BOTANY.cz

EPIPACTIS MICROPHYLLA (Ehrh.) Sw. – Small-leaved Helleborine

Tomáš Figura — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:34:30 +0000

Syn.: Amesia microphylla (Ehrh.) A. Nelson et J. F. Macbr., Epipactis athensis Lej., Epipactis atrorubens Rostk. ex Spreng., Epipactis helleborine var. microphylla (Ehrh.) Rchb. f., Epipactis intermedia Schur, Helleborine microphylla (Ehrh.) Schinz et Thell., Limodorum microphyllum (Ehrh.) Kuntze, Serapias microphylla Ehrh., Epipactis latifolia subsp. microphylla (Ehrh.) Bonnier et Layens, Epipactis latifolia var. microphylla (Ehrh.) DC., Serapias latifolia var. microphylla (Ehrh.) Pers.
Family: Orchidaceae Juss.

Distribution: Euro-Caucasian species – Europe, Turkey, Crimea, Caucasian area and Northern Iran.
Ecology: It grows in broadleaved (sometimes in coniferous) forests in shady sites or along forest edges on a calcaerous soils, from lowlands to the mountains. Flowers from June to August.

Description: A perrenial densely pubescent herb, 15–30 cm tall, with short rhizome. The stem is pale green, grey or tinged with violet, and densely pubescent. Leaves (3–10) are small, erect to spreading, dark green to violet, lanceolate (1–)1.5–4(–5) cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm wide, shorter than internodes. Upper leaves are bract-like. The inflorescence is lax, almost one-sided, with (2–)10–20(–40) flowers. Lower bracts are 2 cm long. Flowers are opened or just partially opened, held dropping to nearly horizontal, green to violet and vanilla-scented. Intratepals and extratepals are lanceolate and pubescent on outer surface, green or washed with violet; epichile is heart-triangular shaped, 2.5–4 mm long and 3–4 mm wide, on margins toothed; hypochle is cup-shaped, interior shiny dark green, pale green or pink; column is short, 1.9–2.3 mm long; pollinia are not disintegrating; clinandrium is deep; ovary very hairy, 7–11 mm long; viscidium functional only on the beginning of flowering period. The capsules are 13–18 mm long. An autogamic species with residuals of allogamy (Claessens et Kleynen 1996).
Endangering and Protection: This species is protected by international agreement CITES. In Slovakia is classified as vulnerable (VU), and protected by law. In Czech Republic is classified as endangered (C2r), and also protected by law.
Note: This species is associated with ectomycorhizzal fungi including Tuber spp (Selosse et al. 2004).

These images were taken in the Little Carpathians in Slovakia (Tomáš Figura: June 2011) and Strážovské vrchy, Rokoš (Mário Duchoň: June 2007, 2008).

Additional literature:
Claessens J., Kleynen J. (1996): Allogamie- und Autogamie-Tendenzen bei einigen Vertreten der Gattung Epipactis. Ber. Arbeitskr. Heim. Orchid. 12: 4–16.
Selosse, M.-A., et al. (2004): Chlorophyllous and achlorophyllous specimens of Epipactis microphylla (Neottieae, Orchidaceae) are associated with ectomycorrhizal septomycetes, including truffles. Microbial Ecology 47.4: 416–426.

Homo botanicus: Zalužanský ze Zalužan, Adam

Lucie Čermáková — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 06:28:13 +0000

Adam Zalužanský ze Zalužan (Adamus Zaluzanius a Zaluzaniis, Adamus Zaluzanius de Zaluzan, Adam Zaluziansky von Zaluzian, Adamus Matthiades Hradistenus), Czech physician and botanist, was born around 1555 in Mnichovo Hradiště. Already in 1562 – at a time when the Herbal of Mattioli was first published in Czech language – Adam attended an utraquist school in Mnichovo Hradiště. He studied in Wittenberg until 1578 and then continued at the Prague Academy, where he received a bachelor’s degree. He was interested in natural sciences and medicine and in 1584 became a master of arts in Helmstedt, where he earned also the title Doctor of Medicine. It is possible that he also visited Holland, where he became acquainted with the work of Rembert Dodoens. Then he returned to Prague and gained the post of professor at the Prague Academy. He couldn’t lecture medicine, because there was no medical faculty at this time. So he – as a connoisseur of classical languages and acclaimed poet – gave lectures of Greek. During his stay at the university Zalužanský gained considerable fame and won a number of prominent friends. One of them was Petr Vok z Rožmberka, an enthusiastic lover of natural sciences, who had build several greenhouses at his summer residence at Netolice, where Adam Zalužanský could carry out his botanical observations.

