Plant species occupy different habitats on the fortress walls in Elbasan, Albania

Vegetated walls are an important habitat for urban biodiversity. We conducted an analysis of the plant species that grow on the Elbasan, Albania fortress walls. Walls vary in age from 4th to 21st century, and in composition. On 71 walls we assessed 2,787 plants of 35 species and recorded plant size, presence of flowers or fruits, height from the ground, crevice depth, wall aspect, wall age and composition, and distance to nearest opposing wall. Eleven species, two of which were ferns, composed 93.8% of the plants. The vast majority of plants flowered and fruited on the walls. Plant density ranged from 0.1-70 plants/m2. Species distributions varied significantly based on height on the wall, crevice depth, aspect and distance to the opposing wall. These differences may be influenced by dispersal mechanisms, moisture, substrate composition, and other important environmental factors. For example, Antirrhinum majus was generally found high on south facing walls in deep cracks whereas Umbilicus rupestris was found lower on north facing walls in shallower cracks. It is important that older walls colonized by plants be maintained such that a native flora can persist where natural rocky features are lacking

Data on the palynomorphological characterstic of the genus Silene from Albania

The palynomorphological features of four species belonging to the genus Silene (Silene italica, Silene armeria, Silene pusilla and Silene fabarioides) from different regions of Albania, were investigated and studied by light microscope. This study aims to assess and highlight the existence of significant differences in pollen size, distance between two pores, the exine sculpture and pores number found in these species. Pollen grains were usually radially symmetrical, polar, polypantoporate, spheroidal. The pores were circular contours, operculate which due to thickening of intine in this zone, come out like a cupole. The number of pores varied from 20 to 26 in Silene italica, from 16 to 20 pores in Silene fabarioides and Silene armeria, and from 12 to 16 pores in Silene pusilla. The ornamentations of exine varied from microechinate to microperforate (punctate) at Silene italica, Silene fabarioides and Silene pusilla, whereas at Silene armeria the sculpure of exine was reticulate. The biggest pollen grains were found in Silene fabarioides, whereas the smallest ones were found in Silene armeria

Galium setaceum Lam. and Sisyrinchium rosulatum E. P. Bicknell, Two New Species for the Albanian Flora, Distribution and Ecology

The Albanian flora includes 31 taxa in the genus Galium and one taxon in Sisyrinchium, the non-native S. angustifolium Mill. Here we present two new species for the Albanian flora, found at Krasta Park, Elbasan, May 2019. Galium setaceum Lam. was found on the southwestern side of Krasta Hill, in dry disturbed clearings of Pinus halepensis Mill. forest, on calcareous rocky substrate. Populations were small (lt%253B1m2) with a variable number of individuals. Sisyrinchium rosulatum E. P. Bicknell, which is native to southeastern North America, is the second new taxon for the Albanian flora. Two populations of were found in moist open disturbed grassy areas in P. halepensis forest. The first population detected was located in the northeastern side of Krasta Hill, while the second was located at the top of the Hill. For both taxa, specimens were collected and identified using multiple keys in the literature and specimens at the Albanian National Herbarium. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Albanian National Herbarium. In this paper we also present data on the distribution, ecology and habitat of these species, which enlarge the Albanian flora and the species distribution range, and illustrate the floristic diversity of Krasta Park

Comparative allergopalinological study of Rumex Scutatus (Polygonaceae) in Albania

In this article, the palynomorphological features of pollen grains of Rumex scutatus (Polygonaceae) have been studied. Samples of flowers and pollen grains were found and collected during field expeditions by various plant individuals in the "Shebenik" National Park in Albania. Two methods have been used for the preparation of pollen slides: acetolysis according to Erdtman and basic fuchsine method according to Smoljaninova and Gollubkova. The Kisser method was used to fix the slides. The results obtained regarding the palynomorphological features and the size of pollen grains for Rumex scutatus have been studied for the first time in the albanian literature and they are compared with those of the other two species, Rumex pulcher and Rumex acetosella, previously studied by other authors. The study showed that the pollen grains of Rumex scutatus are monads with radial and isopolar symmetry. Their dimensions at the polar and equatorial axis and the dimensions of their colpi and pores are larger than those of Rumex acetosella but smaller than those of Rumex pulcher. The exine layer had a thickness of about 1.45 μm and was presented perforate, unlike that of Rumex acetosella (reticulate) and Rumex pulcher (microreticulate)

The Vegetation of the Buna River Protected Landscape (Albania)

