National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Institute of Biological Research, Department of Experimental Biology and Biochemistry, 48 Republicii Street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: dana.suteu@icbcluj.ro

Abstract: DNA barcoding represents an accurate, fast and automatable tool that enhanced species identification and species delineation. It relies on the use of standardized gene regions as internal species tags. The barcode markers should meet the followings requirements: they must have short length, conserved flanking sites and display significant genetic variability. Due to the complexity of plant genomes, all attempts to find a universal marker failed. For different plant species, different barcode markers or combinations of markers have been reported. In this study, we aimed to discover barcode markers for an efficient differentiation of two close related species from the genus Pulmonaria (Boraginaceae). Pulmonaria rubra Schott. and the Carpathian endemic P. filarszkyana Jav. share a strong morphological resemblance and controversial taxonomic relationships, the latter being considered either a subspecies or a variety of the former, or a full ranked independent species. We tested fourteen target regions, of which thirteen belonged to the chloroplast and one was nuclear. Most regions lacked polymorphism or did not have a reliable, reproductible amplification. Only three regions displayed genetic variability: ITS1, rpL16 and psbD-trnT. Along the full length of the three sequences, six SNPs were detected, but they proved to be sufficient for a significant delimitation of the two taxa within subsequent phylogenetic analysis.

Key words: Boraginaceae, Pulmonaria, cpDNA, ITS1, SNP, barcode

*Babes-Bolyai University, Alexandru Borza Botanical Garden, Republicii, 42 str., RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**Transilvania University of Brasov, Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, RO-500123 Brasov, Romania
***Institute of Biological Research, Republicii 46 str., RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
****Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA), CNRS- Univ. Grenoble Alpes UMR5553, F-38041 Grenoble, France
e-mail: mihai.puscas@ubbcluj.ro

Abstract: Rare species occurrences are important for understanding patterns in regional floras. New records of species in different areas help to examine how recent changes in climate and human pressure could influence species assemblages. In this study, we carried out a detailed analysis of the distribution and habitat requirements of the rare Sub-Atlantic plant species Galium saxatile L. in the Romanian Carpathians. To date, the species has been reported only from the Nemira Mountains (Eastern Carpathians). We therefore provide information on several new localities in three other ranges: the Rodna, Cearcanul and Bretcu Mountains. The phytocoenoses where G. saxatile was found in Romania belong to Festuco-Nardetum strictae Csuros et Resmerita 1960, Violo declinatae-Nardetum strictae Simon 1966 and Hieracio transsylvanici-Piceetum abietis Pawlowski et Br.-Bl. 1939. These are very similar to those described for the species in Western Europe and the Western Carpathians.

Key words: biogeography, chorology, montane habitats, Romanian Flora, Sub-Atlantic species

*Sindan-Pharma, 11 Ion Mihalache Blvd., RO-011171 Bucuresti, Romania
**"Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Faculty of Biology, 20A Blvd. Carol I, RO-700506 Iasi, Romania
e-mail: bartok.attila@gmail.com

Abstract: This study proposes a critical analysis of the occurrence in the Romanian Carpathians of the rare plant species Achnatherum calamagrostis (L.) P. Beauv. (Poaceae, silver spike grass). This species has been reported from several of the mountains in the Romanian Carpathians, but reviewing the herbarium collections from Romania we were unable to find any validated specimens of A. calamagrostis collected outside the range of the Mehedinti, Cernei and Valcan Mountains. Furthermore, we processed the available botanical literature, which brought us to the same conclusion: the presence of this grass in all previously reported localities outside the western range of the Southern Carpathians cannot be supported by any reliable data and is, therefore, considered doubtful. The authors propose the inclusion of A. calamagrostis in the next edition of the Romanian Red Book of Vascular Plants as Vulnerable (VU), on the basis of its distribution within a restricted area of the Romanian Carpathians.

Key words: chorology, Achnatherum calamagrostis, silver spike grass, Red Data Book, phytosociology, Mehedinti Mountains

*Babes-Bolyai University, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 1 Kogalniceanu St., RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**Babes-Bolyai University, Centre of Systemic Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources (3B), 5-7 Clinicilor St., RO-400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
***Institute of Biological Research, Branch of the National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 48 Republicii St., RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: dorina.podar@ubbcluj.ro

Abstract: Cypripedium calceolus L. is one of the most spectacular species of orchid and one that suffered a significant decrease in Eurasia in the second half of the past century. After more than 80 years since the last record, we have found a new population of Cypripedium calceolus L. in the environs of Cluj-Napoca city, in Garbaului Valley. The last record of this species, near Cluj-Napoca area, was reported from a parallel watercourse named Dumbravii Valley in 1934 by E. I. Nyarady. However, any attempts to localize again Nyarady's C. calceolus population have failed. We have identified this orchid species at two new sites that have not been mentioned before. The two different sites are at the edge of Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests, Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests and Dacian oak-hornbeam forests from the Natura 2000 site - Fagetul Clujului-Valea Morii. The importance of this discovery stands on the rarity of this orchid that, although it is a criterion species for the declaration of Natura 2000 sites, is not listed in the Standard Form of the Fagetul Clujului-Valea Morii site. The data from this paper aim to contribute to the introduction of Cypripedium calceolus L. on to the list of protected species from the Natura 2000 site in order to ensure the conservation of this population in Romania.