In 1593 Zalužanský was elected rector of Charles University. The following year he got married. Professors were not allowed to marry at this time. But Zalužanský was promised to be an exception, because they wanted his Greek lessons at the university (for which the university received a high financial support). After his election, however, they quickly forgot this promise and his marriage was an eyesore to many. In the end Zalužanský had to leave the university. He opened his own pharmacy, issued pharmaceutical codex (Řád Apathekařský, 1592) and even became a supervisor of all the Prague pharmacies. Most recently this work was published under the title Řád lékárnický z roku 1591 od Adama Zalužanského ze Zalužan by Pharmaceutical Society (Prague 1883). He became famous among the people especially because of his selfless help at the time of plague, which broke out between 1598 and the 1599th.

In 1609 Rudolph II gave the administration of the university into the hands of states and the reformation begun. Adam Zalužanský was in the reformatory commission too. Reform, however, proceeded very slowly. One of the biggest obstacles was the Passau army invasion into Bohemia in 1611. Zalužanský wanted to become a professor of medicine at the renewed faculty, but he didn’t live to see it. On 8 December 1613 he fell victim to the plague. Zalužanský’s major work Methodi herbariae libri tres was published in 1592. It is essential also in the context of European botany. More recently this work was published in 1940 by Karel Pejml – Adami Zaluziansky a Zaluzian, Medicinae doctoris Methodi herbariae libri tres. Zalužanský was certainly influenced by ancient authors in this treatise. But he was also inspired by his contemporaries (Matthioli, Dodoneus, Lobel), who shaped the future of plant studies at this time. His book was a first treatise in our country, where botany is already completely separated from medicine. Zalužanský criticized, that botany (herbaria) is usually considered to be a kind of mixture of plants and medicine. According to Zalužanský medicine and botany were totally separate disciplines, one independent of another. He emphasized that the subject of botany couldn’t be human interest (res humanae), but the very substance of things (ipsa rerum natura). Zalužanský divided botany in Aethiologia plantarum (causes of plants), which is botany in general including, in current terms, morphology, plant physiology, phytopathology, etc. The second part, Historia plantarum is his own system of the plant kingdom. These two parts are described in the first two books of Methodus. The treatise contains also a third book De Exercitia eius, which is a brief guide for exploring plants.
The genus Zaluzianskya was named in his honour by the botanist F. W. Schmidt.

EPIPACTIS VOETHII Robatsch

Tomáš Figura — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:02:08 +0000

Family: Orchidaceae Juss.

Distribution: Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Czechia and Slovakia.
Habitat: It grows in a warm oak-hornbeam woods or mixed conifer plantations and their edges on moist, calcareous soils, at altitudes up to 400 m a. s. l. Flowers in July.

Description: A perennial, autogamic, rhizomatous herb, 15–45(–60) cm tall. The stem is densely hairy in inflorescence, with 4–8 cauline leaves which are green and narrowly lanceolate, 6–10 cm long and 1–2,5 cm wide. The upper leaf is bract-like and bracts are up to 3 cm long. The inflorescence is one-sided, lax, up to the 30 flowers, but usually with 8–12(–30) opened and pendulous flowers. The pedicel is elongated, up to 10 mm long. The tepals are green or greenish-white, 9–10 mm long, margins indistinctly undulate; epichile is heart-shaped, as long as wide, cca 4 × 4 mm or slightly shorter, white or pink, margins are slightly crenate; hypochile is cup-shaped, greenish-white or to green outside and pale brown to brown inside; viscidium is small, non-functional; ovaries are green, spindle-shaped, elongated and sparsely hairy.
Endangering and Protection: This species is protected by international agreement CITES.

