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In this paper we present the first syntaxonomic classification for the thermophilous open wood and scrub vegetation in Tajikistan with some remarks on its environmental gradients. Altogether 143 relevés were sampled between 2014–2021 using the seven-degree cover-abundance scale of Braun-Blanquet. They were classified by the modified TWINSPAN method with the use of the four step interval scale with cutoff levels of 0%, 2%, 5% and 10% and total inertia as a measure of cluster heterogeneity. Diagnostic species were identified using the phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. Detrended Correspondence Analysis was used to determine the relation between samples, vegetation units and the major gradients in species composition. Plant communities have been divided into three main groups: (1) dry scrub on screes, (2) mesophilous scrubs in nemoral zone, and (3) open woods. A new class of Pistacietea khinjuki-verae has been proposed for open woods. Further classification of vegetation data resulted in the distinction of four plant communities within two provisional alliances: Roseion kokanicae and Ranunculo tenuilobi-Cotoneasterion hissaricae (commu­nities of Rosa kokanica and R. ecae, associations of Aveno ludovicianae-Rhuidetum coriariae and Calophacetum grandiflorae). Additionally, we established the Pistacion verae alliance for the pistachio groves of Middle Asia with two subassociations: Pistacietum verae typicum and Pistacietum verae cercidetosum griffithii. The main fac­tors determining the species composition of the studied communities are: elevation, temperature, precipi­tation, slope and aspect. Our research showed that the Pistacia groves are a distinct vegetation typical of the Irano-Turanian area and that further surveys are needed to present a final classification of scrub vegetation of Tajikistan.

Aims: In this paper we propose the first syntaxonomic classification for the mesophilous scrub vegetation in Tajikistan with some remarks on their environmental variability. Methods: Altogether 120 relevés were sampled using the standard, seven-degree cover-abundance scale of Braun-Blanquet, in 2015–2021. They were classified by the modified TWINSPAN method using the four step interval scale with cutoff levels of 0%, 2%, 5% and 10% and total inertia as a measure of cluster heterogeneity. Diagnostic species were identified using the phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was used to determine the relationship between the sampled plots, vegetation units and major gradients in species composition. Results: Plant communities known so far as šhiblyak and including xeric and mesophilic shrublands seral or marginal to broad-leaved forests in the nemoral zone of the Irano-Turanian region are described herein. Numerical analyses of vegetation data allowed distinguishing five associations representing the Ranunculo tenuilobi-Cotoneasterion hissarici alliance. The new associations include: Eremuro comosi-Rhuidetum coriariae, Calophacetum grandiflorae, Fraxinetum raibocarpae, Pruno sogdianae-Crataegetum turkestanicae, Aflatunio ulmifoliae-Caraganetum turkestanicae. For the latter association, two habitat variants (with Ferula clematidifolia and Malus sieversii) are proposed. The main factors determining the species composition of the studied vegetation include: elevation, mean annual temperature and sum of annual precipitation. Conclusions: The research results herein presented fill the gap in knowledge about the shrubland vegetation of Tajikistan. Studies in neighbouring countries and a focus on subalpine scrubs in dry habitats are needed to complete the classification of shrubland vegetation of Middle Asia.

Epiphytes, including vascular and non-vascular, constitute a large part of global plant biodiversity. Distribution of obligatory epiphytic bryophytes results from climate and local habitat conditions. The most important epiphytic bryophytes and at the same time poorly investigated and taxonomically problematic ones belong to the family Orthotrichaceae. Epiphytic mosses are also ideal organisms for species modelling, because of having no roots, they are highly dependent on external environmental conditions. For this purpose, we used the ecological niche modelling approach to define their potential distribution in China and adjacent areas and explore factors that shape this distribution. We used 617 occurrence records of 23 species from six genera within the Orthotrichaceae family. Our results suggest that the distribution of members of the Orthotrichaceae family is predominantly affected by bioclimatic variables, especially bio10 (mean temperature of the warmest quarter), bio15 (precipitation seasonality), bio18 (precipitation of the warmest quarter), bio19 (precipitation of the coldest quarter), bio9 (mean temperature of the driest quarter), and bio2 (mean diurnal range). However, the distribution of particular genera is ruled by a different set of those variables. The distribution of two genera (

