Taxonomic and distributive notes on Serapias lingua subsp. Tunetana (Orchidaceae), a rare endemic to Tunisia

Serapias lingua subsp. tunetana, a rare endemic orchid confined to Tunis, northern of Tunisia, has been rediscovered far away from its type locality nearly after 22 years. Since its first finding in 1996 and its description published in 2005, the subspecies has not been found again, and was presumed to be extinct, or the taxon was erroneously identified. A detailed description of the subspecies justifying an amendment to its description, a map of its current distribution and colour photographs are also provided. The affinities to the related taxa within the S. lingua group occurring in Tunisia are here presented. The global IUCN status for this taxon is evaluated

Additions to terrestrial flora of Tunisia: Occurrence and taxonomic notes

We document new records of 11 vascular taxa. Some were found in the wild for the first time and, therefore, are new reports to terrestrial flora of Tunisia. One species, Ranunculus acris L., is reported for the first time for North Africa. Parietaria cretica L. is confirmed for North Africa. Details about the distribution and habitats of the 11 species are provided, and comments on their status and taxonomy are included

Nuevas alóctonas en Malvaceae para la flora africana del norte, con notas nomenclaturales

As part of ongoing studies on Tunisian Malvaceae, populations of two Hibiscus species (H. Rosa-sinensis and H. Syriacus) and Lagunaria patersonia were discovered in northern Tunisia, representing first records for the national and North African flora. Morphological characters, as well as ecological and chorological data are given. Nomenclatural notes about the names H. acerifolius (= H. syriacus), H. chinensis (= H. syriacus), H. patersonius (basionym of L. Patersonia), and H. rhombifolius (= H. syriacus) are provided, i.e. indication of the holotype for Hibiscus chinensis (van Braam Houckgeest’s illustration), and designation of lectotypes for H. Acerifolius (a Salisbury’s illustration), H. Rhombifolius (Cavanilles’s illustration), and H. Patersonius (Andrew’s illustration). Further illegitimate and invalid names (Althaea frutex, H. floridus, Ketmia syrorum, K. Arborea, and K. Arborescens) are also treated.Como parte de los estudios en curso sobre las Malvaceae de Túnez, se descubrieron poblaciones de dos especies de Hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis y H. syriacus) y de Lagunaria patersonia en el norte de Túnez, que representan los primeros registros de la flora nacional y norteafricana. Se describen caracteres morfológicos, así como datos ecológicos y corológicos. Se proporcionan notas nomenclaturales sobre los nombres H. acerifolius (= H. syriacus), H. chinensis (= H. syriacus), H. patersonius (basiónimo de L. Patersonia) y H. rhombifolius (= H. syriacus), incluida la designación de holótipo para H. Chinensis (ilustración de van Braam Houckgeest), y designación de lectótipos para H. Acerifolius (una ilustración de Salisbury), H. Rhombifolius (ilustración de Cavanilles) y H. Patersonius (ilustración de Andrew). También se tratan otros nombres ilegítimos e inválidos (Althaea frutex, H. floridus, Ketmia syrorum, K. Arborea y K. Arborescens)

amaranthus tunetanus amaranthaceae a new species from tunisia and a diagnostic key to the north african taxa in subgen albersia

Abstract A new species of Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae), A. tunetanus sp. nov. from Monastir Governorate (central Tunisia) is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to A. crassipes, A. crispus, A. graecizans subsp. aschersonianus, and A. scleropoides from which it differs mainly by characters of synflorescences and flowers. Distribution in Tunisia, notes of its preferred habitat, phenology, and the IUCN status of conservation are also provided. A diagnostic key to the 14 taxa of subgen. Albersia occurring in North Africa is also presented

Comparazione tra la flora vascolare delle isole di Lampione e Zembretta

Viene presentata una comparazione tra la flora vascolare dell'isola di Lampione (Italia) e quella di Zembretta (Tunisia) entrambe estese circa 2 ettari e ricadenti nello stretto di Sicili

Results of the 12th “Iter Mediterraneum” in Tunisia, 24 March - 4 April, 2014

Are here presented the Results of the 12th “Iter Mediterraneum” in Tunisia, 24 March - 4 April, 2014. They include: The organization and logistics of the 12th OPTIMA Iter in Tunisia by Domina & al.; a bioclimatic and vegetation overview of the studied areas by Smaoui; the Checklist of the vascular plants collected by Greuter & Domina; a first Checklist of the Bryophytes collected by Campisi & al; a first Checklist of the lichens collected by Guttová & al

Karyological data of four geophytes native to Tunisia

Chromosome numbers were studied in four geophytes collected in Tunisia. Allium pallens was collected from Zembra island, N of Tunisia, while Drimia purpurascens, Oncostema peruvianum and Pancratium foetidum from continental Tunisia. The chromosome numbers found for Allium pallens, Drimia purpurascens, and Oncostema peruvianum coincides with the previous reports obtained from other Mediterranean populations. The chromosome number 2n = 22, found on material from Toujane is the first reported for Pancratium foetidum

A prioritised inventory of crop wild relatives and wild harvested plants of Tunisia

An inventory of crop wild relatives (CWR) and wild harvested plants (WHP) occurring in Tunisia, based on the integration of the last available floristic checklists, is presented. The taxa were prioritised according to economic value of the related crop, potential for crop improvement, threat status, endemism, inclusion in the ITPGRFA (Annex I) and average annual contributions to dietary energy (kilocalories) per capita per day by applying a scoring system based on 4 priority levels. Of a total of 2912 taxa belonging to the Tunisian Flora, 2504 CWR and/or WHP (86% of the total), from 143 families and 686 genera, were identified, 2445 of which are CWR and 847 are WHP. In detail, 1654 are solely CWR and 59 are WHP only, whereas 788 are both CWR and WHP. The final priority list for active conservation includes 1036 CWR (43% of the total CWR taxa), with 139 taxa rated as high priority, 660 medium priority and 237 low priority. The final priority list for WHP is composed of 344 taxa and includes eight high priority, 254 medium priority and 82 low priority taxa. Our results confirm Tunisia as a hotspot of CWR and WHP diversity in the Mediterranean area. The inventory here proposed provides the basis for the development and implementation of a more targeted national CWR/WHP conservation strategy for Tunisia

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oil from the Aerial Parts of Teucrium luteum (Mill.) Degen subsp. flavovirens (Batt.) Greuter & Burdet Growing Wild in Tunisia

Essential oils (EOs), the odorous and volatile products of a plant's secondary metabolism, have wide applications in folk medicine, in food flavoring and preservation, and in fragrance industries. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of the EO from the aerial parts (including the inflorescences) of wild Teucrium luteum subsp. flavovirens from Tunisia. The EO obtained by the hydrodistillation of air-dried plant material in a Clevenger-type apparatus was analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fifty-three components representing 83.9% of the total constituents were identified. The EO of T. luteum subsp. flavovirens is characterized by the presence of beta-elemol (7.2%), (+)-alpha-pinene (6%), beta-eudesmol (5.5%), guaiol (4.2%), alpha-bisabolol (4.2%), and beta-caryophyllene (4.1%) as principal chemical components. In vitro (DPPH and beta-carotene bleaching assays), it showed significantly higher radical scavenging and antioxidant properties than the reference compound, BHT. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the composition and antioxidant properties of the EO from Tunisian T. luteum subsp. flavovirens. Our preliminary data will help to valorize this potentially useful plant species from Tunisia and represent a starting point for further studies on its volatile fraction