Revised treatment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Memecylon</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Afzeliana</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Melastomataceae: Olisbeoideae</Emphasis>), including three new species from Cameroon

Summary  Seven new names at species rank are proposed in Memecylon sect. Afzeliana Jacq.-Fél., a group of forest shrubs and small trees confined to Guineo-Congolian Africa. The group is centred in Cameroon, where 17 of the 20 species occur. A new flower type, the “star-flower” in Memecylon is revealed, and its taxonomic and ecological importance discussed. Three new, locally endemic species from the South West Province of Cameroon are described, mapped and illustrated: M. kupeanum R. D. Stone, Ghogue & Cheek, M. bakossiense R. D. Stone, Ghogue & Cheek, and M. rheophyticum R. D. Stone, Ghogue & Cheek. Two new names, M. accedens R. D. Stone, Ghogue & Cheek and M. hyleastrum R. D. Stone & Ghogue and one new combination, M. mamfeanum (Jacq.-Fél.) R. D. Stone, Ghogue & Cheek are provided at species level for three taxa originally proposed as varieties of M. afzelii G. Don. The taxon M. arcuatomarginatum var. simulans Jacq.-Fél. is also elevated to species status, as M. simulans (Jacq.-Fél.) R. D. Stone & Ghogue. Conservation assessments are provided for all the newly named taxa. A key is provided to the species of Memecylon sect. Afzeliana.     

New names,combinations and synonyms in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Justicia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stenostephanus</Emphasis> (Acanthaceae)

Summary  Preparation of a catalogue of the plants of Colombia requires 30 new combinations in Stenostephanus Nees and five in Justicia L. to bring nomenclature up to date. Three new names Justicia littoralis J. R. I. Wood, J. albicans J. R. I. Wood and J. magdalenensis J. R. I. Wood are coined for Jacobinia lindaviana Rusby, Chaetothylax leucantha Leonard and Justicia disparifolia J. R. I. Wood respectively. The genus Pelecostemon Leonard is considered to belong to sect. Chaetothylax (Nees) V. A. W. Graham of Justicia L. Several species of Stenostephanus from Colombia and Venezuela are treated as synonyms of earlier species.     

A revision of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podococcus</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arecaceae</Emphasis>)

Summary  A taxonomic revision of the palm genus Podococcus (Arecaceae) is presented. Two species are recognised: P. barteri, a species relatively widespread in a coastal band from Nigeria to the D. R. Congo and P. acaulis, a species previously considered conspecific to P. barteri, almost exclusively confined to Gabon. The taxonomic history, morphology, distribution and conservation status of the genus and each species are discussed     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stigmidium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphaerellothecium</Emphasis> (lichenicolous ascomycetes) on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stereocaulon</Emphasis>

Sphaerellothecium stereocaulorum sp. nov., Stigmidium beringicum sp. nov., Stigmidium stereocaulorum sp. nov. and goniocysts are described on Stereocaulon species from the northern Holarctic. Endococcus nanellus is reported new to Alaska and Mongolia. Taxonomical novelties Sphaerellothecium stereocaulorum Zhurb. & Triebel, Stigmidium beringicum Zhurb. & Triebel, Stigmidium stereocaulorum Zhurb. & Triebel.     

A revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterospathe elegans</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arecaceae</Emphasis>) complex in New Guinea

Summary  Three closely affiliated species of Heterospathe Scheff. (H. elegans (Becc.) Becc., H. humilis Becc. and H. versteegiana Becc.) from New Guinea are revised. They are reduced to a single species which is divided into two subspecies, and the new combination H. elegans subsp. humilis (Becc.) M. S. Trudgen & W. J. Baker is made. The subspecies can be readily distinguished by their growth habit. Epitypes are designated for the three previously published names, as informative material on the habit is not included in the existing type specimens. A new, potentially related species is described as H. pullenii M. S. Trudgen & W. J. Baker.     

Macrocarpones,novel metabolites from stromata of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypoxylon macrocarpum</Emphasis>, and new evidence on the chemotaxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypoxylon</Emphasis> species

Several species of the genus Hypoxylon (Xylariaceae) were studied for morphological characters and HPLC-based secondary metabolite profiles. It was confirmed that Hypoxylon is divided into two groups of species, containing either Mitorubrin type azaphilones or binaphthyls, respectively, as main metabolites. In Hypoxylon species of the latter group, some metabolites that are known from the allied genus Daldinia (i.e., Daldinal A in H. fuscum and Daldinin C in H. fuscopurpureum), were encountered for the first time. Moreover, three novel aromatic polyketides, for which the trivial names Macrocarpones A, B and C are proposed, were isolated from ascostromata of Hypoxylon macrocarpum and identified by high resolution mass spectrometry and 2D-NMR spectroscopy. Orsellinic Acid was also identified from ascostromata of H. howeianum and detected by HPLC-MS and HPLC-UV/Vis fingerprinting methodology in H. fragiforme and H. rubiginosum, but not in other examined Hypoxylon species. Due to these studies, H. fuscopurpureum sensu Y.-M. Ju & J.D. Rogers 1996 was identified as a new record for Germany.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oliganthes anjanaribensis,</Emphasis> a new species of Compositae: Vernonieae from Madagascar

Oliganthes anjanaribensis Beentje & D. J. N. Hind (Compositae: Vernonieae), a forest shrub from a protected area in NE Madagascar, is described and illustrated. Both species and genus are endemic to Madagascar. The conservation status of the species is briefly discussed.     

