Aims: We illustrate the application of Total Differential Value (TDV) optimization – a vegetation classification technique – and introduce methodological innovations for identifying syntaxa at different ranks and their diagnostic species. This approach produced a new syntaxonomic synthesis for the coastal cliff vegetation of the Cabo Verde archipelago. Study area: Cabo Verde archipelago. Methods: We analysed 167 relevés sampled on coastal cliffs using a five-step approach: (1) Initial characterization of communities based on dominant species using formal logic rules. (2) Analysis of each physiognomic group for patterns of differential species using TDV-optimization, supporting the identification of preliminary associations. (3) Validation of associations by confirming the presence of differential species across them. (4) Application of TDV-optimization to the synoptic table to establish preliminary higher-rank syntaxa. (5) Validation of higher-rank syntaxa with characteristic species by assessing species fidelity across all 484 known relevés from Cabo Verde using the Differential Value (DiffVal) index. Results: The five-step classification procedure revealed 17 physiognomic-floristic units at the association level, supported by differential species. TDV-optimization successfully identified higher-rank syntaxa – two alliances, one order, and one class – based on exclusive species and with clear biogeographic and ecological interpretations. Partial DiffVal scores proved useful for distinguishing characteristic species at higher ranks. Conclusions: Based solely on presence-absence data, TDV-optimization and the DiffVal index proved effective for vegetation classification at different scales, revealing co-occurrence/co-absence patterns. The identified syntaxa emphasize Cabo Verde’s distinctness from Mediterranean and Eurosiberian communities, confirming its affinity with the Warm deserts and semi-deserts subbiome and its biogeographical placement within the Tropical Sahara region. Further research should expand knowledge of Cabo Verdean and other African vegetation and numerically validate its syntaxonomy to support evidence-based conservation policies. Taxonomic reference: Plants of the World Online database (POWO 2025), except for Campylanthus glaber subsp. spathulatus (Brochmann et al. 1997), Fagonia latifolia (Pinto Basto 2002), Launaea arborescens subsp. melanostigma and Tetraena vicentina (Rivas-Martínez et al. 2017), and Lotus bollei (Chevalier 1935). Syntaxonomic references: Mucina et al. (2016); Rivas-Martínez et al. (2017) for the endemic Cabo Verde vegetation. Abbreviations: DiffVal = Differential Value; IAP = Internal Assignment Precision; pDiffVals = partial values used in the calculation of DiffVal; TDV = Total Differential Value.

The first comprehensive phytosociological classification of all vegetation types in Europe (EuroVegChecklist; Applied Vegetation Science, 2016, 19, 3-264) contained brief descriptions of each type. However, these descriptions were not standardized and mentioned only the most distinct features of each vegetation type. The practical application of the vegetation classification system could be enhanced if users had the option to select sets of vegetation types based on various combinations of structural, ecological, and biogeographical attributes. Based on a literature review and expert knowledge, we created a new database that assigns standardized categorical attributes of 12 variables to each of the 1106 alliances dominated by vascular plants defined in EuroVegChecklist. These variables include dominant life form, phenological optimum, substrate moisture, substrate reaction, salinity, nutrient status, soil organic matter, vegetation region, elevational vegetation belt, azonality, successional status and naturalness. The new database has the potential to enhance the usefulness of phytosociological classification for researchers and practitioners and to help understand this classification to non-specialists.

Since its coinage ca. 1850 AD by Philip Barker Webb, the biogeographical region of Macaronesia, consisting of the North Atlantic volcanic archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira with the tiny Selvagens, the Canaries and Cabo Verde, and for some authors different continental coastal strips, has been under dispute. Herein, after a brief introduction on the terminology and purpose of regionalism, we recover the origins of the Macaronesia name, concept and geographical adscription, as well as its biogeographical implications and how different authors have positioned themselves, using distinct terrestrial or marine floristic and/or faunistic taxa distributions and relationships for accepting or rejecting the existence of this biogeographical region. Four main issues related to Macaronesia are thoroughly discussed: (i) its independence from the Mediterranean phytogeographical region; (ii) discrepancies according to different taxa analysed; (iii) its geographical limits and the role of the continental enclave(s), and, (iv) the validity of the phytogeographical region level. We conclude that Macaronesia has its own identity and a sound phytogeographical foundation, and that this is mainly based on three different floristic components that are shared by the Macaronesian core (Madeira and the Canaries) and the outermost archipelagos (Azores and Cabo Verde). These floristic components are: (i) the Palaeotropical-Tethyan Geoflora, formerly much more widely distributed in Europe and North Africa and currently restricted to the three northern archipelagos (the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries); (ii) the African Rand Flora, still extant in the coastal margins of Africa and Arabia, and present in the southern archipelagos (Madeira, the Canaries and Cabo Verde), and (iii) the Macaronesian neoendemic floristic component, represented in all the archipelagos, a result of allopatric diversification promoted by isolation of Mediterranean ancestors that manage to colonize Central Macaronesia and, from there, the outer archipelagos. Finally, a differentiating floristic component recently colonized the different archipelagos from the nearest continental coast, providing them with different biogeographic flavours.