The Eragrostis pilosa complex (Poaceae) comprises five widely distributed and regionally invasive species—E. albensis, E. amurensis, E. imberbis, E. multicaulis, and E. pilosa, distinguished by tiny and variable morphological characters and with so far unknown phylogenetic relationships. Recently, some doubts have been raised about the status of an invasive glandular morphotype occurring in Central Europe assigned either to E. amurensis or to E. albensis. Here, we addressed this issue by analysing morphology, internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA, and five inter-simple sequence repeat markers. The genetic evidence supported closer relationship of this glandular morphotype to eglandular E. albensis, widely established in Central Europe, than to glandular E. amurensis described from Asia. We propose to adopt a new taxonomic treatment that E. albensis includes both eglandular and glandular individuals, and to classify the glandular ones as E. albensis var. scholziana M. Nobis & A. Wróbel var. nova. Currently this new taxon is known from a dozen of localities in Central Europe and is invasive in the lower section of the Oder River valley, whereas Eragrostis albensis var. albensis has already spread widely across Europe in riparian phytocenoses and anthropogenic habitats. Since probably the first registered records in 1940s, it has been observed in European part of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and its further invasion is likely to proceed. We provided distribution maps concerning spread dynamics of E. albensis in Europe from 1947 to 2020. In total, the species has been observed on over 1300 localities so far, most of which were found after 2000.

Mountain areas are very often considered to be biodiversity hotspots. Rocks are one of the most unique habitats and serve as a suitable biotope for many endemic and specialized plant species. Here we present the results of the vegetation studies conducted in central and eastern Pamir-Alai and the south-western Tian Shan mountains in 2013‒2019. Based on 334 phytosociological relevés we propose a synopsis of the rock communities of the montane and colline zones of eastern Middle Asia. As a result of our research, we distinguish 17 communities defined into five groups of petrophytic vegetation within the Caricion koshewnikowii alliance. We describe 11 new associations: Feruletum bucharicae, Scrophularietum glabellae, Asperulo albiflorae–Kafirniganietum hissaricae, Scutellarietum immaculatae, Campanuletum eugeniae, Silenetum kuschakewiczii, Rosularietum platyphyllae, Spireaetum pilosae, Silenetum lithophilae, Campanuletum albertii, and Rhinactinidietum limoniifoliae. Distinctiveness of environmental conditions together with the species composition of the phytocoenoses within the montane and colline belts of eastern Middle and Central Asia make the investigated vegetation among those with the highest specific diversity and richness of endemisms in the whole area. The main factors that determine the species composition of the investigated vegetation seem to be phytogeography, altitude, bedrock type, and exposition. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2021.1922531 .

In the last decades, biological invasions become the main driver of biodiversity loss. The changes can be noticed not only in the above-ground diversity but also in the underground, including seed banks of native vegetation. In this study, we focus on Rudbeckia laciniata, a species introduced to many European and Asian countries, to characterize its soil seed bank as well as to answer the question, how the species influenced soil seed banks of meadow plant communities in two types of habitats (fresh and wet), where traditional mowing was abandoned. Within the habitats, we conducted our study on a three-step scale of invasion, from full invasion, through the transition zone to the control zone, where no invasion of the species has been observed so far. The majority of the R. laciniata seeds were located in the surface layer of soil. We detected, that 47% (in fresh meadow) and 56% (wet meadow) of recorded species occurred only in a soil seed bank, and were absent in aboveground vegetation. Emergence of native plants from the soil seed bank is low due to rapid shading of the soil surface by R. laciniata seedlings. However, a short-term seed bank of the species gives hope that returning to regular mowing brings the desired results in its the elimination from vegetation, in a fairly short time.

