Volume 23(3), 99- 106, 2019 JOURNAL of Horticulture, Forestry and Biotechnology www.journal-hfb.usab-tm.ro The Arenaria genus botanical collection preserved in “Alexandru Beldie” herbarium 1 1 Tudor C. , Dincă Maria 1”Marin Drăcea” National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Corresponding author: Tudor C., e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Arenaria Genus contains a rich series of plants, with Key words numerous varieties, that were discovered by botanists from the earliest times. In order to study and conserve these plants, a series of actions were Arenaria Genus, voucher, necessary, involving their harvesting and their preservation in optimum conservation degree, conditions. As such, they were introduced in BUCF Herbarium. Arenaria herbarium Genus is represented in this herbarium by 30 taxa from which some are included even on the Red List of Romanian plants. The purpose of this study was to analyse the present situation of Arenaria Genus, as well as to describe its main species. The analysed material was comprised of 119 vouchers that were gathered between 1858-1985, mostly from our country and especially from Bucegi Mountains. The collection was enriched by specialists as well as through exchanges with foreign and national profile institutions. Arenaria Genus belongs to Caryophyllaceae Family grassed areas, while others appear as weeds amongst and contains plants with flowers. Some species are cultures. Few species have a decorative purpose. classified now in However, a relatively large number of endemic species Spergularia, Eremogone and Minuartia genres. can be observed for our country [4]. Caryophyllaceae are a family of superior angiosperm, „Marin Drăcea” National Institute of Research- dicotyledons plants from Caryophyllales Order. Development in Forestry from Bucharest hosts a This contain annual, biannual or perennial herbaceous herbarium created in 1929 – BUCF Herbarium. plants, distributed worldwide and especially in Containing approximately 40.000 vouchers, the temperate areas. Approximately 2395 species and 93 herbarium was inscribed in Index Herbariorum, having genres are known, grouped in three subfamilies: the BUCF international code [5, 6]. Alsinoideae, Caryophylloideae and Paronychioideae Amongst the species present in the above-mentioned (https://ro.wikipedia.org/). herbarium we mention: 19 Scorzonera species [7], 15 The Alsinoideae family is easy to recognize by the Ornitogalum species [8], 15 Veronica species [9], 16 presence of nectar gland at the abaxial base of the Abies species [10], 69 Potentilla species [11], 29 episepalous stamens. Furthermore, the Allysum species [12], 19 Androsace species [13] and Caryophylloideae is morphologically distinguish by 41 Polygonum species [14]. clawed petals and tubular calyx [1, 2]. The Alsinoideae and Caryophylloideae embryo which formed a Material and Methods monophyletic origin is caryophyllad, whereas the Paronychioideae one is solenoid [1, 3]. The The forest material was comprised of 119 vouchers Phylogenetic relationship within Caryophyllaceae is belonging to Arenaria Genus. In a first stage, a still controversial [2]. database was created based on the information Arenaria plants have articulated stems, callous at the inscribed on each voucher’s identification tag. This nodes. The leaves are simple, entire, undivided, database allows further investigations. At the same opposed, rarely alternate and without stipule. The time, each species conservation degree was appreciated inflorescences are cymes and rich in flowers. The on a scale of 1 to 4: well preserved plant, entire, flowers are usually bisexual (hermaphrodite), attached to the voucher = 1, plant detached from the sometimes unisexual through abortion, monoic or voucher, with detached but present parts = 2, plant dioic, actinomorphic and pentamers. The floral cover is detached from the voucher, with missing parts = 3 or double, rarely simple [4]. The androecium is formed of fragmented plants, over 50% missing parts= 4. In the 5 or 10 stamina. The fruit is a denticulate multisperm final stage, the name of each voucher was analysed and capsule, rarely acine or achene [4]. compared with the accepted international scientific Approximately 171 species belonging to 25 genera names or updated according to The Plant List [15]. As exist in Romania. Some species are well developed in an end result, a database was obtained with the 99 following data: drawer number, voucher number, species, the bibliographic study was used as a method, scientific name, collection name, harvesting date and as well as the analysis of the conserved specimens. place, theperson who collected the plant and This fact allows for a quick information access and for conservation degree (Table 1). For describing the main establishing precisely the harvesting period. Table 1 The inventory of Arenaria Genus (excerpt from the database) Herbarium/ Drawer Voucher Botanical Collecting Place of Specialists Conserva- Species number number Collection/ date collecting tion degree Institution Flora Dr. C. Baenitz, Arenaria Hispanica: E. 41 1 Herbarium armeriastrum 1889.07.16. 