This paper considers the use of plant lists and related documents in addressing questions about the collection and circulation of plants and plant knowledge. The focus is on plants cultivated in Lisbon's Ajuda botanical garden up to the mid-nineteenth century, and additionally on plants from the island of Madeira. Three plant catalogues, prepared between the early 1770s and mid-1840s, are analysed, together with register books and documents that habitually accompanied plant shipments sent to the garden. The study shows which plants were present in the garden and how the collection evolved, as well as which world regions were represented. In comparing Madeiran plants listed as present in the garden with those documented as being shipped from the island in the late 1790s, the paucity of shared names is striking. On the one hand, this may reflect document loss, while on the other it suggests that Madeiran plants may have been transported from their native range to other European locations by means of complex exchange networks.

Glandora prostrata (Loisel.) D.C.Thomas (Thomas et al., 2008), besides being a common plant of western and south-western Europe and north-western Africa, is a species with a wealth of reported uses in traditional and folk medicine. The chloroplast genome of Glandora prostrata subsp. lusitanica (Samp.) D.C.Thomas (Thomas et al., 2008) isolate BPTPS049 described in this study is the first publicly available complete plastome belonging to the Glandora genus. The chloroplast genome (GenBank accession number: ON641304) is 150,041 bp in length with 37.5% GC content, displaying a quadripartite structure that contains a pair of inverted repeat regions (25,833 bp each), separated by a large (81,222 bp) and small (17,153 bp) single-copy regions. It has 131 annotated genes including 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis performed confirms that G. prostrata subsp. lusitanica is placed under the Boraginaceae family, which belongs to the Boraginales order. This study will contribute to conservation, phylogenetic, and evolutionary studies that comprise this traditional species relevant to the landscape of aromatic, medicinal, and condiment plants from Portugal.

One of the many advantages of being a vegetation scientist is that one can never be bored.Our beloved study object -the vegetation -always presents new and exciting surprises around us, new questions to answer, and fresh challenges to overcome.Another advantage is that vegetation scientists have their scientific home in the IAVS, our association, through which we can share our knowledge and passion.One way to do this is by using the IAVS Bulletin, which started to be published electronically in 1997, and up to now, 42 issues have been published.

Despite having many historically reported ethnomedicinal uses, Centaurium erythraea Rafn (Rafn and Buchs, 1800; common centaury) also produces cytotoxic secondary metabolites, and its presence should be carefully monitored. In this study, the complete chloroplast of Centaurium erythraea subsp. majus (Hoffmanns. & Link) M.Laínz (Laínz, 1971) isolate BPTPS121 is described, being the first available plastome belonging to the Centaurium genus. The chloroplast genome (GenBank accession number: ON641347) is 153,107 bp in length with 37.9% GC content, displaying a quadripartite structure that contains a pair of inverted repeat regions (25,166 bp each), separated by a large single-copy (84,388 bp) and small single-copy (18,387 bp) regions. A total of 129 genes were predicted, including 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes, and 84 protein-coding genes. The phylogenetic analysis showed that isolate BPTPS121 is placed under the Gentianaceae family, belonging to the Gentianales order. The maximum-likelihood tree supports the already described lineage divergence in the Gentianaceae family, with C. erythraea subsp. majus belonging to the Chironieae tribe positioned below the Exaceae tribe and above the Potalieae and the entire Gentianeae tribes. This study will contribute to conservation, phylogenetic, and evolutionary studies, as well as DNA barcoding applications for food, feed, and supplements safety purposes.

Plant specimens obtained by the authors from several expeditions to the Selvagens Islands (2004-2021), complemented by the study of herbarium specimens, led to the identification of several new species records for the Selvagens archipelago, namely the taxa currently considered as Canary Islands endemics Trisetaria lapalmae and Polycarpaea divaricata. Other new taxa records for the Selvagens Islands include Convolvulus siculus subsp. elongatus and the grasses Bromus rigidus and Phalaris minor. Notes on Misopates salvagense, Asplenium marinum, Spergularia diandra and Rostraria pumila are also included. Comments on taxa include distribution, ecology, taxonomy, nomenclature, conservation, and historical data. Results are discussed in the light of habitat restoration, following Nicotiana glauca near eradication and rodent eradication. These aspects are also discussed considering the historical evolution of knowledge on the Selvagens vascular flora.