These images were taken in the Little Carpathians in Slovakia (date: July 2011).

EPIPACTIS PLACENTINA Bongiorni et P. Grünanger

Tomáš Figura — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:21:14 +0000

Syn.: Epipactis muelleri subsp. cerritae Grasso
Family Orchidaceae Juss.

Distribution: An European species – northern Italy, France, Croatia, Hungary, Switzerland and Slovakia.
Habitat: It grows in the warmer broadleaved forests, from lowlands to submountain areas. This species grows in mid-shade to shade, slightly acidic to neutral deep substrates at altitudes between 100 and 1400 meters above sea level. Flowers from June to August.
Description: A perennial herb, 15–40 cm tall, stem is at the basal part tinged with violet, it usually has 3–6(–8) ovate-lanceolate leaves. An autogamic plant, the inflorescence has 8–30 flowers, which are green, violet or purple. The flowers are pendulous, 12–18 mm long, often only partially opened, hypochile is rose and inside is intensively red, epichile is almost triangular shaped, red or deep violet, as wide as long, on the top greenish, rostellum is not developed, and viscidium is not functional.
Endangering and Protection: According to the IUCN Red List is classified as endangered (EN), it’s also shown in the list of plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In Slovakia is classified as Critically Endangered (CR), and protected by law. On the Hungarian and Swiss Red List is listed as Critically Endangered and on the French Red List is listed as Nearly Threatened.
Note: Latin name (placentina) comes from the Italian name Piacenza, a town in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy, where this species was for the first time recorded.

These images were taken in the Little Carpathians in Slovakia (date: July 2009 and 15. 7. 2011).

Conifers Around the World – a noteworthy book

Ladislav Hoskovec — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:18:18 +0000

I rather don’t write a book reviews, because when a new book appears on the bookstore shelves, I often can’t say loud and clear: “Oh yes, it’s great!” I don’t want to terrify the authors and publishers… However, I make an exception in this case.
Recently appeared on our editorial desk a two-volume book with an impressive name Conifers Around the World, but also with a much needed subtitle Conifers of the Temperate Zones and Adjacent Regions. The authors of the book are Zsolt Debreczy and István Rácz, editor of the book is Kathy Musial, the book was published by the Budapest Publishing House DendroPress.
At first sight must be for every reader evident, that he sees the book really exceptional. Two volumes with 1090 pages (format 240 × 320 mm) are really excellent place for a discussion about the conifers. The book contains more than 3,700 color photographs, but also many drawings and maps. I must highlight that photos of a specimens were taken in their natural habitat, garden specimens you don’t find here. The technical parameters of the book (hard cover, paper, layout) can be assessed as a higher standard.