Due to the fact that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide water and elements (e.g. phosphorus) to the host, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is considered to be an important plant-fungi interaction and can be helpful for plants occupying extreme habitats. Such habitats include Central European semi-natural dry feathergrass grasslands. One of the main components of feathergrass steppes in Eurasia is Stipa pennata (Poaceae). Currently, because of a lack of land use leading to the overgrowth of grasslands and consequently to habitat deterioration, this species is rare and protected in many European countries. No information regarding the simultaneous impact of vegetation, topography, soil and climatic factors on the AMF–feathergrass relationship has been published to date. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate factors that shape AMF root colonisation and AMF community composition in different types of European semi-natural feathergrass niches occupied by S. pennata. To do that, we collected roots and soil samples along with data about topography, soil chemical and physical properties, climate and vegetation cover from three different types of edaphic niches. We found that AMF root colonisation was lower in sand than in gypsum or limestone soils and was largely explained by environmental factors. AMF root colonisation degree was predominantly influenced by soil nitrogen content, and increased along with pH. Soil physical stress disrupted relationships between AMF root colonisation degree and soil pH. The largest percentage of variance in the composition of AMF communities was explained by soil factors, followed by climate, topography and vegetation. AMF communities associated with S. pennata were composed mainly of ‘generalists’ species.

QUESTIONS: Which environmental factors influence fine-grain beta diversity of vegetation and do they vary among taxonomic groups? LOCATION: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. METHODS: We extracted 4,654 nested-plot series with at least four different grain sizes between 0.0001 m² and 1,024 m² from the GrassPlot database, covering a wide range of different grassland and other open habitat types. We derived extensive environmental and structural information for these series. For each series and four taxonomic groups (vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, all), we calculated the slope parameter (z-value) of the power law species–area relationship (SAR), as a beta diversity measure. We tested whether z-values differed among taxonomic groups and with respect to biogeographic gradients (latitude, elevation, macroclimate), ecological (site) characteristics (several stress–productivity, disturbance and heterogeneity measures, including land use) and alpha diversity (c-value of the power law SAR). RESULTS: Mean z-values were highest for lichens, intermediate for vascular plants and lowest for bryophytes. Bivariate regressions of z-values against environmental variables had rather low predictive power (mean R² = 0.07 for vascular plants, less for other taxa). For vascular plants, the strongest predictors of z-values were herb layer cover (negative), elevation (positive), rock and stone cover (positive) and the c-value (U-shaped). All tested metrics related to land use (fertilization, livestock grazing, mowing, burning, decrease in naturalness) led to a decrease in z-values. Other predictors had little or no impact on z-values. The patterns for bryophytes, lichens and all taxa combined were similar but weaker than those for vascular plants. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that productivity has negative and heterogeneity positive effects on z-values, while the effect of disturbance varies depending on type and intensity. These patterns and the differences among taxonomic groups can be explained via the effects of these drivers on the mean occupancy of species, which is mathematically linked to beta diversity. The Bavarian Research Alliance (via the BayIntAn scheme) and the Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) funded the initial GrassPlot workshop during which the database was established and the current paper was initiated (grants to JDe). WU acknowledges support from the Polish National Science Centre (grant 2017/27/B/NZ8/00316). IB, JAC and IG-M were funded by the Basque Government (IT936-16). GF carried out the research in the frame of the MIUR initiative "Department of excellence" (Law 232/2016). SBa was supported by the GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00019 project. CM was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (grant no. 19-28491X) and the Basque Government (IT936-16). ID was supported by the Polish National Science Centre (grant DEC-2013/09/N/NZ8/03234) and by a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship for Postdocs (ESKAS No. 2019.0491). MJ was supported by the Slovak Academy of Sciences (grant VEGA 02/0095/19). AN was supported by a " Master Plan Project" in the University of Mazandaran, Iran. DS was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (grant no. 20-29554X). AK, IV and DV were supported by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine (project no. 2020.01/0140). JDo was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (GA17-19376S) and LTAUSA18007 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Central Pamir-Alai, which is located almost entirely within the area of Tajikistan, is one of the world hotspots of biodiversity, harbouring ca. 4,300 species and 1,400 endemic plants. The first application of the IUCN Red List criteria reveals that among all native species occurring in Tajikistan 1,627 taxa (38.11%) are threatened, including 23 extinct (0.54%), 271 (6.34%) critically endangered (CR), 717 (16.79%) endangered (EN) and 639 (14.96%) vulnerable (VU). Globally, 20 taxa are extinct, 711 (16.65%) threatened, including 144 (3.37%) critically endangered, 322 (7.54%) endangered and 245 (5.73%) vulnerable. As we found positive correlation between human density and the number of threatened species, we suspect this indirect factor responsible for the species diversity decline. Extinct or threatened taxa have short blooming periods in spring or early summer, have limited geographical range and inhabit mainly valley bottoms at lower altitudes. Threatened taxa occupy extremely dry or wet habitats, such as deserts, semi-deserts, water reservoirs and fens. The group of threatened plants consists mostly of Central Asian, Indo-Indochinese and Arctic species. Ornamental plants have a higher extinction risk than other plants, but species collected for medicinal reasons and used for forage or food reveal lower retreatment rate. Our assessment fills a gap for important plant area and provides the data for raising the effectiveness of plant diversity conservation.

