Eleven plants of Asplenium platyneuron (ebony spleenwort) were found in disturbed serpentine woodland in south-central Slovakia (Central Europe). This find represents a new addition to the fern flora of Europe. It is probably the result of long-distance spore dispersal. The nearest known sites for this species are those in eastern North America, about 6500 km away. The important determination characters of A. platyneuron are described, the Slovakian locality characterized and an overview of the ecology and a map of the worldwide distribution of this species provided.
Cyperus eragrostis Lam. was first recorded in the Czech Republic in an empty water reservoir at Jablonec nad Nisou (N Bohemia) in 1999. In this study, herbarium specimens of C. eragrostis in large herbaria in the Czech Republic were revised and the invasion of Europe by this species was reviewed. A brief description of C. eragrostis is given, distribution map of the temporal course of its invasion is presented and the species’ ecology in Europe characterized. Accompanying vegetation and results of the analyses of soil from the site are described. How the plant reached this locality remains unknown. The occurrence was only ephemeral as the only tussock was destroyed when the water reservoir was refilled.
Examples of Taraxacum species (sect. Ruderalia) that have a well-known main distribution area and, a few rather isolated, obviously introduced occurrences, are given. The lack of a long tradition of specific knowledge and collection of Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia specimens have impeded our understanding of the origin of the present distributions. Some views are presented. Taraxacum ancistratum, T. crassum, T. deltoidifrons, T. infuscatum, T. jugiferum, and T. lundense, all belonging to Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia, are described as new species. Three or four of these species were first found as introductions far away from their supposed main distribution area.