The book introduces poroid aphyllophoroid fungi (bracket fungi or polypores) found in Finland and in neighbouring areas. In all, 273 species are dealt with, of them 251 known to occur in the country. The Introduction discusses the systematic position of these fungi, their different distribution patterns, ways of life and pathology (especially wood decay), ecological aspects (including predecessor – successor relationships), and reasons for some species being threatened. A revised standard method is presented for assessing and comparing the conservation values of different forest areas, based on selected wood- inhabiting fungi. Structures and terms of macroscopy and microscopy are explained and illustrated. Each species is fully described, supplemented with hints for identification, a list of host trees and other ecology, outlines of distribution, and Red List status (NT and higher ranks); drawings of spores and other details were prepared for the species. An updated generic division was adopted with the help of colleagues working with DNA phylogeny. Each genus having two or more species in the area was provided with a key to the species. A key to pileate and effused-reflexed species was compiled on the basis of macroscopical characters, and an all-inclusive key was prepared based on both macroscopy and microscopy. Spore dimensions in the descriptions are based on measurements of several specimens per species, 30 spores measured from each of them, showing typical range (90%), and extreme values given in parentheses. Almost all the species are illustrated with one or more colour photographs (in all over 460 of them) taken in the field.

In Lichens of Finland we provide detailed treatments of all Finnish macrolichens and c. 300 crustose lichens, in total 212 genera and 748 species, subspecies, or varieties. The current number of lichen species in Finland is 1644, whereas the total number of lichen taxa is 1673, including species, subspecies, and varieties. In the introductory section topics such as lichen morphology, chemical characters, taxonomy, habitats, and threatened taxa are discussed. Also, an overview of lichen research in Finland through time is provided. The treatment of taxa includes genus and species descriptions, typical spot-test reactions, secondary substances and possible chemotypes, as well as habitat data and distribution. Common synonyms and threat status are given. Each taxon is illustrated with a colour photograph, and a distribution map (Finland) is also provided. Selected references are provided. An updated checklist of Finnish lichens, lichenicolous fungi, and some lichen-like fungi, altogether 1952 taxa, constitutes a notable part of the book. Fi-nally, the scientific names, as well as available Finnish and Swedish names, are indexed. All accepted taxa treated in the book or found in the checklist are included, as are their synonyms.

This book was compiled to support teaching at forestry schools, and schools of domestic sciences and catering. We also tried to make this appealing enough for anybody interested in mushrooms and fungi in general. The contents of the book are divided into seven major sections: Background data of the area involved; Basic knowledge of fungi; Edible and other fungi in Zambian context; Species descriptions; Recipes; Technical data concerning our work for the book; Glossaries and indexes.

The text dealing with mycology is rather comprehensive, including principles in fungal classification, the role of fungi in a miombo ecosystem, completed with macroscopy and microscopy of larger fungi, mainly mushrooms. After that follows a section about mushroom knowledge in Zambia, how they are collected and traditionally utilised, and what kinds of habits and inherited knowledge are involved. A great deal of this data were collected during our interviews among rural Zambians in different parts of the country.

The species descriptions include a selection of edible, harmful and other species among major groups of macrofungi, but with an emphasis on the edible ones. Also some important wood-rotting species are dealt with. We offer a tasty selection of recipes, some of them obtained from countryside people, others adopted for their preparation in an African kitchen. In the section on technical details we explain our working methods, interview questionnaire, the area of our fieldwork (also including parts of Tanzania and northern Mozambique). The data obtained during our recent fieldwork are substantiated by years-long experience in tropical Africa by our co-author Graham Piearce.

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The Crustose lichens of Finland complements the earlier published Lichen flora of Finland. In this volume we present a selection of the most common or important crustose lichens known from Finland. The total number of species treated in detail is 300, while the total number of crusts in Finland is 1249.

The crustose growth form cannot be accurately defined, although many species consist of some kind of crust. However, there are also farinose-granulose, squamulose, or even partly foliose taxa. It was not possible at this time to treat all species; many are small in size, their characters difficult to define, and their taxonomy poorly known.

In the introductory section topics such as morphology, secondary chemistry, habitat preferences, threatened species, specimen collecting, and photography of crusts are discussed. The treatment of taxa includes genus and species descriptions, the most common color reactions and chemical substances as well as ecological and distribution data. Common synonyms and threat status are given where relevant.

Each taxon is illustrated with a color photograph and a distribution map. Distribution data are based on field studies of the authors, herbarium specimens, and literature. A few species are reported for the first time from Finland. The scientific, Finnish and Swedish names of all taxa are indexed, and a glossary of terms is included. In addition, the book includes a basic Finnish-English dictionary of key words used in descriptions. Also, a list of selected references is provided.

