The effect of different substrata (agar, pearl barley, oat flakes and perlite) on the growth and development of orchids. Cymbidium, in the early stages of development in in vitro cultures was studied. Liquid PB medium, complete and without peptone, was added to the substratum. The best growth of Cymbidium shoots and roots was observed on pearl barley. The oat flake substratum favored the growth of shoots, however, due to poor air proportions, the numerous developing roots were damaged. The few roots which arose on the traditional agar substratum grew on its surface. Perlite provided perfect air conditions for the development of roots, but was too poor in nutrients. The presence of peptone in the medium caused the increase of fresh weight of Cymbidium plants. The macroelement content in the plant was dependent on the supply from the substratum used.
From plantlets of Byblis liniflora Salisb. (Byblidaceae), propagated by in vitro culture, four phenylethanoid glycosides - acteoside, isoacteoside, desrhamnosylacteoside and desrhamnosylisoacteoside were isolated. The presence of acteoside substantially supports a placement of the family Byblidaceae in order Scrophulariales and subclass Asteridae. Moreover, the genera containing acteoside are listed; almost all of them appear to belong to the order Scrophulariales.