We newly found a collection of the Poaceae specimens deposited at the Herbarium of Vilnius University (WI), collected by Povilas Snarskis mainly from eastern Lithuania in 1943–1960. The collection consisted of 67 herbarium sheets representing 28 species, including endangered species Glyceria lithuanica. The collection provided new data on abnormal growth forms of common Lithuanian grasses and the distribution of rare and endangered Poaceae species in eastern and southern Lithuania. The discovered Glyceria lithuanica specimen is the oldest of all known records of the species in Lithuania.

Tupčiauskaitė J., Žemgulytė T., 2012: Preliminary data on distribution and identification of Diphasiastrum × zeilleri (Rouy) Holub in Lithuania [Pirminiai duomenys apie Diphasiastrum × zeilleri (Rouy) Holub paplitimą ir identifikavimą Lietuvoje]. - Bot. Lith., 18(2): 147-153. The paper presents preliminary data on distribution of Diphasiastrum × zeilleri in Lithuania based on the collections of Vilnius University Herbarium (WI) and the data of Polish herbaria. According to these data, 25 localities of Diphasiastrum × zeilleri were revealed. The description of Diphasiastrum × zeilleri, the list of its specimens from WI collections, the pictures of typical embranchment of these species and the dorsal and ventral sides of branches from the Herbarium collections, the identification key of Diphasiastrum complanatum, D. tristachyum, D. × zeiller were analysed. WI Diphasiastrum genus collection includes: D. complanatum (46 branches, 19 herbarium sheets), D. × zeilleri (33 branches, 17 herbarium sheets) and D. tristachyum (21 branches, 7 herbarium sheets), specimens.

AbstractThe paper presents a brief biography of Professor Povilas Snarskis, and discusses the importance of his work for Lithuania. After defending PhD at Vytautas Magus University, P. Snarskis was able to collect invaluable data on the Lithuanian floristic diversity and distribution. He actively participated in the development of the Lithuanian higher education. In 1947, he became a professor and taught botany at Vilnius University and Vilnius Pedagogical Institute. During his professional career, P. Snarskis has published about 60 research and popular science works. He was a co-author of Flora of Lithuanian SSR and his three guides to native vascular plants still have their high value. The number of Snarskis’ herbarium specimens deposited at Vilnius University Herbarium (WI) and the Nature Research Centre, Institute of Botany Herbarium (BILAS) exceeds 20.000. P. Snarskis was an innovator, who used his logic and creativity, and constructed guidelines to achieve his goals in difficult historical times.