Background The western Gironès is a district located in NE Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula). This area comprising 186.55 km 2 and 10,659 inhabitants is composed of 5 municipalities encompassing 29 villages, located in the hydrographic basins of the Ter and Llémena rivers. Methods Following the methodology based on the semi-structured interviews, we carried out 40 interviews with 57 informants, 31 were women and the remaining 26 were men, with an average age of 78.6 years. Results In the present study, data from 316 taxa (301 angiosperms, 8 gymnosperms, and 7 pteridophytes) belonging to 89 botanical families were collected. The interviewed informants referred 3776 UR of 298 taxa, 1933 (51.19%) of them corresponding to the food category, 949 (25.13%) to the medicinal ones, and 894 (23.68%) to other uses. In addition, 581 vernacular names for 306 species, subspecies, and varieties have also been collected. Conclusions These results reveal the validity of traditional knowledge in the studied area, which can be seriously threatened by the loss of its rural condition and its proximity to industrialized areas.

Our findings indicate that artemisinin may be widespread across the genus, providing an accessible local resource outside the distribution area of Artemisia annua.

Two plant genome size databases have been recently updated and/or extended: the Plant DNA C-values database (http://data.kew.org/cvalues), and GSAD, the Genome Size in Asteraceae database (http://www.asteraceaegenomesize.com). While the first provides information on nuclear DNA contents across land plants and some algal groups, the second is focused on one of the largest and most economically important angiosperm families, Asteraceae. Genome size data have numerous applications: they can be used in comparative studies on genome evolution, or as a tool to appraise the cost of whole-genome sequencing programs. The growing interest in genome size and increasing rate of data accumulation has necessitated the continued update of these databases. Currently, the Plant DNA C-values database (Release 6.0, Dec. 2012) contains data for 8510 species, while GSAD has 1219 species (Release 2.0, June 2013), representing increases of 17 and 51%, respectively, in the number of species with genome size data, compared with previous releases. Here we provide overviews of the most recent releases of each database, and outline new features of GSAD. The latter include (i) a tool to visually compare genome size data between species, (ii) the option to export data and (iii) a webpage containing information about flow cytometry protocols.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The skin is the main structure that protects the human body from environmental factors and has, in addition, a relevant relationship to people's appearance and beauty. Official medicine and cosmetics have shown interest on elaborating products to protect the dermal system, yet the role of folk medicine is highly unknown in this field.Aims of the study: Taking this into account, we performed an ethnobotanical study in a Catalan district of the eastern Pyrenees (northeast Iberian Peninsula), with the purpose of assessing popular plant knowledge and use. In this paper, we present exclusively the results on topically-

Background: This study has focused on the Garrigues district, one of the most arid regions in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), which, in general terms, has remained unexplored from the ethnobotanical point of view. This area, of 22,243 inhabitants, comprises 33 municipalities distributed across 1123.12 km 2. The natural vegetation is dominated by holm oak forests and maquis called 'garriga', the latter giving its name to the district. During the last few decades, this landscape has been transformed by agricultural activities, nowadays in recession. The main aim of this work was to collect and analyse the ethnoflora of this area in order to fill a gap in the ethnobotanical knowledge in Catalonia. Methods: The followed methodology was based on semi-structured interviews. The obtained data have been qualitatively and quantitatively analysed and compared with other available ones. Results: Data were gathered from 68 interviews involving 101 informants, whose ages range from 24 to 94, the mean being 73.07. The number of taxa reported in this study was 420, belonging to 99 botanical families. The interviewed informants referred 4715 use reports (UR) of 346 useful taxa, 1741 (36.93) of them corresponding to medicinal uses, 1705 (36.16%) to food uses, and 1269 (26.91%) to other uses. This study has inventoried, apart from individual plant uses, 260 plant mixtures, of which 98 are medicinal and 162 food. In the present study, 849 vernacular names with 116 phonetic variants have been collected, as well, for 410 taxa. The informant consensus factor (F IC) obtained for our interviewees is 0.93, and the ethnobotanicity index is 23.47% for the studied area. Apart from plants belonging to the typical Catalan, Iberian or European ethnofloras, the present work contributes information on some plants from semiarid or arid regions, such as Artemisia herba-alba and Plantago albicans, much rarer in the ethnobotany of the quoted areas. Conclusions: The results of this study reveal the persistence of ethnobotanical knowledge in the prospected area and the importance of filling the existing gaps in the ethnofloristic sampling of the Catalan territories. The almost complete dataset, now including some arid territories, will allow us to carry out a global analysis and to provide an accurate overview.