We present a comprehensive taxonomic and nomenclatural review of the Portuguese oaks (Quercus L.), issuing from throughout biogeographical, historical, bibliographic, field and herbarium data. We propose a new annotated checklist for all taxa and nothotaxa belonging to Quercus L. genus in the Portuguese national territory, extending the analysis to the broader biogeographical context of Western Mediterranean Subregion. Fifteen herbaria collections were exhaustively studied and complemented by information retrieved from digital collections, resulting in the recognition of eleven native oaks. Further treatment at infraspecific level includes one subspecies and additional 23 nothotaxa. We designate 21 names as types and add a preliminary list of 150 cultivated trees, concurring to a total of 185 oak taxa, in total, found in Portugal. Moreover, we clarify the taxonomical status and reinstate both Quercus calliprinos Webb and Q. pseudococcifera Desf. as native for the Western Mediterranean subregion. We recover the concept of Q. faginea Lam., as the widespread Gall oak in Portugal and update its synonym list. We propose Q. broteroana and Q. estremadurensis as autonomous species within the European Q. robur s.l. broad group, alongside two newly circumscribed subsections inside Section Quercus. We describe three nothotaxa as new (Q. ×alvesii, Q. ×capeloana and Q. ×sampaioana) and approach the nomenclatural resolution of the remaining natural hybrids. Lastly, we provide an identification key, intelligible for non-specialists, including both native taxa and most frequent nothotaxa. We emphasise the importance of historical and literature review, combined with accurate biogeographical information, as paramount to coherent taxonomical resolution. Both specimens and their associated records were found of crucial significance to a taxonomical model that is, in the end, useful to biodiversity conservation.

This is a database of the occurrence of 1105 phytosociological alliances in 82 European territorial units and distribution maps generated from this database. The data correspond to those published by Preislerová et al. (2022). This article also contains a description of the methods.

The predominantly Western Mediterranean weed Nonea vesicaria (L.) Rchb. can be found in agricultural or other man-made environments. Despite containing some beneficial compounds, extracts from this plant have also been described as detrimental and should be carefully monitored. In this study, the complete chloroplast of N. vesicaria isolate BPTPS250 is described, being the first available plastome from an isolate belonging to the Nonea genus. The chloroplast genome is 151,099 bp in length with a 37.3% GC content. It displays a quadripartite structure that contains a pair of inverted repeat regions (27,012 bp) that separate a large single-copy region (80,041 bp) and a small single-copy region (17,034 bp). A total of 134 genes were predicted, including 89 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the placement of N. vesicaria under the Boraginaceae family, belonging to the Boraginales order, with a close relationship with Borago officinalis L. This study will contribute to conservation, phylogenetic, and evolutionary studies, as well as DNA barcoding applications for food and feed safety and quality.

The subalpine vegetation in the Eastern Carpathians has been under agropastoral influence as a high-mountain open pasture for about five centuries. Today, the subalpine zone released by human intervention is growing as thickets. In this study, we use a numerical model of tree crowns (CHM, Canopy Height Model) based on laser scanning (LiDAR) and a high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM) to delineate the subalpine thicket distribution. Anselin 'Local Moran's I' statistic was used to find hot and cold spots in vegetation cover. We used a logistic generalized linear model (GLM) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to set for the historical, climatic and terrain conditions candidates as the predictors of the present-day distribution of vegetation hot spots. We use variance partitioning to assess the interaction of climate and terrain variables. The resulting model suggests key environmental controls that underlie the vegetation pattern. Namely, snow in terrain depressions protects woody vegetation against abrasion and winter drought and increased insolation reduces the site humidity in the summer on S-E exposure hampering re-vegetation. In addition, the increasing distance from the treeline declines the rate of secondary succession. In all, the spatial model predicts the 35% coverage by thickets as a theoretical maximum of available climatic-terrain niches. The results suggest that the growth of the subalpine thicket, in the face of growing global temperature, may be restricted due to the limited number of niches available.