AbstractThe vegetation of Buna River Protected Landscape is described. The area comprises both the alluvial plain of the lower course of the Buna river that marks the boundary between Montenegro and Albania, and a carbonatic range. The vegetation is characterized by a high β-diversity (27 alliances and 46 associations), especially in wetlands and dry grasslands. In the area it is possible to distinguish 1 dunal and 4 hygro-sequences in the alluvial plain and 3 xeroseries in the carbonatic range. Associations Clematido viticellae-Punicetum granati and Periploco graecae-Alnetum glutinosae are described as new

Plant species occupy different habitats on the fortress walls in Elbasan, Albania

Vegetated walls are an important habitat for urban biodiversity. We conducted an analysis of the plant species that grow on the Elbasan, Albania fortress walls. Walls vary in age from 4th to 21st century, and in composition. On 71 walls we assessed 2787 plants of 35 species and recorded plant size, presence of flowers or fruits, height from the ground, crevice depth, wall aspect, wall age and composition, and distance to nearest opposing wall. Eleven species, two of which were ferns, composed 93.8% of the plants. The vast majority of plants flowered and fruited on the walls. Plant density ranged from 0.1–70 plants/m2. Species distributions varied significantly based on height on the wall, crevice depth, aspect and distance to the opposing wall. These differences may be influenced by dispersal mechanisms, moisture, substrate composition, and other important environmental factors. For example, Antirrhinum majus was generally found high on south facing walls in deep cracks whereas Umbilicus rupestris was found lower on north facing walls in shallower cracks. It is important that older walls colonized by plants be maintained such that a native flora can persist where natural rocky features are lacking

Data on the palynomorphological features of some plants of Albania's Umbelliferae family

Palynomorphological features of the pollen grains of four honey plant: Foeniculum vulgare, Eryngium maritimum, E. campestre and Crithmum maritimum from 61 genera of Umbelliferae family present in Albania, were studied and examined by compound microscope. By the palynomorphological study of Eryngium maritimum plant compared with pollen grains of E. campestre resulted that there were similarities in the majority of their palynological features on one side, and there were differences in terms of the dimensions of pollen grains and furrows, the aperture and sporoderme features, on the other side. Based on the results obtained by this study, it was noted that the pollen grains of two plants: Foeniculum vulgare and Eryngium campestre were triaperturate, while at the pollen grains of E. maritimum and Crithmum maritimum showed three furrows and three pores. The exine sculpture of the four plants varied from granulate to rugulate at the pollen grains of Foeniculum vulgare and Eryngium campestre, reticulate to scabrate at Crithmum maritimum, and rugulate at E. maritimum. The largest dimensions for the majority of the palynological indicators were identified for Eryngium campestre pollen grains and the smallest ones were found in Crithmum maritimum pollen grains

The ophiolitic communities of Shebenik-Jablanice National Park (Albania)

The Shebenik-Jablanice National Park is located in east central Albania which is characterized by one of the most important outcrops of the Mirdita ophiolitic formation. Ophiolites are often serpentinized and rich in metals, and present therefore a specialized flora and vegetation, which has attracted much research, but which is still incompletely known. In this paper we present the main communities of this vegetation, which encompasses subalpine grasslands, scrub and dry grasslands. Six associations are presented as new (Stachyo scardicae-Buxertum sempervirentis, Daphno oleoidi-Ericetum herbaceae, Carici sempervirentis-Seslerietum coerulantis, Carici macrolepidis-Genistetum hassertianae, Alysso bertolonii subsp. scutarinum-Euphorbietum glabriflorae, Sedo serpentini-Festucopsietum serpentini) and a few others are presented without a formal description (Bornmuellera baldaccii community, Astragalus angustifolius community, Viola magellensis scree vegetation). Serpentinicolous dry grassland vegetation of the Shebenik mountains is compared to other communities of serpentines in Italy, Balkans and Greece and a new alliance is described for this community, Festucopsion serpentini (Halacsyetalia sendtneri) vicariant of the Centaureo-Bromion fibrosi which occurs in northern Albania and Kosovo. The alliance is characterized by a set of species which do not occur or are rare further north and by a relatively dry climate with Mediterranean affinity. We also present a thorny cushion vegetation with Astragalus angustifolius, which grows on limestone but is vicariant to the analogous community with Genista hassertiana. Finally, considering the rarity of these communities at continental scale, and their richness of endemic and rare species, we present the description of a new habitat for future inclusion in the Annex I of the Habitat Directive