Increasing urbanisation has led to the fragmentation of natural habitats and biodiversity decline. In Central Europe, this fate has befallen semi-natural xerothermic grasslands. However, in the case of species well adapted to open habitats, urbanisation may positively affect dispersal. In many places specialised xerothermic species start to spread in secondary habitats such as roadsides or railway embankments. However, little is known about the genetic variability of such newly-established populations. In an era of growing anthropogenic pressure, understanding the role of secondary, anthropogenic habitats in the maintenance biodiversity should be considered a crucial issue in the conservation of species associated with Central European dry grasslands. Therefore, on the basis of a combined analysis of xerothermic species abundance, bioclimatic and soil data, and genetic diversity, we wish to examine the suitability of secondary habitats (as substitutes for primary) and to demonstrate their role in the conservation of xerothermic species. Our results suggest that smaller competition for light and greater habitat connectivity indicate suitability of habitats for xerothermic species conservation. On one hand, the occurrence of these species in secondary habitats may be limited by the pressure of expansive grasses, on the other, the negative impact of the latter is buffered by the reduced presence of shrubs, and thus the greater availability of light. Plant communities from secondary habitats are less richness in xerothermic species, and particular species are less abundant, for this reason secondary habitats should be treated more as refuges (with suboptimal conditions) than as substitution habitats. But yet, Stipa pennata populations from secondary habitats do not suffer from genetic depauperation. Populations from secondary habitats are characterised by comparable share of two genotypes, indicating existence of gene flow between populations from south and north-west part of studied area. Through the maintenance of meta-population processes by means of dynamic connectivity between habitats on a landscape scale, secondary habitats possess an undoubtedly high conservation value for xerothermic species.

The paper presents new records for 39 vascular plant species from eight Eurasian countries. Aniselytron treutleri Poaceae , Hackelochloa granularis Poaceae , Melica kozlovii Poaceae and Melica nutans Poaceae are reported from China; Dichondra micrantha Convolvulaceae from Hungary; Orobanche serbica Orobanchaceae and Viscum album subsp. austriacum Santalaceae from Italy; Petrorhagia prolifera Caryophyllaceae , Puccinellia schischkinii and Stipa pulcherrima Poaceae from Kyrgyzstan; Megadenia speluncarum Brassicaceae , Phelipanche lavandulacea Orobanchaceae , Solanum physalifolium Solanaceae , Thymus lenensis Lamiaceae from Russia; Rubus phoenicolasius Rosaceae from Slovakia; Atraphaxis karataviensis Polygonaceae from Tajikistan; as well as Rubus austroslovacus and R. crispomarginatus Rosaceae in addition to Taraxacum acervatulum, T. aequilobum, T. amplum, T. ancistrolobum, T. bellicum, T. collarispinulosum, T. copidophyllum, T. corynodes, T. dentatum, T. gelertii, T. infuscatum, T. ingens, T. lucidum, T. paucilobum, T. plumbeum, T. portentosum, T. sinuatum, T. subhuelphersianum, T. telmatophilum, T. undulatiforme and T. undulatum Asteraceae from Ukraine. For each species synonyms, general distribution, habitat preferences, notes on taxonomy with remarks concerning recognition and distinction of the species from the most similar taxa occurring in a given country, as well as a list of recorded localities often far from the previously known areas are presented.

