Elymus L. Genus – species diversity, conservation and implications for agricultural ecosystems

Abstract

In recent years, botanical collections are being used extensively as primary resources for numerous research studies. “Alexandru Beldie” Herbarium is part of the patrimony of the National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea” and is registered in Index Herbariorum under the acronym BUCF. Created nine decades ago, the collection currently comprises approximately 40000 mounted specimens, with emphasis on the Romanian flora. The purpose of this work study was to create an updated electronic database of Elymus L. genus stored in the BUCF Herbarium and to provide a short description of the most relevant weeds with notes on their distribution, ecology and implications for agricultural ecosystems. The Elymus genus comprises 120 vouchers and is represented by eleven species and one subspecies. Among them were found three rare taxa for the vascular flora of Romania: Elymus farctus subsp. essarabicus (Savul. & Rayss) Melderis, E. panormitanus (Parl.) Tzvelev and E. pycnanthus (Godr.) Melderis. The Herbarium also stores a historical record, an E. hispidus (Opiz) Melderis specimen dated over two hundred years. Almost all plants are very well preserved being kept in their entirety and correctly attached to the voucher. Elymus representatives are widespread across the country and are found primarily in open woodlands, meadows and agricultural fields where are problematic weeds of cultivated crops. Specimens of Elymus genus stored in the herbarium were mainly collected from forest areas, but they can also be used as reference material in agricultural studies.