Flora

A database on Antonio Bertoloni’s Flora Italica – The structure and content of a database on Antonio Bertoloni’s Flora italica are described. This was the first Italian general Flora, issued between 1833 and 1856, and is still useful for analysing local floras of, e.g. specific localities, provinces or regions. Flora Italica covers an area extending outside the present political borders of Italy, such as Corse, Nice, Savoy, Cenise (France), Slovenia, Croatia, and Malta; includes data on the distribution of plants in italy at tha time of its editing.
The general aim of the database is to make the data easier to search and retrieve. The database consists of several related tables. The core-table contains the systematic units listed and aknowledged in Flora Italica; it includes 4254 species and 623 varieties of Spermatophyta.
The most significant table contains data on specimens collected by Bertoloni or sent by his collaborators. It consists of more than 35000 records, each includind tha code of the taxon, locality of collection, the person(s) who collected and sent the exsiccatum to Bertoloni. Since each record can be referred to one or more regions, another table contains the region(s) to which each record belongs, for a total of more than 38000 records.
Finally, a table contains data on the persons who worked with Bertoloni, by sending specimens of plants collected from the whole Italian area. The persons that have been individually identified are more than 240, practically all of the botanists of Italy, including not only the most important scholars, but also naturalists, field botanists and Bertoloni’s pupils.
Some syntheses are presented: the amount of data for each region and the most important contributors. The regional distribution of data from each contributor shows that some of them worked in narrow areas, while others send data from several regions. A list of regions and related number of systematic units is also presented. The best known region is Tuscany, with more of 4400 data on more than 1800 units, followed by Veneto (almost 3700 data on 1782 units) and by Emilia-Romagna (2938 records, 1539 units). The regions of Southern Italy are generally less known than those of Northern and Central Italy.
The database is a useful tool for measuring the loss of floristic and ecological diversity in areas that had a rich flora and have been completely transformed, such as wetlands and sandy coastal environments.

In the last decades of the twentieth century the small and medium-sized nations of East and South-East Asia have begun a process of potentially enormous political and economic transformation. Explosive growth has occurred already in many parts of the region, and the more slowly growing countries are attempting to emulate this vanguard group. The impact of the region upon the world economy has increased rapidly and is likely to continue to do so in the future.

Twenty-five rangeland sites were monitored over two decades first to assess the impact of the 1983-1984 droughts on fodder resources, then to better understand ecosystem functioning and dynamics. Sites are sampled along the south-north bioclimatic gradient in Gourma (Mali), within three main edaphic situations: sandy, loamy-clay and shallow soils. In addition, three levels of grazing pressure where systematically sampled within sandy soils. Located at the northern edge of the area reached by the West African monsoon, the Gourma gradient has recorded extremes in inter-annual variations of rainfall and resulting variations in vegetation growth. Following rainfall variability, inter-annual variability of herbaceous yield increases as climate gets dryer with latitudes at least on the sandy soils sites. Local redistribution of rainfall explains the high patchiness of herbaceous vegetation, especially on shallow soils. Yet spatial heterogeneity of the vegetation does not buffer between year yield variability that increases with spatial heterogeneity. At short term, livestock grazing during the wet season affects plant growth and thus yield in direction and proportions that vary with the timing and intensity of grazing. In the longer term, grazing also impinges upon species composition in many ways. Hence, long histories of heavy grazing promote either long cycle annuals refused by livestock or else short cycle good quality feed species. Primary production is maintained or even increased in the case of refusal such as Sida cordifolia, and is lessened in the case of short cycle species such as Zornia glochidiata. These behaviours explain that the yield anomalies calculated for the rangelands on sandy soils relative to the yield of site less grazed under similar climate tend to be negative in northern Sahel where the scenario of short cycle species dominates, while yield anomalies are close to nil in centre Sahel and slightly positive in South Sahel where the refusal scenario is more frequent. Because grazing promotes short cycle species, grazed rangelands respond faster to droughts.

