Host-driven morphological variability in orobanche crenata (Orobanchaceae)

Studies on interactions between Orobanche species and their hosts are mainly focused on resistance, radical interactions, and haustorium development. The influence of the host plant on morphology of the parasite under environmental controlled conditions is not reported in the literature. With the aim of filling this gap, the results of cultivation experiments of Orobanche crenata on Vicia faba, V. sativa, Pisum sativum, Cicer arietinum, and Lathyrus clymenum are presented. The tested population of O. crenata infected all the studied hosts but showed preferences toward Vicia and Pisum and, in particular, toward a foreign V. sativa cv. The higher resistance of the evaluated local cv. could be due to coevolution between host and parasite. There was little variation in times of emergence: about 110 days on V. faba, while around 125 on P. sativum, C. arietinum, and V. sativa. The shape and size of flowers of O. crenata were influenced by its hosts. The more flourishing the host, the more vigorous the parasite with respect to overall size, number of flowers, and density of the inflorescence. However, significant variations were also observed in the shape of the calyx and the colour of the corolla and stigma. These observations suggest that other taxa of Orobanche that grow in the wild, which are considered to be different species, could be morphotypes of the same taxon, although a process of speciation may be in progress

Checklist of the vascular plants collected during the 12th “Iter Mediterraneum” in Tunisia, 24 March – 4 April 2014

The vascular plants (plus one alga) collected during Iter Mediterraneum XII of OPTIMA in North Tunisia have been studied. In all, 1374 gatherings were made from 43 localities in the “Cap Bon” region, “Dorsale Tunisienne”, “Tunisie du Nord-Est”, “Vallée de la Medjedah”, “Mogods” and “Kroumirie” areas. They belong to 82 families and 539 species or subspecies. Three taxa are new for the flora of Tunisia (Cerastium diffusum subsp. gussonei, Senecio leucanthemifolius subsp. mauritanicus, and Ulmus minor subsp. canescens), 7 represent new records for the “Kroumirie”, 15 for the “Mogods”, 3 for the “Tunisie du Nord-Est”, 2 for the “Dorsale Tunisienne”, and 8 for “Cap Bon

Presentation

This is the presentation of the volume that collect botanical articles published in honor of Professor Francesco Maria Raimondo to celebrate his 70th birthday and his activity in the field of botany

Suivi Botanique de l’Archipel de Zembra

Une mission scientifique a été réalisée sur l’archipel de Zembra du 9 au 15 Mai 2013. Les principaux objectifs fixés pour cette mission étaient les suivant: - améliorer les connaissances générales de la flore et de la végétation sur l’archipel, - réaliser un nouvel inventaire de la végétation à partir des placettes délimitées suite à la dératisation de 2010 sur Zembretta afin d’évaluer le sens d’évolution de la végétation, - le suivi de la végétation sur ces placettes, réalisé dans le cadre des ″Iles Sentinelles en Méditerranée″ dont l’archipel de Zembra en fait partie, - améliorer la connaissance des groupements végétaux et des habitats de l’île tout en prenant en compte les habitats favorables pour les puffins dans le but de perfectionner d’avantage le protocole de suivi des effectifs à long terme

Studies on the genus Atriplex (Chenopodiaceae) in Italy. VIII. Names published by Vincenzo Tineo and Michele Lojacono-Pojero

The typification of the Atriplex names published by Vincenzo Tineo and Michele Lojacono-Pojero is discussed. Atriplex ambigua, A. dealbata, A. graeci, A. halimoides, halimoides var. glomerata, A. halimoides var. perglauca, A. polyphylla, and A. ratundifolia are neo- or lectotypified on specimens preserved at FI or PAL and synonymized with A. glauca (= A. dealbata), A. halimus (= A. halimoides = A. halimoides var. glomerata = A. halimoides var. perglauca), A. rosea (= A. ambigua = A. graeci) and A. tornabenei (= A. polyphylla = A. rotundifolia). The Tineo’s A. arenaria, previously considered as replaced synonym of A. tornabenei, is clarified and typified (neotype) on a specimens deposited at FI

Primo rinvenimento in Sicilia di Typha laxmannii (Typhaceae)