GrassPlot is a collaborative vegetation-plot database organised by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and listed in the Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases (GIVD ID EU-00-003). Following a previous Long Database Report (Dengler et al. 2018, Phyto- coenologia 48, 331–347), we provide here the first update on content and functionality of GrassPlot. The current version (GrassPlot v. 2.00) contains a total of 190,673 plots of different grain sizes across 28,171 independent plots, with 4,654 nested-plot series including at least four grain sizes. The database has improved its content as well as its functionality, including addition and harmonization of header data (land use, information on nestedness, structure and ecology) and preparation of species composition data. Currently, GrassPlot data are intensively used for broad-scale analyses of different aspects of alpha and beta diversity in grassland ecosystems.

Stipa pennata (Poaceae), has become a rare and endangered species in Central Europe due habitat loss and fragmentation. This species is characterized by high morphological variability, which has resulted in the description of numerous intraspecific taxa. The aim of present work is to develop microsatellite markers useful in population genetics studies as well as in intraspecific taxonomy of S. pennata s.l. We developed ten microsatellite markers using Illumina high-throughput. Polymorphism at each marker was evaluated using 4-15 individuals from four morphotypes of S. pennata s.l. Seven markers showed polymorphism while three were monomorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 7 to 12, and the observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0.000 to 1.000 and 0.000 to 0.8670, respectively. Our results confirm that three of four studied morphotypes are genetically distinct. The microsatellite markers developed here will be useful for evaluating levels of genetic diversity and differentiation, to study gene flow, population dynamics and in future conservation studies as well as for intraspecific delimitation of morphologically similar taxa within S. pennata s.l.

The paper presents new records for 29 vascular plant species from 12 Eurasian countries. Seven taxa (Agave sisalana, Austrocylindropuntia subulata, Lagurus ovatus subsp. nanus, Opuntia stricta, Orobanche serbica, Oxalis articulata, Vitis × instabilis) are reported from Albania, one (Allium carinatum) from the Europaean part of Russia, six (Dipsacus fullonum, Gagea shmakoviana, Mentha × dalmatica, Thymus indigirkensis, Thymus sergievskajae, Viola × sukaczewii) from the Asian part of Russia, two (Agrostis sozanensis, Poa mustangensis) from China, two (Carex muskingumensis, Sedum rubens) from Poland, two (Crataegus macrocarpa, Dactylorhiza lapponica) from Romania, two (Oxygraphis delavayi, Ranunculus eryuanensis) from Nepal, two (Erigeron bonariensis, Ophioglossum vulgatum) from Tajikistan, one (Ranunculus olgae) from Kazakhstan, one (Najas guadelupensis) from Hungary, one (Orobanche bartlingii) from Armenia, one (Crataegus petrodavisii) from Azerbaijan and one (Amaranthus powellii) from Georgia. For each species, synonyms, general distribution, habitat preferences, taxonomy with remarks on recognition, and differentiation the species from the most similar taxa occurring in a given country, as well as a list of recorded localities (often far from the previously known areas) are presented.

