Until now, Dryopteris remota was only recorded in the Czech Republic from the Moravian Karst, ca 70 years ago. This record is mentioned in some studies, but references to the data’s origin have always been missing. For this reason it was uncertain whether D. remota was still present in the Czech Republic. Recently, the records from the Moravian Karst were verified by re-examination of original herbarium specimens. In 2002 a specimen of D. remota was found for the first time in Bohemia, close to the village of Ktiš, on a slope of Malý Plešný hill in the foothills of the Bohemian Forest (S Bohemia). At this locality only one plant occurred on the boundary between Lonicera nigra-shrub and spruce-beech-fir forest, on a gneiss outcrop. Determination of the Czech specimens of D. remota was based on comparisons with macro- and micromorphological characters of both Alpine (Upper Austria) and Carpathian (West Ukraine) specimens, as well as descriptions in the literature. A detailed morphological description and comparison with similar taxa are included. A map of its distribution within the Czech Republic as well as a map of the distribution of D. remota worldwide is also presented. It is suggested that D. remota be designated a critically endangered plant species in the Czech Republic.
A new species of bramble, Rubus kletensis, of the section Corylifolii Lindley, series Sepincola (Focke) E. H. L. Krause occurring in South Bohemia and Upper Austria is described. The distance between the most distant localities exceeds almost 150 km. This distinct and relatively easily recognizable species grows in rather moist, eutrophic, synanthropic and sunny biotopes, and occurs most frequently in the vegetation of the class Galio-Urticetea, less frequently in that of the alliances Trifolion medii, Pruno-Rubion radulae, Sambuco-Salicion capreae, Berberidion and exceptionally in forest plantations and growths of pioneer saplings. A distribution map for this species and a list of all known localities are included, as well as a drawing of the species.
A new bramble species, Rubus silvae-norticae, section Rubus, subsection Hiemales E. H. L. Krause in Prahl, series Micantes Sudre, which occurs in S Bohemia, Upper Austria and Lower Bavaria, is described. It is recorded at 130 localities. The distance between the most remote localities is ca 100 km. The species grows most frequently in forest habitats (as a distinctly nemophilous ecoelement) such as ditches and edges of forest roads, plantations, forest margins and clearings. It mainly grows in mesic, acid and mineral-poor soils. Like, for example, R. clusii or R. ser. Glandulosi and unlike other relatively thermophilous Rubus species, it is able to grow and propagate itself at rather high altitudes, up to the mountain vegetation belt. The diagnostic characters that separate R. silvae-norticae from its most similar and sympatrically occurring species, R. clusii and R. muhelicus, are provided. In Austria R. silvae-norticae and some other brambles were mistakenly considered as R. helveticus, a bramble (probably a single biotype) described from Switzerland in 1870. The lectotype of Rubus helveticus is designated here and a photograph of the specimen presented. Also included is a distribution map of R. silvae-norticae, a list of revised herbarium specimens, a photograph of the type specimen and a pen drawing of the species. The significance of regional brambles for plant migrations and phytogeography is shown, based on the distribution of selected regional Rubus species occurring in the Czech and Austrian border area, which is a known mountain barrier to migration. The distribution patterns of the brambles support a theory about the routes of plant migration and the florogenetic connection between Austria and the Czech Republic. Rubus silvae-norticae, R. muhelicus and R. vestitus f. albiflorus are regarded as Danubian migrants (distributed from Upper Austria to S Bohemia), whereas R. gothicus s. l. (“south Moravian type”) and R. austromoravicus are considered to be Dyje-Kamp migrants (distributed from Moravia and Lower Austria to S Bohemia) within the Bohemian flora. Rubus kletensis is supposed to be a Vltava migrant within the Austrian flora (distributed from S Bohemia to Upper Austria).
A new apomictic triploid (2n = 3x = 51) species belonging to the Sorbus latifolia group, S. milensis M. Lepší, K. Boublík, P. Lepší et P. Vít, putatively of hybridogenous origin between sexual Sorbus aria s.l. and S. torminalis, is described from the České středohoří Mts (northwestern Bohemia, Czech Republic). Several biosystematic techniques, including molecular (nuclear microsatellite markers), karyological (chromosome counts, genome size) and multivariate morphometrics were used to assess the variation in this species and justify its independent taxonomic status. The only known population of S. milensis consists of 38 adult and 19 juvenile individuals, is phenotypically homogenous and distinct from other Bohemian hybridogenous Sorbus species. All sampled individuals were karyologically uniform and showed little genetic variation. Sorbus milensis is a stenoendemic occurring on Milá hill (situated ca 9.5 km NNW of the town of Louny) where it grows on basaltic rocks, in ravines and on screes. The majority of the individuals grow in scree forests of the Tilio-Acerion alliance; other vegetation types include xeric scrub of the Prunion spinosae alliance and xerothermophilous grassland communities of the Festucion valesiacae alliance. A detailed distribution map for this species is provided as well as photographs of the type specimen.
Two new apomictic triploid (2n = 3x = 51) species from the Sorbus latifolia group, S. portae-bohemicae M. Lepší, P. Lepší, P. Vít et K. Boublík and S. albensis M. Lepší, K. Boublík, P. Lepší et P. Vít, putative hybridogenous species originated from a cross between S. danubialis and S. torminalis, are distinguished and described based on a taxonomic and chorological revision of Sorbus bohemica (a hybridogenous triploid species from the same parental combination). A number of contemporary biosystematic techniques, including molecular (nuclear microsatellite markers), karyological (chromosome counts, DAPI flow cytometry) and multivariate and geometric morphometrics were used to assess the variation of the species and justify their independent taxonomic status. All three species occur sympatrically in the České středohoří Mts (NW Bohemia). Sorbus bohemica is recorded from 31 localities, based on a revision of herbarium vouchers and field research. Recent field studies failed to verify five of these localities. Sorbus portae-bohemicae is a stenoendemic in the Porta bohemica gorge (situated ca 7 km WNW of Litoměřice) where it grows in open oak forests (Luzulo-Quercetum and transition vegetation type to Melampyro nemorosi-Carpinetum) on ENE-facing slopes and rocks. The only known population of S. portae-bohemicae consists of 14 adult individuals. Sorbus albensis occurs at 12 localities W to NW of Litoměřice. The total number of individuals is estimated at 600. Most are in acidophilous oak forests (Luzulo-Quercetum and its mesic derivatives), scree forests (Aceri-Carpinetum) or shrubby slopes (Pruno-Ligustretum, Antherico-Coryletum). Populations of the new taxa show little genetic variation and are phenotypically homogenous and well separated from other Bohemian hybridogenous Sorbus species. A distribution map of the three species is provided. Photographs of the type specimens and in situ fructiferous individuals of the new species are presented.