Genetic structure of populations of endemic to southern Calabria (southern Italy).

Assessing the degree of genetic diversity and differentiation of rare or endangered endemic species is essential to evaluate the conservation status of populations and successively implement appropriate conservation strategies. We investigated the population structure of Ard., a scapose hemicryptophyte endemic to Calabria (southern Italy), both to answer questions about its genetic structure and to determine whether the actual population size has undergone significant demographic changes in the near past.

Ecological and Syntaxonomic Analysis of the Communities of and () in the European Mediterranean Area.

Nitrophilous communities dominated by and in the European Mediterranean area were studied. The nomenclature was corrected according to the current taxonomy, following the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN). The statistical analysis revealed six new associations and one subassociation, with four in Spain, one in Greece, and one in Italy.

Plant invasion risk inside and outside protected areas: Propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors definitively matter.

Invasive alien species are among the main global drivers of biodiversity loss posing major challenges to nature conservation and to managers of protected areas. The present study applied a methodological framework that combined invasive Species Distribution Models, based on propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors for 14 invasive alien plants of Union concern in Italy, with the local interpretable model-agnostic explanation analysis aiming to map, evaluate and analyse the risk of plant invasions across the country, inside and outside the network of protected areas. Using a hierarchical invasive Species Distribution Model, we explored the combined effect of propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors on shaping invasive alien plant occurrence across three biogeographic regions (Alpine, Continental, and Mediterranean) and realms (terrestrial and aquatic) in Italy.

Carpological Analysis of Two Endemic Italian Species: and (Apiaceae).

This study aims to clarify the taxonomic doubts, which have varied over the centuries, on the only two endemic species of the genus growing in Italy: and . For this purpose, the main carpological characters of the two species were examined, analyzing the external morphological traits and their cross-sections. Fourteen morphological traits were identified, obtaining datasets for the two groups using 40 mericarps (20 per species).

Effect of Organic Manure and Moisture Regimes on Soil Physiochemical Properties, Microbial Biomass C:N:P Turnover and Yield of Mustard Grains in Arid Climate.

(1) Background: Arid conditions occur due to climate abnormality in the different biogeography regions of the world. The aim of this research is to investigate the stoichiometry of manure and moisture regimes on soil properties, microbial biomass C:N:P turnover, and the grain yield of mustard crops under stress in arid conditions; (2) Methods: The field experiment was carried out for 2 years at the farms of the agriculture college of SKN, Jobner (SKRAU Bikaner, Rajasthan). The effects of organic manure, moisture regimes, and saline water treatment on soil properties, such as the soil microbial biomass build-up, loss, turnover, and recycling of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in the mustard crop were investigated.

Ethnobotany of the Himalayas: Safeguarding Medical Practices and Traditional Uses of Kashmir Regions.

The present study was carried out to enlist the medicinal plants used by the local inhabitants of developing countries such as India, and the district of Kupwara of the Kashmir Himalaya has been targeted. Our research is one of the first study focusing on the statistical evaluation of the cross-cultural analysis between three different communities i.e.

The Assessment and the Within-Plant Variation of the Morpho-Physiological Traits and VOCs Profile in Endemic and Rare Ard. (Lamiaceae).

(Ard.) is an endemic and rare plant species recently rediscovered as very few individuals at two different Southern Italy sites. The study of within-plant variation is fundamental to understand the plant adaptation to the local conditions, especially in rare species, and consequently to preserve plant biodiversity.

Contribution to the Orophilous Cushion-Like Vegetation of Central-Southern and Insular Greece.

The results of a phytosociological investigation regarding the orophilous cushion-like vegetation occurring in the top of the high mountains of central-southern Greece and in some Ionian (Lefkas, Cephalonia) and Aegean Islands (Euboea, Samos, Lesvos, Chios and Thassos) are provided. Based on 680 phytosociological relevès (460 unpublished and 220 from literature), a new syntaxonomical arrangement is proposed with the description of a new class, including two new orders, eight new alliances, and several associations (many of them new). Compared to the previous hierarchical framework usually followed in the literature, this study provides a more realistic and clear phytosociological characterization of this peculiar and archaic vegetation type, which is exclusive to the high mountains of the north-eastern Mediterranean.

Three New Alien Taxa for Europe and a Chorological Update on the Alien Vascular Flora of Calabria (Southern Italy).

Knowledge on alien species is needed nowadays to protect natural habitats and prevent ecological damage. The presence of new alien plant species in Italy is increasing every day. Calabria, its southernmost region, is not yet well known with regard to this aspect.

Phytosociological Study, Diversity and Conservation Status of the Cloud Forest in the Dominican Republic.

The study of the forest in rainy environments of the Dominican Republic reveals the presence of four types of vegetation formations, clearly differentiated from each other in terms of their floristic and biogeographical composition, and also significantly different from the rainforests of Cuba. This leads us to propose two new alliances and four plant associations located in northern mountain areas exposed to moisture-laden winds from the Atlantic: All. - (Ass.

Similarity analysis between species of the genus L. (Fagaceae) in southern Italy based on the fractal dimension.

The fractal dimension (FD) is calculated for seven species of the genus L. in Calabria region (southern Italy), five of which have a marcescent-deciduous and two a sclerophyllous character. The fractal analysis applied to the leaves reveals different FD values for the two groups.

Checklist of gypsophilous vascular flora in Italy.

Our understanding of the richness and uniqueness of the flora growing on gypsum substrates in Italy has grown significantly since the 19 century and, even today, new plant species are still being discovered. However, the plants and plant communities, growing on gypsum substrates in Italy, are still a relatively unknown subject. The main aim of this paper was to elaborate a checklist of the Italian gypsophilous flora, to increase knowledge about this peculiar flora and for which conservation efforts need to be addressed.

Morphometric analysis and bioclimatic distribution of s.l. (Asteraceae) in the Mediterranean area.

We present a revision of in the Mediterranean area based on: a) micro-morphology of the disc floret cypselas observed with a high-resolution confocal microscopy; b) measurements of the disc cypsela with a stereoscopic microscope - duly scaled; c) its distribution in several bioclimatic belts; d) field observations; e) comparisons of herbarium samples. Because of this study, we propose the elevation of Glebionis coronaria var. discolor to the rank of species, as , based on morphological and ecological characteristics such as the disposition of the intercostal glands, the size of the disc cypsela wings and its distribution according to the bioclimatic belts.