Finally, a complete list of Finnish lichens, as well as lichenicolous and a few lichen-like ascomycetes, altogether 1965 taxa, is presented. Data in this list were updated in early 2015, but changes and updates will keep coming, and the reader is therefore encouraged to check recent literature for accurate information.

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Many fungi are excellent indicators of forest status. They may not always be threatened or exceptionally rare, but still require certain characteristics from their habitats that are in need of protection. The focus in this book lies on macrofungi (agaricoid, boletoid, ramarioid and hydnoid).

We will promote indicator fungi as a new tool in assessing valuable habitats. We offer a scoring method for 545 fungal species (or higher taxa) as indicators of valuable forest biotopes in Finland. Descriptions with photographs, microscopic illustrations and distribution maps are given for 147 of these.

Moreover, we introduce the use of fungi as indicator species for the 14 listed valuable forest biotopes. The book gives instructions to both people asking for fungus monitoring and those actually carrying out the monitoring work.

Two species are described as new: Psathyrella boreifasciculata Kytöv. & Liimat. sp. nova and Ramaria boreimaxima Kytöv. & Toivonen sp. nova. Craterellus caeruleofuscus A.H. Sm. is reported as new to Europe. The formal diagnoses are found at the end of the book.

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The vascular plant flora of the biogeographical province of Satakunta (St) is presented. The province is situated in the S part of W Finland: between ca. 60º40´ and 62º20´ of N latitude, ca. 180 km from S to N, and over 100 km inland from the coast of the Bothnian Sea. The highest hilltops of the NE rise ca. 200 m above sea level, just exceeding the uppermost shoreline of the post-glacial Baltic Sea. The present land uplift is ca. 6 mm per year in the S and 8 mm in the N. The salt content of outer sea is between 5 and 6 ‰, declining towards river mouths, especially that of the big Kokemäenjoki river with its floristically rich estuary.

Excluding Ranunculus auricomus and allied groups, Taraxacum, Hieracium and Pilosella, the number of native and archaeophytic species is ca. 680 and of newcomers almost 450 (the latter ones including ca. 150 cultivation escapes or relicts). In addition, 86 hybrids are reported.

The distribution and frequency of species are given by means of 5 by 5 km squares, according to the Finnish Uniform Coordinate System. Of these squares, 650 fall into Satakunta, entirely or partly. A 5 by 5 km square map is presented for the majority of plants. However, for a considerable number of rare newcomers (as well as of rare hybrids and apomictic microspecies) there is a list of squares at the end of the species text. For 82 species there is, in addition to the square map, a non-square map in larger scale showing finding places in more detail.

The species texts, in Finnish, begin with a rough overview of the plants occurrence in surrounding areas or more widely. Then the area within Satakunta with its important details is characterized. Ecology in the province is presented fairly profoundly, and how it connects to and explains the distribution pattern. Special attention is paid to increase and decline, based on old literature, herbarium specimens and the chronology of more recent observations. Common species often proved to be at least as interesting as the rare ones, as to distribution and its details, ecology, increase or decline, etc.

Important sources (herbaria, literature, archives) are mentioned in the text. As to rare species and a number of commoner but interesting ones all finds with sources are listed after the ordinary text.

All the 213 species of myxomycetes found in Finland are described in this identification book. In the first section the morphology, biology and ecology of myxomycetes are discussed, and advice how to collect and identify them is given.

Keys to the classes and genera follow. Genera and species are described under the classes in alphabetical order. Standard Finnish names are given to all the species. Earlier, only two species Fuligo septica and Lycogala epidendrum had a common name.

Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics are outlined according to a file kept since the year 1974 by the first author. The file includes cards of specimens collected in Finland and abroad, for instance in Gambia, Turkey, Tanzania and China.

The descriptions of the species rare in Finland are modified according to international literature. The second author has studied all the Finnish herbaria including myxomycete collections, and gathered information for a table of distribution and the month of collection of each species.

Almost all the species are presented with colour illustrations. The drawings are made by the authors and the editor of this book, Tuomo Niemelä. The photographs are taken by the 21 amateurs and professionals listed on the title page. Sincere thanks to all of them.

At the end of the book you can find a table of distribution of the species in Finland, explanations of the terms used, an annotated list of selected identification books, and an index to the species.

