Volume 13 (2014): Edition 2 (December 2014)

We conducted a phytosociological study of the communities hosting the rare and endangered fern Adiantum capillus-veneris in the foothills of the Julian Alps, in Karst and in Istria. Based on a comparison with similar communities elsewhere in the southern Alps (northern Italy) we classified most of the recorded stands into the syntaxa Eucladio-Adiantetum eucladietosum and -cratoneuretosum commutati. Releves from the southern Julian Alps, located in comparatively slightly colder and moister local climate and the dolomite bedrock are classified into the new subassociation -hymenostylietosum recurvirostri subass. nova. Stands with the abundant occurrence of the liverwort Conocephalum conicum, are classified in to the new subassociation -conocephaletosum conici subass. nova. Stands in conglomerate rock shelters along the Soča at Solkan are classified into the new association Phyteumato columnae-Adiantetum ass. nova, a community of transitional character between the classes Adiantetea capilli-veneris and Asplenietea trichomanis.

Presented study is focused on the syntaxonomical revision and correct classification of the associations Arunco- Salicetum capreae and Filipendulo-Salicetum capreae. The associations were described by Hadač et al. (1969) from the Dolina Siedmich prameňov Valley in the Belianske Tatry Mts. The association Arunco-Salicetum capreae was emended by Šomšák (1986) by including the new subassociation from the Slovenské rudohorie Mts. Hadač et al. (1969) and Šomšák (1986) preliminarily ordered these associations within the class Querco-Fagetea, order Fagetalia, and alliance Alnion incanae. Later authors (Mucina & Maglocký 1985, Jarolímek & Šibík 2008) ordered them into two different classes. We used numerical analyses (hierarchical clustering and detrended correspondence analysis) of 1056 relevés from floristically and ecologically similar syntaxonomical units to classify the associations within higher syntaxa and to find out whether there is a reason to distinguish two associations from such a small geographic area. Based on the analysis results we merged both studied associations into one association Arunco vulgaris-Salicetum capreae Hadač et al. ex Petrášová et Jarolímek, ass. nova, which we ordered to the suballiance Alnenion glutinoso-incanae.

We present description of a new class for the high-altitude screes of the Caucasus (the Lamio tomentosi-Chaerophylletea humilis) and two alliances such as the Scrophulario minimae-Symphyolomion graveolentis (Chaerophylletalia humilis, Lamio tomentosi-Chaerophylletea humilis) and the Scrophulario variegatae-Epilobion dodonaei (Epilobietalia fleischeri, Thlaspietea rotundifolii).

On the basis of floristic surveys, examination of herbarium specimens and review of literature, notes on the taxonomy, morphology, and ecological features are given of Oxybasis chenopodioides and morphologically fairly similar Oxybasis rubra. Their distributions in Italy according to Provinces are discussed and mapped.

The typification of the names Atriplex axillaris, A. polysperma (both names are synonyms of A. rosea L.), and A. diffusa (synonymized with A. tatarica here) is discussed. Specimens from Tenore’s collection (NAP) and from De Candolle’s collection (G-DC) are respectively designated as the lectotypes of A. diffusa and A. axillaris, while one collection from NAP is designated as the neotype for the name A. polysperma.

A finding and description of a new locality of rare species of violet Viola jordanii (Violaceae) in the Karst area of north-eastern Italy is reported. Distribution of the species throughout the Europe is briefly discussed.

In this paper author gives the results of his own bryological investigations of the phytogeographical subregion Karavanke (part of the Alpine phytogeographical region) as well as the previous reports from literature and unpublished data from LJU. In total 453 species are reported from the investigated subregion, 97 liverworts and 356 mosses. Among them 12 are reported for the first time for Slovenia (Cephalozia ambigua, Lophozia ascendens, Didymodon asperifolius, Dicranella crispa, Brachytheciastrum olympicum, Schistidium crassipilum, S. dupretii, S. elegantulum subsp. elegantulum, S. lancifolium, S. papillosum, S. robustum, S. trichodon var. trichodon), 94 species are reported for the first time for the Karavanke. 40 species are included in national Red List and 11 species in the Red Data Book of European Bryophytes (ECCB 1995).

In the present work the presence of Manihot esculenta Crantz is reported for the first time for Italy and Europe, a neophyte native to South America: ecology and invasive status are presented.