Volumen 25 (2012): Edición 2012 (November 2012)

A new classification of the subtribe Maxillariinae (Orchidaceae) is proposed. Thirty-seven genera are revised. The Camaridium group is divided into seven genera, Adamanthus, Camaridium, Pseudomaxillaria, Psittacoglossum and three described here: Chaseopsis, Chelyella and Viracocha. Ornithidium s.l. is divided into seven genera: Heterotaxis, Laricorchis,Neo-urbania, Nitidobulbon, Ornithidium, Vazquezella and Aucellia, the latter two described here. 193 new combinations on the species level are validated and the relationships among the genera are briefly discussed. A key to the determination of all genera representing Maxillariinae s. s. is provided.

Previously known only from the type locality in Ecuador, Platystele ximenae is reported for the first time from Colombia. This species has been described and illustrated based on the material recently collected in the department of Valle del Cauca. Information about its habitat and ecology is provided.

The new charophyte species for Latvia, Chara polyacantha A. Braun, was described. This species was found in Lake Engure, the third largest lake of Latvia. In 2010, C.†polyacantha covered small, approximately 25 m2 patch, growing both in a monodominant stand and mixed with C. tomentosa in the central part of the lake.

Arabis recta is one of the rarest species in Poland. It has been reported from 15 sites, mostly in the Nida Basin (Ma≥opolska Upland). The plant is a component of xerothermic grasslands but it can also grow in arable fields and fallows. In Poland, Arabis recta is considered to be threatened by natural succession and herbicide use. However, according to recent studies, it should be treated as an endangered species (EN category) in the country.

The Crataegus and Rosa genera are critical taxa. Because of difficulties in species identification, nobody has dealt with the distribution of these genera in the Solec Basin (Niecka Solecka) and southern part of the PiOczUw Hummock (Garb PiOczowski) thus far. The aim of this work was prepare a complete list of critical species of these genera in the study area. The floristic studies were carried out in the years 2004-2009. Nineteen species were recorded: 6 hawthorns and 13 roses. Seven species were new for the flora of the studied area (4 roses and 3 hawthorns).

The historical and contemporary species richness, distribution, and ecology of Israel charophytes are described. The first charophyte collection in this region was made in the 19th century. Almost all reported localities were found earlier than 1970; some of them were not described. At the end of the 20th century, only two localities of two species were reported. According to the literature, 13 species, including two undetermined species of Chara, and nearly 23 exact localities are known from Northern and Central Israel. We found seven species and one variety of charophytes in 23 new localities in eight river drainage basins from six ecological regions of Israel during the period extending from 2001-2011. One genus n Tolypella, and two species n Chara intermedia and Tolypella glomerata, were found for the first time in Israel. There are 15 species and four genera of charophytes known from the studied territory based on published and original data. The common habitats of charophytes in Israel are river channels, pools, and, especially, artificial water bodies. The Chara vulgaris var. longibracteata, C. gymnophylla and C. contraria are the most frequently encountered species. The species ecology is briefly characterized by selected environmental variables. It may be that charophytes are rather rare plants in Israel and that their distribution in space and time is strongly variable due to the absence of large water bodies in this region, great variability of natural environmental conditions and severe continuous transformations of the environment by human activity for millennia.

The paper presents the results of the first syntaxonomical survey of the submerged plant communities belonging to the class of Charetea Fukarek ex Krausch 1964 in Ukraine based on the interpretation of about 80 published and unpublished phytosociological relevEs. Fourteen associations of two alliances and one order are characterized briefly. The diversity of charophyte communities in Ukraine is also described in brief. A preliminary prodromus of charophyte communities in Ukraine is given. Associations of Charetum intermediae (Corillion 1957) Fija≥kowski 1960, Charetum rudis Dπmbska 1966, Nitelletumgracilis Corillion 1957 are indicated for Ukraine for the first time.

A list of 232 taxa of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi was recorded within the Wolin island, especially, the Wolin National Park. The findings comprise the results of field studies conducted between 1996 and 2008 and those published in earlier works. Some of them are rare in the Polish lowlands.

Lychnothamnus barbatus, which in Lithuania occurs northernmost in Europe, was identified in 4 lakes: Balsys, Mažasis Gulbinu, Vygris and Šventininkai. The aim of the paper was to present the recent vegetation, habitat conditions, abundance and co-occurring plant species in shallow Lake Šventininkai. L. barbatus population was rediscovered after 50 years. It was recorded in 1823 and 1960, but it has not been detected later on during scattered investigations until now. Recent vegetation of Lake Šventininkai is a typical of eutrophic lakes with the domination of Ceratophyllum demersum, Elodea canadensis and rarely - L. barbatus. The submerged communities are represented by 7 associations. L. barbatus was distrib­uted at the depth of 1.1-2.1 m. Nitellopsis obtusa, Chara globularis, Chara contraria were the most common, co-occurring species of I. barbatus. Lake Šventininkai is a unique, very shallow (average depth <3 m) lake with re-established L. barbatus population after its total decline in strongly polluted lake waters following the lake’s self-purification. The presented data are important for the restoration of the status of the protected area and management of this territory.