The first checklist of vascular plants (ferns, lycopods, horsetails, conifers and phanerogams) of
Kyrgyzstan has been prepared on the basis of literature data, herbarium collections mainly preserved
at the Institute of Biology and Soil Science in Bishkek (FRU, Kyrgyzstan) and at the Komarov
Botanical Institute in St. Petersburg (LE, Russia), and the authors’ field observations. The list
contains 3869 species, of which 3798 species are native to the country. For each species the
distribution in Kyrgyzstan is given according to the biogeographic provinces. The endemic status of
every species is also indicated.

The most important vegetation types of Africa are introduced, with East Africa and southern Central Africa as examples. Selected important trees and other plant species are described and illustrated from each vegetation type.

The Introduction includes a short overview on the geological history of the continent, and on the ways those events are now seen in the distributions of various vegetation types, their characteristics and species. The description of African vegetation types focuses on five themes: savannas, drylands, rainforests, montane vegetation and wetlands.

The savannas are divided in two main types: arid savannas and miombo woodlands, and these are analysed in depth. The driest vegetation types are variable and include plenty of local specified forms, and these can be illustrated with selected examples only. The main rainforest areas of the Congo basin and West Africa fall outside the scope of the book, but rainforest ecology is introduced with East African coastal rainforests as examples. Mountains and ranges are restricted and scattered in Africa, but highlands harbour a lush and diverse vegetation, with a high number of endemic taxa.

All this is treated extensively, starting from moist forests of mountain foothills, and ending in the upper limit of plant growth 5 000 metres high up. Wetlands and coastline vegetation are briefly dealt with.
After the description of vegetation types there is a summary of African phytochoria, as they are usually treated in text-books, plus a sketch towards a new approach in which the relationships of the main vegetation types are sought not only from links between trees and other vegetation, but also between their symbiotic mycota.

The last text section deals with the terms of living for African people: agriculture and cultivated plants, plant products cathered from the wild, future prospects and possibilities of nature protection. New Finnish names for over 200 African trees and other plants are here published for the first time – these were compiled by the Plant-name Committee of the Finnish Biological Society Vanamo. In the end there is a glossary of botanical terms, references for each text section, and an extensive list of literature.

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All the 204 species of myxomycetes found in Finland are described in this identification book.
In the first section the morphology, biology and ecology of myxomycetes are discussed, and
advice how to collect and identify them is given.

Keys to the classes and genera follow. Genera and species are described under the classes in alphabetical order. Standard Finnish names are given to all the species. Earlier, only two species Fuligo septica and Lycogala epidendrum had a common name.

Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics are outlined according to a file kept since the year 1974 by the first author. The file includes cards of specimens collected in Finland and abroad, for instance in Gambia, Turkey, Tanzania and China.

The descriptions of the species rare in Finland are modified according to international literature. The second author has studied all the Finnish herbaria including myxomycete collections, and gathered information for a table of distribution and the month of collection of each species.

Almost all the species are presented with colour illustrations. The drawings are made by the editor of this book, Tuomo Niemelä. The photographs are taken by 21 amateurs and professionals, sincere thanks to all of them.

At the end of the book you can find a table of distribution of the species in Finland, explanations of the terms used, an annotated list of selected identification books, and an index of the species.

Sample pages (PDF file, 1840 Kb)

The edition is SOLD OUT.

In the Lichen flora of Finland, we present all the macrolichens and some of the most common crustose lichens known from Finland. The total number of species, subspecies or varieties treated is 481. In the introductory section topics such as lichen morphology, chemistry, reproduction, taxonomy, ecology and threatened species are discussed.

An overview of lichen research in Finland is also provided. The treatment of taxa includes genus and species descriptions, the most common colour reactions and chemical substances as well as ecological and distribution data. Common synonyms and threat status are given where relevant. For genera with multiple taxa an identification key is also included. Furthermore, a key to parmelioid taxa is provided. Each taxon is illustrated with a colour photograph and a distribution map. Distribution data are based on field studies of the authors, herbarium specimens and literature.

The scientific, Finnish and Swedish names of all taxa are indexed, and a glossary of terms is included. In addition, the book includes a simple Finnish-English dictionary of key words used in descriptions as well as a list of selected references.

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In July 23 – August 13, 2009, six researchers from the Botanical Museum (H) and the Botanic Garden of the Finnish Museum of Natural History did a research and collecting excursion to Kyrgyzstan. The local host and participant was Dr. Georgy Lazkov from Bishkek herbarium (FRU). The rich material collected include more than 3000 herbarium specimens of vascular plants, 250 of lichens, 50 of other fungi (esp. wood-rotting fungi) and ca. 100 of bryophytes and charophytes, and ca. 150 bulb and seed samples for the Botanic Garden. The material is mainly kept in H. After the excursion some days were spent in Bishkek for maintaining the material and studying of specimens at FRU.

