Astragalus bahcesarayensis (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae), a new species of section Alopecuroidei DC. from Turkey

Astragalus bahcesarayensis H. Akan, M. Fırat & M. Ekici (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) from Turkey is described and illustrated. It is compared with A. dipsaceus Bunge and A. panduratus Bunge. The geographical distributions of the new species and related species are mapped.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 439–444.     

Dendrobium wangliangii (Orchidaceae), a new species belonging to section Dendrobium from Yunnan, China

Dendrobium wangliangii G. W. Hu, C. L. Long & X. H. Jin, a new species from the north of the Yunnan Province in China is described and illustrated. The morphological differences between the new species and the related species, Dendrobium flexicaule , and its endangered status are discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 217–221.     

Nomenclatural changes in preparation for a World Rubiaceae Checklist

During the preparation of a World Rubiaceae Checklist , numerous unplaced taxa were encountered, including illegitimate and invalid names, and species for which generic placement is uncertain. In this contribution, 35 new combinations and 20 new names are proposed, and the names of three taxa are validated.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 115–124.     

A new species of Cryptolepis (Apocynaceae: Periplocoideae) from Kenya and Tanzania, Africa

A new species of Cryptolepis is described from Kenya and Tanzania. It is a tropical forest climber and its unique second corona whorl of deeply cleft lobes distinguishes it from all other Cryptolepis species.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 343–346.     

The internodal species concept: a response to 'The tree, the network, and the species'

Samadi and Barberousse attempt to provide a precise, formal definition of the species category that is faithful to the internodal species concept (Samadi S, Barberousse A. 2006. The tree, the network, and the species. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 89: 509–521). Here, it is argued that their study is technically flawed. Most of the necessary corrections to their definitions are provided in order to accurately portray the internodal concept. It is then argued that the internodal concept is fundamentally flawed; it does not solve the 'classical problems' that Samadi and Barberousse claim it does. In particular, it does not allow for the possibility of interspecies hybridization. In addition, the proposal is unworkable in practice, and also theoretically problematic because it entails that, in many lineages, speciation events are taking place every few generations.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 93 , 865–869.     

A new species of Silene (Caryophyllaceae) from east Anatolia, Turkey

Silene bitlisensis O.Tugay & Ertugrul from the Green Line Afforestation Zone (B9: Bitlis Province) is a new species described and illustrated here. It is closely related to S. caramanica Boiss. & Heldr. var. ilarslanii Aytaç & Dural, from which it mainly differs in its habit, leaf, and floral features.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 463–466.     

A new species of Linum (Linaceae) from west Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Linum vuralianum Yılmaz & Kaynak, is described and illustrated from west Anatolia, Turkey. It is closest to L. flavum L., but differs by its annual or biennial life form, the presence of rosette leaves at anthesis, and the absence of staminodes. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) threat category and observations on the population are noted. The geographical distribution of the new species and its related taxon is given.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 459–462.     

A new species of Betula section Betulaster (Betulaceae) from China

A new species of Betulaceae, Betula fujianensis , is described and illustrated from Luoboyan Reserve, Fujian Province, south-eastern China. Betula fujianensis is distributed in subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest at elevations above 500 m, mostly as scattered individuals and occasionally as populations alone or with B. luminifera . Betula fujianensis belongs to section Betulaster and differs from other species in general morphology and phenology. A key to all species currently recognized in this section is presented, and the relationships between the new species and its closely related taxa are discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 523–528.     

Diel activity and reproductive isolation in a diverse assemblage of Neotropical skippers (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

A sample of over 400 co-occurring species of Neotropical Hesperiidae attracted to artificial lures was used to test for temporal structure among species and explore potential consequences of temporal partitioning within assemblages. Five years of intermittent transect samples at the same site revealed that diel activity was significantly partitioned among subfamilies, genera and species within this species assemblage. Calculations of reproductive isolation indicate that partitions in activity times are sufficient to provide significant prezygotic reproductive isolation among some congeneric species pairs. Temporal patterns in this assemblage are considered in light of field observations and temporal partitions are examined as a potential isolating barrier among insects.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2008, 94 , 723–736.     

Killickia (Lamiaceae): a new genus from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The genus Killickia is described to accommodate the South African endemic species formerly placed in Micromeria sect. Hesperothymus . Morphological data, as well as results from unpublished phylogenetic studies support its separation from the genera Micromeria and Clinopodium . A new species Killickia lutea Bräuchler is described and three new combinations are made. Killickia is characterised as comprising solitary- or few-flowered cymes, a campanulate to subcampanulate (obconical) calyx with similar teeth, a corolla tube with two pubescent ridges and nutlets with scattered minute hairs. A thickened marginal vein in the leaves as typical for Micromeria is absent. As currently understood all species are restricted to the Drakensberg mountains and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in eastern South Africa. A key to the species, brief notes on anatomy and ecology are provided.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 575–586.     

