The morphology, anatomy and ontogeny the floral nectaries of two species of Sapindaceae (Paullinieae), viz. Cardiospermum grandiflorum and Urvillea chacoensis, were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. Both species are monoecious with oblique monosymmetric flowers. The floral nectaries are located at the base of the androgynophore. Vascular tissue supplying the nectaries consists of phloem. Cardiospermum grandiflorum has a posterior nectary with two lobes without any specially differentiated tissue, and with nectarostomata. In Urvillea chacoensis the nectary has four lobes; two posterior ones with distinctive nectariferous tissue with nectarostomata on the abaxial side, and two minor anterior ones that are histologically similar but lack nectarostomata. The nectaries in both species have a common base with the petals. Since the nectaries are macroscopically differentiated they are considered as structural nectaries.

Oaks (Quercus robur) can reach a considerable age, which makes them an important substrate for many epiphytic lichens, including several red-listed species. We studied the importance of tree size and other environmental factors for the occurrence of six epiphytic lichens at two sites, in southeastern Sweden, differing in quality as judged by tree size distribution and number of old trees. The effects of tree circumference, light availability, trunk inclination and site were analysed. Results showed that different lichen species responded differently to these factors, but, overall, tree size was most important for lichen occurrence. Five species showed a positive relation to tree size, but the 50% probability of occurrence was reached at different tree sizes among these species and there were also site differences. This study shows that the maintenance of old trees is crucial for several lichen species, which highlights the importance of long-term management plans.

The study presents a phylogenetic analysis of species of the moss genus Orthotrichum. ITS1 and ITS2 for 30 species were sequenced. The results do not fully reflect the current division of Orthotrichum into subgenera and sections. Molecular data divide the genus into two groups of species with superficial and immersed stomata, and indicate a clear distinctness of dioecious species. This suggests that a previous concept postulating that the subgenus Orthophyllum should be excluded from the genus Orthotrichum might be justified.

Rhodobryum giganteum is a rare Chinese traditional medicinal moss species and has special therapy value in heart diseases. In the present study, we successfully induced gametophores and protonemata of R. giganteum in vitro from its new shoots, which were disinfected with 0.1% HgCl₂, for eight minutes. We also tested the factors influencing the growth of its protonemata and found that: (1) modified Knop medium is able to facilitate the elongation of the protonemata in vitro and prolong their growth time in vitro, whereas MS medium is able to facilitate the branching of the protone mata, and the protonemata grew slowly in modified White medium, accompanied by the development of gametophores; (2) cutting of the protonemata increases protonemal proliferation in vitro; (3) 2,4-D facilitates the induction of protonemata from leaves at 0.5 mgl^-1, but inhibits the induction and quickens the aging process of the protonemata at 2.0 mgl^-1.

Forests growing on talus slopes of the North Estonian Klint were studied. According to the soil-cover properties, the studied sites of the klint can he divided into six soil complexes. Eleven vegetation types were established: (1) Ulmus glabra—Fraxinus excelsior—Aegopodium podagraria, (2) Ulmus glabra—Alnus incana—Matteuccia struthiopteris, (3) Tilia cordata—Hepatica nobilis—Actea spicata, (4) Ulmus glabra-Acer platanoides—Allium ursinum, (5) Ulmus glabra—Mercurialis perennis, (6) Ulmus glabra—Brachythecium rutabulum—Thuidium philibertii, (7) Alnus glutinosa—Athyrium filix-femina—Impatiens noli-tangere, (8) Alnus incana—Urtica. dioica—Dryopteris expansa, (9) Tilia cordata—Picea abies—Oxalis acetosella—Eurhynchium angustirete, (10) Ulmus glabra—Alnus glutinosa—Lunaria rediviva, and (11) Alnus glutinosa—Tilia cordata—Impatiens parviflora. The first type embraces the largest number of communities and is presented along the klint in many sites. The soil variables affecting vegetation variation most, are the specific surface area and strongly correlated with it, the nitrogen and carbon content. The Estonian klint forests have rather good affinity with south Scandinavian respective stands growing on slopes or screes on calcareous base rich soils. Certain similarity can be followed also with central European communities of Fraxino—Aceretum, Acero—Tilietum and Alno—Fraxinetum associations.

Centaurea nivea (Asteraceae) is endemic to Turkey and distributed only in the Eskişehir Province. It is under risk of extinction due to anthropogenic disturbance, so conservation strategies must be developed urgently. In this study, RAPD technique was used to estimate the level of genetic diversity of C. nivea. Twenty RAPD primers generated 234 bands, of which 215 were polymorphic (91.88%). A high level of genetic diversity was detected both at population (PPB = 72.90%, I = 0.3790, H_s = 0.2527) and at species level (PPB = 91.88%, I = 0.4510, H_t = 0.2963). A moderate level of genetic differentiation among populations was also revealed by Nei's gene diversity analysis (14.73%), Shannon's information measure (15.96%) and AMOVA (7.97%). Patterns of genetic variation among the populations of C. nivea may indicate that the closely located and fragmented populations of C. nivea were likely derived from a previously large population.

