National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Institute of Biological Research Cluj, Republicii Street 48, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
email: liviu.filipas@icbcluj.ro

Abstract: Two new Juniperus communis subsp. communis syntaxa from Romania are presented from floristic, ecological and syntaxonomic points of view, completing the picture of the European distribution area of these shrubby communities. The phytocoenoses of Thymio odoratissimi-Juniperetum communis ass. nova are present on calcareous substrates and are rich in continental Eurasian, meso-xerophilous species, for which reason we assigned it to alliance Brachypodio pinnati-Juniperion communis Mucina et al. 2016, and class Crataego-Prunetea Tx. 1962. The communities belonging to Vaccinio myrtilli-Juniperetum communis Kovacs ex Filipas et al. campanuletosum abietinae subass. nova occur on acidic substrates, crystalline schists and gresous formations, and are rich in acidophilous species, characteristic for the class Calluno-Ulicetea Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Klika et Hadac 1944. We assigned this new syntaxon to alliance Vaccinio-Juniperion communis Passage in Passage et G. Hoffman 1968 because of the high presence of Vaccinium species (V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea) in the sub-shrub layer of these phytocoenoses.

Key words: common juniper, scrub, Romania, new syntaxa

*Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Haţieganu, 12 I. Creanga st., 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**Electron Microscopy Center, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 5-7 Clinicilor st., 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
***Electron Microscopy Integrated Lab., Nat. Inst. for R&D of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat st., 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
****Institute of Biological Research Cluj-Napoca, branch of NIRDBS Bucharest, 48 Republicii st., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
email: ana.coste@icbcluj.ro

Abstract: The genus Artemisia includes a large number of aromatic plants that produce secondary metabolites with numerous applications in the health, cosmetics, food and pest management sectors. However, relatively little is known of the dedicated organs where many of these metabolites are synthesized and accumulate. In this context, the aim of this paper was to identify the essential oil-secreting tissue of Artemisia abrotanum L. (Asteraceae) popularly known as southern wormwood. The morphology of its secretory tissue was studied using optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the first time, secretory structures composed of stalked bicellular glands have been identified in the leaf sinuses on the abaxial side of the leaf blades. These secretory structures have not been described before in vascular plant taxa indigenous (native or naturalized) to Romania, but were reported in other Asteraceae species worldwide.

Key words: Artemisia abrotanum, secretory tissues, essential oil, scanning and transmission electron microscopy

*Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, India
**Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Management, International College of Engineering and Management, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Oman
e-mail: solomonraju@gmail.com

Abstract: Walsura trifoliata is an evergreen dry season-blooming hermaphroditic tree species. The flowers are nectariferous and characterized by urceolate androecium, strong protandry and secondary pollination mechanism, protruded bifid stigma displaying receptivity, self-compatibility and facultative xenogamy without the function of spontaneous autogamy. The floral traits indicate generalist pollination syndrome and adaptation for entomophily, with bees effecting mostly geitonogamy and wasps and butterflies effecting mostly xenogamy. Fruit-set is highest in xenogamy. Fruit is a globular drupe with 1-2 seeds embedded in fleshy aril. Seed dispersal modes include zoochory, barochory and hydrochory. The study shows that the function of generalist pollination syndrome, entomophily, facultative xenogamy and polychory enable this tree species to achieve highest fruit-set, maintain genetic variation through cross-pollination, and disperse its seeds to different distances in the forest ecosystem.

Key words: hermaphrodite, secondary pollination mechanism, facultative xenogamy, entomophily, zoochory, barochory, hydrochory

National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Institute of Biological Research Cluj, Republicii Street 48, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
email: marcel.ciobanu@icbcluj.ro

Abstract: Fritillaria orientalis Adams is an endangered central Balkan and Illyrian species with a sporadic presence in Romania, that has been declared a "Natural Monument". A new protected area of 22.18 ha located southwards to the village Berchiesu (Frata commune) is proposed for conserving the most important and abundant population of F. orientalis in Cluj county, the assessment based on available literature and personal observations in the field. For this reason, the area has special botanical value and needs to be legally protected in order to preserve this isolated population. This paper presents floristic data and vegetation characteristics along with relevant illustration of the proposed protected area. In order to easily distinguish F. orientalis from F. meleagris L., reported as well in Cluj county, morphological, biometric and ecological differentiation characters are presented. Individual plants of F. orientalis from Berchiesu are characterized by a pronounced diversity regarding the height of flower stems and colour of perianth. Collection of flowers or whole plants, extension of cultivated land, improvised fireplaces near the forest edge, logging, fertilization of agricultural fields and motorized access threatens this population. Therefore, we propose a set of measures to assure its sustainable conservation and monitoring of the phytocoenoses to assess the effectiveness of protective actions.

Key words: botanical reserve, conservation, Cluj county, Fritillaria orientalis, protected area

*The Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Marasti Avenue 61, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
**The Romanian Association for Standardization, Mihai Eminescu Street 238, 020085 Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: brad_radu@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract: The ecological emergences arise owing to the integration of organisms into hierarchically ranked systemic units into the multi-individual level of organisation i.e., population, species and biocoenosis and ecosystem (the latter including in addition the abiotic environment). The ecological emergences of the multi-individual level encompass both general and systemic unit-specific forms in terms of structures, relationships, processes, information and variability. The most important effect of the different ecological emergences is the initiation of the process of production, consumption and decomposition of biomass and necromass, which ensures the amount of energy and matter needed for the negentropic functioning of all living systems. For each form of general ecological emergence, an example involving plant systems is given.

Key words: biocoenosis, ecosystem, general/specific ecological emergences, hierarchy of living systems, multi-individual level of organisation, population, species, structure/information/function/relation/variability emergences