Revision of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entactinosphaera</Emphasis> Foreman, 1963 and the new genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Retientactinosphaera</Emphasis> gen. nov. (Paleozoic radiolaria)

The genus Entactinosphaera Foreman, 1963 is revised; it is shown to combine seven different genera, which are distinguished by morphological characters and belong to three orders of two radiolarian classes: the class Sphaerellaria, order Entactiniata (Bientactinosphaera, Entactinosphaera, Helioentactinia, Radiobisphaera), and class Spumellaria, orders Cancelliata (Retientactinosphaera, Magnisphaera) and Spongiata (Spongentactinia). New radiolarian taxa from the Middle Frasnian-Lower Famennian of the Timan-Pechora Basin and from the Lower Famennian of the Polar Ural Mountains, Russia, are described: Retientactinosphaera gen. nov., R. magnifica sp. nov., and R. clavata sp. nov.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clinopodium</Emphasis> L. (Lamiaceae) in Bolivia

A species-level review of the genus Clinopodium in Bolivia is presented. Characters used to distinguish taxa are discussed and evaluated with emphasis being given to nutlet characteristics for the first time. Nine species are described, seven from Bolivia, one of which, C. pilosum J. R. I. Wood is described as new. Bystropogon uniflorus Rusby ex Briq. is treated as subsp. uniflorum (Rusby ex Briq.) J. R. I. Wood of C. axillare (Rusby) Harley and its typification is discussed. Three subspecies of C. bolivianum are recognised, one of which subsp. diffusum J. R. I. Wood is described as new. Notes on salient characteristics of each taxon, on intermediate forms and on the distribution of each species are provided, as well as a key to species, maps and illustrations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> in Poland and Japan is nodulated by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mesorhizobium amorphae</Emphasis> strains

Robinia pseudoacacia microsymbionts from plants growing in Poland and Japan were evaluated for phylogeny and taxonomic position by genomic approach. Based on the comparative analyses of atpD (368 bp) and dnaK (573 bp) gene sequences as well as 16S rDNA restriction analysis (RFLP-16S rDNA), R. pseudoacacia microsymbionts were identified as Mesorhizobium strains. In dnaK and atpD gene phylograms R. pseudoacacia nodulators formed robust, monophyletic clusters with Mesorhizobium species with the nucleotide sequence similarity of 91–98% and 90–98%, respectively. The classification of R. pseudoacacia rhizobia to the genus Mesorhizobium was also supported by amplified 16S rDNA restriction analysis. The studied bacteria formed common clusters with Mesorhizobium species, and their DNA patterns were identical or nearly identical to Mesorhizobium genus strains. When DNA-DNA hybridization was performed, the total DNA of the representative R. pseudoacacia rhizobia exhibited 51–75% relatedness to DNA of Mesorhizobium amorphae ICMP15022 strain and below 41% to DNA of other Mesorhizobium species. These results showed that R. pseudoacacia and M. amorphae belong to the same genomospecies. The G+C content of DNA of R. pseudoacacia two microsymbionts was 59.7 and 60.6 mol% compared to 61–64 mol% across M. amorphae strains.     

Rust fungi (Uredinales) on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Grewia</Emphasis> species (Tilliaceae) in South Africa,with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Uredopeltis atrides</Emphasis> comb. nov. the new name for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ravenelia atrides</Emphasis>

The holdings of rust fungi on Grewia species (Tiliaceae) housed in the South African National Collection of Fungi (PREM) were examined. They belong to three morphologically similar, but clearly separable, species of Uredopeltis, and a species of Uredo. Each rust species has a distinct and restricted host range. Ravenelia atrides is a species of Uredopeltis and is transferred accordingly. Several specimens previously accessioned under R. atrides however belong to U. chevalieri. The specimens previously accessioned under Uredo grewiae belong to U. flava, and not U. chevalieri. Three specimens are best placed in Uredo corbiculoides. Taxonomic novelties Uredopeltis atrides (Syd. & P. Syd.) A.R. Wood. comb. nov.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Endohyalina</Emphasis>, the genus in the Physciaceae to accommodate the species of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rinodina ericina-</Emphasis>group

The genus Endohyalina is characterized by crustose, autonomous, or obligately lichenicolous thalli, lecideine apothecia with a hymenium often more or less inspersed with oil droplets and a brown hypothecium, Bacidia-type asci, small Dirinaria-type ascospores developing with type B ontogeny, bacilliform conidia and containing diploicin as the major secondary metabolite. The genus is based on four species previously included in Rinodina—R. ericina s. lat., R. insularis, R. interjecta and R. kalbii—and on two lichenicolous species from the Canary Islands described here as new, Endohyalina brandii and E. diederichii. The generic type, Endohyalina rappii, is reduced to synonymy with E. ericina whereas E. circumpallida is excluded from the genus and returned to Buellia s. lat. Except for the thalline growth form and the common lichenicolous habit, the diagnostic characters of Endohyalina are akin to those of Diploicia. New chemical data on Endohyalina insularis and E. kalbii are reported, and a simple method for determining the secondary chemistry of lichenicolous fungi is provided.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macroptilium</Emphasis> (Benth.) Urb. (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leguminosae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Papilionoideae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolinae</Emphasis>) from North-Eastern Brazil

Summary  A new species of Macroptilium sect. Microcochle (Benth.) J. A. Lackey is herein described from the states of Piauí and Bahia, Brazil. Macroptilium cochleatum is characterized by few-flowered inflorescences, calyx teeth longer than the tube, a tightly four-coiled keel, and linear, patent fruits. The discovery of this unique Macroptilium species, with its distally coiled keel, expands the diagnostic features of the genus. A key to the Brazilian species of sect. Microcochle is provided.