1 Sierra de Reverchon Europaeum Boiss. Rouda Transylvania Cluj University Arenaria Distr. Fagaras E. I. 41 20 1927.08.02. 1 Herbarium biflora L. Atl. Cca. Nyarady 2100m E. Dr. C. Baenitz, Arenaria FL. Galica: Reverchon 41 23 Herbarium 1985.07.26. 1 cinerea DC. Basses-Alpes et A. Europaeum Derbez Museum Botanicum Arenaria Transylvania G. Bujorean Universitatis, Cluj 41 31 graminifolia 1923.05.14. Distr. Cluj Alt. et. E. I. 1 Flora Romaniae Schrad 620m s.m. Nyarady Exaiccata Arenaria 41 35 Mus. Bot. Berol. 1887.01.01 Sarepta A. Becker 1 longifolia MB. J. Dorfler, Wiener Hispania Arenaria 41 39 botanischer 1894.06.01 Terruel Sierra Reverchon 1 loscosii Tescid Tauschvereirein del Pinar Mountain sides Arenaria H. N. 41 41 Colorado Flora 1885.08.01 near 1 fendleri, Gray Patterson Georgetown Bucharest Polytechnic’s Arenaria Pad. Ciolpani 41 43 Herbarium, 1947.07.24. I. Morar 1 leptoclados G. Distr. Ilfov Silviculture Faculty, Botanic Laboratory Museum Botanicum Dobrogea Universitatis, Cluj Arenaria rigida 41 46 1922.06.06. Distr. Tulcea Al. Borza 1 Flora Romaniae M. B. Alt. cca. 100m Exaiccata Bucharest Polytechnic’s Arenaria Beldie 41 47 Herbarium, rotundifolia 1947.07.18. Bucegi 1 Alexandru Silviculture Faculty, M.b. Botanic Laboratory Al. Beldie Arenaria Bucegi, Valea Alexandru 41 48 Herbarium, pauciflora 1907.05.30. 1 cerbului Beldie Bucharest Boiss. Forest Research Arenaria Almasul Mic 41 53 1940.08.01 Tr. Bunea 1 Institute’s Herbarium serpyllifolia L. de Munte 100 Results prominently, unkeeled, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate), with dimension of 2-3 mm, apex narrowly, glandular. Based on the inventory of Arenaria Genus conserved Arenaria serpyllifolia has oblong petals, reaching 0.6- in BUCF Herbarium, 30 species were identified: 2.7 mm, 4 or 5 time same as sepals, with an obtuse to Arenaria armeriastrum Boiss., Arenaria norvegica G., rounded apex. The seeds can reach 10-15, are ashy Arenaria montana L., Arenaria pungens L., Arenaria black, plump, reniform, 0.4-0.6 mm, with elongate biflora L., Arenaria cinerea DC., Arenaria capitata L., tubercules. Arenaria ciliata L., Arenaria rotundifolia M.b., Arenaria serpyllifolia L., Arenaria tennella L. etc. The Arenaria graminifolia Schrad. (fig. 2) is a perennial majority of recordings were found for Arenaria plant of the Caryophyllaceae family. The plant is serpyllifolia L. (26 vouchers), Arenaria tenella L. (24 densely caespitose, having more or less columnar vouchers) and Arenaria biflora L. (16 vouchers), shoots. Some basal leaves and non-flowering shoots followed by Arenaria montana L. (3 vouchers), are grass-like, reaching 18-40 mm, veined, fairly rigid Arenaria ciliata L. (3 vouchers), Arenaria rotundifolia and glandular-pubescent. Flowering stems are erect, 8- M.B. (4 vouchers) and Arenaria longifolia M.B. (3 18 cm tall, sparsely glandular-pubescent below and vouchers). densely above, more or less glabrous. Middle cauline leaves are linear, long, and erect, as long as the Short description of species. internodes. Cymes are dense, 3 to 5 flowered; pedicels are densely glandular-pubescent. Petals are somewhat shooter than sepals, while seeds are large with long Arenaria serpyllifolia L. (fig.1), often known papillae on the dorsal face. as savory-leaf sandwort is included in the Caryophyllaceae family. They are annual plants Arenaria armeriastrum Boiss. (fig. 3) have slender with taproots filiform. brown stems with tiny obtuse, slightly revolute leaves Stems range in number between 1-100, are erect, topped by masses of small white stars. The plant is green and can grow up to 3-40 cm. The internodes tetraploid with 2n=60. describe an ellipsoid form, are dull and extrorsely Arenaria grandiflora All. (fig.4) common known as, is pubescent. a herbaceous perennial plant that can be found mostly Leaves often unified at base, with mostly grassy in mountainous regions. Creeping stems have erected sheath, with dimension of 0.2-0.3 mm, petiolate or branches (5 to 15 cm high) with one to six white petal often sessile. Stalk have 1-4 mm. Blade are veined, flowers, twice as long as the sepals; narrow leaves, elliptic or orbiculate, grassy, with flat margins, pointed at the top. Flowering takes place around mid- herbaceous, ciliate with apex acute, pubescent or August. It is distributed in several countries, bordering sometimes glabrous. Axillaries leaf clusters are absent. the western Mediterranean basin, from Algeria