The excursion route, planned by G. Lazkov, formed a tour in the botanically lessknown western part of the country, mainly in the Tian Shan Mts. and to some extent in the marginal parts of the Ferghana valley. The vehicle used was a sturdy, old military truck GAZ-66, and the group of 9 persons included the 7 researchers, a driver and a cook. Usually two nights were spent in a camp and excursions were made from the camp to adjacent mountains and river valleys. During the driving days several stops for collecting were made in interesting places, e.g., at high passes, forest patches, rocky outcrops and on pond and canal shores. In addition to general collecting, special emphasis was directed to Alliaceae, Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cotoneaster, Cyperaceae and aquatic plants.

This publication is based on a diary written during the excursion. The text tells about landscapes, vegetation and plants collected, but also about local people, routines and personal feelings during the excursion.

In this book the known 980 aphyllophoroid fungi, including the 89 new taxa for Finland, are listed with Finnish and Swedish common names, IUCN threat categories, habitats, life strategies, literature and distribution maps with abundances.

Most of the species grow in various kinds of forests (848 species, 86.5 %) followed by cultural habitats (84, 8.6 %). The Southern boreal zone has the highest number of species (812 species, 83 %), followed by the Hemiboreal zone (787 species, 80.3 %). Most of the species (698 species, 71.2 %) belong to the Least Concern (LC) category, followed by the Near Threatened (NT) species (85, 8.7 %).

Five new combinations are proposed: Postia immitis (Peck) Niemelä comb. nova, Postia parva (Renvall) Renvall comb. nova, Steccherinum lacerum (P. Karst.) Kotir. & Saaren. comb. nova, Oligoporus romellii (Pieri & Rivoire) Niemelä comb. nova, and Oligoporus davidae (Pieri & Rivoire) Niemelä comb. nova.

There are several unpublished manuscripts concerning flora of various Finnish areas from 18th and 19th century. Former ones are rare, however, due to the great fire of Turku (Åbo) in 1827, the only academic city at those times in Finland. The university library was also burn. It is also not known, if floristic manuscripts ever existed. Today, most of the manuscripts are kept in the National Library of Finland and the Finnish Museum of Natural History, Botanical museum. Those in the National Library belong to the Societas pro Fauna et Flora Fennica, which was established in 1821. That Society financed jointly with the Alexandrian University many floristic inventories in Finland during 19th century.

One manucript by C. F. Stierwald and three (two combined to one) by C. Áemelaeus are published here. That by Stierwald from 1750’s is one of the oldest concerning Finnish flora. These all include a lot of oldest records from the area the invetories were done, viz. Ostrobottnia. Stierwald collected also Finnish names of the plants, which was not a common practice in those days.

A new, annotated catalogue of lichens, lichenicolous fungi and some allied fungi of the Murmansk Region has been prepared on the basis of the authors’ own collections in different parts of the area, herbarium collections mainly preserved in Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden Institute, Kirovsk, and Botanical Museum, Helsinki, as well as literature data. The list contains 1139 accepted species of 278 genera, including 1029 species of lichens, 86 species of lichenicolous fungi and 24 species of  saprophytic fungi. For each species the distribution is given using the traditional biogeographic provinces of East Fennoscandia recognized by the Finnish botanists. The substrate or host species (in case of lichenicolous fungi) is also indicated. If the species is only known from literature, the source publication is cited. The following new nomenclatural combinations are validated: Miriquidica pycnocarpa var. sorediata (Coppins & Fryday) G. Urban., Rhizocarpon geographicum subsp. kittilense (Räsänen) Ahti and R. geographicum subsp. lindsayanum (Räsänen) Ahti.

An annotated catalogue of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the Eastern Leningrad Region, Russia, is presented. It is based on our field trips, revision of herbarium specimens in herbaria in Russia, Finland and Sweden and a critical review of data in literature as well as archives. Altogether 520 species and two infraspecific taxa are recognized, among them 487 species of lichens, 20 species of lichenicolous fungi and 13 species of other allied fungi. During the project 107 species were recorded as new to the whole Leningrad Region, and 65 are reported here for the first time. Seven species were recorded as new to the Russian Federation. The red-listed lichens of the Leningrad Region are represented by 28 species. The best studied areas are the Nizhnesvirsky Reserve, Vepssky Forest Nature Park, and the Svir River valley in the Lodeynoe Pole, Podporozh'e and Tikhvin Districts, while the data from the more southern areas in Kirishi and Boksitogorsk Districts are still rather deficient. Many species have not been refound after the first reports and collections by F. Elfving in 1875.

