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During floristic research in 2017–2022 in the Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the authors discovered new alien species that complement the species composition of the flora of vascular plants in the Emirate and the UAE as a whole. The article presents new records of five alien species previously unknown from the flora of UAE and Fujairah: Gomphrena serrata L. (Amaranthaceae), Portulaca pilosa L., P. grandiflora Hook., P. umbraticolaKunth (Portulacaceae), and Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth (Piperaceae). Gomphrena serrata which is rare in the country was found only in one place in the mountainous region of Fujarah, and it is a novelty for the flora of the Arabian Peninsula as a whole, while Portulaca pilosa was observed in several different areas of Fujairah Emirate and is also known for Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman. Peperomia pellucida was found only in a single locality in the “Alamarey plant nursery” in Dibba town but in large number of individuals. For every species, synonyms, overall distribution, habitat preferences, affinity and taxonomic remarks as well as the list of localities are given. The herbarium materials were deposited in the Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute (LE, Saint-Petersburg, Russia), duplicates were sent to the Herbarium of Altai State University (ALTB, Barnaul, Russia) and the Scientific Herbarium of Fujairah (FSH, Wadi Wuraya National Park, Fujairah, UAE).

Cockscomb (Сelosia cristata (L.) Kuntze) is grown in Ukraine mostly as a decorative plant. According to literature, it contains phenolic, terpenic, steroid, and nitrogen-containing compounds, showing a large range of biological activity. The aim of the work was to study qualitative composition and determination of quantitative content of mineral elements in cockscomb roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Materials and methods. The mineral composition of cockscomb raw material was studied by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results. In cockscomb roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds 19 mineral elements were identified and determined. The bulk of mineral elements was accumulated in cockscomb leaves – 11580.54 ± 289.51 μg/100 g. In all samples of the herb potassium dominated within the limits of 1125.00 ± 28.12 μg/100 g to 7000.00 ± 175.00 μg/100 g. Prevailing microelements were iron in plant roots and seeds (210.00 ± 5.25 μg/100 g and 81.00 ± 2.02 μg/100 g respectively), aluminum in leaves and flowers (215.00 ± 2.25 μg/100 g and 44.00 ± 1.10 μg/100 g respectively), zinc in stems (5.70 ± 0.14 μg/100 g). Besides, such microelements as zinc (53.00 ± 1.33 μg/100 g) and strontium (21.20 ± 0.53 μg/100 g) were mostly accumulated in roots, manganese (27.00 ± 0.68 μg/100 g) in leaves, copper (2.00 ± 0.05 μg/100 g) in flowers. The content of heavy metals was within the limits stipulated in Ukrainian Pharmacopoeia. Conclusions. The obtained results will be used in the standardization of cockscomb raw material and in the development of medicines on the basis of this raw material.

Chromosome numbers (2n) in 16 invasive plant species from the families Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Lamiaceae, Onagraceae and Poaceae are reported on the material from the Altai Republic for the first time. Among them, chromosome complements were first examined in Russia for Chaiturus marrubiastrum (L.) Ehrh. ex Reichenb. (2n = 24) and Oenothera villosa Thunb. (2n = 14). Five species: Amaranthus lividus L. (2n = 34), Elisanthe noctiflora (L.) Rupr. (2n = 24), Galeopsis speciosa Mill. (2n = 16), Oenothera biennis L. (2n = 14) and Bromus japonicus Thunb. (2n = 14), were studied first from Siberia. The most part of the species studied are diploids. The general distribution and the history of floristic findings of these species in the Altai Republic are given. The data on chromosome numbers published earlier on the material from Russia are cited.