In order to reveal some of the germination requirements of The boreal-alpine terrestrial orchid Dactylorhiza lapponica, several experiments were carried out on seeds collected from the Sølendet, nature reserve, central Norway. Seeds were sown in seed packets made of nylon cloth and deployed in situ vertically in the peat in order to study the temporal pattern of seed germination and determine if the seeds became part of the soil seed bank. In vitro germination experiments were carried out varying the growth media, fungal partner and chilling treatment, in order to study the effect of a fungal symbiont on germination and early protocorm development, and the possibility of a physiological seed dormancy. A high rate of germination a short time after sowing in the in vitro experiments together with a very low survival after deployment in the in situ experiments (0.2% after three years) indicate that D. lapponica seeds are not part of a long-lived soil seed bank. In vitro experiments also demonstrated that a fungal symbiont was not required for germination. Seeds sown in situ had very low germination rate (11%–12%) and lack of available nutrients is suggested as a possible explanation. Presence of a fungal symbiont clearly enhanced the early development of protocorms in vitro, and is probably necessary for the seedling to grow beyond the earliest protocorm stages under natural conditions. The results indicate that recruitment is highly variable and very low relative to population size, indicating that survival of established plants is crucial to the fate of a population.

Different concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJa) were applied to maize (Zea mays) plants exposed tocold stress. ABA enhanced plant resistance against the damaging effects of freezing. ABA-treated plants produced some specific proteins when exposed to cold. Prominent changes were observed in the size and number of stomata with the application of ABA during cold stress. MeJa inhibited root growth, but increased root dry weight during cold acclimation. The chlorophyll content was lower at 100 µg ml^-1 NAA and 50 µg ml^-1 MeJa and higher in the residual applications when compared with that in the control plants. Carotenoid levels increased in all NAA and some ABA treatments, decreased however in MeJa treatment. Exogenous MeJa treatments increased endogenous trans-zeatin (t-Z) and indole-3-acetic acide (IAA) in contrast decreased ABA levels. Exogenous NAA also increased endogenous IAA, ABA and zeatin riboside (ZR) levels, while exogenous ABA decreased endogenous IAA and ZR levels.

The spatial genetic structure in three subpopulations of the endangered clonal plant Iris sibirica from southern Poland was investigated. The subpopulations occurred in different habitats, i.e. in a Molinietum caeruleae community, a Phragmites australis patch and in a willow brushwood. Using 13 enzymatic systems, sixteen loci were evaluated. The very low genetic diversity (P = 0%–18.7%, A = 1.0%–1.19%, H_o= 0.000–0.009) observed within the subpopulations is probably due to lack of recruitment, habitat fragmentation and/or historical causes. Five distinct multilocus genotypes, detected from 148 collected samples in the subpopulations, supported this observation. This fact illustrated that only clonal growth could maintain the present low genetic variation through the domination of a single or a few clones within these sites. Moderate genetic differentiation (F_ST = 0.077, P < 0.001) that varies strongly between pairs of subpopulations, was observed, thereby suggesting substantial gene flow between populations.

Potassium antimonite was used to locate calcium in the anthers of Torenia fournieri (Linderniaceae). Abundant calcium precipitates accumulate in the microsporocyte cytoplasm. After meiosis, calcium precipitates are abundant on the microspore wall, as well as the callosic wall of each tetraspore. A large number of calcium precipitates also occur on the outer membranes of the tapetal cells, and in the intercellular spaces of the endothecium and middle layer. The quantity of calcium precipitates in the cytoplasm and nucleus increases at the early microspore stage, then gradually deceases until pollen maturation. Calcium precipitates on the pollen wall gradually increase from the early microspore stage until pollen maturation. Numerous calcium precipitates are observed around the Ubisch bodies. The relation between the distribution of calcium and mitosis, nuclear displacement, the formation of the pollen cell wall, as well as the possible functions of anther walls and Ubisch bodies in the transportation of calcium to the mature pollen are discussed.

A new species of Rhododendron subsection Taliensia (Tagg) Sleumer, R. yaoshanense L.M. Gao & S.D. Zhang from NE Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is compared with the morphologically similar R. pronum.

Salicornia freitagii Yaprak & Yurdakulol sp. nova (Chenopodiaceae) is described as a new species from Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is characterised by having a fastigiate habit, an acuminate leaf apex and short terminal spikes. It is considered to belong to section Dolichostachyae. Contrary to other members of the section, it is distributed in inland salt lake shores at relatively high altitudes.

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Chirita longicalyx J.M. Li & Y.Z. Wang, is described from Guilin, Guangxi province, China. It resembles C. depressawith its short peduncles, but is easily distinguished from the latter by its toothed calyx and densely bearded anthers. It is also morphologically similar to C. fimbrisepala, but differs from it in having longer lanceolate-line-bracts and shorter peduncles with flowers hidden by rosette leaves.

Ononis catalinae Reyes-Betancort & Scholz sp. nova (Ononideae, Fabaceae) is proposed as a new species with a distribution restricted to the eastern Canary islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Its morphological, biogeographical and ecological features are discussed, together with its relationship to, and differences from, the other species of Ononis subsect. Biflorae.

Anoectochilus hainanensis H.Z. Tian, F.W. Xing & L. Li sp. nova (Orchidaceae) is described from Hainan, China, and illustrated. It can be distinguished from the morphologically similar A. reinwardtii by the leaves, which have much denser and exquisitely golden-shiny reticulations on the upper surface, and by the column wings which have a broadly ligulate anterior part and appressed inner margins, and a saddle-like lamelliform posterior part connected with the anterior part at an acute angle.

Helichrysum yurterianum Y. Gemici, Kit Tan, H. Yildirim & M. Gemici (Asteraceae, Inuleae) is described and illustrated. It is a serpentine endemic restricted to the province of Erzincan in NE Anatolia, Turkey. Its affinities are with H. arenarium and H. noeanum, which both have a wider distribution. Anatomical and ecophysiological data for the new taxon are provided.

The name Sempervivum ekimii F. Karaer nom. et stat. nov. is proposed for S. minus var. glabrum (Crassulaceae) from Turkey based on examination of type material and other specimens. An amplified description of the taxon is provided.

Viola nanlingensis J.S. Zhou &. F.W. Xing sp. nova (Violaceae), a new species from Guangdong province in southern China is described and illustrated. It is compared with the morphologically similar species V. nagasawai and V. diffusa.

Saxifraga daqiaoensis F.G. Wang &. F.W. Xing sp. nova (Saxifragaceae) grows on moist rocks in evergreen secondary forests on limestone mountains in the Guangdong province of China. It is morphologically most similar to S. mengtzeana.