The population of Lobaria pulmonaria (tree lungwort) has been regarded as a relict on the Åland Islands (Ahvenanmaa). Fresh findings of apothecia imply the opposite. Censusing of 13 localities with more than 200 trees has shown that the lichen predominantly grows along the NW—NE sector of tree trunks with porous bark in easterly slopes. In light and dry wooded meadows the lichen has a lower vitality than in undisturbed, shady and moist forests. Most thalli occurred on Acer platanoides, Fraxinus excelsior and Populus tremula, even though Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and some other species were also represented. About half of the trees were found in Höckböle and it was also there and at Ingersholma that we found apothecia.

A lectotype for the name Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. is designated from among specimens stored at the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest (BP). Notes on discovery and etymology of the species are provided.

Morphological variation within and among populations of closely related taxa of Parnassia sect. Saxifragastrum from China was studied based on literature, specimen examinations and field survey. Parnassia angustipetala T.C. Ku, P. yulongshanensis T.C. Ku, P. longipetaloides J.T. Pan, and P. yanyuanensis T.C. Ku were reduced to synonymy of P. yunnanensis Franchet. Parnassia humilis T.C. Ku is different from P. yunnanensis, and is proposed as a new synonym of P. trinervis Drude. The geographic distribution and illustrations of P. yunnanensis and P. trinervis are also presented.

Mastixia microcarpa Y.C. Liu & H. Peng, a new species in the Mastixiaceae from Mt. Yulong Yunnan, SW China, is described and illustrated. It resembles M. pentandra, and is known only from Mt. Yulong.

Astragalus croaticus Alegro, Bogdanović, Brullo & Giusso sp. nova (Fabaceae) is described and illustrated from Dalmatia (Croatia). It. grows on the carbonatic mountains of Biokovo and Mosor on rocky stands. Morphologically, it shows close similari ties with A. sirinicus and A. angustifolius, two thorny species belonging to the sect. Melanocercis. However, A. croaticus has several distinguishing features chiefly in the leaves, flowers and legumes.

Dendrocalamus xishuangbannaensis D.Z. Li & H.Q. Yang (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new species from southern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by branching from the nodes ca. 0.5–1.0 m above ground, white hairs on lower surface of leaf blade, yellow-green pseudospikelets, four or five florets per pseudospikelet, and only four fertile florets.

Hesperis ozcelikii A. Duran sp. nova (Brassicaceae) is described and illustrated from South Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows in landslipped places, open forest, roadsides and serpentine, pebbly slopes in Sütçüler (C3 Isparta province). It is closely related to Hesperis aspera, an endemic confined to southwest Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters, ecology and biogeography of H. ozcelikii are discussed. The pollen characteristics and seed coat surface of H. ozcelikii and H. aspera were examined by SEM. Hesperis ozcelikii is diploid with a new chromosome number of 2n = 12.

Inula rajamandii Narimisa & F. Ghahremani. sp. nova (Asteraceae, Inuleae) from NW Iran is described and illustrated. It is endemic to the Azarbayjan province. The species appears to be most closely related to Inula viscidula, with which it is compared.

Astragalus ghouchanensis Souzani, Zarre & Maassoumi (Fabaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Iran. It is compared with some similar species in Astragalus sect. Dissitiflori. Some notes are given on the affinities of sect. Dissitiflori and sect. Erioceras.

Hypericum sechmenii Ocak & Koyuncu sp. nova (Hypericaceae) is described and illustrated from the peak of Arayit Mountain in central Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on limestone rocks in B3 Eskişehir province. It is closely related to H. minutum and H. huber-morathii, the latter an endemic confined to central Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed. The pollen characteristics of three species were examined by SEM.

A new species, Thrixspermum odoratum X.Q. Song, Q.W. Meng & Y.B. Luo from Hainan Island, south China, is described and illustrated. It belongs in sect. Thrixspermum and is closely related to T. tsii, but differs by having dense and distichous bracts, an irregularly-shaped clump or an erect lamellum at the base of lip, longer midlobe of lip, and fragrant flowers. A key to the five species of sect. Thrixspermum in China is presented. Thrixspermum odoratum is a host-specific epiphyte, being found only on one tree species.

Allium oriento-iranicum Neshati, Zarre & R.M. Fritsch (Alliaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from NE Iran. It belongs in sect. Megaloprason and is compared with other species in that section.