A new species of Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) from Espinhaço Range, Bahia, Brazil

A new species, Ilex mucugensis Groppo sp. nov. (Aquifoliaceae), is described and illustrated. The species is known only from 'campos rupestres' (vegetation of rock outcrops at high altitude) in the vicinity of Mucugê, Bahia State, Brazil, in the mountains of the Espinhaço Range. Comments on affinities, geographical distribution and phenology of the new species are also provided.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 153–156.     

A new species of Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae) from the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, Mexico, with comments on species relationships

The new species Ceratozamia vovidesii from a Pleistocene floristic refuge in southern Mexico is described and illustrated. It show an affinity with C. matudae Lundell and C. mirandae Vovides, Pérez-Farrera & Iglesias from Chiapas, but it differs from them in leaf, male and female cones, and trunk morphology.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 393–400.     

An extraordinary new rheophyte in the genus Leptactina (Rubiaceae, Pavetteae) from Rio Muni (Equatorial Guinea)

A distinctive new species of Rubiaceae from Rio Muni, Equatorial Guinea, is described and illustrated. Leptactina rheophytica is the only rheophyte known in the genus. Its diagnostic characters are elucidated, its taxonomic affinities are discussed, and notes on its conservation status are provided.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 109–113.     

A peculiar new Orthotrichum species (Orthotrichaceae, Bryopsida) from central Argentina

A new epiphytic Orthotrichum species ( Orthotrichum spiculatum F. Lara, Garilleti & Mazimpaka sp. nov. ) is described from the sierra of Córdoba (Argentina). The new species has most of the characteristics of subgenus Pulchella (Schimp.) Vitt, but it is unique because of having eight exostome teeth pairs and 16 broad, strongly papillose endostome segments. Additionally, its upper leaves have green, acuminate, dentate–spiculate apices.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 477–482.     

Caloplaca awasthii, a new lichen species from India

The warm, dry climate in central India provides suitable conditions for the growth of many crustose lichens, including Caloplaca species. A new species, Caloplaca awasthii Joshi, Y. & Upreti, is described from this region, where it is found growing in rocky areas of Madhya Pradesh (Bedinagar Hills and Bhimbetka) and Rajasthan (Mount Abu). The new taxon belongs to the section Gasparrinia and is characterized by the presence of blastidia, but lacks apothecia and pycnidia. It is a saxicolous species and is similar to C. decipiens (Arnold) Blomb. & Fross., but differs in having blastidia instead of soredia which are present in C. decipiens. Another closely related species, C. fuerteventurae van den Boom & Etayo, belonging to the C. flavescens complex, differs from the new taxon in having numerous apothecia and citriform spores.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 149–152.     

Epidendrum caparaoense (Orchidaceae), a new species from Minas Gerais, Brazil

A new species of Orchidaceae, Epidendrum caparaoense W.Forst. & V.C.Souza, is described and illustrated. This species is known only from the type locality, Caparaó National Park, in Minas Gerais State, where it grows on low tree trunks in gallery forests, at approximately 1300 m. The taxon is distinct from the other species of the genus by its laterally compressed stems, a long tubular spathaceous bract at the base of the inflorescence, a labellum with the free portion three-lobed and the clinandrium with an entire margin. It is considered similar to E. geniculatum and E. hololeucum .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 155 , 157–159.     

Amana kuocangshanica (Liliaceae), a new species from south-east China

Amana kuocangshanica D. Y. Tan & D. Y. Hong is described as a new species from Mt. Kuocang, Zhejiang Province, south-east China. Morphological observations and a statistical analysis of the new species and its relatives show that it is most closely related to A. anhuiensis and A. erythronioides , but differs in having the lower leaf oblanceolate, the widest at two-thirds length from the base, tunics glabrous inside, and fruit beaks 5–7.5 mm long. The morphologies of the pollen, seeds, and epidermal cells of the leaves of this new species are described.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 435–442.     

