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Between 1826 and 1857 the botanical study of the wax myrtle tree was carried out in Mexico City's scientific institutions as part of the inventory of Mexican flora. The research involved amateurs and naturalists who published several articles in the city's press about this tree as a new agricultural production to strengthen the national economy. The Mexican government and other individuals allocated resources to explore the places where the wax myrtle grew in order to learn about their anatomical characteristics, as well as to study the popular use of it and determine the feasibility of its exploitation in craftwork. This research contributes to expanding the studies on the history of Mexican botany during the first half of the nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article provides an overview of the taxa of flowering plants identified during a botanical survey in forest ranges in Visakhapatnam District in Andhra Pradesh, India in September 2011. They include the endemic species Clerodendrum aculeatum, Stachytarpheta cayennensis and Ipomoea bona-nox. Also mentioned are the taxa presented in alphabetical order with brief botanical descriptions, distribution and taxonomy.

The present study reports on the research performance of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) between 1971 and 2010, based on number of parameters, including publications, citations, impact in terms of average citation per paper, international and national collaboration output, share of publication by different circles of BSI, type of communication, most preferred journals, highly cited papers, authorship pattern and most productive authors. The study analyses 40 years (1971-2010) of publication data drawn from Web of Science (SCI-Expanded). A total of 423 papers were published in 40 years (10.57 papers per year), which received 892 citations with an average of 2.1 citations per paper, h-index of 12 and a p-index of 12.34. It has been observed that during 1977-1986, number of publications was comparatively better. Between 1987 and 2005, a long recession was observed; again it is on rise from 2006 onwards, the citations were following almost the same trend. BSI has published 72 and 38 collaborative papers with involvement of 56 national and 22 foreign institutions respectively. Current Science is the most preferred journal, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is major domestic collaborator (21 papers), University of Rhode Island, Kingston is the major foreign collaborator (11 papers), USA is the major collaborator country (16 papers) and BSI, Kolkata has contributed maximum number of publications (41%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Biociencias is the property of Revista Brasileira de Biociencias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Biociencias is the property of Revista Brasileira de Biociencias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A comprehensive new inventory of Brazilian plants and fungi was published just in time to meet a 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity target and offers important insights into this biodiversity's global significance. Brazil is the home to the world's richest flora (40,989 species; 18,932 endemic) and includes two of the hottest hotspots: Mata Atlântica (19,355 species) and Cerrado (12,669 species). Although the total number of known species is one-third lower than previous estimates, the absolute number of endemic vascular plant species is higher than was previously estimated, and the proportion of endemism (56%) is the highest in the Neotropics. This compilation serves not merely to quantify the scale of the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique flora but also serves as a key resource to direct action and monitor progress. Similar efforts by other megadiverse countries are urgently required if the 2020 targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation are to be attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to present a phytosociological survey of the Italian Alnus glutinosa-dominated swamps (Alnion glutinosae). The analysis highlights the occurrence of the following associations: Corno hungaricae-Alnetum glutinosae and Carici elatae-Alnetum glutinosae (northern Italy), Hydrocotylo-Alnetum glutinosae and Scrophulario umbrosae-Alnetum glutinosae (central and southern Italy). Carici elongatae-Alnetum glutinosae, which is widely distributed in central and northern Europe, has so far only been identified in a narrow area of the western continental sector of the Po plain; elsewhere, this association is replaced by communities generally characterized both by the lower expression of species whose main center of distribution is in the central-northern sector of Europe, and by the presence of differential entities. The comparison of data from southern, central and northern Europe confirms the syntaxonomic autonomy of most of the Italian Black Alder swamps. Moreover, the study reveals the existence of a north-to-south phytogeographic gradient, according to which the sub-boreal phytocoenoses are gradually being replaced by the central-European temperate communities as well as by the last southern European phytocoenoses occurring in the temperate and Submediterranean/Mediterranean contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the 1895 botanical expedition through central Idaho carried out by botanists Louis Forniquet Henderson and Charles Luther Kirtley. The author argues that the expedition, which also surveyed land, climate, and natural resources, was largely carried out in order to assess the state's economic potential. After describing their expedition and the stops they made along the way, the author provides biographical information on Henderson and Kirtley. It is noted that Henderson's report on the expedition called for responsible land use and natural resource management.

