islands as a major New Caledonian micro-hotspot and to formulate concrete conservation programs for the archipelago.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan Shields ◽  
Jean-Marie Tompkins ◽  
David J Saville ◽  
Colin D Meurk ◽  
Stephen Wratten

Vineyards worldwide occupy over 7 million hectares and are typically virtual monocultures, with high and costly inputs of water and agro-chemicals. Understanding and enhancing ecosystem services can reduce inputs and their costs and help satisfy market demands for evidence of more sustainable practices. In this New Zealand work, low-growing, endemic plant species were evaluated for their potential benefits as Service Providing Units (SPUs) or Ecosystem Service Providers (ESPs). The services provided were weed suppression, conservation of beneficial invertebrates, soil moisture retention and microbial activity. The potential Ecosystem Dis-services (EDS) from the selected plant species by hosting the larvae of a key vine moth pest, the light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), was also quantified. Questionnaires were used to evaluate winegrowers’ perceptions of the value of and problems associated with such endemic plant species in their vineyards. Growth and survival rates of the 14 plant species, in eight families, were evaluated, with Leptinella dioica (Asteraceae) and Acaena inermis ‘purpurea’ (Rosaceae) having the highest growth rates in terms of area covered and the highest survival rate after 12 months. All 14 plant species suppressed weeds, with Leptinella squalida, Geranium sessiliforum (Geraniaceae), Hebe chathamica (Plantaginaceae), Scleranthus uniflorus (Caryophyllaceae) and L. dioica, each reducing weed cover by > 95%. Plant species also differed in the diversity of arthropod taxa that they supported, with the Shannon Wiener diversity index (H') for these arthropods ranging from 0 to 1.3. G. sessiliforum and Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Polygonaceae) had the highest invertebrate diversity. Density of spiders was correlated with arthropod diversity and G. sessiliflorum and H. chathamica had the highest densities of these arthropods. Several plant species led to higher soil moisture content than in control plots. The best performing species in this context were A. inermis ‘purpurea’ and Lobelia angulata (Lobeliaceae). Soil beneath all plant species had a higher microbial activity than in control plots, with L. dioica being highest in this respect. Survival proportion to the adult stage of the moth pest, E. postvittana, on all plant species was poor (<0.3). When judged by a ranking combining multiple criteria, the most promising plant species were (in decreasing order) G. sessiliflorum, A. inermis ‘purpurea’, H. chathamica, M. axillaris, L. dioica, L. angulata, L. squalida and S. uniflorus. Winegrowers surveyed said that they probably would deploy endemic plants around their vines. This research demonstrates that enhancing plant diversity in vineyards can deliver SPUs, harbour ESPs and therefore deliver ES. The data also shows that growers are willing to follow these protocols, with appropriate advice founded on sound research.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J.S. Gibson ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Torres ◽  
Leonie C. Moyle

AbstractThe Galápagos Islands are home to incredible endemic biodiversity that is of high conservation interest. Two such endemic species are the Galápagos tomatoes: Solanum cheesmaniae and Solanum galapagense. Both are known from historical location records, but like many endemic plant species on the Galápagos, their current conservation status is unclear. We revisited previously documented sites of endemic species on San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela, and document the disappearance of >80% of these populations. In contrast, we find that two invasive relatives (Solanum pimpinellifolium and Solanum lycopersicum) are now highly abundant, and in some cases—based on morphological observations—might be hybridizing with endemics. Our findings suggest that expanding human developments and putative interspecific hybridization are among the major factors affecting the prevalence of invasives and the threatened persistence of the endemic populations.


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