Extinct seed ferns (Pteridospermophyta) fill a key position in the evolutionary tree of seed plants. Their reproductive structures enable to recognition of the interrelationship within seed ferns and other seed plants descending from them. Seed fern reproductive structures from Poland are very rarely found and very poorly known, especially the pollen organs to which this paper is dedicated. A new genus and species <em>Silesiatheca formosa</em><em> </em>Pacyna & Zdebska, gen. et sp. nov. of lyginopteridalean aggregated synangia was recognized based on specimens preserved within sideritic nodules from Sosnowiec. The genus <em>Codonotheca </em>is recognized from European Carboniferous for the first time. The least evolutionarily advanced species of <em>Codonotheca</em><em> </em>− <em>Codonotheca</em><em> silesiaca</em><em> </em>Pacyna & Zdebska sp. nov., is described based on specimens with weakly expressed radial symmetry and slight fusion of the sporangia. this species matches the hitherto hypothetical simplest species of <em>Codonotheca </em>very well, constituting the initial form for all the more compound pollen organs of Medullosales. For the first time in the European Carboniferous the North American species <em>Aulacotheca campbellii </em>(White, 1900) Halle, 1933 is recognized. A new emended diagnosis for the typical species <em>Boulayatheca fertilis </em>(Kidston, 1914) Taylor & Kurmann, 1985 is proposed, based on specimens from Poland. Two new species of genus <em>Boulayatheca </em>Taylor & Kurmann, 1985 are recognized. <em>Boulayatheca ciliata </em>Pacyna & Zdebska, sp. nov. with a synangium surface covered with hairs (a feature hitherto unknown in the <em>Boulayatheca </em>genus) and <em>Boulayatheca saganii </em>Pacyna & Zdebska, sp. nov<em>. </em>with a markedly elongated synangium. Occurrence of <em>Whittleseya </em>Newberry, 1853a emend. Halle, 1933 typical species <em>− Whittleseya elegans </em>Newberry, 1853a was confirmed in Lower Silesia based on new specimens. Some specimens referred to earlier in the literature as <em>W. elegans </em>were ascribed here to the new species <em>W. silesiaca</em><em> </em>Pacyna & Zdebska, sp. nov<em>.</em>, which differs from typical species in synangium shape and sporangia clustering into groups. The new species <em>Whittleseya campanulata </em>Pacyna & Zdebska, sp. nov<em>. </em>has a large synangium and sporangia clustering into groups. Heterogeneity within the genus <em>Whittleseya </em>is recognized, where some species, including those new described here, probably formed compound synangia. The aggregated synangia of Medullosales are recognized in thecompression state of preservation for the first time they are the base for establishing a new genus and species <em>Kotasotheca annaeadamii </em>Pacyna & Zdebska, gen. et sp. nov. The genus <em>Dolerotheca</em><em> </em>Halle, 1933 was recognized in the Polish Carboniferous for the first time and a new species <em>Dolerotheca migierii</em><em> </em>Pacyna & Zdebska, sp. nov. was described. T.N. Taylor’s model of evolution of medullosalean pollen organs was confirmed, and the new taxa described were included within it.