In this paper adaptive morpho-anatomical traits are described of the species Teucrium fruticans, T. arduini, T. scordium, T. botrys, T. chamaedrys, T. flavum, T. montanum and T. polium in Serbia and Montenegro (Balkan peninsula). These characters of leaves and stems were related with chorology and ecology of the species. The research is based on 63 populations sampled across the region, from Eu-Mediterranean coastal areas up to the mountains and to temperate deciduous forest regions of Serbia. Descriptive statistics were calculated for 22 quantitative characters and multivariate analyses were performed to describe the structure of variability (PCA), to identify the significance of differences between the species studied (MANOVA), and to measure distances between them (CDA). In contrast to the widely distributed species Teucrium chamaedrys, T. montanum and T. polium, the species T. fruticans, T. arduini, T. scordium, T. botrys and T. flavum have narrow ecological ranges. Morphoanatomical analysis gives evidence that all species except T. scordium are xerophytes with distinctly xeromorphic structures. But each of them is characterized by specific structural adaptations to the more or less arid environmental conditions. The perennial herbaceous T. scordium, from the humid habitats, belongs to the mesophytic plant type. The results show that structures of the analyzed species are only partially related with the phylogenetic position of the respective taxa. Multivariate analysis indicates that the morpho-anatomical similarity of some species with each other can be characterized as convergently developed rather in adaptation to xeric ecological conditions that as based on phylogenetic relations.

A check list vascular plants in the Villahermosa Farm was made. Approximately 274 herbarium vouchers were collected represented in 232 species, 94 genera and 74 families. The angiosperm group was most representing. The families most represent were Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Acanthaceae, Orchidaceae, Cactaceae y Araceae with 21, 19, 18, 12, 12 y nine species respectively. The genera major represented were Acacia, Ficus, Barleria, with six species, Peperomia win five and Chamaedorea, Selenicereus and Hippocratea with four species respectively. Three type vegetation communities were determinated "selva baja caducifolia, selva mediana subcaducifolia and popal". The selva baja caducifolia was most diverso with 159 species. One species collected in the area is under conservation status as "amenazada" according the NOM-059-2001 and one in the red list IUCN. The flora inventoried in the area represent about 2.81% of flora estimated for Chiapas and about 23.24% of flora represented for physiographic region of the Central Depression of Chiapas.

Aim The paper has four major objectives: (1) to determine whether diaspore mimics accurately represent dispersal dynamics of real diaspores in a free-flowing river; (2) to estimate distance travelled and reasons for stranding of floating diaspores along a free-flowing river;

Resumen La cordillera Chongón Colonche conocida por su alta diversidad y endemismo presenta vacíos de información biológica así como la deforestación que amenazan la biodiversidad del sitio. Se determinó la composición, estructura y diversidad de la flora leñosa en dos localidades de la cordillera, Loma Alta y Dos Mangas, mediante parcelas de 0.1 ha ubicadas a 500 msnm. Se identificaron 48 especies, 46 géneros y 28 familias, donde las más representativas fueron Arecaceae y Urticaceae. La estructura estuvo conformada por seis clases diamétricas y siete altimétricas. El endemismo y estado de conservación se congrega en 19 especies (40%), de las cuales Inga carinata "Guaba", Gustavia serrata "Membrillo", Sorocea sarcocarpa "Tillo" y Randia carlosiana "Cañafito" son las más importantes. La diversidad alfa oscila en rangos medios, donde Loma Alta presentó mayor diversidad promedio (2.40 nats/ind) y menor dominancia promedio (0.13). La tasa de recambio (1.29) fue mayor en Loma Alta y el análisis de ordenación nMDS-ANOSIM-SIMPER estableció diferencias significativas (R = 0.80, p < 0.01) definiendo dos grupos disimiles (54%) florísticamente. La diversidad vegetal de los bosques de garúa está compuesta por familias características de los bosques húmedos occidentales y que difieren de la vegetación característica de los Bosques Estacionalmente Secos del Pacífico Ecuatorial, pero ambas regiones florísticas convergen en esta cordillera; por lo que, la conservación del bosque y un manejo efectivo de sus áreas protegidas es imperativo. Los resultados contribuyen al conocimiento local y regional de los bosques húmedos y secos de la costa ecuatoriana.

