Ranunculus degenii and Verbascum scardicola new records from the Restelica and Vraca valleys (NP Sharri) in Kosovo

The valleys of Restelica and Vraca in Kosovo have not been explored sufficiently due to their geographical position and the harshness of the terrain. The plant species Ranunculus degenii has been collected in Restelica, on the way to the border with North Macedonia or between this road and the Albanian border near Shishtavec, while the species Verbascum scardicola has been found in the Vraca valley. These localities are mainly dominated by silicate substrate, although the presence of conglomerate substrates is not excluded. These newly discovered habitats of these rare and endangered species represent their southernmost edge known to date. This paper reviews and discusses their discovery, description, distribution and mapping in these localities of the Sharri Mountains.

Phytoindication of environmental mutagenesis in the in-situ conditions using the pollen of selected species of native flora

The aim of this study is to provide an effective method for indicating ecogenotoxicity in the environment using pollen grains and microspores of selected species of the native flora in the in situ conditions. In the report, we summarize the results of long-term experience with the benefits of native flora species as bioindicators of polluted environments. We present the current results of long-term monitoring of phytoindication of ecogenotoxicity in Bratislava and selected traffic junctions in Slovakia. The increase of pollen grain abortion in the group of localities exposed to a heavy load of traffic pollution demonstrates the ecogenotoxic impact of traffic emissions in the environment. The detailed practical methodological tools and possible difficulties with the classification of abortivity of microspores and pollen grains of these plant species are discussed.

Genome size, chromosome counts and distribution of Homogyne alpina (Asteraceae) in the Slovak Carpathians

Homogyne alpina (L.) Cass. represents the only species of the genus Homogyne Cass. in Slovakia. This study characterizes H. alpina in terms of chromosome counts, genome size, reproduction mode and distribution in Slovakia. Three known cytotypes of the species are known, of which the cytotype 2n = 160 is represented in the Slovak mountains and has not been documented from other countries yet. Flow cytometric analyses showed the genome size 2C = 21.30 pg for petioles and 2C = 21.82 pg for seeds. Sexual reproduction mode was confirmed by flow cytometric screening method based on embryo to endosperm genome size ratio. The centre of the species distribution is in high mountains of the Slovak Carpathians, where it is frequent in the altitude above 1000 m a. s. l. from mountane to alpine vegetation zone. The full list of the data of its distribution and the distribution map are also presented.

The occurrence of ladybells (Adenophora liliifolia) in border meadow Drahos (Drahoše) near Hollóháza (NE Hungary) and Skároš (SE Slovakia)

The ladybells (Adenophora liliifolia (L.) Besser) is a glacial relict plant species and is endangered throughout Europe. The species is strictly protected in Hungary and listed in the Habitats Directive of the EU. It is a designating species of the HUBN20085 Északi-Zempléni-hegység Natura 2000 site in Hungary. The occurrence of the species is limited to very few localities both in Hungary and Slovakia. This study was undertaken to characterize the habitats of ladybells from a phytosociological perspective and analyse the structure of its population in Drahos (Drahoše) meadow. Two relevés were sampled, one at each side of the border. The number of individuals was recorded, and selected quantitative variables of the stem, leaves, and inflorescence of each individual were evaluated during eight years of the survey.

Physalis philadelphica Lam. (Solanaceae), a new alien species in the flora of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Physalis philadelphica Lam. native to Mexico is now widely grown for its edible fruits (‘tomatillo’). It has been recorded as a new alien species to the vascular flora of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, P. philadelphica is reported from only one locality near the town of Zavidovići in Central Bosnia in September 2020. The specimens were growing along the banks of the Krivaja River in the vicinity of the village Ribnica. Brief information on the species distribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a short morphological description are given, as well as a key to Physalis species occurring in the Balkans.

A newcomer from the east: naturalisation of Gypsophila perfoliata L. around the city of Miskolc (Northeast Hungary)

Gypsophila perfoliata (Caryophyllaceae) is a rare, only casually occurring species in Central Europe. Its native range spans from western Asian to the coast of the Black Sea. Several adventive occurrences of G. perfoliata were documented in Central Europe, especially in Germany where the naturalisation of the taxon occurred during the first decades of the 20th century. As a rare weed, it is suspected to have been introduced with iron ore from the former Soviet Union via railways (Kryvyi Rih region, now Ukraine). In this paper, we gathered information on the occurrence of G. perfoliata from its adventive range. These data indicate an ongoing and fast spread of the species across Central and Eastern Europe. For instance, prior to this study, G. perfoliata have two occurrence records from Hungary. Six new and recent records from Miskolc town and its surrounding areas are presented in this paper. The studied plant occurs in former industrial areas (steel factory, transshipment yards, external slag heaps) or along transport lines (esp. road verges, railway lines). We also describe 18 phytosociological relevés taken at the location of occurrences. All occurrences were documented on heavily modified anthroposols, where the populations flourish on bare ground (esp. road verges or parking areas) or on ground with admixture of metalliferous slag debris. With the help of available orthophotos the presumed land-use history of the locations has also been reconstructed. Based on data presented here we recommend modifying the species’ adventive status in Hungary from casual to naturalised. Further expansion of the species is expected not only 172 at industrial sites but also at locations where slag material was utilised (e.g. landfill, road and rail construction). Due to its halophyte characteristics the species might expand its range along roads where de-icing salt is used.