The freshwater red algae are a threatened algal group in many European countries. It is often overlooked by ecologists and taxonomists due to rarity and also to taxonomic difficulties and lack of suitable identification keys. Besides a glossary and a short introduction to the ecology of freshwater red algae this guide contains list of taxa found in Finland, and also lists of taxa recorded in Sweden, Poland and Austria are given. Two keys are provided, one including all freshwater red algal genera, and the other containing all filamentous, pseudoparenchymatic and parenchymatic taxa found in Finland. Altogether 27 species are so far recorded from Finland, and they belong to the genera Bangia, Audouinella, Batrachospermum, Sirodotia, Tuomeya, Lemanea, and Hildenbrandia. All species found in Finland are described in detail with drawings, colour photographs and distribution maps. In addition to them some other genera (Thorea and Paralemanea) occurring in Europe are described in detail.

Contents of Vol. 15 (pdf-format, 20 Kb)

An itinerary of the botanical journeys by the Finnish botanists A. K. Cajander and J. I. Lindroth (later Liro) to Russian Karelia and the Onega River in 1898 and 1899 has been compiled and documented from literature, manuscript and herbarium specimens. The visited localities are shown on maps, and an alphabetic gazetteer also indicates their geographic location. At present the localities are situated in the Republic of Karelia or in the Arkhangel'sk, Leningrad or Vologda Regions, all within the Russian Federation. A catalogue of the moss records (193 species), liverwort records (18 species) and lichen records (68 species) by Cajander and Lindroth is presented. The first set of their collections and most of their manuscripts are housed in the Botanical Museum, Finnish Museum of Natural History. Many species are new reports for the recognized floristic provinces of East Fennoscandia. Proposals are made to improve the exact course of the biogeographic eastern boundary of Fennoscandia in light of Cajander's observations and recent geological evidence.

In this identification book of poroid Basidiomycota (polypores), 230 species are reported to be found in Finland. In addition, 11 such species are highlighted which have been found in neighbouring areas, e.g. Estonia and eastern Sweden, and which may occur in Finland. In the introductory sections the morphology of polypores is outlined, and their biology, distributions, economical importance and protection are discussed. New phylogenetic results, whenever available, were adopted in deciding the limits of the genera. Extensive taxonomical work was conducted while preparing the text, and several genera in the book include original species revisions. Standard Finnish names are given to all the species; many of the names are published here for the first time. Each species is provided with a four-paragraph description: Macromorphology, Hints for identification, Ecology and distribution, and Microscopy. Texts for the Microscopy sections are original, based on studies of Finnish specimens, or for rarer species Nordic or European materials. Spore dimensions are based on measurements from (3–)5–7 or more specimens; 30 spores were measured from each specimen, and the variability, mean spore length (L), mean width (W) and length/width ratio (Q) were calculated. Up to 30 000 spores were measured for the work. Almost all the species are illustrated with colour photographs mostly taken of fresh basidiocarps in the field; the photographed specimens are documented, some of them being holotype materials. All the genera are provided with entries featuring their characteristics and keys to the species if two or more exist in the study area. A character table to the genera was compiled, based on 20 macroscopic and microscopic characters. The field identification key to the pileate and effused-reflexed species is based on macroscopic and ecological characters. At the end there are an English summary, a list of selected (mostly regional) literature, and index to the species.

The edition is SOLD OUT.

In the book Flora of the city of Oulu (Väre et al. 2005) was published a list of all vascular plants encountered in the city including the first record. While preparing the list we had at our disposal unpublished manuscripts including many ”prima loca plantarum” which are published now in their original form. Many of the records were cited shortly e.g. by Hjelt’s ”Conspectus” (Hjelt 1888–1926).

The flora of the city of Oulu in northern Finland (65°01’N, 25°28’E, ca. 400 km² and 126 000 inhabitants in 2004) was monitored by using 1 km² squares as basic units in 1997–2004, including all indigenous and alien taxa. In 2004 the surface area of Oulu increased by 50 km² in the easternmost part, so the monitored surface area was 350 km². For all taxa at each square were evaluated the frequency (size of circle in the distribution maps) and the abundance (intensity of squares) at a scale from 1 to 5. The rarest taxa were recorded at each hectare separately.

