Svetlana Aćić

Essential Oil Polymorphism of Thymus pannonicus All. (Lamiaceae) in Serbia

Abstract Three populations of Thymus pannonicus grown in Serbia (one from northern and two from east Serbia) were examined for chemical composition of their essential oil. Thymus pannonicus is used in traditional medicine and it is collected by local people in the studied regions, hence the interest in composition of its essential oils. Three major groups of essential oil components were identified, such as monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpene hydrocarbons and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Each of investigated populations showed its own chemotype, including: geranial (citral), α-pinene and germacrene-D. To best of our knowledge, this sesquiterpene hydrocarbon was reported as a major component in Thymus bracteosus only. In these populations the phenolic compounds thymol and carvacrol, considered as most frequent constituents of essential oil in Thymus taxa, haven’t been found in significant quantities.

TYPIFICATI ON AND CORRECTION OF SYNTAXA FROM THE CLASS MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA TX. 1937 IN SERBIA

Abstract A list of corrected and typified grassland communities of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tx. 1937 occurring in Serbia was provided. The nomenclature rules of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature were strictly followed. Syntaxonomic affiliation of communities to higher syntaxa was assessed according to the existing syntaxonomical schemes for Serbia, i.e. according to the position determined by the original source. Higher syntaxa followed the synsystem of the so-called “EuroVegChecklist”. Since syntaxonomic disagreements concerning a certain plant association’s position within the whole classification system have not been discussed, such a list should serve as the starting point for a further revision of the status of grassland communities in Serbia. So far, a total of 87 plant communities of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea were described for Serbia. The list provided here will enable more precise and more accurate mapping of vegetation in Serbia, as well as classification of these communities into the Habitat Directive which will enable the establishment of the Red list of Habitats for Serbia. Izvleček V članku so predstavljene nomenklaturno popravljene in tipifizirane traviščne združbe razreda Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tx. 1937, ki se pojavljajo v Srbiji. Dosledno smo upoštevali pravila Mednarodnega kodeksa fitocenološke nomenklature. Sintaksonomsko pripadnost združb višjim sintaksonom smo ohranili glede na obstoječe sintaksonomske sheme v Srbiji oziroma glede na uvrstitev v originalnem viru. Višji sintaksoni sledijo sintaksonomiji po “EuroVegChecklist”. Glede na to, da nismo obravnavali uvrstitve posameznih rastlinskih združb v sintaksonomski sistem, bo ta seznam omogočil sintaksonomsko revizijo traviščnih združb Srbije. Do sedaj je bilo na ozemlju Srbije opisanih 87 rastlinskih združb razreda Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. Seznam bo omogočil tudi bolj natančno kartiranje vegetacije Srbije in povezavo teh združb s Habitatno direktivo in izdelavo Rdečega seznama habitatnih tipov Srbije.

Ethnobotanical Knowledge and Traditional Use of Plants in Serbia in Relation to Sustainable Rural Development

In Serbian folk tradition, hundreds of plants were used for ages as food, beverages, medicine, natural dyes, natural additives, and food preservatives, for textile and fibers, shelter and fuel, as well as for traditional customs, religious purposes, and magic. Despite being often treated as a problem for the national economy, rural areas in Serbia actually represent a huge potential, namely in richness of natural resources, i.e., (agro)biodiversity, as well as cultural and traditional heritage and related ethnobotanical knowledge. The history of health culture of the Balkan nations is very complex and interesting. The extremely long tradition of curative and prophylactic use of medicinal herbs is mentioned in the folk medical texts of both known and unknown authors. The Old Serbs had a very developed cult dedicated to certain trees and plants, where many of customs remain in place even today. Here, we discuss the most interesting, old, and autochthonous varieties of cereals, vegetables, and fruits that are still used in traditional Serbian cuisine today. This is followed with a brief review of the most commonly used medicinal herbs in Serbian folk medicine, as well as an outline of several of the best-described magical plants, including oak, basil, nettle, wormwood, linden, hawthorn, hazel tree, and laserwort.