This paper highlights the importance of adopting culture-based strategies in addressing certain issues of environmental conservation and management in Sri Lanka, a country where links between nature and culture have historically been strong. It focuses on the link between culture and biodiversity in fields such as flora, fauna, ecosystems and local culture, which includes agriculture, lifestyles and place names. It also examines the policy significance of this focus, demonstrated most recently by the Sri Lankan government's support for and promotion of recent initiatives to designate specific flowers as provincial floral emblems, issue biodiversity-themed postage stamps and retain the custom of using biodiversity-related place names. It is suggested that people's traditional modes of interacting with and comprehending their natural environment may be fostered or harnessed through progressive government policy, not only in Sri Lanka but in other countries where traditional nature-based cultural practices continue to thrive.

Phytogeographical study of the forest massifs of Kefrida, a neglected sector of the Babors important PLANT area (Northeastern Algeria).― In order to provide a better knowledge of the flora of Little Kabylia (Bejaia, Algeria), with an objective of conservation of natural heritage, a phytogeographical study was conducted on forest vegetation in two understudied mountains in the area of Kefrida, adjoining the IPA (important plants area) of the Babors. The floristic surveys were conducted in a Zeen and an Afares oak (Quercus canariensis Willd. and Q. afares Pomel respectively) forests as well as mountain grasslands. The sampling allowed us to inventory 332 species of vascular plants. Besides the 205 (62 %) Mediterranean species it houses, the site is remarkable by the presence of 37 (11 %) Algerian endemics or sub-endemics and, above all, 79 (23 %) species from the non-Mediterranean Holarctic subset. Analysis of the global biological spectrum showed the significant dominance of hemicryp...

The present study uses differences among frugivore faunas of the southern hemisphere landmasses to test whether frugivore characteristics have influenced the evolution of fruit traits. Strong floristic similarities exist among southern landmasses; for example, 75% of New Zealand vascular plant genera also have species in Australia. However, plants in Australia and South America have evolved in the presence of a range of mammalian frugivores, whereas those in New Zealand, New Caledonia and the Pacific Islands have not. In addition, the avian frugivores in New Zealand and New Caledonia are generally smaller than those of Australia. If frugivore characteristics have influenced the evolution of fruit traits, predictable differences should exist between southern hemisphere fruits, particularly fruit size and shape. Fruit dimensions were measured for 77 New Zealand species and 31 Australian species in trans-Tasman genera. New Zealand fruits became significantly more ellipsoid in shape with increasing size. This is consistent with frugivore gape size imposing a selective pressure on fruit ingestability. This result is not a product of phylogenetic correlates, as fruit length and width scaled isometrically for Australian species in genera shared with New Zealand. Within-genus contrasts between New Zealand and Australian species in 20 trans-Tasman genera showed that New Zealand species have significantly smaller fruits than their Australian counterparts. Withingenus contrasts between New Zealand and South American species in nine genera gave the same result; New Zealand species had significantly smaller fruits than their South American counterparts. No difference was found in fruit size or shape between New Zealand and New Caledonia congeneric species from 12 genera. These results are consistent with the broad characteristics of the frugivore assemblage influencing the evolution of fruit size and shape in related species. The smaller-sized New Zealand frugivore assemblage has apparently influenced the evolution of fruit size of colonizing taxa sometimes within a relatively short evolutionary timeframe.