Valuable habitats in various spatial configurations are essential for maintaining biodiversity across highly fragmented urban landscapes. In a large-scale study, we explored the value of human-made structures - river levees - as valuable habitats that support large populations of plants and butterflies and affects the spatial turnover of species within an urban landscape. The most significant environmental variables affecting plant and butterfly populations on levees were also examined. The richness of native plant species was about 25% greater on levee transects than on control grassland transects. However, the richness and abundance of butterflies on levees were the same as on grassland sites. Among environmental factors, urban area cover negatively affected the richness of native plant species. Shrub cover decreases the richness and abundance of butterfly species. In addition, high mowing intensity had a negative influence on abundance. Community dissimilarity of plants on levees was affected by spatial variables. Our study is the first to highlight levees as significant habitats for plant and herbivorous insect persistence, and their potential function for plant dispersal.

Aim Species-area relationships (SARs) are fundamental scaling laws in ecology although their shape is still disputed. At larger areas, power laws best represent SARs. Yet, it remains unclear whether SARs follow other shapes at finer spatial grains in continuous vegetation. We asked which function describes SARs best at small grains and explored how sampling methodology or the environment influence SAR shape. Location Palaearctic grasslands and other non-forested habitats. Taxa Vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens. Methods We used the GrassPlot database, containing standardized vegetation-plot data from vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens spanning a wide range of grassland types throughout the Palaearctic and including 2,057 nested-plot series with at least seven grain sizes ranging from 1 cm(2) to 1,024 m(2). Using nonlinear regression, we assessed the appropriateness of different SAR functions (power, power quadratic, power breakpoint, logarithmic, Michaelis-Menten). Based on AICc, we tested whether the ranking of functions differed among taxonomic groups, methodological settings, biomes or vegetation types. Results The power function was the most suitable function across the studied taxonomic groups. The superiority of this function increased from lichens to bryophytes to vascular plants to all three taxonomic groups together. The sampling method was highly influential as rooted presence sampling decreased the performance of the power function. By contrast, biome and vegetation type had practically no influence on the superiority of the power law. Main conclusions We conclude that SARs of sessile organisms at smaller spatial grains are best approximated by a power function. This coincides with several other comprehensive studies of SARs at different grain sizes and for different taxa, thus supporting the general appropriateness of the power function for modelling species diversity over a wide range of grain sizes. The poor performance of the Michaelis-Menten function demonstrates that richness within plant communities generally does not approach any saturation, thus calling into question the concept of minimal area. We thank all vegetation scientists who carefully collected multi‐ scale plant diversity data from Palaearctic Grasslands available in GrassPlot. The Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) sup‐ ported the EDGG Field Workshops, which generated a core part of the GrassPlot data. The Bavarian Research Alliance (grant BayIntAn_UBT_2017_58) and the Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) funded the initial GrassPlot workshop during which the database was established and the cur‐ rent paper was initiated. A.N. acknowledges support by the Center for International Scientific Studies and Collaboration (CISSC), Iran. C.M., I.B., I.G.‐M and J.A.C. were funded by the Basque Government (IT936‐16). D.V. carried out the research supported by a grant of the State Fund For Fundamental Research Ф83/53427. G.F. carried out the research in the frame of the MIUR initiative ‘Department of excellence' (Law 232/2016). I.D. was supported by the Polish National Science Centre (grant DEC‐2013/09/N/NZ8/03234). J.Do. was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (GA 17‐19376S). M.J. was supported by grant by Slovak Academy of Sciences (VEGA 02/0095/19). W.U. ac‐ knowledges support from the Polish National Science Centre (grant 2017/27/B/NZ8/00316).