Se presenta un inventario parcial de la flora y la vegetación de la provincia de Mendoza, Argentina. Se describen las características de cada especie de plantas, citando sus rasgos botánicos, su familia y género y su distribución geográfica en la provincia. Entre las especies se encuentran Pantacantha, Schizanthus y Reyesia.

The article presents the phyto-sociological and entomological surveys conducted to determine the impact of anthropisation on the local vegetation and abundance of tsetse in southern Burkina Faso. The survey aims to compare the diversity and densities of this species in protected and non protected areas using the transects from the river bank to savannah and detailing the phytological description of all trapping sites. The scheme shows that there is great vegetation homogeneity between transects and heterogeneity in savannah. The protected and non protected areas also have significant difference in the densities of tsetse.

A morphological survey and assessment of genetic diversity using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were applied to study the variability of two agamospermous species of Hieracium section Cernua R. Uechtr. characterized by disjunct, subalpine distributions: H. silesiacum (Western Carpathians and Eastern Sudetes) and H. vierhapperi (Western Carpathians and Eastern Alps). Contrasting patterns were revealed. In H. silesiacum, no genetic or morphological differences were found between its remote populations from the Sudetes and the Tatry mountains, suggesting a recent dispersal. In contrast, distinct morphological differentiation of population in the Nízke Tatry mountains was confirmed by high genetic differentiation; the analysis indicated independent origin of this population and gave grounds for taxonomic separation and description of a new species, H. austrotatricum. In H. vierhapperi, genetic differentiation and slight morphological difference (colour of achenes) was observed between disjunct populations from the Carpathians and the Alps. The data suggest long-term isolation of these populations resulting in pronounced independent history. High number of markers monomorphic for all populations supports the existing hypothesis of common sexual ancestors from H. section Cernua involved in the origin of these polyploid taxa. No or only minor morphological differentiation within the taxa indicates high stability of apomictic populations of Hieracium. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 93–105. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through tabular and average linkage cluster analyses, 737 phytosociological relevés were classified. Based on these relevés, we described and typified the associations, alliances, orders, and classes grouping the coastal plant communities of the Baja California peninsula. Diagnostic tables, classification by average linkage clustering, and climatic, edaphic, and biogeographical data were used to establish floristic affinities among these syntaxa and to interpret their distributions. Syntaxa were characterized by their floristic composition, physiognomy, and biogeographical distribution, along with their positions in halophilous and psammophilous gradients. Thirty-three associations were identified, of which 22 are here described for the first time. Our syntaxonomical proposal includes descriptions of nine new alliances, seven new orders and four new classes: Allenrolfeetea occidentalis, Atriplici julaceae–Frankenietea palmeri, Euphorbio leucophyllae–Sporoboletea virginici and Achyronichio cooperi–Abronietea villosae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sampling design has long been a key methodology issue of vegetation science. There are still unsolved problems, amongst which the influence of the positioning (spatial arrangement) of plots remains a basic one. Random sampling is considered the only statistically valid option, along with its amendment by stratifying. However, huge amounts of plot-sample data originated from using subjective plot positioning, involving a great deal of the author's judgement, experience and bias. Field studies examining the role of subjectivity within a larger area (a landscape) are lacking. In the presented case-study, datasets sampled using computer-based geographically stratified random (R) and field-based subjective (S) designs are compared. In 1999-2000, 120 R and 244 S plots were spread across some 270 km². Their properties are compared regarding the differences in vegetation variability by ordination, and diversity by rarefaction. Although the differences are not conspicuous, both datasets partly contain different vegetation types and the S dataset contains at least some species-richer plots. The number of R plots had been clearly underrated while the expected species diversity values were nearly reached by the S. More R than S plots would probably be needed to reach the expected diversity maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To establish how well the terrestrial flora of the Antarctic has been sampled, how well the flora is known, and to determine the major patterns in diversity and biogeography. Location Antarctica south of 60° S, together with the South Sandwich Islands, but excluding South