Old-growth forests arę natural biocoenoses, which developed and function without apparent impacts of human activity, which are adjusted to their habitats and remain in perfect biocoenotic equilibrium. In a forest environment there occurs a high diversity of seminal and cryptogamic plants and fungi, including lichenized fungi (lichens). The disappearance of old-growth forests affected by human activity or their strong fragmentation and isolation are the greatest danger for numerous typically forest lichens. On the basis of selected lichens - indicators of old-growth forests we undertook an attempt at detecting well-preserved lowland areas, which are at present biocentres of typically forest species. The most important features of indicatory species were considered the following: they are native species growing exclusively in forest communities; they are permanent components of forest biocoenoses, while their biological-ecological properties are adjusted to the phytoclimate and biotopes of forest environment; they inhabit specific forest habitats; they are typical epiphytes and epixylites inhabiting old live trees and dead wood of various stages of decomposition; they do not grow in managed forests. A total of 71 species that will serve the function of obligatory indicators (IND) of old-growth forests were selected for Poland's natural lowland forests (see Table 1). 53 of these species are presently strongly threatened, possessing the status of the Red List Categories (CR, EN and VU). The following 10 forest areas were evaluated: Białowieża National Park (58 IND), the reserves of Budzisk (34 IND), and Starożyn (29 IND) in North-Eastern Poland, reserves of Borki (29 IND), Las Warmiński (17 IND) and Krutynia (18 IND) in Northern Poland, and the reserves of Spała (15 IND), Zagożdżon (13 IND), Białe Ługi (10 IND) and Żyznów (4 IND) in Central Poland (Table 2). The highest number of old-growth forests occur in the Białowieża National Park (84%). This value indicates that the Białowieża Ntional Park may now be considered a model comparitive object, the biocentre of epiphytic and epixylic forest species of old-growth forests representing the total ecological amplitude of biodiversity and occupied habitats. In all the 10 biocentres there occur 66 indicatory species of old-growth forests, the highest number of which, ca 88%, occur in the Białowieża National Park, while 51.5% in the Budzisk reserve in the Knyszyńska Forest.

The first regional list of threatened lichens and allied fungi is presented. The list is a result of investigation studies in the Pilicka Old-growth Forest, forests located on both sides of the middle course of the Pilica River, which flows in Central Poland. The status of threat to the lichen and lichenicolous fungus species listed has been determined according to the Red List Categories by IUCN (2001, version 3.1). The data obtained were compared with historical ones. Changes of the species main frequency were used as an additional indicator of threat status. The Red List includes 140 taxa of lichens and lichenicolous fungus, which constitute 51.8% of the local biota and 8.7% of Polish biota. The status of threatened biota has the following categories: Regionally Extinct (RE) - 12 taxa, Critically Endangered (CR) - 18, Endangered (EN) - 28, Vulnerable (VU) - 42, Near Threatened (NT) - 23, Least Concern (LC) - 7 and Data Deficient (DD) - 10.

Four zones of lichen occurrence have been distinguished in Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia (N Poland). They are: 1) a total lichen desert zone, 2) a relative lichen desert zone, 3) a stunted growth zone, 4) a normal growth zone. Four groups of indicator species have been distinguished — they enable one to identify and characterize the lichen growth zones and the boundaries between them. Changes in the boundaries of the lichen growth zones have been predicted on the basis of the results of this study. 269 lichen species have been recorded from the study area, of which 183 have been discovered or refound during the present survey.

As a result of geobotanical research in a 3500 km<sup>2</sup> study area located in southern Poland it was determined that the native flora of vascular plants comprises about 1180 species, of which 46 are mountainous, 54 reach there the limit of their range, 5 are endemic, 44 threatened, 89 legally protected and many are rare in the scale of the country and region. Forests are differentiated into 17 associations and 3 communities. The dependence of the flora and vegetation on the type of habitat and human economic activity is demonstrated. Historical changes in the plant cover, mainly forest one, between the Middle Ages and today, mostly under the impact of anthropogenic factors, arę also presented.

The Monographiae Botanicae (abbreviation: Monogr. Bot.) was founded in 1953 by the Polish Botanical Society, the owner and publisher of the monographical series. Web page address: http://pbsociety.org.pl/czasopisma. The Monographiae Botanicae has collected many monographic papers in the fields of geobotany, ecology, taxonomy, syntaxonomy of vascular plants, bryophytes, fungi and lichens. The article characterizes the Editors and Editorial Boards in years 1953-2013, Members of the Editorial Councils in years 1978-2013 and Reviewers in years 1991-2012. Also, it seems interesting to observe the distribution of 172 papers which appeared in 102 published volumes of the monographical series.