A família Iridaceae possui 66 gêneros e cerca de 2030 espécies, com distribuição cosmopolita e centro de diversidade na África do Sul, seguido pela América do Sul (Goldblatt et al. 2008). O presente trabalho baseia-se especialmente no levantamento da flora do estado de Goiás, hoje Goiás e Tocantins (Rizzo, 1981) pela coleção de Iridáceas depositadas no herbário UFG e de outras coletas depositadas nos herbários BOTU, CEN, ESA, HEPH, HB, HUEFS, HUTO, IBGE, ICN, INCT, K, MBM, MO, NY, R, RB, SP, SPF, UB, UEC. Os gêneros Alophia Herb., Cipura Aublet, Deluciris A.Gil & Lovo, Eleutherine Herb. , Pseudotrimezia Foster, Sisyrinchium L., Trimezia Salisb. ex Herb. foram analisados, detectando-se 17 espécies para estes estados brasileiros. Alophia medusae (Baker) Goldblatt e Alophia polycephala (Baker) Chukr (comb. nov.) são endêmicas dos estados de Goiás e Tocantins com poucas ocorrências. Cipura xanthomelas Mart. ex Klatt apresenta expressiva distribuição nos estados de Goiás e Tocantins, apesar de ocorrer também no nordeste (Maranhão e Bahia) e sudeste (Minas Gerais e São Paulo). Em Trimezia as espécies de ocorrência são: T. lutea (Klatt) Foster, T. martinicensis (Jacq.) Herb. e T. spathata (Klatt) Baker. Em Pseudotrimezia as espécies de ocorrência são: P. cathartica (Klatt) Ravenna, P. juncifolia (Klatt) Lovo & A. Gil, e P. pusilla (Ravenna) A. Gil. É de se ressaltar o endemismo de Pseudotrimezia pusilla, restrita à Serra Dourada de Goiás. Note-se também P. cathartica e Deluciris violacea (Klatt) A. Gil & Lovo com distribuição geográfica disjunta entre a Serra Geral de Goiás e a Cadeia do Espinhaço, em Minas Gerais como na Bahia. São apresentadas chaves de identificação para os gêneros e espécies, descrições, ilustrações e mapas de distribuição, assim como a fenologia e nomes vulgares das espécies.

The Lower Nhecolândia subregion of the Brazilian Pantanal is part of a large continuous tropical wetland that exhibits a high biodiversity of flora and fauna species, and many threatened habitats. The spatial distribution of these habitats influence the abundance and interactions of animal species, and the change or destruction of habitat can cause the disturbance of key biological processes. This study uses multi-temporal L-band ALOS/PALSAR, C-band RADARSAT-2, and ENVISAT/ASAR data to map ecosystems and create a lake distribution map of the Lower Nhecolândia subregion in the Brazilian Pantanal. First, backscattering analysis was conducted on individual training objects to gain a better understanding of the backscattering characteristics of each class. Then, a Level 1 object-based image analysis (OBIA) classification based on hierarchical principles first classified the region into "Lakes" and "Not Lakes". This was followed by a Level 2 classification defining six vegetation habitats (Forest Woodland, Open Wood Savanna, Open Grass Savanna, Agriculture, Swampy Grassland and Vazantes) which was achieved at an overall accuracy of 83%. A Level 3 classification defined the "Lakes" class into a) Fresh (baías) and Brackish (salinas) lakes (accuracy results of 98%); and a further classification level dividing the fresh lakes, b) Fresh Lakes with floating and emergent vegetation (baías), and Fresh Lakes with the presence of Typha (salobras), and including the Brackish lakes (salinas) (overall accuracy results of 81%). The results of this study provide the first fine spatial resolution classification showing the spatial distribution of terrestrial and aquatic habitats for the entire subregion of Lower Nhecolândia using dual season, dual polarization C and L-band SAR imagery. The produced maps will provide valuable habitat information to help define conservation strategies and aid further research in the area.

The root tubers of Asphodelus aestivus consist mostly of enlarged fleshy storage tissue. They are bounded by a multiple-layered velamen, responsible for rapid water uptake, water loss reduction, osmotic and mechanical protection. In the cortex area, thin-walled idioblasts contain numerous raphides of calcium oxalate in their large vacuole with a distinctive tonoplast. Wide morphological variations are observed among the raphide cross sections. Electron-dense compounds penetrate the raphide surface and raphide groove. Raphides seem to be vital for the protection of the root tuber parenchyma from herbivores. The cells of uniseriate endodermis are heavily thickened possessing a few plasmodesmata. The vascular cylinder is 20-28-arch and the root xylem consists of vessels in short radial rows, alternating with clusters of phloem cells. The presence of cells, which contain soluble polysaccharides in their large vacuole, is conspicuous after employing the Schiff's reagent. Exodermis cells and all cell walls, especially the thick ones of the endodermis, are also stained. Numerous parenchyma cells, especially those around vascular bundles are stained intensely, when exposed to Sudan Black B. These cells occurring as solitary idioblasts abundantly accumulate oil. Electron-dense remnants are evident within the vacuoles of the storage cells especially near the vascular tissue. The morphological features of A. aestivus root tubers and the major part of the total plant biomass are responsible for the species' occurrence and frequent dominance in a wide array of arid environments. A. aestivus possessing root tubers is proved to be very efficient in storing water during the long summer drought, less susceptible to climatic stress and well synchronized with the climatic fluctuations of the Mediterranean environment.

