Southeastern-Alpine endemic Leontodon hispidus subsp. brumatii (Cichoriaceae) in the Sava valley (central Slovenia)

In the spring and summer of 2010 a number of new localities of the southeastern- Alpine endemic Leontodon hispidus subsp. brumatii were found on temporarily flooded riparian rocks in the gorge of the Sava River between the village of Sava and Zidani Most (central Slovenia). The species has so far been known only in northeastern Italy and western Slovenia (the Soca valley). In order to obtain more specific information its sites were studied phytosociologically and the communities in which it grows in the Sava and the Soča valleys compared. Two new associations were described on the basis of these comparisons: Triseto argentei-Leontodontetum brumatii ass. nov. and Leontodonti brumatii-Seslerietum calcariae ass. nov. As this endemic taxon and its endemic communities are a characteristic of riparian flora and vegetation of some Slovenian mountain rivers and as its localities in the Sava valley are explicitly disjunct and the southeasternmost in the entire known distribution area, they deserve to be studied and protected

Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of methanol extracts of two Athamanta turbith subspecies

The methanol extracts of fruits and leaves of Athamanta turbith subsp. hungarica (Borbas) Tutin (Umbelliferae) and A. turbith subsp. haynaldii (Borbas & Uechtr.) Tutin were analyzed for their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids) of the extracts were examined using HPLC. All the extracts were characterized by the presence of caffeic acid derivates, luteolin and its glycosides, with luteolin 7-O-glucoside as one of the main compounds. Luteolin 7-O-rutinoside was detected only in A. turbith subsp. haynaldii extracts. Investigation of antimicrobial activity was performed against six bacteria and two fungal strains, using the agar diffusion technique and broth microdilution assay. The extracts of investigated A. turbith subspecies exerted similar antimicrobial activity, whereas the best activity was detected against Candida albicans. In order to investigate antioxidant properties, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), radical scavenging capacity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical (HO.), and the effect on lipid peroxidation (LP) were examined. All the examined extracts showed moderate antioxidant capacity, whereas the fruit extracts were more active than the extracts of leaves. Also, the extracts of A. turbith subsp. hungarica exerted higher antioxidant capacity than corresponding A. turbith subsp. haynaldii extracts. The relationship between estimated activity and chemical composition of the extracts is discussed

Contribution to the vascular flora of Papasidero (north-western Calabria, Italy)

A floristic survey of the Papasidero municipality (54.65 km2) was carried out from 2008 to 2011, allowing us to list 580 specific and infraspecific taxa (567 verified by us), belonging to 353 genera and 89 families. Several species are rather interesting from a phytogeographic and/or conservation point of view. 14 exotic species were also recorded, 10 of which are considered invasive in the regional flora. The most represented families are Asteraceae (66 taxa), Fabaceae (56), Lamiaceae (40), Poaceae (31), while most represented genera are Trifolium (11), Euphorbia and Ophrys (9), Lathyrus and Geranium (8). Biological and chorological spectra show a clear dominance of Hemicriptophytes and Mediterranean elements respectively, as one can expect based on the climatic conditions of the area at issues

A new Sesleria juncifolia association from south-eastern Italy and its position in the amphi-Adriatic biogeographical context

The Sesleria juncifolia calcareous grasslands in the Apulia region (southern Italy) were studied on the basis of 24 phytosociological relevés. According to UPGMA cluster analysis division and NMDS ordination the relevés were classified into four major groups which gave rise to three sub-associations (Gargano) and a geographically impoverished variant (Alta Murgia). The new association Stipo austroitalicae-Seslerietum juncifoliae ass. nova was proposed. Due to the relict and scattered distribution of Sesleria juncifolia in Apulia region, the variances in species composition amongst the different subassociationsare mainly influenced by local factors. The community Stipo-Seslerietum should be included in the south-eastern Italian alliance Hippocrepido-Stipion austroitalicae while at the rank of order it exhibits intermediate coenological features between the Central- South Apennine endemic suborder Festuco-Seslerienalia nitidae and the North-West Balkan order Scorzonero-Chrysopogonetalia

Some novelties in the flora and vegetation of Mt Snežnik (SW Slovenia, Liburnian karst)

The first records for Scabiosa graminifolia, Potentilla clusiana and Seseli gouanii are presented for the Mt Snežnik Plateau. One new association, Scabioso silenifoliae-Dryadetum octopetalae ass. nova, and a phytocoenon with Scabiosa silenifolia are described