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David’s Valley Hay Fields Natural Reserve is situated in the proximity of Iaşi city, in Moldavia,
Romania. Despite the fact that it’s a small natural reserve with just 46,36 ha, this area has a very
important role in preserving the flora and fauna adapted to stepic condition. Particular microclimate and microhabitats of the reserve determinate a sp...
Citations
... The species I. brandzae occurs in Moldova and Muntenia regions (Mititelu et al., 1979(Mititelu et al., -1980Chifu et al., 2006Chifu et al., , 2014Popescu, 2013;Sîrbu et al., 2019;Mânzu et al., 2020). The results of our study, in which we identified eight distinct clusters associated with these communities, confirm the significant diversity present within these groups. ...
Iris brandzae is one of the most threatened plant species in Romania. The current distribution of this species in Romania is very fragmented, and the population size has been reduced in the last 30 years. Information on the habitat preferences of the species has not been summarized yet. In this context, this study aimed to identify the habitat preferences of the species I. brandzae in Romania. The study was carried out in the northeastern (Moldova) and southeastern (Muntenia) regions of Romania. For the vegetation analysis, a total of 46 relevés were used. To classify the vegetation, we applied the hierarchical agglomerative clustering method, using the ß-flexible algorithm with ß = -0.25 and the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. The data were represented as mean percentage values, according to the scale developed by the Braun-Blanquet - coverage-abundance scale. Relationships between floristic composition and environmental variables were analyzed with Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) using CANOCO version 5.1. The vegetation analysis showed that I. brandzae grows in xerophilous, mesophilous and halophilous grasslands and ash-alpine alluvial forests. The species occurs in the communities of the Stipion lessingianae alliance, of the Festucetalia valesiacae order, mainly. The results of the CCA analysis indicate that the variation of the floristic composition of I. brandzae is influenced by the annual mean temperature (BIO1).
... Non-glandular trichomes play a role in reducing transpiration, which is important for the species' adaptation to relatively arid habitats. The species analyzed in this study was collected from a typical forest-steppe ecosystem, which receives approximately 550 mm/year of rainfall and experiences up to four months of drought during the summer [44]. ...
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the morphological peculiarities of glandular and non-glandular trichomes from leaves of Phlomis herba-venti subsp. Pungens using light, confocal, and scanning electron microscopy. Histochemistry techniques were used to analyze the localization of different chemical compounds in secretory trichomes. Two types of non-glandular trichomes were identified: unicellular and branched. They were found more frequently on the lower epidermis of leaves in different stages of ontogenetic development. Glandular trichomes were categorized as capitate (C1 and C2) with different stalk lengths and one–four secretory cells and dendroids (D) with one–four secretory cells. The histochemical analyses revealed distinct secretory products in terms of composition and distribution among the three types of glandular trichomes. The dendroid category of glandular trichomes is rarely found in plants and is not characteristic of the Lamiaceae species. They were described and characterized from a micromorphological and histochemical point of view for the first time in P. herba-venti.
Phytoecia tigrina Mulsant (1851) is recognized as a species under strict protection EU Habitat Directive, it represents a focal point for conservation efforts across Europe. However, the dearth of comprehensive understanding regarding its biology, ecology, and geographical distribution poses formidable challenges to conservation endeavors. In the current study, we have delineated eight European and two Asian distinct metapopulations of Ph. tigrina across its geographic range, with a particular emphasis on elucidating its dispersion within the Circum-Carpathian region. This delineation serves to underscore the species' distribution, niche dimensions and limits of ecological tolerance that illuminate its adaptation capacity to diverse environmental conditions within the range. Our study has unveiled notable differentials in both morphological and ecological traits among Ph. tigrina metapopulations, notably between those located on the eastern and western flanks of the Carpathian Arc. Such differentials suggest the influence of divergent evolutionary trajectories, likely influenced by historical climatic changes during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. Significantly, specimens derived from eastern metapopulations exhibit morphological features of sufficient magnitude to warrant the proposition of a distinct subspecies, Phytoecia (Pilemia) tigrina podillica ssp. nov. This taxonomic delineation underscores the taxonomic complexity inherent within the Ph. tigrina species complex. Our investigations have further illuminated the historical dynamics of the species distribution, indicating the presence at least of two refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). These refugial enclaves, situated in the Sea of Marmara/Eastern Aegean Sea region and the Pannonian Plain, likely played pivotal roles in shaping contemporary distributional patterns. Moreover, our ecological niche modeling endeavors have elucidated rapid expansions of suitable habitat for Ph. tigrina during post-glacial epochs, notably the Preboreal and Boreal periods. These expansions aligned with the rapid dispersion of its host plant Cynoglottis barrelieri supplying colonization of new territories in the face of the fast-changing post-glacial environment. Our study underscores the intricate interplay between evolutionary history, environmental dynamics, and imperatives for conservation Ph. tigrina. By elucidating these complexities, we endeavor to furnish a robust foundation for future conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding this emblematic species and its associated habitats.
In this paper, six species of the genus Crocus with a certain presence in Romania were analyzed for their distribution and the problems of their taxonomy using data from the literature, herbarium sheets and field observations. The species Crocus banaticus and Crocus heuffelianus have the largest distribution in the country. Population of Crocus banaticus is widespread in the center, west, and north of the country, also Crocus heuffelianus is present in the same parts of the country but, in addition, appearing in the south and northeast of the country. Crocus chrysanthus and Crocus pallasii have a certain presence only in Dobrogea. Crocus flavus is present also in Dobrogea, and in the southern and western part of the country. Crocus reticulatus s.l. occurs in Dobrogea and the southwest (where in fact it is Crocus danubensis), but for the west and northeast of the country, the taxonomic identity needs more research. Clarifying the distribution of these taxa could be valuable in taxonomic studies and also for conservation purposes.
Although Pilemia tigrina is a species of conservation concern, its biology, ecology and distribution in Romania are still poorly known. The data we are adding here contribute to complete the knowledge in the above-mentioned aspects. This is also the first time in 105 years (last known in 1912) that the authors recorded many new occurrences of this species, inside and nearby of three Natura 2000 sites near Cluj-Napoca. They are: "Dealurile Clujului de Est", "Suatu-Cojocna-Crairât" and "Cheile Turzii". Also, P. tigrina was recently reported at "Piatra Secuiului" (Rimetea/Alba), as well as at "Stânca" (Comarna/Iași).