In the opening chapters of the book can be found everything, you need to know about conifers: global distribution, taxonomy, morphology, there is also a treatise about the history knowledge of conifers and chapter about their conservation. I have a minor note in this place: a chapter about the historical classification of conifers our Hungarian friends begin from Caspar Bauhin (1623) – this is our big Czech problem, because we didn’t tell to the neighbouring countries in past times that conifers are a “child” by our botanist Adam Zalužanský ze Zalužan (1592).
The phytogeographical division of the world is based on a classification developed by the eminent Armenian botanist Armen Takhtajan. The authors, however, assess the Takhtajan’s concept slightly critically, main criterion for them is global distribution of conifers. Although this is mainly described temperate conifers, at this book are included some species of tropical areas too, i.e. those in which strongly pervade the Holarctic elements. There is therefore all Central America, the Caribbean, Indochina and Hainan Island. We can not reproach the authors for this special view of the phytogeographical division of the world, in some ways is even justified. Isn’t the best that in effect it leads to formation a gigantic and quite complicated area such as the whole of Continental Asia and Hainan. Conversely the Madrean Region is again artificially split into two areas. But so be it, about all we can discuss, a giant work raises debate.
Systematic is based on the results of molecular biology. The family Araucariaceae is represented in the book naturally only by South American species Araucaria araucana, it is also earmarked families Cephalotaxaceae, Cupressaceae (for phytogeographical reasons not represented Actinostrobus, Callitris, Neocallitropsis, Papuacedrus and Widdringtonia), Pinaceae, restrictions family Podocarpaceae, but of course there are representatives of Sciadopityaceae and Taxaceae (in this family is missing only Austrotaxus). The taxonomic concept is slightly different from our (Czech) tradition in classification of Pinus uncinata in species Pinus mugo, but are excluded even small Macaronesian species of Juniperus. However, we can say that in the overall concept dominate rather narrower species. Chapter about species is always conceptualized regionally, species are arranged in alphabetical order in each area – each taxon on a separate page. There are therefore a great chapters about conifers of Europe (including North Africa, Anatolia and Macaronesia), Continental Asia and Hainan, Japan and adjacent islands, Taiwan, Western North America, Eastern North America, Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean and Bermuda, Chile and Argentina, Southeastern Australia and Tasmania, New Zealand.
Visual accompaniment of book is fascinating. Drawings, which are included in the chapter about the genera, are really excellent. Irreplaceable element of the book are the maps, both phytogeographical maps and maps of the distribution of species – a really good job! Photographic accompaniment must necessarily impress for everyone – created it many specialists from around the world. Each species is briefly commented and usually accompanied by four photos (habitus, detail of crown, twigs, cones, etc.). There is also an extensive gallery of bark.
There’s only one thing for which I admonish authors – register is best with pagination, and the “full list” will never replace him!

I’m sure the book Conifers Around the World is one of the basic works of the modern world botanical literature, should not be missing in any botanical library.
The price of this book is not low. But certainly not exaggerated. If you decide to purchase of this book, you can order it directly from the publisher, here is lower price. My personal experience with the postal delivery of book from Hungary is very good. On the publishers web you can see more details of book.

What can I say for the end? I can only sincerely congratulate to Hungarian colleagues and assure them that I look forward to continuing of this book – perhaps one day we will see even the conifers of tropical areas:
Kedves magyar kollégák!
Őszintén gratulálunk e kiváló könyv kiadásához! Várjuk a folytatást.

The awards ceremony of the Best Botanical Illustration Competition for 2012

Ladislav Hoskovec — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:27:56 +0000

The Best Botanical Illustration Competition for 2012 was officially ended.

This action prepared by the Natural History Society and online magazine BOTANY.cz, co-organizers of the competition were the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Department of Experimental Plant Biology at the Charles University in Prague, Department of Philosophy and History of Science at the Charles University in Prague, Botanical Garden of Prague and Granit publishing house.

This year we got the artworks of 26 authors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy and Great Britain. An exhibition of all illustrations from the competition was held from 19th to 27th May 2012 in the Fata Morgana greenhouse of the Prague Botanic Garden. The awards ceremony took place in this garden on Sunday 27th May 2012.
Now, therefore, we announce the results of this competition:

On the other places were:
Jiří Polčák, Jana Táborská, Ludmila Businská, Tereza Samková.

We congratulate all of the winners!

The organizers and sponsors of the competition:

FITZROYA CUPRESSOIDES (Molina) I. M. Johnst.

Raul Conde — Fri, 04 May 2012 06:46:38 +0000

Syn.: Cupresstellata patagonica (Hook. f. ex Lindl.) J. Nelson, Fitzroya patagonica Hook. f. ex Lindl., Libocedrus cupressoides (Molina) Kuntze, Pinus cupressoides Molina
Family: Cupressaceae Bartl.

Distribution: Southwestern South America – Central Chile (Los Lagos region) and adjacent areas of Patagonia in Argentina (province of Chubut, Neuquen, Rio Negro). Monotypic genus.
Habitat: It grows in temperate rainforest with plenty of rainfall and mild winters, the minimum temperatures rarely reach frost point. The landscape is rugged, so Fitzroya grows in slopes from sea level at the coast of Chile to 1400 m high in the Andes. It forms pure stands.