The paper presents new records of 24 vascular plant species from 11 Eurasian countries. One taxon (Orobanche laxissima) is reported from Armenia ; one (Epipactis condensata) from Azerbaijan ; two (Phragmites americanus, Polygala multicaulis) from Belarus ; one (Stipa caucasica) from Egypt ; one (Puccinellia hauptiana) from Kyrgyzstan ; three (Aquilegia xinjiangensis, Geranium saxatile, Ranunculus songaricus) from Mongolia ; one (Stipa roborowskyi) from Pakistan ; three (Echinochloa muricata, Erigeron acris subsp. podolicus, Hypericum majus) from Poland ; six from Russia, whereof one (Zanthoxylum armatum) from the European part of Russia and five (Chaerophyllum aureum, Elsholtzia densa, Poa compressa, Ranunculus subrigidus, Viola sororia) from the Asian part of Russia ; two (Ludwigia repens, Sagittaria latifolia) from Slovakia ; and three (Rubus ambrosius, Rubus camptostachys, Rubus perrobustus) from Ukraine. For each species, synonyms, general distribution, habitat preferences, taxonomy with remarks on recognition and differentiation of the species from the most similar taxa occurring in a given country, as well as a list of recorded localities (often far from the previously known areas), are presented.

Stipa dickorei sp. nov. from the Western Tibetan Plateau (China) is described. The new species is morphologically similar to S. regeliana, but they differ from each other in the length of ligules of vegetative shoots. Stipa dickorei is also similar to S. aliena, however they differ in the shape of panicle, which is contracted with straight branches in S. dickorei, and lax with flexuous branches in S. aliena. Images of macromorphological and micromorphological structures of the new taxon are provided. Additionally, new records of S. borysthenica, S. richteriana, and S. zalesskii, species not listed in the recent Flora of China, as well as a checklist of Chinese feather grasses are also presented.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential distribution area of Solidago ×niederederi, a natural hybrid between North American S. canadensis and European S. virgaurea, in Central and East Europe using the MAXENT modeling approach. The final MAXENT model was constructed based on 83 occurrence records from Austria, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia and six abiotic environmental variables. The jackknife test revealed that annual temperature range, mean temperature of wettest quarter, and minimum temperature of coldest month had the highest gain for the training and test data when used alone, whereas precipitation seasonality, precipitation of coldest quarter, and precipitation of warmest quarter reduced the gain the most when excluded from the model and thus contributed the most information not presented with the other variables. A high probability of occurrence (>0.6) for S. ×niederederi was found in 12 countries, namely Austria, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast), Slovenia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Our results showed in which areas the hybrid may be established under the European temperate climatic conditions; however, we do not indicate which areas exactly may be under invasion by the hybrid because such a statement needs population dynamic data for proper investigation. To prevent the negative impact of S. ×niederederi on native S. virgaurea (i.e. competition for pollinators and introgression) we suggest that it should be controlled first in areas of high probability of occurrence, especially in Lithuania, Kaliningrad Oblast, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria, where the areas of high probability of hybrid occurrence account for more than 5% of the territory concerned.

Based on numerical analyses of macromorphological characters (cluster analysis, principal coordinate analysis and principal component analysis), scanning electron microscopy observation of lemma and lamina micromorphology, as well as field observations, five taxa belonging to the Stipa turkestanica group have been recognized in the mountain area of Central Asia. They are S. turkestanica subsp. turkestanica, S. turkestanica subsp. trichoides, S. macroglossa subsp. macroglossa, S. macroglossa subsp. kazachstanica and S. kirghisorum. As a result of this study, we propose one new combination, S. macroglossa var. pubescens, and designate lectotypes for S. turkestanica subsp. trichoides and S. macroglossa var. pubescens, and an epitype for S. kirghisorum. Illustrations of micromorphological structures of the lemma, patterns of leaf hairiness and an identification key are provided. A taxonomic synopsis including information on nomenclatural types, synonyms, descriptions of the taxa, and, as supplementary information, a list of the specimens examined is also presented.

Based on numerical analyses of macromorphological characters, scanning electron microscopy observation of leaves and lemma micromorphology, as well as field observations, Stipa pennata subsp. ceynowae was described here as a new taxon from Poland. It differs from the most similar S. pennata subsp. pennata and S. borysthenica mainly by its longer ligules of vegetative shoots. The affinities of this taxon are discussed and a morphological comparison with related species is provided. Illustrations and images of the micromorphological structures, as well as information about its distribution, habitat and conservation status are given.

