INFORMATION ABOUT FLORA OF THE UST-BELSKY NATURE PARK (UDMURT REPUBLIC)

The article presents the results of a long-term study of the indigenous flora of the Ust-Belsky Nature Park. A list of vascular plants is given. There are 588 plant species from 299 genera and 87 families. The territory of the park consists of 2 clusters. They are located on different banks of the Kama River. The list contains cluster information for each plant species. Only 477 plant species are common to the two clusters, while the remaining species are characteristic of individual sections of the natural park. There are 68 such types in cluster 1, and 43 in cluster 2. In the course of floristic studies in different years, the growth of 23 rare plant species listed in the Red Book of the Udmurt Republic was recorded on the territory of the Ust-Belsky Natural Park.

Fifty years of Bryology in Mexico

Background: Mexican botanists were not involved in bryophyte research fifty years ago; only four small floristic contributions were published between 1942-1958. Questions: What has been learned in the last fifty years? How many bryophytes are there in Mexico? What are the contributions by Mexican scientists? Studied species: Bryophyte flora. Study site and dates: Mexico, between 1942-2021. Methods: Bibliographic compilations were used to revise the status of bryophyte research in Mexico. Data for the last fifty years cited there and in an updated version of Latmoss served to determine the current knowledge of Mexican bryophytes as contributed by Mexican scientists. No thesis research was considered unless published in a scientific journal. Results: There are 16 species of Anthocerotophyta, ca. 600 of Marchantiophyta, and 997 Bryophyta in Mexico. At least seven phytogeographic elements are represented: Northern, Meso-American, Caribbean, Southern, Wide distribution, and Endemic. Highlights of Mexican research include the discovery of Hypnodontopsis sp., a Miocene amber fossil from Chiapas, identification of heavy metals deposits in urban mosses in Mexico City and Toluca, determination of chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of Pseudocrossidium replicatum, and the potential use of recombinant proteins from Physcomitrella patens. Conclusions: Taxonomic and floristic studies should be continued along with the bryological exploration of the country. Conservation is urgent, but studies of drought tolerance, air pollution, climate change, and potential uses in medicine require support and collaboration from other scientists.

Floristic Studies in Two Species of Eleocharis R. Brown (Cyperaceae)

Present study is on our own critical observations on fresh plant material collected from the different parts. The observations are also based on herbarium specimens. Relevant data from literature have been referred for comparative study and conclusion including recent nomenclature. The study of Eleocharis R. Brown provides a detailed taxonomic description, illustration and relevant information for its easy identification in the field. Two species are collected and are described. The present report is hoped to provide basic material for further research in Cyperaceae

A new species of climbing Chamaedorea (Arecaceae) from Chiapas, Mexico

Chamaedorea tacanensis (Arecaceae), a new species from the Tacaná Volcano Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico, is described based on morphological and phylogenetic data. It is morphologically similar to C. elatior, the only other climbing species in the genus. However, C. tacanensis is distinguished by having linear pinnae (lanceolate in C. elatior), petioles emerging glaucous (glabrous in C. elatior), and longer rachises, blades and peduncles than C. elatior. Also, C. tacanensis has pinnate-leaved seedlings and juveniles, whereas they are simple or bifid in C. elatior. The two taxa form separate monophyletic groups. Geographically, C. tacanensis is found in tropical montane cloud forests of the Pacific slope whereas C. elatior mostly occurs in lowland tropical forests of the Atlantic slope. Chamaedorea tacanensis has been recorded in only three localities: two in the Tacaná Volcano Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, and one in San Marcos, Guatemala. Further floristic studies in surrounding areas might better clarify the geographic distribution range of this species.

Araceae from Serra do Brigadeiro State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

In Brazil, the family Araceae has 47 genera, approximately 519 species, 276 of which are endemic, it is characterized by the presence of the spadix associated with a bract, the spathe, and its one of the families with the highest species richness for the Atlantic Forest. This survey aims to inventory the Araceae of the Serra do Brigadeiro State Park (PESB), providing identification keys, descriptions, photos, and illustrations of diagnostic characters of the species, contributing to the Araceae Flora for Minas Gerais. To collect data, field trips were carried out in November 2018, July 2019, and February 2020, and the collected materials were deposited in the UNOP and RB herbaria. A total of 13 species, belonging to three genera, were documented. The genus Anthurium was the most diverse with eight species, followed by Philodendron with four species and Asterostigma with only one species. Through this survey, two species of Anthurium were found (A. atrovinosum and A. brigadeiroense) and recently described. Also, A. comtum, A. gladiifolium, and P. edmundoi are new for this area, and A. fontellanum was collected for the first time since 2004, reinforcing the importance of floristic studies and the conservation of Atlantic Forest remnants, such as the PESB.

