Personalities of Russian amateur botany, 2. Alexander Mikhailovich Polilov (1869–?), a forgotten plant collector in Russian Lapland, and his collection of Hieracium pasense

Alexander Polilov collected many zoological and botanical specimens during his service as a medical doctor for the Arctic Ocean Hydrographic Expedition (1898–1915). Basic details of Polilov’s biography are presented. His botanical collections originated from the Kola Peninsula and are housed at LE. On the basis of a specimen collected by Polilov, Hieracium pasense was described as new to science from the north-western part of Murmansk Region, Russia. This species is related to H. gemellum from Sweden and is distributed in a small area between Kirkenes (Sør-Varanger, Norway) and Vichany Bay (Murmansk Region, Russia); its presence in Norway is documented with herbarium specimens at H. Hieracium eurofinmarkicum (as a synonym) and the Russian occurrence of H. gracilentipes (misidentification) are included into this species here, with an updated description and a distribution map. A lectotype of Hieracium gemellum subsp. eurofinmarkicum is designated. On the basis of its limited distribution area, the conservation status of the species is assessed as Endangered.Peer reviewe

The concept of epitypes in theory and practice

The concept of epitypes was introduced to resolve the cases when the primary type of a plant name (holotype, lectotype or neotype) is demonstrably ambiguous and cannot be identified to the appropriate taxonomic level. In spite of the original intention, epitypes have been widely used as a means to complement the primary type with other morphological characters or as a 'phylogenetic type' (a reference specimen used for DNA sequencing). The lack of any procedure to control or supersede the designated epitypes opens the possibility for their gross misuse as a replacement type, which has already taken place. The current usage of epitypes is discussed and a possible solution is suggested to amend the concept of epitypes in conformity with their dominant usage and the traditions of botanical history.Peer reviewe

Personalities of Russian amateur botany, 1. Leontius Petrovich Alexandrov (1857–1929), and the neglected protologue of Alchemilla propinqua H.Lindb.

Leontius Petrovich Alexandrov (1857–1929) was a paediatric surgeon (in urology) in Moscow. As an amateur botanist he collected plants in 1914–1924, mostly Alchemilla, in Moscow and its nearest vicinities, as well as in the former Yaroslavl, Vyatka and Perm Regions. His collections, including types of Alchemilla, are housed at the Komarov Botanical Institute (LE) and the Herbarium of the Museum of History and Culture of the Central Kama Region in Sarapul, Udmurt Republic, Russia. The name Alchemilla propinqua H.Lindb. ex Alexandrov et Nekr. was validly published presumably in the first half of 1923 in the popular book Garden-with-Fun and its vegetation [Neskuchny Sad i ego rastitelnost] by L. P. Alexandrov and V. L. Nekrasova, accompanied with a descriptive matter in Russian. This book clearly predates the article with the same species name by S. V. Juzepczuk that was printed on the last day of 1923. The validating description of A. propinqua was provided by the book authors, to whom the plant name is to be attributed. The name A. propinqua is lectotypified here by a specimen kept at LE and collected by Alexandrov in Moscow

Scandosorbus (Rosaceae), a new generic name for Sorbus intermedia and its hybrid

A new generic name, Scandosorbus Sennikov, is validly published to replace Borkhausenia Sennikov & Kurtto 2017, which is an illegitimate later near-homonym of Borckhausenia Roth 1800. New combinations are provided for the only species of the genus (B. intermedia) and its hybrid with Sorbus aucuparia.Peer reviewe

Erik Laxman and the bobovnik

Erik Laxman was a Finn, born in the city of Savonlinna [then Sweden] in 1737. In 1742 Savonlinna became a part of the Russian empire, where Laxman made his career as an appointed professor. He was a naturalist with an interest in botany, geology and zoology. He published some new vascular plant species to science, among others Koelreutria paniculata, Spiraea altaiensis (=Sibiraea laevigata), Robinia spinosissima (=Caragana spinosa). Many of his articles treated practical issues in a Linnaean sense, i.e., based on harnessing nature to benefit mankind. One of the articles, titled On the Russian bobovnik and the oil prepared thereof, is translated here from Russian to Finnish.Non peer reviewe