Key words: Cypripedium calceolus, lady's slipper orchid, new record, Natura 2000 site

*Institute for Plant Sciences, Karl-Franzens-Universitat Graz, Holteigasse 6, A-8010 Graz, Austria
**State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, 18 Teatralna Str., Lviv city, 79 008 Ukraine
e-mail: anton.drescher@uni-graz.at
bohdan.prots@gmail.com

Abstract: The study characterizes the invasion process of the North American Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) in Europe using two areas in the Danube basin as examples: the territory of the Danube National Park and adjacent areas (Austria) and the Transcarpathia (Ukraine). The paper addresses mainly three questions: (1) what are the distribution patterns and the dynamic processes of the invasion process, (2) do natural habitats like old growth forests resist to the invasion of Green Ash and (3) are there management implications to control the spread of the invasive Green Ash? To give a rough survey of the today distribution and to trace the invasion process of the species we used archive material, floristic data from literature and herbarium specimens. The predominatly wind dispersed fruits; early maturity and the adaption to the ecological conditions in floodplains enable a rapid spread from plantations or single individuals in settlements. Fraxinus pensylvanica is currently at the stage of explosive distribution in many European countries. The broad ecological plasticity allows the species to take almost any invasion opportunity, however the floodplain habitats are the favourite. Green Ash has got plant attributes both from "Ruderal" and "Competitor" functional groups. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is still far from having occupied all suitable stands in the investigated areas. Even natural habitats, like old-growth forest patches are vulnerable to invasion. Green Ash replaces old individuals and out-competes all tree species native to floodplain habitats in Middle Europe. The conservation management would be mostly linked to the removal single trees and seedlings of Fraxinus pensylvanica as well as from plantation. In the present state of distribution in Middle Europe the eradication of the species is impossible, but there is a strong need to control areas of high conservation value.

Key words: plant invasion, distribution patterns, spread, management, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Middle Europe

*GTM CO Srl, Calea Manastur 85/99, RO-400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**Forest Design Srl, Strada Morii, nr. 45, RO-500063 Brasov, Romania
e-mail: lfilipas@gmail.com

Abstract: New chorological data for 13 rare vascular plant taxa are reported in the present paper: Alchemilla gracillima, Athamanta turbith subsp. hungarica, Bromus erectus subsp. transsilvanicus, Centaurea globurensis, Dianthus guttatus, Edraianthus graminifolius, Festuca tenuifolia, Hieracium flagellare, Narcissus poeticus subsp. radiiflorus, Ophrys apifera, Plantago atrata subsp. sudetica, Thymus longicaulis, and Veronica bachofenii. The fieldwork period in which we have investigated flora from various regions of the country started in 2013 and finished in 2015.

Key words: Romania, rare, endangered species, chorology, Red Lists

*Sindan-Pharma, 11 Ion Mihalache Bd., RO-011171 Bucuresti, Romania
**Institute of Biological Research, 48 Republicii St., RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
***Biological Research Center, Botanical Garden "Vasile Fati", 14 Parcului St., RO-455200 Jibou, Romania
****W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, PL-31-512, Krakow, Poland
******State Natural History Museum, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 18 Teatralna St., 79008, Lviv, Ukraine
*******Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 42 A.Treboniu Laurean St., RO-400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
********Bruckenthal Natural History Museum, 1 Cetatii St., RO-550160, Sibiu, Romania
e-mail: bogdan.hurdu@icbcluj.ro

Abstract: The Fagaras Mountains are the second highest range in the Carpathians (Moldoveanu Peak, 2544 m a.s.l.). Owing to the presence of extensive alpine habitats, pronounced glacial relief and scattered occurrence of limestone in a predominantly siliceous bedrock, this massif represents a major hotspot of biodiversity, harbouring many endemic and relict plant populations of arctic and alpine origin. However, following a period of intense botanical explorations during the 19th and the first part of the 20th century, intensity of field inventories substantially declined and many old distribution records remained unconfirmed for many decades now. Here, we present new information on the occurrence of 35 endemic or rare taxa of vascular plants recorded in the high-mountain (subalpine and alpine) zone of the Fagaras Mts., based on our field surveys conducted during the last 15 years (2002-2016). Occurrence of taxa in the study area is also discussed in a wider geographical context, with highlights on their general distribution range and comments on their ecological requirements and presence in other massifs of the Carpathians. Previous knowledge on their occurrence in the Fagaras Mts. is briefly annotated and chorological syntheses of both old and new records are shown. Out of the 35 taxa discussed here, two (Carex rupestris and Plantago atrata subsp. carpatica) are recorded for the first time in the Fagaras Mts. One taxon previously considered doubtful (Draba compacta) is confirmed in the vascular flora of the massif and three taxa (Carex parviflora, Leontodon kulczynskii and Silene zawadzkii) are rediscovered after more than 60 years since their last ascertainable mention. Finally, we present new localities or confirm old data from the Fagaras Mts. for further 29 taxa. The overall distribution of records for the 35 investigated taxa possibly indicates an unbalanced previous coverage of the Fagaras Mts. by botanical surveys, with few central regions (e.g., Balea glacial cirque, Arpas Mts.) providing most of the records. The old record distribution can be only partly explained by the actual distribution of highly diverse areas. It may also be the result of a concurrence of factors that include access difficulties to remote areas in the eastern and southern parts of the range. Consequently, we consider the Fagaras Mts. still one of the most unexplored important mountainous regions across the Carpathians. For a significant number of the investigated taxa, which span from the Southern Carpathian, Pan-Carpathian endemics, and regional Carpathian-Balkan elements to more widespread arctic-alpine elements, populations in the Southern Carpathians (and even within the Fagaras Mts.) constitute their biogeographically important, isolated range margins. This area also harbours several Southern Carpathian or even local endemics. Botanical evidence together with existence of the still well preserved and diverse natural alpine habitats ensuring a long-term shelter for natural populations, all provide a substantial support for the establishment of a high-rank law protection of the range in the framework of the postulated Fagaras National Park.

Key words: endemic taxa, rare species, relict populations, distribution range limit, disjunct distributions

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Pontoni 5, 62032 Camerino, Italy
e-mail:franco.pedrotti@unicam.it

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