Karyomorphology and systematics of the eastern taxa of Genista sect. Spartioides and G. pulchella (Genisteae-Fabaceae).

A karyological analysis of some taxa of Genista sect. Spartioides, distributed in the eastern part of the Mediterranean region, was carried out. The three subspecies of Genista pulchella: ssp. pulchella (western Balkan Peninsula), ssp. aquilana (central Apennines) and ssp. villarsiana (southern France) all present the chromosome number 2n = 18 + (0 - 4B). The taxa of G. albida aggr., G. albida (eastern Mediterranean) and G. involucrata (Ana- tolian), both have 2n = 18 + (0 - 2B); 2n = 36 + (0 - 3B) being rarely found in the latter species. As regards the taxa endemic to the Balkan Peninsula, G. halacsyi and G. subcapitata show 2n = 18 + (0 - 2B), G. sakellariadis and G. millii 2n = 36 + 2B. All these numbers may be traced back to the basic number x = 9. G. pulchella has the most symmetric karyotype, while G. albida and G. involucrata result more asymmetric; the four Balkan endemics (G. halacsyi, G. sakellariadis, G. subcapitata and G. millii) present the highest grade of asymmetry. A comparison with karyological data already available for all the taxa of sect. Spartioides was also made

Genetic characterization of Genista sericea Wulfen (Cytiseae - Fabaceae) as revealed by nuclear DNA content and ITS nrDNA region analysis

Genista sericea Wulfen, a northern Illyrian amphi-Adriatic species, presents a certain morphological variability. To clarify whether the genetic variations support the morphological differences among accessions of different geographic origin, analysis of nuclear DNA content and polymorphism of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) dataset was studied. The variation in nuclear DNA content of G. sericea var. sericea and var. rigida is minimal (2.09 and 2.08 pg/nucleus respectively) and is correlated with equal chromosome numbers in both varieties. Intraspecific variability of the ITS region was studied on 13 accessions of G. sericea, 6 belonging to var. sericea and 7 to var. rigida. These accessions were analyzed in comparison to closely related species already studied. ITS sequences of G. sericea revealed large polymorphism and formed two main clusters. One cluster (6 accessions) comprehends var. sericea of northern Italy, Slovenia and northern Croatia; the other cluster (7 accessions) includes five accessions of var. rigida from southern Croatia and Montenegro and two from the Pollino massif (southern Italy). The later two accessions considerably differed from other accessions of var. rigida. This genetic analysis supports the previous assumptions, which subdivided G. sericea into at least two taxa. On the basis of the results presented, it is here suggested that the subdivision of G. sericea into var. sericea and var. rigida should be maintained

Prati e pascoli del Friuli su substrati basici

GRASSLANDS OF FRIULI (NE ITALY) ON BASIC SUBSTRATES. The natural grasslands on calcareous-dolomitic substrates of Friuli have been classified in fourteen coenoses. They may be grouped into two vegetational classes: Festuco-Brometea and Seslerietea albicantis. Within Festuco-­Brometea the Illyrian order Scorzoneretalia villosae has been recognized, with two alliances, Satureion subspicatae, of primitive soils, and Scorzonerion villosae, of more evolved soils. The alliance Satureion subspicatae is subdivided into two suballiances, Satureion subspicatae, of Illyrian-dinaric distribution, and Centaurenion dichroanthae, of Illyrian-prealpine exension, which includes the associations Centaurenion dichroanthae-Globularietum cordifoliae, Saturejo variegatae-Brometum condensati, Bupleuro-Brometum condensati, Schoeno nigricantis-Chrysopogonetum grylli. Within Scorzonerion villosae two suballiances have been defined: the Illyrian-dinaric Scorzonereion villosae and Hypochoeridenion maculatae, of lllyrian-prealpine extension. The last one includes the following coenoses: Chamaecytiso hirsuti-Chrysopogonetum grylli, Onobrychido arenariae-Brometum erecti, Gladiolo palustris-Molinietum arundinaceae, Avenulo praeustae-Brometum erecti, fitocenon with Cirsium acaule and Koeleria pyramidata. Within Seslerietea albicantis (order Seslerietalia caeruleae) only the endemic sud-alpine alliance Caricion austroalpinae has been recognized. The eastern suballiance Ranunculenion hybridi includes the following coenoses: Carici ornithopodae-Seslerietum albicantis, fitocenon with Horminum pyrenaicum, Avenastro parlatorei-Festucetum calvae, Rnnunculo hybridi-Caricetum sempervirentis and Gentiano terglouensis-Caricetum firmae

Karyological studies of Spartocytisus Webb & Berth. (Genisteae - Fabaceae)

A karyological analysis of the two species of Sparrocyrisus (S. filipes and S. supranubius) was carried out. Both species have the same chromosome nunber 2n=4S. S. nubigenus shows a number of accessory chromosomes varying from O to 4, with a maximum frequency of 2. In addition a comparison was made with the karyological data already available for the taxa of the Cytisus-group and for other intermediate genera of the Genisteae

Spatial pattern analysis of abandoned grasslands Of the Karst region by Trieste and Gorizia

We have taken in consideration grasslands on flat or slightly sloped surface surrounded or interrupted by nuclei of reforestation (NR) of different areas (10-50 square metres). The results have shown that the influence of the single NR has no great importance on the changement of vegetation along the transects, but that considerable variations are due to the mean distance of the NR all round the grassland

Contribution to the systematics of Genista l. Sect. Spartocarpus Spach (Genisteae, Fabaceae) with emphasis on palynological data

A pollen analysis of Genisia sect. Spartocarpus has been carried out on 124 samples from 15 species. The taxa were compared in terms of quantitative and qualitative pollen characters, analysed by LM and SEM. Multivariate analysis subdivides taxa into four clusters. Genisia radiala, G. holopeiala and G. hassertiana, E-Alpine-Balkanic species with capitate inflorescence, form an isolate cluster that is palynologically, morphologically and karyologically homogeneous. The other species, with inflorescences of racemous type, can be grouped in three clusters: the first comprising G. sessilifolia, G. nissana and G. aucheri, Balkan-Anatolian taxa, the second including G. spartioides, G. hoenseleri and G. numidica. Spanish and N-African species, the third comprising the W-Mediterranean G. ephedroides, G. Ihyrrena, G. gasparrinii, G. cilentina, G. aetnensis and G. dorycnifolia. Pollen characters and morphological, karyological ancl biogeographical data appear to be related. The arrangement proposed by Gibbs (1966), who has grouped all the examined species in sect. Spartocarpus, is supported by the pollen analysis. On the basis of pollen characters all taxa of Genista sect. Spartocarpus may be considered as well distinguished. The specific treatment of these taxa in Greuter et al. (1989) is, in generai terms, confined by palynological data. However. the grouping of G. radiata. G. holopetala and G. hassertiana in the G. radiata-group and of G. ephedroides. G. gasparrinii. G. Ihyrrena and G. cilentina in lhe G. ephedroides-group is proposed