The present analysis has confirmed that it is possible to study the data of plants in mixtures as thoroughly as when they are considered in isolation in an ethnofloristic catalogue, and maybe this kind of ethnobotanical investigation could be a first step for future pharmacological studies that may result in a relevant complement to the current phytotherapy market.

The Plant rDNA database (www.plantrdnadatabase.com) is an open access online resource providing detailed information on numbers, structures and positions of 5S and 18S-5.8S-26S (35S) ribosomal DNA loci. The data have been obtained from >600 publications on plant molecular cytogenetics, mostly based on fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). This edition of the database contains information on 1609 species derived from 2839 records, which means an expansion of 55.76 and 94.45%, respectively. It holds the data for angiosperms, gymnosperms, bryophytes and pteridophytes available as of June 2013. Information from publications reporting data for a single rDNA (either 5S or 35S alone) and annotation regarding transcriptional activity of 35S loci now appears in the database. Preliminary analyses suggest greater variability in the number of rDNA loci in gymnosperms than in angiosperms. New applications provide ideograms of the species showing the positions of rDNA loci as well as a visual representation of their genome sizes. We have also introduced other features to boost the usability of the Web interface, such as an application for convenient data export and a new section with rDNA–FISH-related information (mostly detailing protocols and reagents). In addition, we upgraded and/or proofread tabs and links and modified the website for a more dynamic appearance. This manuscript provides a synopsis of these changes and developments.Database URL: http://www.plantrdnadatabase.com

Ethnobotanical studiEs in thE Ripollès distRict (pyREnEEs, catalonia, ibERian pEninsula).-This paper presents a synthesis of the ethnobotanical prospection performed in the Ripollès district between 2004 and 2013. Through semistructured interviews with 163 informants born between 1915 and 1988, we obtained information on popular names and uses of 457 taxa (including species, subspecies and varieties), 15 of which have only been determined at the genus level. About these plants, the informants have produced 7192 use reports. In this article we provide general comments on the different uses (medicinal, food and others) and we present, in two appendices, the complete catalogue of the district's ethnoflora.Key words: ethnobotany; ethnoflora; plant names; plant uses; Pyrenees; Ripollès. ResumenEstudios Etnobotánicos En la comaRca dEl Ripollès (piRinEos, cataluña, pEnínsula ibéRica).-Este trabajo presenta una síntesis de la prospección etnobotánica llevada a cabo en la comarca del Ripollès entre los años 2004 y 2013. Mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas con 163 informantes nacidos entre 1915 y 1988, hemos obtenido información sobre nombres y usos populares de 457 táxones (incluyendo especies, subespecies y variedades), 15 de los cuales solamente han sido determinados hasta el nivel de género. Sobre estas plantas, los informantes han referido 7192 reportes de uso. En este artículo incluimos comentarios generales sobre diversos usos (medicinales, alimentarios y de otro tipo) y presentamos, en dos apéndices, el catálogo completo de la etnoflora comarcal.Palabras clave: etnobotánica; etnoflora; nombres de las plantas; Pirineos; Ripollès; usos de plantas. ResumEstudis Etnobotànics a la comaRca dEl Ripollès (piRinEu, catalunya, pEnínsula ibèRica).-Aquest treball presenta una síntesi de la prospecció etnobotànica duta a terme a la comarca del Ripollès entre els anys 2004 i 2013. A través d'entrevistes semiestructurades amb 163 informants nascuts entre 1915 i 1988, hem obtingut informació sobre noms i usos populars de 457 tàxons (comptant-hi espècies, subespècies i varietats), 15 dels quals només han estat determinats fins al nivell de gènere. Sobre aquestes plantes, els informants han fet 7192 reports d'ús. En aquest article fem comentaris generals sobre els diversos usos (medicinals, alimentaris i d'altra mena) i presentem, en dos apèndixs, el catàleg complet de l'etnoflora comarcal.