Nomenclatural novelties at sectional level in Gagea (Liliaceae)

After critical analysis of the available systematic and phylogenetic literature, some adjustment to the current Gagea infrageneric classification is proposed, including the two nomenclatural novelties sect. Triflorae Peruzzi and sect. Persicae (Levichev) Peruzzi. The new setting is made up by at least 14 section

Osservazioni biosistematiche su Retama gussonei Webb (Fabaceae)

The only Calabrian population of Retama gussonei Webb (name which was lectotypified) was cytotaxonomically (2n = 48) and morphologically studied. A survey on geographic distribution and taxonomic value of the unit is given. On this basis, the opportunity to consider R. gussonei as a subspecies of R. raetam (Forsskål) Webb is confirmed. We effected observations on the germination of the seeds (13%) and on the survival rate of the seedlings (30,7%). An update of the national and regional risk categories is proposed under the IUCN 2000 criteria, according to the following codes: EN B1a-b(II) for Italy and, at regional level, for Sicily; CR B1a-b(II) for Calabria

Nanoparticles-cell association predicted by protein corona fingerprints

In a physiological environment (e.g., blood and interstitial fluids) nanoparticles (NPs) will bind proteins shaping a "protein corona" layer. The long-lived protein layer tightly bound to the NP surface is referred to as the hard corona (HC) and encodes information that controls NP bioactivity (e.g. cellular association, cellular signaling pathways, biodistribution, and toxicity). Decrypting this complex code has become a priority to predict the NP biological outcomes. Here, we use a library of 16 lipid NPs of varying size (Ø ≈ 100-250 nm) and surface chemistry (unmodified and PEGylated) to investigate the relationships between NP physicochemical properties (nanoparticle size, aggregation state and surface charge), protein corona fingerprints (PCFs), and NP-cell association. We found out that none of the NPs' physicochemical properties alone was exclusively able to account for association with human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). For the entire library of NPs, a total of 436 distinct serum proteins were detected. We developed a predictive-validation modeling that provides a means of assessing the relative significance of the identified corona proteins. Interestingly, a minor fraction of the HC, which consists of only 8 PCFs were identified as main promoters of NP association with HeLa cells. Remarkably, identified PCFs have several receptors with high level of expression on the plasma membrane of HeLa cells

Nanoparticles-cell association predicted by protein corona fingerprints

In a physiological environment (e.g., blood and interstitial fluids) nanoparticles (NPs) will bind proteins shaping a "protein corona" layer. The long-lived protein layer tightly bound to the NP surface is referred to as the hard corona (HC) and encodes information that controls NP bioactivity (e.g. cellular association, cellular signaling pathways, biodistribution, and toxicity). Decrypting this complex code has become a priority to predict the NP biological outcomes. Here, we use a library of 16 lipid NPs of varying size (Ø ≈ 100-250 nm) and surface chemistry (unmodified and PEGylated) to investigate the relationships between NP physicochemical properties (nanoparticle size, aggregation state and surface charge), protein corona fingerprints (PCFs), and NP-cell association. We found out that none of the NPs' physicochemical properties alone was exclusively able to account for association with human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). For the entire library of NPs, a total of 436 distinct serum proteins were detected. We developed a predictive-validation modeling that provides a means of assessing the relative significance of the identified corona proteins. Interestingly, a minor fraction of the HC, which consists of only 8 PCFs were identified as main promoters of NP association with HeLa cells. Remarkably, identified PCFs have several receptors with high level of expression on the plasma membrane of HeLa cells

A historical perspective on vascular plants endemic to Italy

A Historical Perspective on Vascular Plants Endemic to Italy. According to a recent review, Italian endemic vascular flora is made up by 1371 specific and subspecific taxa. Focussing on these taxa, in this paper we analyse the frequency of the names' authorities, the type and frequency of specific/infraspecific epithets, and their change over time. The most represented authorities, accounting for about 20% of the name descriptions, are Salvatore Brullo (1947-), Giovanni Gussone (1787-1866) and Michele Tenore (1780-1861). Geographical epithets are the most represented in the dataset. Despite a very slow increase in taxa description in the period 1929-1964, in the last decades we encountered an exponential increase, highlighting for the generalized use of new techniques as a tool to describe new species and for the increasing exploration of poorly known areas, but also for the urgent need to reconsider the past, present and future concept od species

The Origanum Collection of Gaetano Savi (1769-1844) in the Herbarium Horti Pisani (PI)

The Origanum Collection of Gaetano Savi (1769-1844) in the Herbarium Horti Pisani (PI). The collection of exsiccata of the genus Origanum, studied by Gaetano Savi and kept in the Herbarium Horti Pisani (PI) represents a valuable document of Savi's work as a taxonomist. It provides useful news for researchers of systematics and history of botany. The collection is enriched by some original drawings and includes the lectotypes of Origanum confertum Savi and O. fortuitum Savi

Lectotypification of two Origanum names (Lamiaceae) described by Gaetano Savi

Origanum confertum Savi and O. fortuitum Savi are typified on herbarium specimens kept in PI. These taxa are identifiable, as heterotypic synonyms, with O. majorana L. and O. xpaniculatum W.D.J.Koch, respectively

Personal private herbaria: a valuable but neglected source of floristic data. The case of Italian collections today

Today private collections still represent an important source of information as is evident from the available literature, where, in many cases, private collections are mentioned both in floristic and taxonomic/systematic researches. We present a summary of the main information about private herbaria in Italy, whose collections are currently increasing. Based on our survey, we retrieved information on 34 personal herbaria where 156,361 specimens are preserved at present. Piedmont and Tuscany resulted the two Italian regions with the highest number of collections, whereas for 9 regions we obtained no answer. The most represented families resulted Asteraceae and Poaceae, whereas the most represented genera resulted Carex, Trifolium, and Hieracium. Taken all together, these collections rank 16th among the 68 institutional public herbaria officially recognised in Italy

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