Groebner bases for the ideals determining mod $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}2$ cohomology of the real flag manifolds $F(1,1,n)$ and $F(1,2,n)$ are obtained. These are used to compute appropriate Stiefel–Whitney classes in order to establish some new nonembedding and nonimmersion results for the manifolds $F(1,2,n)$.

We prove that any invariant strong Kähler structure with torsion (SKT structure) on a flag manifold M = G/K of a semi-simple compact Lie group G is Kähler. As an application we describe invariant generalized Kähler structures on M.

A hermitian algebra is a unital associative ℂ-algebra endowed with an involution such that the spectra of self-adjoint elements are contained in ℝ. In the case of an algebra 𝒜 endowed with a Mackey-complete, locally convex topology such that the set of invertible elements is open and the inversion mapping is continuous, we construct the smooth structures on the appropriate versions of flag manifolds. Then we prove that if such a locally convex algebra 𝒜 is endowed with a continuous involution, then it is a hermitian algebra if and only if the natural action of all unitary groups Un(𝒜) on each flag manifold is transitive.

K. Ding studied a class of Schubert varieties ${{X}_{\lambda }}$ in type A partial flag manifolds, indexed by integer partitions $\text{ }\!\!\lambda\!\!\text{ }$ and in bijection with dominant permutations. He observed that the Schubert cell structure of ${{X}_{\lambda }}$ is indexed by maximal rook placements on the Ferrers board ${{B}_{\lambda \text{ }}}$, and that the integral cohomology groups ${{H}^{*}}\left( {{X}_{\lambda }};\,\mathbb{Z} \right),\,{{H}^{*}}\left( {{X}_{\mu }};\,\mathbb{Z} \right)$ are additively isomorphic exactly when the Ferrers boards ${{B}_{\lambda \text{ }}}$, ${{B}_{\mu }}$ satisfy the combinatorial condition of rook-equivalence.

We classify the varieties ${{X}_{\lambda }}$ up to isomorphism, distinguishing them by their graded cohomology rings with integer coefficients. The crux of our approach is studying the nilpotence orders of linear forms in the cohomology ring.

For a parabolic subgroup H of the general linear group G = Gl(n, C), we characterize the Kähler classes of G/H and give a formula for the height of any two-dimensional cohomology class. As an application, we classify the automorphisms of the cohomology ring of G/H when this ring is generated by two-dimensional classes.