During the last years in the Ruhr area and in the Rheinland area several fern species have been detected new to the wild flora of Germany. These are the neophytic taxa Adiantum raddianum, Pteris cretica, Pteris cretica var. albo-lineata, Cyrtomium fortunei var. clivicola, as well as Selaginella kraussiana. Additionally, new locations have been found for the already known Adiantum capillus veneris and Pteris multifida.

1. This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Primula veris that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles : distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and diseases, history and conservation. 2. Primula veris is a distylous, perennial rosette hemicryptophyte, mostly found in well-drained, herb-rich meadows and grasslands, in scrub or woodland rides and edges, and on calcareous cliffs. It occurs on base-rich loams or clays, on limestone, and sometimes in dunes. 3. Native to the British Isles, it is characteristic of many mesotrophic and calcicolous lowland grassland communities, but it also extends into upland valleys in northern England and Scotland. In Ireland it is also native and most abundant in the central plain. Primula veris occurs throughout the temperate areas of Europe as far east as the Russian border. 4. Primula veris is a shade-intolerant species that shows reduced performance and flowering under shade or increased competition. The species is not able to penetrate anoxic soil layers and is therefore mostly absent from locations that are characterized by a high water table. It has a welldeveloped drought tolerance. 5. Primula veris is an obligate outbreeder which entirely depends on foraging insects for successful pollination. Although the species shows heterostyly, with two reciprocal morphs (pin and thrum), only relatively low levels of intermorph pollination have been reported. Seed dispersal is restricted to a few centimetres from maternal plants, whereas pollen flow is wider, but still limited to a few metres from parental plants. Both are factors that contribute to a significantly fine-scale spatial genetic structure and small neighbourhood size. 6. At several locations throughout the British Isles, P. veris occurs together with P. elatior and especially P. vulgaris . The hybrid P. veris × P. vulgaris = P. × polyantha occurs frequently in mixed populations, whereas the hybrid P. veris × P. elatior = P. × media has been rarely reported in Britain. 7. Although P. veris is still a widespread grassland herb, it is less abundant in the British Isles and continental Europe than before. This decline can be attributed to changes in land-use practices, such as the loss of traditional hay-meadow management, the loss of grazing and an increase of ploughing, in combination with ongoing destruction and nutrient enrichment of permanent grasslands. However, from 1980 onwards the species has increased substantially in many areas of the UK, largely because its seeds are included in wildflower seed-mixtures that are sown on new or upgraded road and motorway verges, embankments and urban conservation areas.

Medicinal plants are traditionally used worldwide for primary healthcare. Documentation of such traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge is essential because it might be lost after the loss of knowledgeable people. This study was conducted to document the traditional uses of locally available medicinal plants in the Bardiya district of Nepal during March and April 2021. Questionnaire survey method was used to collect the information about uses, local names, and parts used of the medicinal plant species found in the study area. Secondary data were collected through online portals like Google Scholar and Researchgate. Data were pooled and analyzed in Excel software. The data were presented in tables, graphs, and pie-chart. A total of 63 species of medicinal plants from 59 genera and 39 families were found to be used to treat 51 types of diseases. Fabaceae family represented the maximum number of plant species used (n=8). Herbs were used most frequently (n=29) among the different habits of plants. Similarly, the leaf was used most frequently (n=26) to cure diseases. The finding of the present study would be the baseline for further exploration of medicinal plants in the study area.

This paper deals with the chemical composition of the lake water and its effect on this wet ecosystem witnessing the interplay among the sea, the river and the man.