Georgia, Bouvetøya and the periantarctic islands. Methods Plant occurrence data were collated from herbarium specimens and literature records, and assembled into the Antarctic Plant Database. Distributional patterns were analysed using a geographic information system. Biogeographical patterns were determined with a variety of multivariate statistics. Results Plants have been recorded from throughout the Antarctic, including all latitudes between 60° S and 86° S. Species richness declines with latitude along the Antarctic Peninsula, but there was no evidence for a similar cline in Victoria Land and the Transantarctic mountains. Multi-dimensional scaling ordinations showed that the species compositions of the South Orkney, South Shetland Islands and the north-western Antarctic Peninsula are very similar to each other, as are the floras of different regions in continental Antarctica. They also suggest, however, that the eastern Antarctic Peninsula flora is more similar to the flora of the southern Antarctic Peninsula than to the continental flora (with which it has traditionally been linked). The South Sandwich Islands have a flora that is very dissimilar to that in all Antarctic regions, probably because of their isolation and volcanic nature. Main conclusions The Antarctic flora has been reasonably well sampled, but certain areas require further floristic surveys. Available data do, however, allow for a number of robust conclusions. A diversity gradient exists along the Antarctic Peninsula, with fewer species (but not fewer higher taxa) at higher latitudes. Multi-dimensional scaling ordination suggests three major floral provinces within Antarctica: northern maritime, southern maritime, and continental. Patterns of endemism suggest that a proportion of the lichen flora may have an ancient vicariant distribution, while most bryophytes are more recent colonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vegetation and plant communities of the Emiquon Preserve, Fulton County, Illinois, were studied during the 2003-2004 growing seasons. A total of 395 vascular plant taxa were found; 8 fern and fern-allies, 1 gymnosperm, 99 monocots, and 287 dicots. Overstory and ground layer composition and structure were examined in three second growth forest communities. In the willow zone of the floodplain, tree densities averaged 1192 stems/ha with a basal area of 27.486 m²/ha, Salix nigra Marsh. (black willow) being the leading dominant. In the maple zone of the floodplain, tree densities averaged 506 stems/ha with a basal area of 49.191 m²/ha, Acer saccharinum Marsh. (silver maple) being the leading dominant. In the upland forest, Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust) dominated with an IV of 112 (possible 200), followed by Gleditsia triacanthos L. (honey locust), and Fraxinus lanceolata Borkh. (green ash). In this forest, tree densities averaged 672 stems/ha with a basal area of 33.628 m²/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The question of what signal, if any, appears in the pollen record when trees are present in the vegetation without producing pollen or with no pollen being recorded, is addressed. Four scenarios are envisaged: (i) the number of trees in the landscape are very few and scattered, (ii) the trees are too young to produce pollen, (iii) climate conditions are unfavourable for the trees to produce pollen and (iv) the trees are cut or damaged so that they do not flower. Each of these is considered in terms of pollen accumulation rates (PARs) and present theories and models of pollen dispersal. Examples are provided for the forest limit areas of the northern boreal trees in Finnish Lapland using data of pollen deposition monitored by pollen traps and results from the high temporal resolution (near annual) analyses of peat profiles. The relevance of the results to questions such as finds of spruce macrofossils in the Swedish mountains, the 8200 cal b.p. cold event, the migration of species/vegetation succession, and widespread damage to trees are all considered. It is concluded that although these situations are sometimes ‘invisible’ or misrepresented when pollen assemblages are expressed in the traditional percentage manner, they are often revealed by PARs. The fact that the pollen assemblage reflects a much wider regional area than is often understood can strengthen signals which have a regional impact, such as those which are climate induced, but may obscure events which affect only a limited spatial area or occur as small patches in the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a general survey of the occurrence of diterpenes in the Asteraceae. Data on 4351 botanical occurrences were obtained from the literature. These were grouped by skeleton for each genus. Then, the genera were grouped by subtribes, which, in turn, were gathered in tribes, followed by subfamilies. In spite of the low number of species containing diterpenes, it was possible to describe some structural features of these compounds, i.e. the skeletal types in various taxa and the positions in some skeletons that are always oxidized or never undergo oxidation in some genera. Thus, it was verified that: in the subfamily Cichorioideae, only a few of the studied species possess diterpenes, wherein kaurane is the most frequent diterpene skeleton. In the Asteroideae, the presence of diterpenes is much greater than that in the Cichorioideae and Carduoideae. At tribal taxonomic level, for example, the Astereae produce labdanes and clerodanes; Heliantheae and Eupatorieae produce kauranes and labdanes, respectively; and Calenduleae produce pimaranes. Some taxonomic implications are presented. