Volumen 32 (2013): Edición 1 (December 2013)

Nine species of the genus Calypogeia Raddi are currently known from Europe: C. azurea, C. integristipula, C. neesiana,C. suecica, C. muelleriana, C. sphagnicola, C. fissa, C. arguta, and C. azorica. Recently, another species, morphologically resembling C. muelleriana but genetically distinct from it, was detected using isozyme markers. In the present study, relationships between the newly detected species (C. sp. nov.) and typical C. muelleriana were analyzed using the DNA sequencesdata of three regions from the chloroplast genome: introns of trnG and trnL genes and intergenic spacer trnH-psbA. Calypogeia sp. nov. differs from C. muelleriana s. str. (typical form) in all examined chloroplast regions. It differs as well from C. azurea, which was used as a reference species. The number of fixed nucleotide differences between C. muelleriana s. str. and C. sp. nov. is almost the same as between C. muelleriana s. str. and C. azurea. The results of the present study suggest a closer affinity of C. sp. nov. to C. azurea than to C. muelleriana s. str. in Europe, C. muelleriana s. str. was noted in Poland, Germany, Holland, United Kingdom and Azores. Samples determined as C. sp. nov., besides Poland, were so far detected also in North America

The genus Bilabrella (Habenarinae, Orchidaceae) was described by Lindley in 1834, but within next years, different authors incorporated it as the section of the genus Habenaria Willd. From 2003, Szlachetko and Kras stated that there were no grounds for distinguishing the sections Bilabrellae and Replicatae. They restored the genus Bilabrella, transfering to it 93 species from the section Replicatae and four species new to science were described. The poor condition of the old plant materials, the lack of some type specimens for many species described by Schlechter and problems with a series of transitional forms between some species are only few reasons, why the revision of the genus has not been published so far. Bilabrella comprises orchids found in Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Bilabrella differs from other Habenariinae in its unique combination of features

Orobanche laxissima Uhlich & Rätzel (Orobanchaceae) is a probably endemic Caucasian parasite of trees. New localities of this species are reported from the Greater Caucasus: Russia (Dagestan) and Azerbaijan. These are the easternmost sites known for the species, so they extend its distribution range. Its hosts, abundance, and habitat preferences at the new localities are described, and a supplemented map of distribution of this species in Caucasus Mts. is provided

Melampyrum cristatum is an extremely rare, native, hemi-parasitic, vascular plant, recently considered to be extinct in Poland. The article presents data concerning new localities of the species recorded in 2007-2012 in the valley of the River Warta (Wielkopolska, Poland). Local distribution of M. cristatum in the Natura 2000 sites: PLH300012 - Rogalińska Dolina Warty (ca. 147.5 sq. km) and PLH300053 - Lasy Żerkowsko-Czeszewskie (ca. 71.6 sq. km), as well as its updated regional (in Wielkopolska) and national (Poland) ranges are shown on maps and interpreted on the background of the geomorphic diversity of occupied habitats. The results suggest that in Poland the species is distributed mainly along valleys of large, lowland rivers, which corresponds with its ‘River Corridor Plant’ status in Central Europe. The species rarity is discussed considering its outline phytocoenological scale (comprising various plant communities within 6 syntaxonomical classes), the riverine distribution pattern and chosen biological features. Natural habitat heterogeneity along with changeable water regime in floodplains, as well as potential limitations of myrmecochoric seed dispersal, may constitute potential reasons for the species low frequency

Ecological variation of the selected subpopulations of Iris sibirica L. were studied in the years 2011-2012, in the abandoned patches of Molinietum caeruleae dominated by small meadow species (Patch I), macroforbs (Patch II), largetussock grasses (Patch III), shrubs (Patch IV), as well as shrubs and trees (Patch V). The abundance of subpopulations and dimensions of aggregations of ramet clusters increased gradually from Patch I to Patch IV and subsequently declined in Patch V. During the whole study period, all subpopulations showed signs of senility due to the absence of individuals in prereproductive stages. The share of generative ramet clusters diminished, while contribution of senile and fragmentised ramet clusters increased substantially in consecutive patches. The dimensions of ramet clusters increased significantly in successive plots and years. The number and height of generative stems and production of flowers and fruits did not show the temporal variability. The abundance of generative stems was considerably lower in the plots dominated by small meadow species, than in the sites dominated by large-tussock grasses, shrubs or overgrown shrubs and trees. Both the height of flowering stems and production of flowers and fruits increased gradually from Patch I, via Patches II, III and IV, to Patch V. The augmentation of flower production might contribute to better visibility of inflorescences for pollinators, whereas an increase in the production of fruits may increase the chances for successful seed dispersal to new sites.

This study results show that the I. sibirica subpopulations occurring in the site dominated by small meadow species and macroforbs were in unsatisfactory condition, those inhabiting the sites dominated by large-tussock grasses and shrubs were in a quite good condition, while the subpopulation inhabiting the plot overgrown by shrubs and trees showed the worst condition

The following paper presents the results of observations of the size and condition of cheddar pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus Vill.) population in the “Goździk siny w Grzybnie” reserve (Wielkopolska Province), as well as active cultivation of the species in ex situ controlled conditions and its reestablishment supporting the natural, endangered population in the reserve