The Lake Idku and its coasts is a characteristic ecosystem with a high level of diversity, regarding its small area, its semi-enclosed nature, the dense life and ecosystems in and around the lake, the availability of the requirements of development, and the fact that it is the most diversified ecosystem. Accordingly, this coastal lake, from its deepest point up to its coasts, represents a varied wetlands ecosystems, each of which is different from the others in terms of the flora, amphibia, birds and fish.
This lake shows the dynamic nature of ecosystems . The lake is a transitional zone. Either its fate will be ( 1 ) the dry up by man instead of the natural sedimentation by the Nile, halted after the construction of the High Dam , or ( 2 ) the erosion and encroaching by sea , the lake will represent a zone of struggle between land and sea, sea and river, and man and nature

This book presents 70 boards with 1,400 photographs of 1,002 species of plants, fungi and lichens photographed in São thome das Letras, Minas Gerais, Brazil in these 06 years by 66 plant-loving photographers. 802 species of angiosperms (flowering plants), 02 species of gymnosperms 53 species of lycophytes and ferns, 17 species of bryophytes, 102 species of fungi and 26 species of lichens.
ISBN 978 65 00 08679 9

У довіднику наведено інформацію про сучасний стан та подальші перспективи збереження рідкісних та зникаючих трав’янистих рослин у Національному дендрологічному парку «Софіївка» НАН України. Охарактеризовано 72 види рослин, серед яких занесені до Червоного списку Міжнародного союзу охорони природи, Європейського Червоного списку, додатків міжнародних конфенцій — Бернської та СІТЕС, Червоної книги України, списків регіонально рідкісних рослин Черкаської, Вінницької та Кіровоградської областей.
Для ботаніків, екологів, спеціалістів у галузі охорони природи, викладачів та студентів вищих навчальних закладів, вчитилів біології.

Resumen La cordillera Chongón Colonche conocida por su alta diversidad y endemismo presenta vacíos de información biológica así como la deforestación que amenazan la biodiversidad del sitio. Se determinó la composición, estructura y diversidad de la flora leñosa en dos localidades de la cordillera, Loma Alta y Dos Mangas, mediante parcelas de 0.1 ha ubicadas a 500 msnm. Se identificaron 48 especies, 46 géneros y 28 familias, donde las más representativas fueron Arecaceae y Urticaceae. La estructura estuvo conformada por seis clases diamétricas y siete altimétricas. El endemismo y estado de conservación se congrega en 19 especies (40%), de las cuales Inga carinata &quot;Guaba&quot;, Gustavia serrata &quot;Membrillo&quot;, Sorocea sarcocarpa &quot;Tillo&quot; y Randia carlosiana &quot;Cañafito&quot; son las más importantes. La diversidad alfa oscila en rangos medios, donde Loma Alta presentó mayor diversidad promedio (2.40 nats/ind) y menor dominancia promedio (0.13). La tasa de recam...

The synanthropic flora of the Lviv city was studied. It includes 663 species of vascular
plants which belong to 382 genera and 103 families of four divisions. The families which
are the most saturated of synanthropic species: Аsteraceae (15.2 %), Rosaceae (7.4 %),
Poaceae (7.2 %), Fabaceae (6.8 %), Brassicaceae (6.5 %), Lamiaceae (4.8 %), Scrophulariaceae
(3.8 %), Polygonaceae (3.2 %), Caryophyllaceae (3 %), Chenopodiaceae (3 %).
Prevailing genera of synanthropic flora are: Bromus Scop. (1.7 % видів), Vicia L., Geranium
L. (по 1.5 %), Amaranthus L., Trifolium L. (по 1.4 %), Chenopodium L., Potentilla L.
і Veronica L. (по 1. 2 %), Aster L., Atriplex L., Epilobium L. і Rumex L. (по 1 %). 31
families are represented exclusively in apophytes, and 37 – are only in adventitious species.
The apophytes fraction is larger – it accounts for 334 species. The adventitious fraction includes
329 species (archeophytes – 102 and kenophytes – 227 species). The largest number
of adventitious species occurs along roads, railways, near garbage, on abandoned sites, on
private plots. The degree of naturalization is dominated by a group of epecophytes (49.8 %),
by the way of penetration – ergasiophytes – 40.4 %.