During the monitoring period were discovered 752 species or subspecies, of which 568 are indigenous or established. The number of indigenous species and subspecies total 334 and 15, respectively. The number of archeophytes (arrived before 17th century) was 67 species and 6 subspecies, and that of newly established aliens 63 and 3. In addition, 65 established hybrids were recorded. Att all times 1394 taxa including apomictic species (122) and hybrids (89) have been recorded at Oulu, of which during the present study 940 ones including 60 apomictic and 68 hybrids. The distribution map for all indigenous species and photograph for nearly all are included. All species are characterized, their ecology and distribution given. The most common species are Betula pubescens and Salix phylicifolia. The diversity is highest at the delta area of the River Oulujoki with 338 taxa per square at most. This area is strongly influenced by human activity.

The book is released 400 years after the establishment of the city in 1605.

Complete, colour-illustrated descriptions are presented for 105 larger Basidiomycetes occurring in Tanzania: 46 agarics, 4 boletes, 4 pleurotoid fungi, 6 chanterelles, 1 ramarioid fungus, 35 polypores, 4 stereoid fungi, 3 gastromycetes and 2 auricularioid fungi. A special emphasis is laid on edible and poisonous species, and on wood-rotting fungi. The vegetation of Tanzania is briefly outlined, as well as the structures and terminology of different fungal groups and their ecology. Ethnomycological data were collected with 103 interviews among 35 tribes from rural Tanzania. A wide array of vernacular names are listed, in particular for Tanzanian edible mushrooms. Three new species are described: Russula harkoneniana Buyck, Phellinus amanii Niemelä and Clavulina wisoli R.H. Petersen. A new combination, Funalia polyzona (Pers.) Niemelä, is made.

A catalogue of Hieracium and Pilosella names was compiled on the basis of 90 literature sources mostly published by Finnish authors in Finnish journals and books. Each name was critically evaluated in light of the current International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and provided with full bibliographic citations. Approximately 100 validly published specific names are additions to the Index Kewensis, and many entries included there are here corrected.

Polypores are important wood-decaying fungi. On the other hand many polypore species can survive in virgin forests only, and are therefore declining or in danger of disappearing. The paper outlines general characters of polypores and their role in wood decay; a key was prepared for identifying pileate species by their macroscopic characters; a synoptic key aids to identify resupinate polypores. Descriptions include the macroscopy, microscopy and ecology of each species. All polypores of Finland are dealt with, supplemented with those found in adjacent Russia, mainly Karelian Republic, in all over 220 species. Important characters and many species are illustrated with drawings and photographs.

Uotila, P. & Heikkilä, U.: Biodiversity of the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 3–10

A presentation is given of the project to collect from the literature, archives and museum specimens old information on threatened plants, lichens and some insects from the large Ladozhskie Skerries National Park, planned on the northwest shore (including the off-shore islands) of Lake Ladoga, Republic of Karelia, Russia. A short description is given of the joint Finnish-Russian botanical and zoological excursion to the area from 23 June to 2 July 1997.

Heikkilä, U., Huttunen, S., Kravchenko, A. V., Oksanen, I., Uotila, P. & Vitikainen, O.: Botanical hotspots on the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 11–40

A total of 37 localities with exceptionally high conservational value because of their rich flora of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens are described from the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga, mainly from the area of the planned Ladozhskie Skerries National Park (Republic of Karelia, Russia). Several localities are large complexes of various habitats. Especially rich is the Kirjavalahti area close to the town of Sortavala. The habitats in the localities can be divided into four loose groups. (1) Eroded rock precipices (riuttavuori hills), mainly facing south and southeast, often with some calcareous strips, with characteristic rare species like Camptothecium lutescens, Rhytidium rugosum, Porella platyphylla, Allium lineare, Cotoneaster antoninae, Dianthus arenarius, Saxifraga adscendens and S. nivalis. (2) Rich groves with Aconitum lycoctonum, Botrychium virginianum, Campanula latifolia, Cypripedium calceolus and Neottia nidus-avis. (3) Various grasslands and meadows and other habitats of traditional agriculture, possibly much decreased. Species like Agrimonia pilosa, Carlina biebersteinii, Gentianella amarella and Polygala vulgaris belong to here. (4) Outer harsh islands of Lake Ladoga with, e.g., Grimmia elatior and several northern lichens (e.g., Bryoria nitidula, Flavocetraria cucullata and F. nivalis) and vascular plants (e.g., Cerastium alpinum and Poa glauca).

Heikkilä, U., Uotila, P. & Kravchenko, A. V.: Threatened vascular plants on the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 41–68

A brief history is given concerning research into and the collection of vascular plants in Karelia ladogensis (Russia, the Republic of Karelia) since the mid-1800s. Sortavala district is one of the best researched areas in Karelia. It was frequently visited by Finnish botanists until the Second World War. More than 1 500 specimens have been collected from the province to Finnish herbaria and ca. 70 floristic publications have been made for plant taxa at present considered threatened in the Republic of Karelia. Finds of 116 vascular plant taxa considered threatened in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, have been listed in detail from the planned Ladozhskie Skerries National Park and neighbouring areas.