Description: Monoecious, rarely dioecious, evergreen tree with conical to columnar crown up to 45(–60) m tall. The trunk is straight, with reddish bark peeling in strips, branches grow horizontally or even overhanging. The needles grow in whorls of three, are linear to narrowly lanceolate, protruding, 3.5 to 6 mm long, slightly curved, with 2 white bands. Male cones are single and grow from the axils of needles, the female inflorescence is cone-shaped with 9 scales arranged in 3 whorls of 3.
Threat and Protection: In the past this tree was intensely and irresponsibly logged. Today is protected by federal laws in Chile and several national and nature parks have been created. According to the IUCN red list, is classified as endangered (EN), it’s also shown in the list of plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Uses: Reddish-brown timber is lightweight, durable, easy to work. In the past has been used for furniture, shingles and masts. Dure to the rarity of the species, currently the timber is not industrially used.
Note: It’s the sole species in the genus Fitzroya. As other members of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), its size and longevity are quite remarkable. One individual was recorded to be 3622 years old, the second oldest in the world after Pinus longaeva. It is also the tallest tree in South America with an average height of 40–60 m, exceptionally 70 m.

These images were taken in culture.

ASARUM EUROPAEUM – Asarabacca

Ladislav Hoskovec — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:46:21 +0000

Syn.: Asarum lucidum Salisb., nom. inval., Asarum officinale Moench, Asarum renifolium Stokes, Asarum reniforme Gilib., Asarum rotundifolium St.-Lag.
Family: Aristolochiaceae Juss.

Distribution: An European species – almost all of Europe, Northern Turkey and Western Siberia.
Habitat: It grows in humid groves and among bushes, in open woodland and waterside thickets, from lowland to mountains. Flowers from March to May.
Description: A perennial evergreen herb with branched, scaly rhizome, 5–10 cm high. The stem is prostrate, the leaves are long-petiolate, reniform, entire. The flowers are bell-shaped with 3 lobes brownish outside, dark violet within and hidden by leaves.
Note: The Asarabacca is poisonous herb, the plant has a strong peppery taste and smell. In the literature is given as part of a snuff powders.

These images were taken in Czechia, Hranická propast and Prague (date: 28. 4. 2003 and 1. 3. 2008).

CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS L. – Italian Cypress, Mediterranean Cypress

Ladislav Kovář — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:20:05 +0000

Family: Cupressaceae Bartl.

Distribution: An Mediterranean species. The Italian Cypress is probably only native to the eastern Mediterranean region through to Syria and Iran. Since of ancient times has been planted in the whole Mediterranean.
Habitat: Fragments of native cypress forests are preserved on the islands in the Aegean Sea, they are located at an altitude of 800 to 1500 m above sea level. Elsewhere we meet with Cypress mainly around human settlements, cemeteries, the olive groves, along the roads, etc.
Description: An evergreen tree up to 35 m high. The trunk is straight, the bark is grey-brown, shallow tissures and twisted, scaly ridges. The crown is a narrowly columnar with upright branches. The leaves are scale-like, paired in 4-ranks, 0.5–1 mm, blunt, dark green, hairless. The male and female cones on same tree, the cones are solitary, 2.5–4 cm, globular, reddish brown to yellowish grey. Flowers from March to May.
Use: The cypress wood is hard and impervious to rot, it was used by ancient peoples for carving and construction. The cones are used in traditional medicine. In ancient symbolism was associated with death, so it is often planted in cemeteries of the Mediterranean, but also appears as a decorative tree for houses and gardens, especially the columnar cultivar ‘Stricta’.

These images were taken in Italy, Gargano, Mattinata and Peschici (date: 18. and 20. 4. 2008).

EUPHORBIA BALSAMIFERA Ait.

Ladislav Hoskovec — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:52:34 +0000

Syn.: Tithymalus balsamifer (Ait.) Haw.
Family: Euphorbiaceae Juss.

