In this issue, there is an article on systematics by Mikael Hedrén and Joel Levin. The whole root of the discussion is about the complex pattern that can emerge groups of organisms where hybridization is common. These issue tries to clarify the concepts of hybrids and the use of stem forms in...

Issue no. 2/2020 gave Mikael Hedrén and Joel Levin arguments against dividing the genus Sorbus in the traditional sense. In this reply, Thomas Karlsson and Magdalena Agestam discuss the compromises required when reality does not comply with the principles of taxonomy.

This is the final remark from Mikael Hedrén and Joel Levin regarding the proposal made by Thomas Karlsson and Magdalena Agestam in SBT no. 1/2019 to divide the traditional Sorbus genus into several genera. Their first debate article is in SBT 2/2020.

Horsetails, forming a single genus, & Equisetum, are the only survivors of a plant group that was very important in the past. The group originated in the Devonian, formed large forests with tall trees during the Permian, and the declined. The genus, Equisetum appeared in the Jurassic.

This paper discusses the origin of Euphorbia pulcherrima, which is a popular Christmas flower in Sweden. A brief description of its morphological and botanical properties is given.

The 55 critically endangered (CR) vascular plant species (incl. 13 apomictic and one intraspecific taxon) on the recent Swedish red-list are presented. The historical and current status together with a colour photograph of nearly all species are given. Of the 55 species, almost half are found only...

Recent discoveries on the physiology, fossil history and ecology of the maidenhair tree Ginkgo biloha are presented.

This paper presents data on two new species for Sweden, Carulaspis minima and Pulvinaria regalis. Although C. minima has never been found in Sweden, records from the US Plant Quarantine testify that specimens of this insect were present on juniper berries imported from Sweden 1956. P. regalis was...

Plant macrofossil analysis of a sediment core from Slottet, a recently restored wooded hay meadow in NW Skåne, Sweden, has documented the transition from deciduous forest to open hay meadow. Significant amounts of charcoal fragments recovered from 300-1000 AD are evidence for fires that opened up...

Pollen analysis of a peat core was used to reconstruct the last 2500 years of vegetation history in Hamra National Park, central Sweden, concentrating on the impact of anthropogenic disturbance. Additional analyses of pollen in soil samples were used in an attempt to trace ancient arable fields in...