Atlas Florae Europaeae notes 23 : The typification and revised taxonomic circumscription of Sorbus bakonyensis (Rosaceae), with a description of Sorbus udvardyana, a new apomictic species endemic to Hungary

The taxonomic and nomenclatural history of Jávorka’s Sorbus bakonyensis is surveyed and its correct authorship and bibliographic citation is provided. The identity of the original material of S. bakonyensis and the history of its interpretations are discussed. The name S. bakonyensis is applicable to an endemic of the eastern Bakony Mountains, restricted to the vicinity of the village of Márkó in Hungary. The illegitimate name S. majeri is a synonym of S. bakonyensis. A new name, S. udvardyana, is introduced here for the species occurring in the western Balaton region of Hungary, which was erroneously named “S. bakonyensis” in recent Hungarian literature.Peer reviewe

Species conservation profile and revision of Salvia korolkowii (Lamiaceae, Lamiales), a narrow endemic of the Western Tian-Shan

Background Salvia korolkowii (Lamiaceae) has been considered a species of highest conservation priority due to its narrow distribution and isolated taxonomic position. The species has been known from Uzbekistan and, questionably, Kyrgyzstan and treated as endemic to the Western Tian-Shan. Its modern conservation status according to the IUCN Criteria has not been established. New information The taxonomic position of Salvia korolkowii is evaluated; the species is treated as the sole member of S. sect. Odontochilus (Pobed.) Sennikov, comb. nov. because of its morphological differences and phylogenetic isolation. The herbarium collections are completely revised and the species is proven to occur mainly in Uzbekistan with a single locality (new country record) in Kazakhstan; its former report from Kyrgyzstan (one locality) is confirmed and documented by herbarium specimens. The species occurrences are mapped and its conservation status is assessed as Vulnerable due to the restricted size and continuous decline of its populations because of the ongoing degradation and destruction of its primary habitat (variegated outcrops) at lower elevations. This study highlights the importance of a thorough revision of herbarium collections in Central Asia for conservation purposes.Peer reviewe

The first checklist of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan, with new records and critical evaluation of earlier data. Contribution 2

Background We continue the inventory of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan, with emphasis on the time and pathways of introduction of the species and their current status in the territory. Each taxon is discussed in the context of plant invasions in Central Asia. This work is a further development of the preliminary checklist of alien plants of Kyrgyzstan, which was compiled for the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species in 2018. New information This contribution includes all alien species of Kyrgyzstan belonging to Solanaceae and Asphodelaceae and one species of Asteraceae. Physalis philadelphicus (syn. P. ixocarpa) is reported for the first time from Central Asia, as new to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, thus marking a recent invasion with a variety of imported grain and seed material. The old records of P. ixocarpa from Uzbekistan are based on misidentified specimens of P. angulata. Physalis angulata is an old cotton immigrant in Central Asia, whose invasion started in the 1920s; it is excluded from the alien flora of Kyrgyzstan as registered in error on the basis of cultivated plants. Alkekengi officinarum is an archaeophyte of the Neolithic period in Central Asia, formerly used for food, now strongly declining and largely casual in Kyrgyzstan. The only historical record of Physalis viscosa from Uzbekistan was based on a technical error and belongs to A. officinarum. Datura stramonium and Hyoscyamus niger were introduced as medicinal plants during the period of the Arabic invasion of Central Asia, by the 11th century. Datura innoxia is a newly recorded casual alien, recently escaped from ornamental cultivation. Nicandra physalodes is a casual alien, which was cultivated by Russian colonists in the early 20 century for th culinary use and is currently used in ornamental cultivation. Hemerocallis fulva was a remnant of historical cultivation in the former Khanate of Buxoro, and its formerly established colonies are presumably extinct in the wild. Bidens frondosa was seemingly introduced with contaminated forage and seed of American origin during the late Soviet period and started to spread in the period of independence; its invasion in the former USSR is analysed.Peer reviewe

