A new species, Astagalus neoalaicus, from the section Macrocystis is described and illustrated. The species grows in the Alay Valley in rocky-gravelly and pebble habitats. Morphologically, it is similar to A. xanthomeloides, from which it differs in having white (vs. yellow) flowers and leaflets closely arranged on the rachis. Section Macrocystis in Kyrgyzstan includes 3 species instead of 4 previously noted: one species is described and two are excluded as erroneously listed.
A new natural interspecific hybrid of Verbascum phlomoides L. × V. pinnatifidum Vahl was described as V. × maeoticum V. V. Fateryga et Fateryga, nothosp. nov. The new nothospecies was discovered in Tatarskaya Bay on the shore of the Sea of Azov in the vicinity of Shchelkino, Lenino District of the Republic of Crimea; it occurred in a psammophytic steppe on the edge of an artificial pine forest. Study of the living plants revealed that they did not have fruits and seeds.
An addition to the flora of the Vladimir Region is presented. Neottia cordata, a rare species of the Central Russian flora, is recorded for the first time for the Vyaznikovsky District. The species was discovered in 2024 within the Klyazminsko-Lukhsky State Nature Complex Reserve, in the waterlogged northern section of Lake Skipskoye (Verkhneye) within the Balakhna Lowland, Vyaznikovsky District. The paper highlights other rare vascular plant species, including new species for this area, growing near the collection site, which underscore the high conservation value of Lake Skipskoye area; their geographical coordinates (GPS) are provided. It is recommended to include Neottia cordata in Red Book of the Vladimir Region with category 1 status (endangered species). Based on the regional IUCN Red List categories and criteria, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered – CR B2ab(iii)+D.
Hordeum bulbosum, a wild relative of cultivated barley (H. vulgare), is a valuable genetic resource because of its wide ecological adaptability across diverse regions of Iran. This study utilized Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers to assess the genetic diversity, population structure, and differentiation among H. bulbosum populations collected from seven ecologically and geographically distinct regions. Genomic DNA was extracted using a modified CTAB protocol, and PCR amplification was performed with seven ISSR primers, four of which produced reliable polymorphic bands. Genetic data were analyzed using PAST, STRUCTURE, PopGene, and GenAlEx software. ISSR markers were effective in detecting polymorphism (mean PIC = 0.363; D = 0.844), revealing significant genetic variation within and among populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) attributed 74 % of the genetic variation to differences between populations, with a high genetic differentiation index (Gst = 0.72) and limited gene flow (Nm = 0.19). STRUCTURE analysis and the NJ dendrogram identified distinct genetic clusters, with populations 1, 2, 3, and 7 exhibiting high proportions of assignment to a single genetic cluster, while populations 4, 5, and 6 showed admixture patterns. Mantel tests and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) demonstrated that both geographic distance and environmental factors contribute to genetic structuring, indicating the combined effects of isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by environment (IBE). These findings highlight the evolutionary importance of H. bulbosum, underlining its potential for use in barley improvement and stress-resistance breeding programs. Moreover, genetically unique populations were identified that warrant conservation and prioritization for inclusion in gene banks.
A new species, Rhodiola chayaensis G. Gao et X.-Y. Chen, from Chaya County, Tibet, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically most similar to R. humilis but differs in its densely many-flowered inflorescences (15–35 flowers per branch vs. 1–3 flowers), larger and obtuse leaves (8–15 × 0.9–2 mm, apex obtuse vs. ca. 6 × 1.5 mm, apex subacute), longer sepals (5–6 mm vs. ca. 3 mm), and white linear-elliptic petals (5.7–6 mm long vs. ovate, 2.5–3 mm long). Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the nrITS region corroborate its recognition as a distinct species, with the three accessions forming a strongly supported, exclusive monophyletic clade (BS = 100 %, PP = 1.00) sister to R. alterna + R. sacra. The new species is a perennial herb known only from rocky slopes at 3900–4100 m in the Hengduan Mountains. A provisional IUCN assessment of Data Deficient (DD) is proposed.
