Updated Checklist of Vascular Plants Endemic to Mongolia

The aim of the present study is to update the checklist of vascular plants endemic to Mongolia using previous checklists, publications, herbarium collections, and field observations. The revised checklist includes 102 endemic taxa (95 species, five subspecies, and two nothospecies) from 43 genera and 19 families. The majority of endemic taxa were distributed in western and central Mongolia, and high endemic species richness was identified in four phytogeographical regions, namely Mongolian Altai, Khangai, Dzungarian Gobi, and Gobi Altai, which harbor 49, 27, 20, and 16 endemic taxa, respectively. For each endemic taxon, we compiled information about growth form, conservation status (if already assessed), phytogeographical distribution, and voucher specimens. Data on each taxon’s type specimen were also collected, and the majority of the type specimens were accessioned at the LE (58 taxa), MW (20 taxa), and UBA (7 taxa) herbaria.

Hybridization as a biodiversity driver: The case of Veronica × gundisalvi

Hybridization is an important mechanism in plant evolution, which contributes to the adaptability and biological diversity of species in fundamental ways. Based on morphological data, Veronica × gundisalvi Sennen (Veronica orsiniana × V. tenuifolia subsp. tenuifolia) is an Iberian endemic taxon of presumably polytopic hybrid origin restricted to five localities in Catalonia, where the putative parental species grow in sympatry. In this study, species distribution models were developed for the putative parental species to seek potential new localities where active hybridization could be taking place. As a result, a new location of this nothotaxon in Zaragoza is provided, along with a chromosome count and ploidy level estimations. The data presented here further support Veronica × gundisalvi as a homoploid hybrid taxon that occurs in non-altered habitats. In contrast to the traditional view of hybridization as deleterious for the conservation of biodiversity, it does not always represent a problem in this regard. Hybridization is a complex evolutionary force that requires case-specific evaluation. Given that biodiversity loss is one of the main contemporary challenges, it is important to consider the creative nature of hybridization, a widespread evolutionary mechanism able to produce novel diversity.

The Essential Oil Composition of Trachymene incisa Rudge subsp. incisa Rudge from Australia

Trachymene incisa subsp. incisa is an Australian endemic taxon that varies greatly in the abundance and length of the leaf trichomes. The essential oil composition of five populations of this subspecies, three corresponding to the typical glabrous form and two of the particularly hairy variant, has been analyzed in an attempt to determinate if that variability is also reflected in their composition. The oils have been extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). The essential oils of T. incisa subsp. incisa were characterized by the high amount of sesquiterpenes that were the major fraction. The sesquiterepene hydrocarbons were significantly higher in the hairy variant in comparison to the glabrous one. According to the main compound, three different chemotypes were found: I.—β-selinene + bicyclogermacrene and II.—γ-bisabolene + α-pinene for the typical glabrous variant and III.—bicyclogermacrene + β-caryophyllene for the hairy variant.

A new species of Flavalona Sinev & Dumont, 2016 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) from Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Here we describe a new species of Flavalona Sinev & Dumont, 2016 (Cladocera: Chydoridae) based on material from Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. F. darkovi sp. nov. clearly differs from other species of Flavalona known to date by fine ornamentation of valves, proportions of head pores, proximal exopod spine and seta on the middle exopod segment of antenna II. This species may be considered as endemic taxon of high mountain water bodies of Bale Mountains at an altitude of about 4000 m.a.s.l. Investigated species of the genus Flavalona in Africa demonstrate strong local mountain endemism accompanied by morphological differences between closest taxa, but the real diversity of this group in Africa is underestimated yet, and further studies are urgently need. Since the high mountain water ecosystems in Africa are especially vulnerable to increasing anthropogenic impact and global climate warming, it is necessary to speed up the studies of high mountain invertebrates and develop special measures for protection of such ecosystems.

