The identity of the original material of Juncus kochii F. W. Schultz (Juncaceae) is discussed. The taxon at present is best regarded as Juncus bulbosus L. subsp. kochii (F. W. Schultz) Reichg. The relevant literature (protologue and references therein) was searched and details of all original elements were compiled. Nomenclatural and taxonomic remarks are given. Juncus welwitschii Hochst. ex Steud. is here excluded as a synonym of Juncus bulbosus subsp. kochii.
The identity of the potential original material of Juncus kochii is discussed. The taxon at present is best regarded as Juncus bulbosus L. subsp. kochii (F.W. Schultz) Reichg. The relevant literature (protologue and references therein) was searched and details of all residual original elements were compiled. Taxonomic remarks are given. The herbarium material from the environs of Bitche (Moselle, Lorraine) and Gérardmer (Vosges, Lorraine) – both in France, has been rejected as useless for typification of J. kochii (because of taxonomic reasons), though it was listed both in the protologue and also as indirect references therein Schultz’s earlier publications.
The actual flora of the small nature reserve Brzeźnik (3.24 ha) comprises 60 taxa. Eight species are fully protected by Polish law: Erica tetralix (the easternmost locality in the Bory Dolnośląskie forest), Drosera rotundifolia, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Ledum palustre, and 4 Sphagnum species (Sph. papillosum, Sph. fallax, Sph. angustifolium, Sph. teres). Additionally, there are found 10 taxa here (including hybrids) which are endangered or rare in Poland or/and Lower Silesia (including DD category): Dryopteris cristata, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus acutiflorus, J. alpinoarticulatus, J. bulbosus, J. ×langii, Oxycoccus palustris, Rhynchospora alba, Vaccinium uliginosum, Viola palustris × epipsila. On the other hand 2 fully protected species are not confirmed here: Drosera intermedia and Carex limosa. Twenty five species are new for the reserve (never recorded before). The paper describes the nature reserve in detail and examines the possible causes of changes in its flora, and also assesses the potential risks for the future.
The first localities of Juncus bulbosus (Juncaceae) for South America (Chile) and for the whole south-western part of the world (S latitude and E longitude) are described, including precise geographical location and climatic conditions. General remarks on the invasiveness of the species and on the possibility of finding it in other parts of the world are given. The distribution of the species world-wide requires further studies, since the bulbous rush has become an invasive plant in areas where it did not occur before.
In this paper, mathematical values of habitats’ properties (waters and bottoms) of Juncus bulbosus communities (and others) are compared. Statistical analyses gave new information about an amplitude of some factors (19 properties for waters and 15 for bottoms). The study has confirmed that bulbous rush may also grow in eutrophic waters (it usually exists in oligotrophic, lobelian lakes or mesotrophic waters). An interesting fact was to find this species within habitats with a large content of calcium ions (systematic and floristic monographs state that this species avoids calcium ions). The rest of tested factors were also analysed. The results have shown that Juncus bulbosus phytocoenoses from Wrocław and its environs are very specific – they refer rather to communities of Potametea than to Littorelletea uniflorae class.
In Poland, Batrachium penicillatum Dumort. is known from four localities. All of them are situated in Sudety Mountains, in Lower Silesia. In this paper, environmental conditions of this species are characterised. The threat category of B. penicillatum (up to now: R – rare) has been changed into VU (vulnerable).
The main aim of this paper has been to assess natural values of the Janówek area (Wrocław) from the geobotanical point of view. The area is a valuable natural territory because a rich population of Salvinia natans (protected by law and vulnerable species VU category), consisting of about 1000 handsome specimens occurs here. There are also situated localities of some rare species in Lower Silesia, i.e. Cyperus fuscus (NT cat.), Kickxia elatine (NT), Sherardia arvensis (LC) and Euphorbia exigua (LC), and a borderland, fragmentarily developed form of Kickxietum spuriae association, a segetal weeds community of the Caucalidion lappulae alliance, as well as the area of ecological use Łacha Farna Old River-bed. Probably, within the Janówek area a rare butterfly species Euphydryas maturna L. appears and this is one of the only two localities in Poland. The western part of the investigated ground should be conserved as the Protected Landscape Area.
The paper describes the vascular flora and plant communities of the Łacha Farna Old River-bed area of ecological use which is situated in Wrocław city (SW Poland). The full list of recorded plants comprises 173 taxa. The most interesting plant is Ceratophyllum submersum (the rare species in Lower Silesia LC category). The vegetation is also strongly differential 41 plant communities belonging to 8 classes occur here. The two richest classes are: Phragmitetea australis and Artemisietea vulgaris (10 communities found for each). There is only locality of Ceratophylletum submersi association (Potametea class), never recorded earlier on the area and its vicinity. The paper also provides precise descriptions of the localities examined to be used later for all the subsequent comparisons to identify the directions of changes within the studied oxbow lake. The distribution of the analysed localities and protected species is shown as Fig. 1. All the features of the investigated area confirm that it should be protected by local authorities.
The paper presents phytosociological records of the mire nature reserve Torfowisko Kunickie near Legnica, SW Poland, which are compared with previous data. The clear effects of eutrophication of the mire surroundings connected with an increasing drying out (because of existed drainage ditch system and low rainfalls during last years) cause that associations of oligo-/dys- and mesotrophic habitats are superseded by communities which are characteristic for higher level of biogenic elements within substratum. The dominant plant community in the nature reserve is Carici elongatae-Alnetum. The most numerous associations (12) represent the class Phragmitetea australis. 7 valuable plant communities are not confirmed (e.g. Scorpidio- Utricularietum minoris, Caricetum appropinquatae, C. limosae, C. lasiocarpae, C. diandrae). However, 13 others are new for the reserve (e.g. Acoretum calami, Impatientetum parviflorae, community with Urtica dioica, community with Glechoma hederacea, cfr. Urtico-Calystegietum, Ceratophylletum demersi).
The identity of the holotype of Epipactis purpurata Sm. is shown to be demonstrably ambiguous because all its flowers are at the budding stage (pre-anthesis); thus, no crucial diagnostic characters are visible, i.e., gynostemium morphology and undulations of margins of the labella and their shape and color. This way, the specimen is almost identical with several species of Epipactis genus (E. purpurata group) and including morphologically variable Epipactis helleborine, as many plants of the latter species can have similar combinations of characters like the holotype (i.e., small leaves and a robust stem even in the inflorescence). Thus, an epitype for the name Epipactis purpurata Sm. is proposed (M 257866) in order to enable its precise taxonomic interpretation and achieve nomenclatural stability.
Lappula squarrosa is the Mediterranean-Euro-Siberian species. In Poland, it mainly occurs in lowlands and in the lower parts of the mountains. In Lower Silesia it was reported from 55 localities comprising 25 ATPOL squares (10x10 km). In most cases, these localities were found before 1945. After the year 1945 it was recorded 10 times only. In the last 10 years it was found only once. The species is considered to be critically endangered.