In the summer of 2021, enormous wildfires in the Mediterranean eliminated huge areas of mainly coniferous forest, destroyed adjacent settlements and claimed the lives of many people. The fires indicate effects of climate change and expose consequences of rural demographic changes, deficits in regional and touristic development planning and shortcomings in forest policy. This forum article highlights the dimensions of the problem, calls for a paradigm shift and shows solutions. Land abandonment, woody plant encroachment and non-reflective afforestation are leading to increasing amounts of combustible biomass. To prevent disastrous fires in future, fundamental changes in tree species composition, forest structure and management are essential. Plantations of reseeding pines are to be substituted by spacious or periodically open woodlands of long-lived trees with resprouting capacity such as Mediterranean oaks. Biomass-reducing practices including wood-pasture have to be revived in rural and peri-urban areas. Exemplary fire-resistant multifunctional oak woodlands occur throughout the Mediterranean. Urgent and medium-term measures in the burnt areas include promoting natural ecosystem regeneration, developing regionalized seed banks and nurseries to support native genetic resources, fostering vegetation mosaics of groves and multiple-use open and coppice woodland maintained by traditional practices, and in general forest management aiming at fuel biomass reduction and a policy counteracting land abandonment.

In the present article, the proposal of a new suballiance, Lavandulo luisieri-Cistenion albidi, is presented, constituted by chamaephytic and nanophanerophytic communities in eroded decarbonated soils derived from limestones (leptosols, chromic luvisols and cambisols) in the dry to lower hyperhumid, thermo-mesomediterranean bioclimatic levels. It is distributed throughout the western Iberian Peninsula in the Coastal Lusitan-Andalusian and Lusitan-Extremadurean biogeographical territories. It is positioned in the Ulici argentei-Cistion ladaniferi, Lavanduletalia stoechadis, Cisto-Lavanduletea. The new associations Anthyllido maurae-Ulicetum jussiaei, Sedo albi-Cistetum crispi and Thymetum congesti are also described. The multivariate analysis confirmed the segregation of this new suballiance, as well as the new associations.

Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods is a halophyte plant recognized as a promising natural ingredient and will eventually be recognized a salt substitute (NaCl). However, its shelf-life and applicability in several food matrices requires the use of drying processes, which may have an impact on its nutritional and functional value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oven and freeze-drying processes on the nutritional composition, volatile profile, phytochemical content, and bioactivity of S. ramosissima using several analytical tools (LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and SPME-GC-MS) and bioactivity assays (ORAC, HOSC, and ACE inhibition and antiproliferative effect on HT29 cells). Overall, results show that the drying process changes the chemical composition of the plant. When compared to freeze-drying, the oven-drying process had a lower impact on the nutritional composition but the phytochemical content and antioxidant capacity were significantly reduced. Despite this, oven-dried and freeze-dried samples demonstrated similar antiproliferative (17.56 mg/mL and 17.24 mg/mL, respectively) and antihypertensive (24.56 mg/mL and 18.96 mg/mL, respectively) activities. The volatile composition was also affected when comparing fresh and dried plants and between both drying processes: while for the freeze-dried sample, terpenes corresponded to 57% of the total peak area, a decrease to 17% was observed for the oven-dried sample. The oven-dried S. ramosissima was selected to formulate a ketchup and the product formulated with 2.2% (w/w) of the oven-dried plant showed a good consumer acceptance score. These findings support the use of dried S. ramosissima as a promising functional ingredient that can eventually replace the use of salt.

As Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2020 called on EU member states to map and assess ecosystems and evaluate their services (MAES) in national territories, a pilot-project was created to set up a straightforward method for survey and evaluation of ecosystem types in the south of Portugal. The project's primary aim was to produce ecosystem maps wherefrom spatial estimations of ecosystem services could be drawn, as well as biodiversity-related indicators of ecosystem condition. The resulting ecosystem typology and map were also used by others to estimate supporting, provisioning and regulating services. The proposed typology distinguishes 12 main ecosystem types based on the higher EUNIS Habitat Classification levels. EUNIS types were obtained by corresponding a Vegetation Series Map (Capelo et al. in Phytocoenologia 37:399–415, 2007) to land-cover/land-use datasets (COS'07—land cover map with 192 classes and MMU = 1 ha), and refined by using elevation, geology and satellite imagery (NDWI) as ancillary information. For most units, correspondence between seral stages in vegetation series and land use types allowed overall one-to-one identification of candidate groups of the corresponding syntaxa as EUNIS types. Auxiliary NDWI, geology and elevation allowed discriminating intrazonal special habitats such as mesic and dry grasslands. The ecological value of plant communities and phytodiversity were modelled as relevant contributions for the assessment of ecosystem condition.