Protected plant species in Nam Dong conservation area (Thanh Hoa province, Northern Vietnam)

Изучение разнообразия охраняемой флоры в заповеднике Нам Донг (северный Вьетнам) проведено в рамках флористических исследований территории в 2015–2019 гг. Исследование проводилось на семи профилях, заложенных от самых низких высот над уровнем моря до высшей точки изучаемой территории, с таким расчетом, чтобы максимально охватить возможное число местообитаний на склонах разной экспозиции. Флористические исследования позволили уточнить состав редких и охраняемых видов растений территории, имеющих международный или национальный природоохранный статус. К таким растениям в заповеднике относятся 88 видов (6,7% от всей местной флоры), принадлежащих к 51 семейству (28,3% от 180 семейств флоры). Охраняемые виды относятся к трем отделам сосудистых растений: Polypodiophyta – 5 видов (5,7%), Pinophyta – 10 (11,4%), Magnoliophyta – 73 (83,0%). Из них 57 видов занесены в список МСОП (IUCN), в т.ч. EN (исчезающие) – 7 (8,0%), VU (уязвимые) – 11 (12,5%), NT (находящиеся в состоянии, близком к угрожаемому) – 7 (8,0%), LC (вызывающие наименьшие опасения) – 32 (36,4%), DD (требующие дополнительных исследований) – 2 (2,3%); 43 вида охраняется в соответствии с Красной книгой Вьетнама (2007), в том числе EN – 11 (12,5%), VU – 32 (36,4%); 18 видов – в соответствии с Постановлением об охране редких и ценных видов флоры и фауны Вьетнама (2006). 37 видов, входящих в список МСОП, не охраняются во Вьетнаме. Однако 10 видов из этого списка со статусом EN, VU, NT могут составить ресурсную базу для реинтродукции их на территории, где виды исчезли или находятся на стадии полного вымирания. The study of the diversity of protected flora in the Nam Dong Nature Reserve (North Vietnam) was carried out as part of the study of the territory's flora in 2015–2019. The study was carried out on 7 profiles, laid down from the lowest heights to the highest point of the studied territory, in such a way that it would cover the maximum possible number of habitats on the slopes of different exposures. Floristic studies have made it possible to clarify the composition of rare and protected plant species of the territory that have international or national conservation status. Such plants in the reserve include 88 species (6.71% of all local flora) belonging to 51 families (28.33% of 180 flora families). Protected species belong to 3 divisions of vascular plants: Polypodiophyta – 5 species (5.68%), Pinophyta – 10 (11.36%), Magnoliophyta – 73 (82.95%). Of these, 57 species are listed in the IUCN (IUCN), including EN (endangered) – 7 (7.95%), VU (vulnerable) – 11 (12.50%), NT (near-threatened) – 7 (7.95%), LC (least concern) – 32 (36.36%), DD (requiring additional research) – 2 (2.27%); 43 species are protected in accordance with the Red Book of Vietnam (2007), including EN – 11 (12.50%), VU – 32 (36.36%); 18 species – in accordance with the Decree on of the Government on management of endangered, precious and rare forest plants and animals (2006). 37 species included in the IUCN list are not protected in Vietnam. However, 10 species from this list with the status EN, VU, NT, can form a resource base for their reintroduction in the territory where the species have disappeared or are at the stage of complete extinction.

Distribution and conservation of Cactaceae in Brazilian Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests: insights from floristic and phytosociological surveys

Species lists available from floristic and phytosociological studies contain important information about species distributions that are useful for making biogeographical inferences and even to evaluate conservation status of species and ecosystems. In the case of the Caatinga, this information may contribute to challenging the pre-established idea that it is a homogeneous vegetation unit. The strong relation between the substrate and the plant assemblages of the Caatinga may characterise different types of vegetation. In this way, the objective of the present study is to evaluate whether differences in the distribution of Cactaceae relate to distinctive types of substrate (sedimentary and crystalline) as much in terms of floristic richness as species density. Concomitantly, we evaluated the conservation status of the Caatinga areas studied. To obtain the data, we undertook a bibliographic revision of floristic and phytosociological studies in the Caatinga and constructed a similarity matrix using the selected floristic studies in order to evaluate the relation among different areas of Caatinga. We found that 48 areas included Cactaceae species; 33 species distributed in 14 genera were recorded. Among these taxa, Cereus jamacaru was the species that presented the largest number of occurrences, appearing in 17 areas, followed by Pilosocereus gounellei (=Xiquexique gounellei), found in 11 studies, and Tacinga inamoena in 10. The grouping analysis resulted in the formation of 10 groups, with a remarkable relationship between species and soil type. There were differences in both the diversity and density of species related with the degree of conservation of the Caatinga, noticeable from the direct relationship between conservation and richness and, indirectly, between density and number of species.

FRAGMENTED BIODIVERSITY: FERNS AND LYCOPHYTES FROM FOREST FRAGMENTS IN JUIZ DE FORA, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

ABSTRACTThe Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened formations in the world. In this context, the urbanization process stands out as one of the major factors causing environmental degradation, mainly due to the loss of native vegetation and habitat destruction. In order to fill this gap, we carried out the inventory of ferns and lycophytes in the forest remnants of the municipality of Juiz de Fora. We analyzed more than 1,353 samplings recorded throughout approximately 150 years, as result we recorded a total of 174 species distributed in 73 genera and 26 families. The most representative families were Pteridaceae with 32 species, followed by Polypodiaceae with 26 and Thelypteridaceae with 20. In addition, we present the historical data on the sampling of ferns and lycophytes, as well as the history of the fragmentation process of the Atlantic Forest remnants in the municipality. Juiz de Fora becomes an interesting model for broader floristic studies, generating subsequent subsidies for conservation actions and preservation of the natural patrimony.