Astragalus tenuifolius L. is shown to be a separate species, different from A. austriacus Jacq. The lectotype of A. scopaeformis Ledeb., a heterotypic synonym of A. tenuifolius, is designated. The species, formerly known under the illegitimate superfluous name A. tauricus Pall., is redescribed under the new name A. petri-simoni Knjaz. The race of A. tenuifolius s. l. distributed in the southern (deserted) steppe zone is described as a new species A. turgaicus Knjaz. An original key for identification of the species of A. austriacus s. l. and A. tenuifolius s. l. complexes is compiled. A list of studied herbarium specimens of A. tenuifolius s. l. species and a map of their distribution are given.
Here we describe a new leafless vine orchid, Vanilla flava Aver., Vuong et V. C. Nguyen (Orchidaceae, Vanilloideae), that we discovered in southern Vietnam (Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces). It differs from the morphologically closest V. aphylla Blume and V. wightiana Lindl. ex Hook. f. in having large inflorescence up to 4.5 cm long, commonly with 4–9 flowers, a stout peduncle 3–5 mm diam., with 3–6 distant bracts, a pedicel with ovary 2.8–6.4 cm long, 2.2–4 mm diam., and a lip disc with a prominent pack of densely placed, imbricate, backwards-pointing bristles. Data on ecology, phenology, and distribution, as well as relevant taxonomical notes for the new species, are provided. The conservation status of the new species is tentatively assessed as endangered following terms and criteria proposed by the IUCN Red List. The nomenclature of V. wightiana is adjusted, its lectotype is designated.
The group of genera closely related to the genus Ligusticum has remained one of the most taxonomically complicate in the umbellifers. The aim of this study is the taxonomic differentiation of Ligusticopsis wallichiana (DC.) Pimenov et Kljuykov and L. coniifolia (DC.) Pimenov et Kljuykov, whose generic affiliation and independence have been repeatedly revised based on morphological and anatomical data. In this work, morphological and molecular methods were used. Internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the 18S–26S nuclear rDNA region were selected as a molecular marker. On the molecular phylogenetic tree, the samples of the studied species make a well-supported cluster, where the samples of L. wallichiana and L. coniifolia occupy an isolated position. The ITS sequences of the analyzed samples of the two species have group-specific substitutions marking their position on the molecular phylogenetic tree. The analysis of morphological features together with molecular data confirmed the independence of the studied species.
The article contains data on recent records of Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Rchb. in the Vologda Region (European North of Russia). The newly found localities mark the northeastern part of its range, ca. 110 kilometers away from previously documented sites. The species is recommended to include in the List of plant species requiring scientific monitoring in the Vologda Region.
Taraxacum norvegicum (Dahlst.) Dahlst. is a dandelion species from section Borealia Hand.-Mazz. without any closely related or similar species in European Russia; it is unanimously accepted in all taxonomic revisions. It was earlier reported for Russia based on old collections from two distant localities in the Murmansk Region: Rybachiy Peninsula, the northernmost tip of the region (collected in 1909), and Pyhäkuru Valley, south Murmansk Region (collected in 1917 and 1939). In 2021–2025, we rediscovered T. norvegicum in the both localities. The total number of individuals recorded in the both places in 2025 did not exceed 30. The species is likely one of the rarest vascular plant species of the Murmansk Region and Russia in general, and certainly merits special conservation: our assessment according to IUCN Red List criteria is “Critically Endangered”. Other reports of T. norvegicum from Russia published in literature or in web-based datasets (north part of the Republic of Karelia, and the vicinity of Fedoseyevka in the Murmansk Region) are erroneous.
In this article, taking into account morphological characteristics, ecological features, and isolated Manchurian distribution, we propose to distinguish a variety described by K. J. Maximowicz, Artemisia capillaris Thunb. var. simplex Maxim., as a separate species with a new name: Artemisia chankaensis Korobkov. For A. macilenta (Maxim.) Krasch. and A. chankaensis, supplemented nomenclatural citations, detailed morphological descriptions, chromosome numbers, maps of local distribution in the Russian Federation, lists of studied specimens, and clarification of relationships and general distribution in Mongolia and China are provided. The lectotypes of the both names are designated.