First record of Typha laxmannii Lepech. (Typhaceae) in Sicily. Typha laxmannii Lepech. (Typhaceae) is here reported, for the first time, in Sicily at Scopello, near Castellammare del Golfo (NW Sicily). This species is compared with the congenerics occurring in the region; dichotomous key and description are also given to make the identification easier

Osservazioni sulle strategie riproduttive dei taxa appartenenti al gruppo di Limonium articulatum (Plumbaginaceae)

Limonium articulatum (Plumbaginaceae) e le specie affini costituiscono un gruppo tassonomico riconosciuto da diversi autori che si rinviene lungo le coste della Corsica, Sardegna e dell’Arcipelago Toscano. In concomitanza con indagini morfometriche, sono state condotte osservazioni sulla biologia riproduttiva di queste specie su materiale d’erbario. Nelle specie a più ampia distribuzione, L. articulatum e L. contortirameum, si sono osservate solo combinazioni autoincompatibili. Lo stesso in L. caprarie, L. corsicum, L. strictissimum e L. tarcoense. In L. coralliforme, L. dolcheri, L. florentinum, L. tibulatium e L. ursanum sono state osservate combinazioni autofertili. Non si sono verificati casi di combinazioni autofertili e combinazioni auto-incompatibili nello stesso taxon

Orobanche australis Moris ex Bertol. the correct name for O. thapsoides Lojac. (Orobanchaceae)

The taxonomic relationships between Orobanche australis and O. thapsoides are analyzed through the study of the original material. These species are also compared with other morphologically similar ones occurring in the Mediterranean (O. canescens, O. pubescens, O. palaestina, O. amethystea). The lectotype of O. palaestina is designated. From the comparison of these taxa it is evident that O. australis and O. thapsoides refer to the same taxon, to which the name O. australis must be given by priority. The distribution of this species includes Sardinia, Sicily, Peninsular Italy and Southern France. It grows on pastures from the sea level to about 1000 m of altitude, host of Asteraceae. An identification key between the species considered and a distribution map is provided

Implementation of an online information system for the “Flora Critica d’Italia”

Since the early 2000s, within the Italian Botanical Society was discussed the opportunity to realize collaboratively a modern Flora articulated in monographs on the model of others under construction or recently completed in several European countries (1). This initiative had a milestone in 2007 with the institution of the “Fondazione per la Flora Italiana”, with the aim of supporting the activities of study, conservation and cultural and scientific enhancement of the flora of Italy and of sensitizing the national community about the many functions that it implements, in the context of natural and semi-natural ecosystems. The “Foundation for the Italian flora” is responsible for the publication of the "Flora critica d’Italia". During the course of the project, it became apparent the diminishing impact of the hard copy in favour of an online information system more flexible and upgradeable and thus more suited to the current needs of the research but also in all fields of everyday life. Last 25th February the first 3 contributions, concerning the families of Isoetaceae, Heliotropiaceae and Hydrophyllaceae (2, 3, 4) have been published online (http://www.floraditalia.it/index.php? page=flora_critica). These early contributions were prepared in the traditional way with a text editor. In order to create the online information system, under the indications of the Editorial Committee, the Board of Directors decided to rely on the experience gained by the staff of Palermo in the field of biological databases (5, 6) and to support by itself the development of a specific software. It is currently under construction and implementation a relational database that serves as a base for the entire project. It include information related to nomenclature, taxonomy, description, keys, distribution, images, karyology, uses, vernacular names, etc. Data and tables are standardized according to TDWG (Taxonomic Database Working Group) standards (http://www.tdwg.org) and comply with the The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data architecture. The system is composed by two main parts: a database and a web application. The database currently contains 16 relations (although more will be built within the end of the project) and relies onto MySQL Database Management System. The web application is built using PHP scripting language and the CakePHP framework for the server-side part, running on a Linux server. The client-side part leverages onto Javascript and Jquery library. It follows the MVC1 (Model View Controller) design paradigm. It deals with the database manipulation in terms of data management and data presentation along with user management. The whole system addresses several main security issues such as passwords hashing, accesses logging and code injection protections. Data inputting is online by a web browser. The authors will input data in user friendly forms or to import tables. Outputs produced include online ones coming from queries and pdf production to be done periodically to fix what done or to prepare chapters of the volumes to be eventually printed and included in a hard copy volume