Materials and Methods Study site Balaghat Ranges are located from 18°47′40.26″ to 18°32′29.28″ N and from 75°20′26.90″ to 76°48′56.18″ E latitude, mainly spread over Ahmednagar, Beed, Latur, Osmanabad and Solapur districts of the Maharashtra State of India, in the basins of river Manjra and its tributaries Terna, Bori, Tiru and Manyad (Figure 1). Balaghat occupies an area about 18111km 2. The terrain of Balaghat shows hills and hillocks of varying heights (463-822 m). It supports different types of vegetation such as tropical dry deciduous forests, open scrub jungles and vast grasslands. The weather in general is dry and moderately extreme. The average temperature ranges from 27.7°C to 42°C and the relative humidity is extremely low (35-50%) during major parts of the year, while it is highest (75%) in the monsoon season (June to October). The average rainfall is about 729 mm mainly from June to October. Data collection Initially, a list of tree species of the Balaghat Ranges was prepared by referring to all available literature. Following this, intensive and extensive field visits were undertaken to different localities of the Balaghat Ranges for plant collection. During field exploration, information on vegetation type, habitat, phenology, coordinates and present status were gathered. Three good specimens were collected and prepared as voucher specimens as per standard herbarium techniques (Rao and Sharma 1990), and deposited in the herbarium of Walchand College, Solapur (Maharashtra). Field identifications were confirmed with the help of available literature such

Cities contain a diverse range of habitats that support plant establishment and persistence. This study focuses on a particular vertical artificial habitat: masonry retaining walls in Hong Kong. We explored the diversity and coexistence of different plant growth forms, synoptic assessment of habitat conditions, and relationship between habitat factors and vegetation occurrence. Some 270 walls with notable plant colonization in old districts were studied. We surveyed intrinsic wall fabric, extrinsic site condition, tree species and abundance, and other types of plant cover. The data were evaluated with the help of principal component and multiple regression analyses. A wide assemblage of species and growth forms have established spontaneously on walls. The tree flora is dominated by Moraceae (Mulberry family) members, genus Ficus (figs or banyans), and particularly Ficus microcarpa. Trees with strangler characteristics pre-adapted to grow on the vertical habitat are strongly favoured, followed by ruderals and garden escapees. Natives outnumber exotics by a large margin. Multiple wall attributes could be condensed into four factors, classified as water-nutrient supply, habitat connectivity, structure-maintenance, and habitat size. The action of habitat factors on vegetation occurrence hinges on plant growth form and dimension. The occurrence of diminutive lichen-moss is related to the fundamental sustenance water-nutrient factor. The bigger mature trees are more dependent on the larger-scale habitat size factor. The medium-sized plants, including herbs, shrubs and tree seedlings, are contingent upon the dual influence of water-nutrient and habitat connectivity. Spatial contiguity with natural ecosystem can secure continual supplies of seeds, water, nutrient, genial microclimate, and clean air to foster wall vegetation growth. The conservation of walls and their companion flora could avoid degrading or reducing these critical enabling factors. The urban ecological heritage deserves to be protected from unnecessary, misinformed and harmful impacts.