First records of four alien plant species for the flora of Tajikistan are presented: Amaranthus powellii S. Watson (Amaranthaceae), Erythranthe guttata (DC.) G. L. Nesom (Phrymaceae), Medicago lessingii Fisch. et C. A. Mey. ex Kar. (Fabaceae), and Solidago gigantea Aiton (Asteraceae). Of these, Erythranthe guttata and Solidago gigantea present novelties to the flora of the whole Middle Asia. For each species, its distribution and habitat, as well as taxonomic notes, are presented. In addition, chromosome numbers (CHNs, 2n) from the new localities are given for the first three species.
The information on a new species to the flora of the Saratov Region, Astragalus physocarpus Ledeb., based on field survey and examination of the Saratov University Herbarium (SARAT) is given, as well as new data on its distribution in the Transvolga. The presence of A. physocarpus and the absence of a closely related A. physodes L. in the flora of the Samara and southwestern Orenburg regions is justified. Our knowledge of the northwestern border of A. physocarpus distribution has been expanded due to new findings, analysis of literature sources and the specimens found during the examination of herbarium collections in Samara University (SMR) gathered for over 20 years. The cited herbarium specimens are deposited in SARAT and SMR, duplicates are passed to LE, MW, PVB and FSBI «Reserves of the Orenburg Region». Astragalus physocarpus is recommended to include in the Red Lists of the Samara and Saratov regions.
The names of five Alopecurus L. varieties and three Puccinellia Parl. varieties, described by V. V. Reverdatto from Yenisei Siberia, namely Alopecurus pratensis L. var. caesius Reverd., A. pratensis var. firmus Reverd., A. ventricosus Pers. var. hirtulus Reverd., A. ventricosus var. lobatus Reverd., A. ventricosus var. submuticus Reverd., Puccinellia hauptiana (V. I. Krecz.) Kitag. var. elata Reverd., P. hauptiana var. minor Reverd., and P. tenuiflora (Griseb.) Scribn. et Merr. var. capillifolia Reverd., are validated by translating the original Reverdatto’s descriptions into English, and/or indicating type specimens.
Oreomecon stanovensis (Petroch.) Krivenko is reliably reported for the first time for the Magadan Region. Previously, the species was incorrectly identified as Papaver croceum Ledeb. and P. stubendorfii Tolm. The distribution map of the calciphilous Oreomecon stanovensis in the Magadan Region and adjacent areas of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is given.
The lectotypes of Euphorbia altaica Ledeb. var. elatior Stschegl., E. altaica var. pilosa Stschegl., E. sarawschanica Regel var. hirta Korovin, E. yaroslavii Poljakov, Tithymalus lipskyi Prokh., T. mucronulatus Prokh. and T. transoxanus Prokh. are designated. For Euphorbia alatavica Boiss., E. ferganensis B. Fedtsch., E. pachyrrhiza Kar. et Kir., E. rapulum Kar. et Kir., and E. sarawschanica Regel, second-step lectotype designations have been made.
The original material of Oxytropis filiformis DC. (≡ Astragalus filiformis (DC.) Poir.) comprises heterogenous elements. The citation of «type» by D. Podlech and Sch. Zarre (2013: 1808) did not constitute typification, since it did not met the rules of nomenclature. Moreover, the herbarium specimen cited as «type» does not match the original description, does not reflect the Candolle’s intent, and does not preserve current usage of the name. The specimen G00478549, which agrees with most of the protologue and preserve the usage of the name adopted by Russian and East Asian botanists, is designated as the lectotype.
