Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 26: 23-38, 2012 BRC www.brc.amu.edu.pl DOI 10.2478/v10119-012-0005-6 Orobanche alba subsp. alba and subsp. major (Orobanchaceae) in Poland: current distribution, taxonomy, plant communities, hosts, and seed micromorphology Renata Piwowarczyk Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, åwiÍtokrzyska 15, 25-406 Kielce, Poland, e-mail:
[email protected] Abstract: The paper presents the current distribution of Orobanche alba subsp. major and subsp. alba in Poland, based on a critical revision of herbarium and literature data as well as results of my field studies. Most of their localities are in south- eastern Poland: in the Ma≥opolska Upland, Lublin Upland, Roztocze Hills, Polesie, Przemyúl Foothills (PogÛrze Przemyskie), and Western Bieszczady Mts. These are the northernmost sites known for the species in Central Europe, so the new data extend its distribution range. Maps of distribution of both the subspecies in Poland and of subsp. major in Central Europe are included. Additionally, their seed micromorphology was compared using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The taxonomy, biology, and ecology of both the subspecies of O. alba are also discussed. Key words: Orobanche alba subsp. alba, Orobanche alba subsp. major, Orobanchaceae, taxonomy, distribution, phytocoenoses, micromorphology, seeds, Poland, Central Europe 1. Introduction and Salvia, while rarely Clinopodium, Acinos, Orig- anum, Satureja, and Stachys (Beck 1930; Uhlich et al. Orobanche alba Stephan ex Willd. (Orobanchaceae) 1995). has a European-West-Asiatic distribution (Pusch & The range of preferred plant communities is poorly G¸nther 2009). It is widely distributed but rare. It has studied and described only in general terms.