The Essential Oil Composition of Trachymene Incisa Rudge Subsp. Incisa Rudge From Australia

Trachymene incisa subsp. incisa is an Australian endemic taxon that varies greatly in the abundance and length of the leaf trichomes. The essential oil composition of five populations of this subspecies, three corresponding to the typical glabrous form and two of the particularly hairy variant, has been analyzed in an attempt to determinate if that variability is also reflected in their composition. The oils have been extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils of T. incisa subsp. incisa were characterized by the high amount of sesquiterpenes that were the major fraction. The sesquiterepene hydrocarbons were significantly higher in the hairy variant in comparison to the glabrous one. According to the main compound three different chemotypes were found: I.- -selinene + bicyclogermacrene and II.- -bisabolene + -pinene for the typical glabrous variant and III.- bicyclogermacrene + -caryophyllene for the hairy variant.

Extended Distribution of Endemic Taxon Trigonostemon viridissimus var. chatterjii (Euphorbiaceae) in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Trigonostemon viridissimus var. chatterjii (Deb & G.K. Deka) N.P. Balakr. & Chakrab. (Euphorbiaceae), a rare and endemic taxon is reported here as a new distributional record for the state Arunachal Pradesh. It was earlier known only from two localities of Meghalaya in India. Detailed taxonomic description along with field photographs are provided for its easy identification.

The importance of the Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands evidenced by a taxonomically verified endemic species list

The Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands (Campos de Cima da Serra) is one of the main areas of endemism in southern Brazil. The complex biogeographic history that resulted in the floristic composition of the region is directly linked to the high degree of plant endemism found there. Here we present a current checklist for the endemic plants – the first taxonomically verified endemic species list for the region. The list comprises 273 endemic taxa (23.5% of its flora) representing 40 families and 117 genera, highlighting fifty-seven taxa reported as endemic from the region for the first time in recent years. Voucher specimens, original publication, locality information and distribution data are provided for each endemic taxon. Botanical collections in the Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands have increased exponentially during the last four decades. However, 41 taxa are known only from the original collection record reported in their protologue. Our results emphasize the importance of the Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands in terms of conservation of its flora and the importance of providing complete information on botanical collection labels as source for a robust knowledge of the flora.

Reviewing the identity of the Maltese Polypodium (Polypodiaceae) – new evidence from morphology and flow cytometry

The first record of Polypodium from Gozo (Maltese Islands) was described as a new endemic taxon, Polypodium vulgare subsp. melitense, based on its unique set of morphological characters. It was treated as a novelty and designated as a subspecies of P. vulgare mainly due to the lack of paraphyses, the presence of 10–16 annular cells, and a mean spore length of 64 μm. The fern was reassessed by us employing a more rigid morphological analysis and the application of flow cytometry. The absence of paraphyses was confirmed, but the number of annular cells (5–11) and the spore length (70–79 μm) differed from the previous study. These and other morphological traits, the phenology (leaf-shedding in spring), the calcareous growth habitat, and the southern distribution implied that the fern is P. cambricum. Final confirmation was obtained from flow cytometry; the genome size of 17 pg corresponds perfectly with the range obtained for other accessions of this diploid species. The Polypodium reported from Malta does not merit taxonomic distinction despite being a rare form of P. cambricum, which lacks paraphyses.

Heteroptera collected in Valsesia, Northern Italy

The survey of Heteroptera carried out in 2016 along the nature path “Bosco dei Tigli” (Lime Trees Wood) in Piode (Piedmont, 900 m a.s.l.), highlighted 74 species, belonging to 68 genera in total. The number of species of each family well represents the Italian Heteroptera composition, with the prevalence of Miridae and Pentatomidae. The Miridae Criocoris nigripes var. apicalis (Fieber, 1861), a new record in the Alps, and Dicyphus flavoviridis (Tamanini, 1949), an Italian endemic taxon, were collected. Atractotomus parvulus (Reuter, 1878) and Orthotylus viridinervis (Kirschbaum, 1856) were recorded for the first time in Piedmont. Piode is the most Northern area, with Sondrio, where the Mediterranean Lygaeidae Oxycarenus lavaterae (Fabricius, 1784) was found.