A new hybrid Salix × setifera Efimova, T. A. Poliak. et I. V. Belyaeva from northern Yakutia (Russia) is described and its characteristics are given. Hybrid individuals show diagnostic features of both parental species,S. hastata L. and S. reptans Rupr.Both vegetative and generative organshave intermediate characteristics. No plants with male flowers were found. Based on the detected nucleotide variability of the ITS rDNA region, the hybrid origin of S. × setifera was confirmed. A species-specific transversion (T→A) was detected in ITS2 for S. reptans and S. × setifera, which is absent in S. hastata. It is possible that the hybrid mentioned above occurs in areas where both parental species grow together in the tundra and forest-tundra of northern Eurasia.
Campanula ruthenica M. Bieb. is shown to be a well-separated species, differing from the closely related C. bononiensis L. by a number of qualitative characters and replacing the latter in the Caucasus and the southern coast of Crimea. The most important distinguishing characters of these species, their images and a map of the distribution of C. ruthenica are given. The lectotypes of Campanula lychnitis Hornem. and C. simplex DC., and the neotype of C. obliquifolia Ten. are designated.
The original material on 10 taxa of the genus Tilia L. described from Siberia and the Far East, and stored in the Herbarium of the V. L. Komarov Botanical Institute (LE) has been studied. Based on the investigation of type herbarium collections and the history of description of these taxa, lectotypes of the names of 5 species (Tilia divaricata I. V. Vassil., T. komarovii I. V. Vassil., T. mandshurica Rupr. et Maxim., T. semicuneata Rupr., and T. sibirica Bayer) and 2 varieties (T. amurensis Rupr. var. kryloviana Kom. and Tilia cordata Mill. var. mandshurica Maxim.) are designated.
A new interspecific hybrid, Salix × jessenii O. V. Epanch. et I. V. Belyaeva from Switzerland is described and its characteristics are given. This hybrid is cultivated in botanical gardens and private collections in Europe and Russia. The potential uses of this unusual ornamental willow are given.
As a result of a critical study of the herbarium collections in LE, MW, MHA, NSK, NS, AGBI, VLA in 2010–2024, the species Geranium turczaninovii (Serg.) Troshkina is identified in the flora of the Amur region of the Russian Far East for the first time. Thus, the knowledge on the current distribution of the Geranium turczaninovii is updated.
A new monotypic section Inermia Kamelin, A. V. Pavlenko et Laktionov of the genus Calligonum L. from Turkmenistan is described, a representative of which (C. inerme Kamelin, Gorelova et A. V. Pavlenko) has naked fruits.
Based on a critical revision of herbarium materials, the authors made some corrections to the evaluation of diagnostic characters and taxonomic status of D. palanderiana Kjellm., D. taimyrensis Tolm., D. tschuktschorum Trautv., and D. ochroleuca Bunge, as well as clarified the distribution of some mentioned taxa. The isolated population of D. palanderiana on Wrangel Island is described as a new subspecies, D. palanderiana subsp. wrangelliana V. V. Petrovsky et Razumovskaya. A new species from the series Nivales Tolm. is described from the eastern Chukotka Peninsula, D. paraglabella V. V. Petrovsky et Razumovskaya. An extended description of the East Siberian D. taimyrensis is provided, with illustrations of the plants collected in the locus classicus. The epitype of D. tschuktschorum is designated to replace the missing one. The occurrence of D. ochroleuca in the Asian Arctic is confirmed by new records in Taimyr, Yakutia and Chukotka; the eastern limit of its range is clarified.
New data on distribution and habitats of Rhynchospora fusca (L.) W. T. Aiton in the Arkhangelsk Region are given in the article. They supplement information on the distribution of this rare species, which is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and in the Red Books and Red Lists of some European countries. The newly found localities are at the easternmost extremities of its range, more than 300 kilometers away from previously documented sites. The article provides a brief description of the phytocenoses where the species occurs, including the communities in which it dominates. All revealed sites are located within protected areas.