The first checklist of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan, with new records and critical evaluation of earlier data. Contribution 2

Background We continue the inventory of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan, with emphasis on the time and pathways of introduction of the species and their current status in the territory. Each taxon is discussed in the context of plant invasions in Central Asia. This work is a further development of the preliminary checklist of alien plants of Kyrgyzstan, which was compiled for the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species in 2018. New information This contribution includes all alien species of Kyrgyzstan belonging to Solanaceae and Asphodelaceae and one species of Asteraceae. Physalis philadelphicus (syn. P. ixocarpa) is reported for the first time from Central Asia, as new to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, thus marking a recent invasion with a variety of imported grain and seed material. The old records of P. ixocarpa from Uzbekistan are based on misidentified specimens of P. angulata. Physalis angulata is an old cotton immigrant in Central Asia, whose invasion started in the 1920s; it is excluded from the alien flora of Kyrgyzstan as registered in error on the basis of cultivated plants. Alkekengi officinarum is an archaeophyte of the Neolithic period in Central Asia, formerly used for food, now strongly declining and largely casual in Kyrgyzstan. The only historical record of Physalis viscosa from Uzbekistan was based on a technical error and belongs to A. officinarum. Datura stramonium and Hyoscyamus niger were introduced as medicinal plants during the period of the Arabic invasion of Central Asia, by the 11th century. Datura innoxia is a newly recorded casual alien, recently escaped from ornamental cultivation. Nicandra physalodes is a casual alien, which was cultivated by Russian colonists in the early 20 century for th culinary use and is currently used in ornamental cultivation. Hemerocallis fulva was a remnant of historical cultivation in the former Khanate of Buxoro, and its formerly established colonies are presumably extinct in the wild. Bidens frondosa was seemingly introduced with contaminated forage and seed of American origin during the late Soviet period and started to spread in the period of independence; its invasion in the former USSR is analysed.Peer reviewe

The taxonomy and invasion status assessment of Erigeron annuus s.l. (Asteraceae) in East Fennoscandia

A common European weed of North American origin, Erigeron annuus s.l. was described by Linnaeus on the basis of plants cultivated at de Hartecamp near Haarlem, the Netherlands. This species was originally introduced to Europe from the territories along the Saint Lawrence River, south-eastern Canada, between 1623 and 1633, in the garden of Jean and Vespasien Robin in Paris. The original plants belonged to the white-flowered taxon with crenate leaves and long spreading pubescence, which has been known in Europe as E. annuus subsp. septentrionalis. By lectotypification this taxon should be called E. annuus subsp. annuus, whereas the lilac-flowered taxon with coarsely dentate leaves and long erect pubescence (previously known as E. annuus subsp. annuus) is redescribed here as E. annuus subsp. lilacinus Sennikov & Kurtto, subsp. nov. Three alien taxa of E. annuus s.l. are recognised in East Fennoscandia, including E. annuus subsp. strigosus; they are assessed as locally established but not invasive in Finland, and only casual or possibly extinct in the Russian part of East Fennoscandia. The original and still prevailing pathway of introduction is gardening or agriculture, whereas in the latest years the plants were also introduced through the transport of goods (southern fruits and vegetables in Russia for E. annuus subsp. lilacinus; Russian timber in Finland for E. annuus subsp. strigosus). The nomenclature of Erigeron sect. Phalacroloma and E. sect. Stenactis is revised; the latter name is reinstated in place of E. sect. Polyactis G.L.Nesom, nom. illeg. Erigeron sect. Stenactis sensu Nesom is renamed as E. sect. Pumili (Rydb.) Sennikov, comb. nov.Peer reviewe