Distribution: A Saharan-Arabian species, occurs from the Canary Islands across Northern Africa to Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Habitat: It grows on dry rocks and stone slopes, common in coastal regions.

Description: A woody, succulent shrub, 20–200 cm high, a densely branched. The greyish stems with a terminal rosette of leaves, the leaves are oblong-spathulate, pale green to glaucous, obtuse to acute, up to 3.5 cm long. The inflorescences consisting of a single terminal flower, floral glands oval to rounded, more or less entire. Flowers from December to July. The capsules are solitary, globose.
Use: All parts of the plant contain a white, non-poisonous latex which has traditionally been used as chewing gum and as means of removing cysts and warts. This plant has a high ornamental value.
Threat and Protection: This species is a protected plant by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Note: Euphorbia balsamifera serves as a host plant for the beetle Deroplia schurmanni.

These images were taken in Spain, the Canary Islands, Tenerife, Malpaís de Güimar (by Ladislav Hoskovec, date 1. 4. 2006); the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura, Coralejo (by Naďa Gutzerová, February 2005).

EUPHORBIA ATROPURPUREA Brouss. ex Willd.

Ladislav Hoskovec — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:38:09 +0000

Syn.: Kanopikon atropurpureum (Brouss. ex Willd.) Raf., Tithymalus atropurpureus (Brouss. ex Willd.) Klotzsch et Garcke
Family: Euphorbiaceae Juss.

Distribution: An endemic species of the Canary Islands, occurs only on Tenerife (from the Teno Mts. to Güimar).
Habitat: It grows locally very common in the lower zone of the western and southern part of island, on rocks and stone slopes, from 300 to 1200 m above sea level.

Description: A shrub with succulent brown stems and branches, 50–150 cm high. The leaves are spathulate to oblong, glaucous, crowded towards the tips of stems, up to 15 cm long. The inflorescence is dark red-purple, 5–15-rayed, inflorescence bracts more than 1 cm across. Flowers from March to April. The capsules are dark-red to purple.
Threat and Protection: The species is protected by CITES.

These images were taken in Spain, the Canary Islands, Tenerife, the Teno Mts., Cruz de Gilda (date: 28. 3. 2006).

STACHYS ANNUA (L.) L. – Annual Hedgenettle

Jindřich Houska — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:42:42 +0000

Syn.: Stachys neglecta Klokov, Stachys micrantha C. Koch, Stachys betonica Crantz, Betonica annua L.
Family: Lamiaceae Lindl.

Distribution: Extends from France through Germany and Ukraine to the Urals in the north and in central Italy, central Greece, Anatolia to the Caspian Sea in the south. In Czechia it grows rarely in south Moravia.
Habitat: It grows mainly in fields, ruins, road verges and vineyards. Prefers neutral to alkaline soils.
Description: An annual, rarely perennial 10–40 cm tall plants. The stem is branched, slightly hairy. The leaves are petiolate, glabrous or shortly hairy, lamina is ovate to lanceolate, base is wedge-shaped, 2–6 cm long, 0.5–2 cm wide. The inflorescence is verticillastrate with 2–8 flowers. The flowers are shortly pedunculated, the calyx is slightly 2-lipped to almost regular, 6–9 mm long, the sepals triangular to lanceolate, softly hairy. The corrola is 1–1.5 cm long, on the outside shortly and softly hairy, the upper lip is flat, curved upwards, white-based with purple spots, the lower lip is pale creamy, triangular with middle lobe largest. The fruit is nutlet. It flowers from June to September.
Threat and Protection: The Annual Hedgenettle is an endangered species of the Czech flora (EN).

These images were taken in Slovakia, Tornaľa (date: 4. 7. 2006).

SEDUM OCHROLEUCUM Chaix

Mário Duchoň — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:11:37 +0000

Syn.: Petrosedum anopetalum (DC.) Grulich, Petrosedum rupestre subsp. anopetalum (DC.) Velayos, Sedum anopetalum DC., Sedum verlotii Jord.
Family: Crassulaceae DC.