A palynological study of the genus Mentha L. (Lamiaceae)

The pollen morphology and exine structure of 10 Mentha L . species were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains of all 11 species were hexazonocolpate with granular membranes and a circular amb, varying in shape from prolate-spheroidal to suboblate. Different colpus shapes were recognized in M . ×  dumetorum . The exine was bireticulate in section Pulegium , and reticulate in section Menthae . A correlation was found between pollen size and chromosome number. The results indicate that the pollen characters of the genus Mentha are valuable for taxonomic applications and may be useful for classification.  © 2008 Uludag University. Journal compilation © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 141–154.     

Systematics and biogeography of the New World species of Trichadenotecnum Enderlein (Insecta: Psocodea: 'Psocoptera': Psocidae)

The taxonomy of the New World species of the genus Trichadenotecnum is revised. A total of 44 species, including 29 new species, were treated. These species are classified into 12 monophyletic species groups, eight of them newly proposed here. Two species previously assigned to Trichadenotecnum , T. pichincha New & Thornton and T. sylvaticum Turner, are recognized as not belonging to this genus. Phylogenetic relationships among 16 previously and presently proposed species groups are estimated based on a data matrix of 58 morphological characters. Trees from these analyses support monophyly of Trichadenotecnum and the proposed species groups. The New World species were divided into three major clades. Based on the phylogenetic hypothesis and distributional pattern of the species groups, the biogeographical history of the New World Trichadenotecnum is discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 651–723.     

On the identity of Festuca jubata Lowe (Poaceae) and the description of a new Festuca species in the Azores Islands

The majority of authors consider Festuca jubata Lowe as an endemic species common to Madeira and the Azores. Saint-Yves proposed that F. jubata was an Azorean endemic and described a geovicarious taxon in Madeira: F. filiformis C. Sm. ex Link in Buch ssp. mandonii St.-Yves. We undertook a complete bibliographical revision of the taxonomy, nomenclature, and chorology of F. jubata s.l. , and contrasted it with morphological and anatomical studies performed on samples from the Azores and Madeira. Azorean plants usually identified as F. jubata had a character combination distinct from that of those with a Madeiran provenance. Saint-Yves' proposal of two independent taxa was correct, but he erroneously considered F. jubata as an Azorean endemic because the name F. jubata was based on Madeiran plants. Consequently, F. jubata auct. pl. from the Azores belongs to a new species.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 493–499.     

Convergent body flattening in a clade of tropical rock-using lizards (Scincidae: Lygosominae)

The repeated occurrence of similar morphologies in organisms from similar habitats provides good evidence of convergent selection, and convergent patterns of evolutionary change. In lizards, a flattened morphology has often been noted; however, whether this trait is convergent in specific habitats has never been tested using phylogenetic methods. The present study examined patterns of morphological convergence in 18 species of tropical Lygosomine skinks from three broad habitat categories (generalist, leaf litter-dwelling, and rock-using species). In general, although there where relatively few morphological differences of species from different habitats, phylogenetic analyses revealed that rock-using species have consistently and repeatedly evolved a dorsoventrally flattened head and body. The adaptive basis of this flattened morphology is consistent with both biomechanical predictions of performance (e.g. climbing locomotion) and ecology (e.g. use of rock crevices, camouflage) of species that occupy rocky habitats.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 94 , 399–411.     

Seed dormancy and germination behaviour in two Euphrasia species (Orobanchaceae) occurring in the Swiss Alps

The optimal time for germination of a seed depends on environmental conditions of its habitat, the life cycle of the germinating plant, and the conditions for successful establishment, growing and reproduction. We studied the germination behaviour of the alpine annual Euphrasia minima and an alpine ecotype of E. salisburgensis in a lowland garden experiment. Seeds of both species and their hybrids germinated at constant (5 °C) and at varying temperatures (3–10 °C), and never before spring after seed ripening. Germination was spread over 3 years, which suggests that the seeds formed a persistent seed bank. The two species together with E. minima and E. minima hybrids differed significantly in the germination rate in the first and second spring.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 649–656.     

A synopsis of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) in Thailand, with descriptions of three new species

A comprehensive taxonomic revision of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) occurring in Thailand is presented for the first time. Twenty-five species are recognized, including three that are described as new to science ( Goniothalamus aurantiacus from South-Western Thailand, Goniothalamus maewongensis from Northern Thailand, and Goniothalamus rongklanus from Northern and North-Eastern Thailand). Several taxonomic and nomenclatural misunderstandings are corrected. The name G. griffithii is shown to be widely misapplied for populations in Northern Thailand, for which the name G. calvicarpus should be applied; 'true' G. griffithii is restricted to South-Western Thailand and Myanmar. In addition, the widely used name G. marcanii is shown to be a synonym of G. tamirensis , and the name G. latestigma , previously regarded as a synonym of G. undulatus , is reinstated. Goniothalamus cheliensis is furthermore newly recorded from Thailand. Most species are restricted to Peninsular Thailand and represent a Malesian floristic component.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 355–384.