In a microcosm experiment, I tested how species composition, species richness, and community age affect the susceptibility of grassland communities to invasion by a noxious weed (Centaurea solstitialis L.). I also examined how these factors influenced Centaurea’s impact on the rest of the plant community. When grown in monoculture, eight species found in California’s grasslands differed widely ...

Plants with therapeutic potential are a rich resource for the inhabitants of country, Romania among them, having diverse flora not only from plants but also fungi. New trends in biopharmaceuticals addressed studies related to topical administration, representing great advantage; research has determined biological activities vivo and vitro. This study aimed present main active compounds extracts...

BACKGROUND Studies of ethnobotanical usages in south-eastern Turkey are rare. To widen this field of knowledge, we conducted an ethnobotanical study in Midyat (Mardin Province), Turkey. METHODS The field study was completed during three years (2007-2010). Our aim was to document the ethnobotanical uses of local plants and to make an ethnobotanical inventory of uncommon plants using qualitativ...

BACKGROUND Anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plants have largely been attributed to their content of sesquiterpene lactones (SLs). SLs are predominantly found in the sunflower family Asteraceae and have been isolated from many plants of this family, particularly Centaurea. The anti-inflammatory activities of extract of Centaurea ainetensis, a Lebanese endemic plant, and the isolated act...

Photo 1. View of a Garry oak savanna field site in Camrose Park, Victoria, BC, Canada. Oak savannas the region are characterized by rocky outcroppings, dense understory forbs, and an open canopy mostly trees (Quercus garryana) mixed with Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Arbutus (Arbutus menziesii). In front treeline, nectar-less yellow flowers invasive Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) can b...