Distribution: It occurs from Spain to Greece and Turkey in the east. In the north to Switzerland, southern foothills of the Alps in Italy, Slovenia, Serbia and Romania. Often cultivated as an ornamental plant.
Habitat: It grows in rocky slopes and gravelly screes, on limestones and dolomites, up to 2000 m a. s. l.

Description: A perennial, glaucous herb. The flowering stems are 15–30 cm high, the leaves terete, linear-cylindrical, acuminate, distinctly spurred, suberect, loosely imbricate on the non-flowering shoots. The inflorescense is corymbose, erect in bud, flat in flowering time. The flowers are 5–8-merous, subsessile. The sepals 5–7 mm, triangular-lanceolate, acuminate, glandular-puberulent. The petals are 7–10 mm long. The follicles are greenish, erect. Flowers from June to July.

These images were taken in the Prokletije Mts. in Albania (date: 27. 6. 2010, 2. 7. 2011).

SEDUM MAGELLENSE Ten.

Mário Duchoň — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:05:31 +0000

Syn.: Oreosedum magellense (Ten.) Grulich, Sedum brutium N. Terracc., Sedum magellense subsp. olympicum (Boiss.) Greuter et Burdet, Sedum olympicum Boiss.
Family: Crassulaceae DC.

Distribution: It occurs in mountains of central Italy, the Balkans and southwestern Turkey.
Habitat: It grows in rock crevices and screes on limestones and dolomites, usually from 1500 to 2300 m above sea level.

Description: A perennial, glabrous, 6–15 cm high herb. The leaves are 6–10 mm long, alternate or opposite, obovate-oblong, flat, obtuse. The flowers are 5-merous, pedicellate, with a simple racemose inflorescence. The petals are lanceolate, acute, whitish, the stamens 10. The follicles are erect, obtuse, shortly mucronate. Flowers from June to July.

These images were taken in the Durmitor Mts. and in the Prokletije Mts. in Albania (date: 22. 6. 2010, 9. 7. 2011).

The Best Botanical Illustration Competition – final

Ladislav Hoskovec — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:22:04 +0000

The first round of the Best Botanical Illustration Competition ended at the last November midnight. This year we got the artworks of 26 authors to assess.
As in previous years, all the works will be evaluated by an independent jury. Its members include representatives of all institutions which co-organize the event. Together with members of the Natural History Society and online magazine BOTANY.cz there are also employees of the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Department of Experimental Plant Biology at the Charles University in Prague, Department of Philosophy and History of Science at the Charles University in Prague, Botanical Garden of Prague and Granit publishing house. Moreover, professional artists are also among the jurors. The work of the jury will not be easy, we will take great pains to choose the best works among so many interesting illustrations.

An exhibition of all illustrations from the competition will be held from 19th to 27th May 2012 in the Fata Morgana greenhouse of the Prague Botanic Garden.
The awards ceremony will take place in this garden on Sunday 27th May 2012.

We look forward to meeting you at the awards ceremony in Prague!

The participants of Competition for 2012:
Ludmila Businská (CZ)
Lenka Cycoňová (CZ)
Veronika Bartošová (CZ)
Kateřina Mášová (CZ)
Marcela Krystýnová (CZ)
Markéta Hanulíková (CZ)
Jana Táborská (HU)
Hilary Neil (GB)
Anna Nová Kučerová (CZ)
Zuzana Klagová (SK)
Hana Tůmová (CZ)
Václava Arnoštová (CZ)
Renata Grošaftová (CZ)
David Vojtuš (CZ)
Chiara Michelotto (I)
Michaela Malečková (CZ)
Veronika Daňková (CZ)
Jiří Polčák (CZ)
Svetozár Košický (SK)
Pavla Dvorská (CZ)
Mariana Felnerová (CZ)
Tereza Samková (CZ)
Lada Stará (CZ)
Markéta Petričáková (CZ)
Tomáš Figura (SK)
Jiří Zámečník (CZ)

The organizers and sponsors of the competition: