Acta Biologica Plantarum Agriensis

A THIRD BRYOPHYTE COLLECTION FROM LAOS

2025-09-30T08:30:29+02:00

During a short non-botanical visit to Laos in 2019, a few bryophytes were collected, five of which were identified, with four proving to be new to the flora of the country, namely Dumortiera hirsuta, Lejeunea anisophylla, Spruceanthus planiusculus, and Neckeropsis exserta.

NEW OCCURRENCE OF EUPHORBIA MYRSINITES L. IN THE TÁPIÓ REGION (PEST COUNTY)

2025-12-30T16:07:19+01:00

BRYOPHYTES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

2025-12-29T16:31:41+01:00

The aim of this review is to summarize the role of bryophytes as bioindicators of environmental change, highlighting their main areas of application and future research directions. Bryophytes (Bryophyta, Marchantiophyta, Anthocerotophyta) represent one of the most ancient groups of terrestrial plants, which, despite their small size, play a significant ecological and indicator role. Due to their simple structure, they are directly affected by environmental impacts and are therefore sensitive to changes in the chemical composition of air, water, and soil. Research in recent decades has confirmed their usefulness in monitoring air pollution, water quality, the state of forest ecosystems, and the effects of climate change. A classic example is the elimination of sulphur dioxide-sensitive epiphytic bryophytes from industrial areas, while heavy metal accumulation studies have also revealed spatial and temporal changes in atmospheric deposition. Aquatic mosses are important components of many European and Mediterranean biomonitoring programs, while forest and deadwood species indicate the naturalness and structural condition of habitats. Changes in distribution observed as a result of climate change indicate that mosses may be potential predictors of future biodiversity trends.

NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN EPIPHYLLOUS LIVERWORTS, XXVII. A SECOND COLLECTION FROM LAOS

2025-02-14T12:04:44+01:00

László Peregovits, entomologist, after 12 years made a new collection of liverworts from Laos. The samples were made in Xaisomboun Province, Ban Kohai and in the Phou Samsoum Mts of Xiangkhouang Province, near one of his previous collecting sites. The material contained 15 species, six of them new to the little known bryoflora of the country, then the known number of liverworts in Laos is raised to 72.

NEW RECORDS OF LICHENS AND LICHENICOLOUS FUNGI FROM KENYA AND TANZANIA (EAST AFRICA) 2

2025-12-30T15:57:18+01:00

Collections of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi were studied from Kenya (2000, 2023) and Tanzania (1989, 1990) analysing the usual morphological, anatomical characters, as well as secondary chemistry by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Altogether 57 species of lichen-forming fungi and five species of lichenicolous fungi have been recognised in the investigated collections. The following 7 species of lichens, Flavoparmelia pachydactyla (Hale) Hale, Hypogymnia subobscura (Vain.) Poelt, Hypotrachyna microblasta (Vain.) Hale, Montanelia disjuncta (Erichsen) Divakar, A. Crespo, Wedin & Essl., Parmotrema pilosum (Stizenb.) Krog & Swinscow, Usnea aristata Mot. and Xanthoparmelia phaeophana (Stirton) Hale are new distribution records for Tanzania. Additionally, the species Hypogymnia subobscura (Vain.) Poelt is newly recorded for East Africa. The records of lichenicolous fungi presented from East Africa are the Biatoropsis usnearum Räsänen species complex, Didymocyrtis melanelixiae (Brackel) Diederich, R.C. Harris & Etayo, Echinothecium hypogymniae Zhurb. (new for East Africa), Lichenoconium erodens M.S. Christ. & D. Hawksw. and Roselliniella africana Diederich (new for Tanzania).

A FEW EPIPHYLLOUS LIVERWORTS COLLECTED BY DAVID J. MABBERLEY IN NEW CALEDONIA

2025-12-30T16:04:08+01:00

David J. Mabberley in 1984, as the Dean of Wadham College at Oxford University, made a plant collection trip to the Eastern Melanesian New Caledonia in the Southern Pacific. This collection included some epiphyllous bryophytes too, which were kindly sent to me for identification. Although the number of liverwort species on the leaves was not more then seven, one of them, Cololejeunea triapiculata proved to be new for New Caledonia, while three endemics, Cololejeunea caledonica, C. virotana and Radula vieillardii became known from new localities from the island.

CALYMPERACEAE SPECIMENS COLLECTED BY MAX FLEISCHER IN THE “MUSCI FRONDOSI ARCHIPELAGI INDICI ET POLYNESIACI EXSICCATI” SERIES AND PRESERVED AS FRAGMENTS IN THE EGR HERBARIUM (EGER, HUNGARY)

2025-12-31T17:15:33+01:00

Twenty-one small moss fragments belonging to taxa in the Calymperaceae were discovered in the Herbarium EGR (Eger, Hungary). These specimens originate from Max Fleischer’s exsiccata series Musci frondosi Archipelagi Indici et Polynesiaci exsiccati (1900–1908), one of the most significant early bryological collections from the Indo-Pacific region. Although fragmentary, this material provides valuable insight into the history of early tropical bryological collecting and exsiccatae distribution. In addition to the EGR remnants, Fleischer’s exsiccatae are preserved in several major herbaria worldwide including FH, E, BM, G, L, NY, PC, U, W providing essential comparative context for reconstructing the provenance, circulation and broader historical trajectory of these collections. Each fragment from EGR was examined and re-identified according to current taxonomic concepts, but the principal contribution of this study lies in documenting the presence of these rare Indo-Pacific exsiccatae in a Central European herbarium and demonstrating their relevance for historical biogeography, specimen exchange networks and the reconstruction of Fleischer’s collecting legacy. Updated identifications and specimen data are provided to support future historical and curatorial research.

MORPHOLOGICAL, PHENOLOGICAL, AND BIOMASS TRAITS UNDERLYING THE INVASIVENESS OF FALLOPIA × BOHEMICA

2025-12-31T17:22:24+01:00

Fallopia × bohemica (Bohemian knotweed), an invasive hybrid of Fallopia japonica and Fallopia sachalinensis, is one of the most aggressive invasive plant species in riparian and disturbed habitats across Europe. In this study, we examined morphological, phenological, and biomass-related traits that may underlie the invasive potential of the species. The external morphology of aboveground shoots, leaf traits, epidermal characteristics, stomatal parameters, pollen morphology, and flowering phenology were examined within a single population during the 2018 growing season. Substantial intra-population variability was observed in plant height (125–337 cm), aboveground biomass (17.31–431.79 g d.w.), branching pattern, and total leaf area (1,000–12,000 cm²), largely driven by spatial position within the stand. Biomass accumulation was strongly associated with stem diameter and total leaf area, while shoot length showed a weaker relationship with branching intensity. Zone-specific variation in leaf morphology and petiole length enhanced light interception and contributed to dense canopy formation and pronounced shading. Leaves exhibited mesophytic epidermal traits, including hypostomatic structure and dense non-glandular trichome coverage, which reduce cuticular transpiration. Flowering occurred continuously but asynchronously within the population and provided an important nectar source for pollinators, despite limited sexual reproduction. Based on these observations, vegetative spread via rhizomes was inferred to be the primary driver of population persistence and expansion. Overall, the invasive success of Fallopia × bohemica appears to be driven by rapid biomass production, flexible shoot architecture, effective light capture, and strong competitive shading rather than by reproductive output. These findings highlight the importance of structural and biomass-related traits in shaping the species’ invasive performance.