Seventy unique years of the Botanical Garden of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice

The Botanical Garden in Košice (BG) was established owing to the initiative of Dr. Jozef Rácz on 5th May 1950 as the Botanical Institute of the University of Agricultural and Forest Engineering (VŠPLI). Later it belonged to the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Pedagogical Institute, until it became a part of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (UPJŠ) in 1964. From its beginning it has played a role of a scientific and pedagogical institution. A lot of plants were planted in the originally almost bare area, greenhouses were built, which were open on 14th October 1958. At that time, they belonged among the largest ones in Central Europe. In 1969, the administrative building was completed. At present, the BG is a protected area with a total of 30 ha, greenhouses on an area of 3,200 m2 and more than 4,000 species, subspecies, and cultivars of plants. It is thus the largest BG in Slovakia with the richest collection of cacti and cycads in Slovakia, as well as with various unique plant species from around the world. The main scope of the activities of the BG is the scientific research aimed at the concentrating and studying of the gene pool of endangered and common species. Further important activities comprise direct support of higher education and various activities within the framework of education at primary and secondary schools, as well as the support of natural history, ecological and cultural knowledge of all visitors.

Ranunculus polyphyllus Willd. still grows in Slovakia

Ranunculus polyphyllus is a Eurosiberian species of the Eurasian forest-steppe zone, extremely rare in the western part of its distribution range, in Central Europe. In Slovakia, this lowland semiaquatic plant has its westernmost border, where only a few historic locations are known, and which have not been confirmed since 1965: one on the Podunajská nížina Lowland and three on the Východoslovenská nížina Lowland. These records, however, do not include any vegetation data. The species has been recently rediscovered in Slovakia on the Východoslovenská nížina Lowland: one historical site was confirmed in 2020 in the periodically inundated pasture near Strážne settlement, and a second site was found in 2021 near Zemplínske Hradište in a flooded depression in intensively used agricultural land which was formerly used as rice fields. In its European range, this species has been observed only in natural wetlands, and its ability to occupy secondary habitats has not yet been reported. Here we provide new data on the recent occurrence of Ranunculus polyphyllus in Slovakia with regard to its vegetation and habitat conditions.

Overview of the floristic and taxonomic studies on Iridaceae Juss. in Bulgaria

According to the current data, the family Iridaceae is represented in Bulgaria by 30 species, grouped into 5 genera. The territory of Bulgaria, as part of the Balkan Peninsula, is characterized as a part of a secondary speciation center for the largest genera in the Iris and Crocus. In addition to widespread species, there are local and regional endemics that are of great conservation importance. Despite this fact, it is little known about the taxonomy and phylogeny of Iridaceae in Bulgaria. The main purpose of this publication is to present the degree of study of the family in Bulgarian literature, compared to the investigations in the Balkan Peninsula and the literature in the world. Inventory of the collections in the national herbaria SO, SOA and SOM have done. Most of the materials have been collected in the years of the active field studies on the Bulgarian flora – at the beginning of the 20th century until the taxonomical work on the family in vol. II of Flora Reipublicae Popularis Bulgaricae in the middle 60s. The lack of taxonomical investigations in Bulgarian flora justifies the need to reconsider the taxonomical structure of the Iridaceae family. Preliminary studies on species chorology have shown that the Bulgarian floristic literature's data are outdated and do not coincide with recent taxonomic changes in polymorphic paraphyletic and polyphyletic groups. On other hand, the decisions in the phylogenetic relationships between the polyphyletic taxa could be realized using molecular techniques, which have not yet been implemented for the species in Bulgaria. The taxonomic complexity of the group and still scarce knowledge demands further studies in Bulgarian flora, including investigating phylogenetic relationships.

New floristic records from Central Europe 8 (reports 109-121)

The presented eighth part of the series includes thirteen new chorological records of vascular plants, one from Hungary, six from Poland and six from Slovakia. In Hungary, Ventenata dubia is reported. In Poland, two native taxa Bolboschoenus planiculmis and Najas marina subsp. marina and four alien taxa Buddleja davidii, Lupinus ehrenbergii var. ehrenbergii, Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Sedum sarmentosum are reported. In Slovakia, two native taxa Taraxacum paucilobum with distribution map and Cotoneaster integerrimus are reported as well as four alien taxa Azolla filiculoides, Eichhornia crassipes, Euphorbia prostrata and Pistia stratioites.