Huttunen, S. & Wahlberg, H.: Threatened bryophytes on the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 69–76

A brief history is given concerning research into and the collection of bryophytes on the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga since the mid-1800s. Finds of 46 rare and threatened bryophytes (33 mosses and 13 hepatics) have been listed from the planned Ladozhskie Skerries National Park on the northwest shore and archipelago of Lake Ladoga, on the basis of herbarium specimens in the Finnish herbaria and a field excursion in 1997. Camptothecium lutescens (Hedw.) Schimp. in B.S.G. is reported as new for the Republic of Karelia, and Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans (Brid.) Iwats., Porella platyphylla (L.) Pfeiff. and Riccia bifurca Hoffm. as new for the area.

Oksanen, I. & Vitikainen, O.: Threatened lichens on the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 77–92

A brief history is given concerning research into and the collection of lichens on the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga. About 1 000 specimens of threatened lichens have been collected in Karelia ladogensis, and 650 locality reports were found in publications since 1852. Records of threatened lichen taxa in the planned Ladozhskie Skerries National Park and neighbouring areas in the districts of Lahdenpohja, Sortavala and Pitkäranta are given here. The present observations are from an excursion to the area in 1997. More than a dozen threatened lichen species were refound but most of the records of the threatened lichens are from new localities. Candelariella superdistans (Nyl.) Malme and Miriquidica ventosa (Vain.) Timdal are new reports for the Republic of Karelia. Several changes are proposed to the list of threatened lichens in the Republic of Karelia. Some questionable taxa are discussed. One species (Ramalina sinensis Jatta) is suggested to be added to the list of threatened lichens.

Alanko, P.: Microfungi collected on the north shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 93–98

60 species of parasitic microfungi on 73 hosts were collected from the Province of Karelia ladogensis (the Republic of Karelia, Russia) during an excursion in 1997, mainly from the planned Ladozhskie Skerries National Park on the N shore of Lake Ladoga. The species include Exobasidium ledi and Ramularia crassiuscula, probably new for Russia, and 13 finds new for the province of Karelia ladogensis and 15 finds from a new host in the province.

Terhivuo, J.: Amphibians and reptiles on the north shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 99–100

This report concerns observations made of Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Lacerta vivipara, Natrix natrix and Vipera berus from the Province of Karelia ladogensis (the Republic of Karelia, Russia) during an excursion on 23 June - 2 July 1997, mainly from the north part of the planned Ladozhskie Skerries National Park on the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga.

Terhivuo, J.: Earthworms (Lumbricidae) on the north shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 101–102

This report concerns observations made of Aporrectodea caliginosa, A. rosea, Dendrobaena octaedra, Dendrodrilus rubidus, Eiseniella tetraedra, Lumbricus rubellus, L. terrestris and Octolasion tyrtaeum from the Province of Karelia ladogensis (the Republic of Karelia, Russia) during an excursion on 23 June - 2 July 1997, mainly from the planned Ladozhskie Skerries National Park on the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga.

Heikkilä, U.: Index of place names of the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga, p. 103–111

More than 400 place names from the northwest shore of Lake Ladoga, commonly used on herbarium labels and in the botanical literature, are listed with ortographic variants, Russian equivalents and Military Grid Reference System co-ordinates (10 × 10 km).

A new checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi occurring in Finland is presented. It contains 1 458 lichen taxa and an additional 166 taxa of lichenicolous and allied fungi, for a total of 1 624 taxa, of which many are new to Finland. the provincial distribution of each taxon is indicated, The Finnish and Swedish vernacular names are given for many species and genera. Numerous new Finnish names are introduced. The species listed as threatened in Finland are classified into six categories. A special symbol is used to indicate if the nomenclatural type material is from Finland.