The paper presents new records for 10 vascular plant species from three Asian and four European countries. Of this number, three species (Panicum capillare, Stipa macroglossa, Tribulus longipetalus) are reported from Tajikistan, two (Calamagrostis emodensis, Calamagrostis lahulensis) from Myanmar, two (Euphorbia taurinensis, Origanum vulgare var. megastachyum) from Poland, one (Sagina apetala) from Uzbekistan, one (Orobanche ritro) from Ukraine and Russia, and one (Leontodon saxatilis) from the Czech Republic. Eight of these taxa are new to the flora of different Asian and European countries; and two, very rare but recently spreading species, namely Leontodon saxatilis and Euphorbia taurinensis, were reported from the Czech Republic and Poland, respectively. Four of the taxa presented (Euphorbia taurinensis, Panicum capillare, Sagina apetala and Tribulus longipetalus) should be regarded as alien to the studied areas, intensively spreading or even invasive, whereas the other six are native elements given for the first time from the countries. In each of the species, synonyms, the general distribution, habitat preferences and habitats occupied in the particular country, taxonomy with remarks on recognition and differentiating the species from the most similar occurring in particular country as well as a list of localities of examined species occurring in a given country, often far from the previously known areas, were presented. In the case of Stipa macroglossa a lectotype for the species was designated in the present paper. Illustrations for Stipa macroglossa and Orobanche ritro were also provided.

Arabis recta Vill. is a therophyte currently considered to be endangered in Poland (EN category). The species has been reported from ca. 20 localities situated mainly in the Nida Basin (southeastern Poland). Arabis recta is usually a component of xero-thermophile grasslands, but it can also grow in arable fields or fallows. An abundant population of A. recta was found on slopes of the Góra Sosnówka hill (Małopolska Upland) in 2017. This newly discovered locality is currently the northernmost in Poland. The distribution of A. recta in Poland as well as collected phytosociological documentation are presented.

The paper presents new records for 20 vascular plant species from eight Asian and two European countries. Five taxa (Artemisia campestris, Artemisia tanacetifolia, Delphinium sajanense, Diarthron vasiculosum var. undulatum, Epilobium adenocaulon) are reported from Kazakhstan, four (Deyeuxia yanyuanensis, Poa arnoldii, Stipa gracilis, Stipa macroglossa subsp. kazachstanica) from China, three (Nepeta pamirensis, Silene bucharica, Scrophularia pamiro-alaica) from Uzbekistan, two (Epilobium nervosum, Stellaria zolotukhinii) from Mongolia, two (Oenothera deflexa, Scirpus georgianus) from Poland, one (Coronopus didymus) from Tajikistan, one (Orobanche rumseiana) from Italy, one (Stipa macroglossa subsp. kazachstanica) from Kyrgyzstan, one (Poa polozhiae) from Russia, and one (Agrostis rupestris) from Azerbaijan. All of these taxa are new to the floras of listed Asian and European countries or its regions (as it is in the case of China or Russia). Four of the presented taxa (Coronopus didymus, Epilobium adenocaulon, Oenothera deflexa and Scirpus georgianus) are regarded as alien to the studied areas, whereas the other 16 are new native elements to the flora of the countries. For each species synonyms, general distribution, habitat preferences, taxonomy with remarks on recognition and differentiation of the species from the most similar occurring in a given country, as well as a list of localities recorded (often far from the previously known areas) are presented. In the case of Orobanche rumseiana, a new variety O. rumseiana var. sarda R. Piwowarczyk and A. Pujadas is described and illustrated.

The paper presents a new locality of Typha shuttleworthii W.D.J. Koch & Sond. in Poland. The species was found in wet roadside ditch in Kryg village near Gorlice (ATPOL grid square EG09). The distribution map of the species in Poland is provided.

Numerical analyses of macromorphological characters of specimens of S. lessingiana, S. borysthenica and S. baktashevae, nested the last one among individuals of S. borysthenica. We propose synonymization of S. baktashevae, the species described in 2014 and known only from type material, with S. borysthenica, and provide morphological comparisons of the taxa.