The Philippines is highly regarded as one of the top biodiversity “hot spot” areas of the world supporting 1.9 percent of the world’s endemic plants and vertebrates species (Mittermeier et al. 1998). In fact, the Philippines is one of the 17 mega-diverse hotspots around the world in terms of species, habitat and other ecosystems as well as in terms of area in acre per acre basis [2]. Much of the diverse types of forest ecosystems in the country, Cebu has forest over limestone ecosystem that is now under many types of pressures (Malabrigo, 2016). Unlike the very scientific and organized conservation programs being poured into other forest ecosystems in the country, there is no consensus effort that would ensure effective biodiversity conservation and forest rehabilitation, most specifically in the Lagonoy Natural Biotic Area (LNBA), where a unique forest over limestone ecosystem and diverse fragmented  forests remains with imminent threat.  Protected areas have been established to conserve the Philippine ‘biodiversity’. Repeated data sampling or 'monitoring' can show if the biodiversity of an area is being maintained in accordance with the NIPAS Act and the management objectives of the area (UNDP-GEF, 2012). It is imperative that a more scientific and doable approach such as the Forest Biodiversity Management Units (FBMUs) would give contributory impacts to biodiversity conservation and rehabilitation program in the region and be formulated and adopted by the concerned stakeholders to completely protect the remaining resilient biodiversity and forest ecosystems in Bicol Region particularly LNBA. Despite being proclaimed as a protected area and amidst various scientific tools for diversity studies, not a single comprehensive floristic study has been conducted in Lagonoy Natural Biotic Area (LNBA) to determine the ecologically important species needing conservation prioritization. In fact, the basis in relation to PAME of NIPAS and its proclamation being a "Natural Biotic Area" is unknown considering the vast flora diversity of the area.

Tillandsia spp. (Bromeliaceae) use their epidermal trichomes for absorbing atmospheric water, mineral and organic nutrients. The absorbing trichome in Tillandsia has a nail-like shape, formed by an axis (stem) connected to the internal tissues of the leaf, and by an external shield. Water and aqueous liquids coming from the external environment go through the shield cells and then run through the stem, finally reaching the underlying mesophyll parenchyma along a symplastic route.

The essay takes it starting point from the question, how women Surrealists depict sexuality. Images of female erotic fantasies have been far less analyzed than the erotic fantasies of their male Surrealist colleagues. The essay puts forward the thesis that women Surrealists use flora and fauna symbols in juxtaposition with their own bodies to enable both freedom of imagination and sexual empowerment. Hybridity and metamorphosis are methods to self-define, within the realm of dreams. The essay analyzes selected paintings by the Scandinavian Surrealists Rita Kernn-Larsen and Elsa Thoresen and compare them to their international contemporaries. The cases of Kernn-Larsen and Thoresen both show how sexual fantasy is linked to female subjectivity, and how women artists found each their individual visualization of eroticism. Furthermore, the view that Surrealist women's use of nature symbols is primarily connected to a fertile, reproductive "Mother Earth" ideal is countered. Rather, women artists consciously invoke the complete range of roles and clichés surrounding the woman-nature link; they take these allegories and recreate them into their own versions, including images of savageness and shadiness, the "immoral" side of nature.

El trabajo de esta comunicación se encuadra dentro del trabajo de investigación etnobotánica desarrollado por sus autores en el Valle de Roncal (Navarra). A través de la propuesta aquí expuesta se pretenden interrelacionar dos ámbitos en la didáctica de lo cultural: el papel activo del legado patrimonial etnobotánico y su lectura desde una perspectiva educativa. Proponemos para ello una unidad didáctica extracurricular que permita la implementación del trabajo colaborativo multidisciplinar con alumnos (primaria y secundaria) en apoyo externo. El Valle de Roncal es una comarca pirenaica y periférica con un acusado éxodo rural. El taller quiere ser una apuesta por la introducción de la etnobotánica en la docencia desde la perspectiva de la educación patrimonial. En definitiva, busca la inclusión del ‘conocimiento tradicional’ sobre la flora del valle entendiendo el empleo del entorno natural como herramienta educativa de los jóvenes del lugar. Se pretende esbozar una dinámica que permita acercar y reflexionar a los alumnos acerca del papel que ha desempeñado y ejerce la flora en su cultura tradicional local.

We report the discovery of the Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile var. aegyptiaca in Qatar for the first time. According
to the national biodiversity reports and national and international literatures, there are no record for the species in
Qatar. Also, its presence has not been detected either by locals or experts in Qatar before, although the species
present in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, and much of South Asia. We had discovered this species in Ar-Rayyan
municipality at a location near Salwa road, 25 km from Doha, 90 km to Qatar–KSA borders (25°11'38.9"N
51°22'32.3"E). However, our findings highlights the need of a comprehensive survey around all Qatar, in order to
document the presence of other plant species, and also to complete the catalogue of flora in Qatar.