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London,Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005,147, 291–308. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the flora and vegetation communities of Drummond Nature Reserve was undertaken. The reserve contains ten vegetation communities, mainly woodlands of wandoo and jarrah/marri. One community is caused by secondary salination and two (wandoo woodland over sedges and Melaleuca lateritia dominated claypans) have been rarely recorded during the Biological Survey of the Agricultural Zone. A total of 439 taxa of vascular plants were recorded for the reserve, including two rare and seven priority taxa. The vegetation and flora of the reserve are typical of the northern jarrah forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty seven islands along the Turquoise Coast, the lower west coast of Western Australia between Dongara and Lancelin, were surveyed for vegetation and flora. One hundred and twenty one plant species were recorded from the islands. The richest islands were those with both sandy hills and limestone heath (North Boullanger Island with 62 plant species, Lancelin Island with 60 plant species, Escape Island with 60 plant species, Whitlock Island with 55 plant species, North Cervantes Island with 53 plant species and Boullanger Island with 50 plant species). The most widespread species was Nitraria billardierei, which was present on all of the islands surveyed, and the most common vegetation formations were heath, shrublands and herbfields. The vegetation of 14 of the islands had been previously studied thoroughly, and this survey found only Middle Essex Rocks to have fewer plant species than in previous studies; normally increases of 50-100 per cent were documented. Introduced species were common on all islands, but were mainly associated with disturbance caused by seabird colonies or human-made tracks (foot or vehicle). The noxious weed African boxthorn, *Lycium ferocissimum³, was located on four northern islands and was subsequently eliminated from three of these islands; it is currently being eliminated from the fourth island. The islands of the Turquoise Coast are the least disturbed islands between Kalbarri and Mandurah and have no settlements. Their vegetation is representative of vegetation of offshore limestone islands in Western Australia. Special conservation areas include the populations of Lavatera plebeia var. tomentosa and Lepidium foliosum growing in association with the guano-rich seabird nesting sites, and the tree-like bushes of Nitraria billardierei on East Beagle Island. Further interesting flora include the Priority 4 species Lepidium puberulum and the tall form of Senecio lautus subsp. maritimus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the investigative study on the vegetation of Alberta. The study focuses on the large areas of sandhills set up in some regions of the central part of the province. It features the abundance of Jack Pine Mistletoe known as "Witches Brooms" because of its strange deformities on the trees. An investigation shows that the trees in the summits were quite different from that of the parkland. In addition, the sandhills present abrupt transitions from one association to another due to differences in water content. It provides a brief overview of the ecology of Arceuthobium americanum.

Sporne found certain characters of dicotyledonous plants were correlated and also well represented in fossil Tertiary floras. He showed that this correlation could be explained by assuming the characters to be primitive and proposed an advancement index based on the proportion of these characters found in each family. By measuring the average advancement index of vegetation from different habitats and of the London Clay Flora, which is the Tertiary flora taken by Sporne as an ancestral standard, it is shown here that there is a clear relationship between the supposed primitive characters and woody habitats. As an alternative to Sporne's hypothesis that the correlated characters are primitive it is suggested that the correlations are a result of the adaptive nature of the characters, the supposedly primitive characters being adaptive to the woody habit, the supposedly advanced characters being adaptive to the herbaceous habit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the vegetation of about 10,000 hectares of Swedish moor. A method of "line evaluation" is employed to estimate the distribution of the various associations over the whole area examined. A series of lines is taken across the country surveyed and the length of the various associations along these lines is determined to the nearest meter. The main association complexes considered include Regenerationskomplex, Teichkomplex, Randkomplex, Stillstandskomplex, and the Erosionskomplex.