One of the botanical excursions to occupied Russian Karelia made by Finnish botanists during the war period 1941-44 was that of Jorma Soveri and Reino Kalliola in July - August 1942 to the Porajärvi (Porosozero) - Paatene (Padany) area. The area belongs mainly to the biogeographical province of Karelia onegensis, minor parts belonging to Karelia pomorica occidentalis. The most up-to-date survey of the flora in the area has thus far been from the 1870'ies. In the west the area is oligotrophic and mostly covered by coniferous forests. In the east, where the bedrock is more basic and richer in nutrients, the general eutrophic nature of Karelia onegensis is much more evident: demanding and calciphilous plant species, herb-rich forests, rich fens and meadows are relatively common. Soveri and Kalliola studied mostly the areas near the roads, but also made a ten-day trip to large forests around Vuottovaara hill. They made extensive floristic field notes, but the floristic results of the excursion remained unpublished. Soveri began to prepare a manuscript on the relations between vascular plants and human impact in the area, but could not finish this work before his death. His manuscript consisted of 446 distribution maps (10 common species were not mapped), and species lists with special reference to influence of culture and oligotrophy - eutrophy of the habitats. The maps and an annotated summarizing species list are published in this paper.

Retkeilykasvio, the Field Flora of Finland contains a map for each species and for many lower taxa to show the plant's status within the biogeographical provinces in the following classes: native (present of extinct) - established alien - casual alien. In the third edition (Hämet-Ahti et al. 1986; summary on page 598) an attempt is made to distinguish the truly native (indigenous) plants and the archaeophytes which invaded Finland or its given provinces long ago with the aid of man. The chronological limit between the archaeophytes and the later immigrants (neophytes) is placed in the early 17th century. The arguments for the national or regional archaeophytic status have never been published in detail for the whole Finnish flora and for the whole of the country. In this paper a lot of these arguments are presented in Finnish because a) numerous highly local matters and details are discussed and b) our purpose is just to promote the study in this field of Finnish botany to show what is known and what is not known and what perhaps will remain a riddle forever. As said above the concise results of this paper have been published in advance on the maps of Retkeilykasvio (Hämet-Ahti et al. 1986). However, now a number of its maps are shown or suspected to be erroneous in some details or even entirely.

The Taraxacum flora of the Northern part of Finnish Lapland was studied and specimens were collected in 1954, 1967, and later more regularly, almost every year from 1973 to 1990. A list is presented of species belonging to the sections Boreigena, Ceratophora, Erythrosperma, Borea, and Vulgaria (Ruderalia). In addition, 3 species from the section Spectabilia are included. The total number of species is 143. A list of the localities is given for each species, and 8 distribution maps are presented. Taxonomic problems especially concerning sectio Borea are discussed. Many species, belonging to sect. Vulgaria, were probably introduced in the 1940's with hay-transports of the German troops. The collected specimens are kept in the Botanical Museum, University of Helsinki (H).

Preface: The present volume is a compilation of documents and scientific papers presented at the VII meeting of the Committee for Mapping the Flora of Europe, held on 23 and 24 August at the Department of Botany, University of Helsinki. In addition, it contains some papers sent in by committee members who, regrettably, due to some last-minute obstacles, could not be present. We are also happy to be able to include a paper which, though outside the regular program of the meeting, is intimately connected with our work as a whole - "Some general remarks" on European mapping by J. Holub.

The items included in this bibliography number 476 and consist of articles on the activities and history of the Botanical Garden of the University of Helsinki during the 150 years of its existence, and on the plants of the Garden. An index to the plant genera is included, and a brief discussion is given on the distribution of the references among the plant taxa. References to the greenhouse plants are fairly few and mainly concentrated to Victoria spp. and Theobroma cacao. Two species have been described on the material from the greenhouses (Pimelea viridula S.O. Lindberg and Musschia pallescens S.O. Lindberg). The articles on the garden plants mainly consist of notes on woody species (the plant mentioned most frequently is the tallest Ulmus laevis in Finland, which grows in the Garden). The herbs to which most attention is paid are the introduced species that have become naturalized in the Botanical Garden or spread farther in Finland from the Garden, such as Impatiens parviflora, Matricaria matricarioides, Elodea canadensis, Euphorbia humifusa, Scrophularia vernalis, Veronica peregrina and Epilobium hypericifolium. Particularly many publications deal with Taraxacum; at least 80 apomictic species are reported and the descriptions of 25 taxa are based to a greater or lesser extent on material from the Garden. Most of the publications on cryptogams deal with fungi, especially with microfungi on garden plants. Of the macrofungi, Phaeolepiota aurea is mentioned most frequently. The descriptions of at least 4 taxa of fungi are based on material from the Botanical Garden. The articles on plants are chiefly floristic notes, but many of them are also connected with taxonomic studies or include information on the possibility of growing foreign plant species in S. Finland. Fairly many articles deal with the phenology and cytology of plants from the Garden. Experimental and ecological studies are few. The publications of the Botanical Garden itself include 8 guides to the greenhouses, 3 guides to the Garden and an annual seed exchange list.