Early Holocene presence of Picea abies (Norways spruce) was recorded in NE Poland. Currently it is the westernmost known fossil site of spruce for the Early Holocene (9500–9000 cal. BP) in central-eastern Europe, approximately five thousand years earlier than presumed. For the first time, the occurrence of P. abies was documented by the presence of needles, bud scales and seeds. Picea abies grew on a peatland developed on a mineral peninsula between lakes Kojle and Perty during a period of low water level, when Corylus expanded. The disappearance of P. abies is related to a substantial climate change from continental to oceanic, approximately 9400 cal. BP, which resulted in an increase in humidity, higher water levels, and submergence of the peatland inhabited by P. abies.

Different environmental conditions can cause specific modifications during the development of plants. In this study, we investigated the effect of contrasting habitats (a Zn-Pb dump and a forest site) on morphological and reproductive traits of 154 plants of the perennial herb Arabidopsis halleri. Base on the results of our preliminary investigation we distinguished morphological and functional traits, which differentiate populations of A. halleri from forest and dump habitats. Discriminant analysis distinguished the seed number and the length of the longest rosette leaf as the most distinctly variable traits.

Gypsophila torulensis M. Koç sp. nova (Caryophyllaceae) is described from the Torul district (Gümüşhane Province) in Turkey. The specimen was collected from calcareous rocks, at an altitude of 1100 m a.s.l. The new species resembles G. muralis; the differences between these two taxa are given in a table. Diagnostic characters, a full description, and a detailed figure of G. torulensis are provided in the article.

To determine the growth strategies of the clonal wetland sedge Carex brevicuspis under different conditions, we measured the ramet density and biomass; numbers of total rhizomes (TR), long rhizomes (LR), and short rhizomes (SR); and environmental factors along a small-scale elevation gradient (23–26 m) in Dongting Lake wetlands, China. Ramet density and biomass were higher at low elevations as compared with those at intermediate and high elevations. There was no significant difference in the number of SR per ramet among the three elevations. However, the number of LR per ramet was higher at high and intermediate elevations as compared with that at low elevation. These results indicate that C. brevicuspis can adapt to increasing environmental stress (i.e., decreasing soil moisture contents) along an elevation gradient by producing more long rhizomes. Plasticity of the C. brevicuspis clonal growth through the modification of its meristem allocation patterns may allow for wide distribution of the species.

Cyanus ouramanicus Ranjbar & Negaresh sp. nova (Asteraceae) is described and illustrated from Kermanshah Province, W Iran. It resembles C. woronowii, but differs from it by having an erect to ascending stem, branched at the base and often from median to upper parts, elliptic to oblanceolate or oblong, rarely linear or oblanceolate stem leaves, lower and median stem leaves with entire margins, pubescent phyllaries, and lanceolate peripheral floret lobes.

Corydalis meyori Lidén, R. Mili & B. Saikia (sect. Trachycarpae) and C. pterygopetala subsp. macrocarpa Lidén, R. Mili & B. Saikia (sect. Davidianae) are described as new to science. Both were collected close to Myanmar (Burma) in East Arunachal Pradesh, an area whose flora is almost unknown.

Aristolochia mulunensis Y.S. Huang & Yan Liu, a new species of Aristolochiaceae from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to A. kwangsiensis, but differs from it by its calyx limb that is discoid-orbicular, nearly quadrilateral, and has an entire margin; by its protuberance that is adaxially densely verrucose, abaxially purple; and by its purple throat, plus 3-lobed gynostemium with mammillate lobes and a glabrous margin.

Aphyllorchis rotundatipetala C.S. Leou, S.K. Yu & C.T. Lee, a new species of Orchidaceae discovered in Taiwan, is described and illustrated. It is related to A. montana and A. simplex. The distinguishing characters of A. rotundatipetala are peloric and yellow flowers, obtuse apex of petals and lip, pinnate veins at the lip's top, and entire apex of the rostellum.

Aethionema anatolica A. Duran & M. Öztürk sp. nova (Brassicaceae) is described and illustrated from South Anatolia, Turkey. It is similar especially to A. demirizii, but differs by the habit, crenate margin of the fruits, and the style that is around the same size as the sinus.

We describe and illustrate Lilium yapingense sp. nova (Liliaceae) and show its position within the Lilium—Nomocharis complex (Liliaceae). It is similar in appearance to L. nanum but differs by (1) having no spots on the tepal bases, instead possessing symmetric stripes; (2) nectaries lacking fimbriate projections on the surfaces, but having two dark grooves; and (3) an orange-colored instead of a white bulb. Phylogenetic analyses using nuclear ITS showed that L. yapingense merits specific rank and that it is more closely related to Nomocharis than to Lilium. However, the morphological synapomorphies thought to distinguish Nomocharis from Lilium are absent from the new species. The morphology and phylogeny of L. yapingense support previous studies, which show that Nomocharis and Lilium have intergrading morphologies and that Lilium is paraphyletic with respect to Nomocharis.

A taxonomic revision of the Hypericum ericoides aggregate is presented based on morphological characters. This aggregate is endemic to the western Mediterranean basin and is currently included in H. sect. Coridium. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques were utilized to check the diagnostic value of several characters that were neglected or overlooked in previous works. As a result, four wellcharacterized taxonomic entities are accepted: Hypericum ericoides L., H. hispanicum (Pau) M.A. Alonso, Agulló, J.L. Villar, Juan & M.B. Crespo comb. nov. [= H. robertii var. hispanicum Pau], H. maroccanum (Maire & Wilczek) Rivas Mart. [= H. ericoides subsp. maroccanum Maire & Wilczek], and H. robertii Coss. ex Batt. & Trab. For each one, the data on morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported. Nomenclatural types are also included, and an epitype for H. ericoides is designated. Hypericum robertii, a plant supposed to be restricted to Tunisia, is reported from eastern Algeria.