Two new species of Multiclavula (lichenized basidiomycetes) from savanna soils in Rwanda (East Africa)

Two new species of Multiclavula are described from Rwanda: M. akagerae , with a thallus consisting of turgescent glomerules, and M. rugaramae , with a thallus composed of flattened, rounded, marginate, and dispersed squamules. They grow on soil in frequently burned savannas or on lateritic soils in eastern Rwanda. The genus Lepidostroma should probably be reduced into synonymy with Multiclavula .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 457–465.     

Chromosome counts in Asian Artemisia L. (Asteraceae) species: from diploids to the first report of the highest polyploid in the genus

This work comprises 24 reports of chromosome numbers in 24 Artemisia L. species from Asia. Ten are included in the subgenus Dracunculus Besser and the rest belong to other subgenera. Seven counts are new reports, 14 are consistent with scarce previous ones, and three contribute new ploidy levels. That carried out in A. medioxima reports the highest ploidy level ever counted for the genus (16 x ). There is only one species with x  = 8 as the basic chromosome number. In the remaining x  = 9-based species, ploidy levels range from 2 x to 16 x , illustrating the great role played by polyploidy in the evolution of the genus.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 301–310.     

New species and new records of Menegazzia (Parmeliaceae, lichenized ascomycetes) from Malaysia and Indonesia

The genus Menegazzia (Parmeliaceae, lichenized ascomycetes) in Malaysia and Indonesia is studied. Some specimens from Papua New Guinea are also included. The great majority of available specimens are from Kinabalu Park, State of Sabah, Malaysia. Three species are described as new to science, namely the two sorediate species M. capitata (from Sabah and Pahang in Malaysia) and M. sabahensis (from Sabah), and the fertile, primary species M. monospora (from Sabah and Papua New Guinea). M. asahinae , M. dissoluta , and M. efflorescens are reported for the first time from Malaysia, and M. subsimilis is reported for the first time from Malaysia and Indonesia. The subgenus Megamenegazzia is newly described to accommodate the large, broad-lobed species with numerous perforations on the lower surface. M. efflorescens is selected as the type species for the new subgenus. Notes are also provided on the type specimens of Hypogymnia pectinatula , a species originally considered as belonging to Menegazzia .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 489–499.     

Taxonomic notes on the genus Crataegus (Rosaceae) in Turkey

The Turkish Crataegus taxa were investigated using morphological, palynological, and anatomical characters. A new series ( Crataegus Section Crataegus Series Peshmenia ), two new species ( Crataegus peshmenii and Crataegus christensenii ), and one variety ( Crataegus rhipidophylla var. kutahyaensis ) are described. Furthermore, Crataegus  ×  browicziana has been assigned to Crataegus rhipidophylla with a new status. Illustrations of the described taxa and their distribution map are also given. The lectotype for Crataegus yaltirikii is designated here.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 231–240.     

Holcus azoricus M. Seq. & Castrov. (Poaceae), a new species from the Azores Islands

A new species of Holcus L. (Poaceae), endemic to the Azores archipelago (Portugal), is described. The vegetative and reproductive structures were studied. The diagnostic characters were compared with those of closely related species. New chromosome counts in Holcus azoricus M. Seq. & Castrov. (2 n  = 35) and H. rigidus Hochst. (2 n  = 28) are included. A possible hybrid origin is hypothesized; the potential parents are H. lanatus L. and H. rigidus .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 259–267.     

Towards a revision of the genus Halectinosoma (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Ectinosomatidae): new species from the North Atlantic and Arctic regions

This paper contributes to a revision of the genus Halectinosoma . Four new species are described, based on examination of ectinosomatid material from localities in western Europe, eastern Canada and the Arctic. Halectinosoma mandibularis sp. nov. is distinguishable from other species by the reduced setation of the mouthparts and enlarged mandibular gnathobase. Halectinosoma latisetifera sp. nov. bears an affinity with H. cooperatum but is easily distinguished by the shape of the setae on the female fifth leg. A species previously erroneously ascribed to H. finmarchicum (Scott) by several authors is described here as Halectinosoma kliei sp. nov. Halectinosoma gothiceps (Giesbrecht) is redescribed and the closely related Halectinosoma paragothiceps sp. nov. is described and distinguished from H. gothiceps . It is considered likely that some previous records of H. gothiceps are in error.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 453–475.     

A new species of Hedysarum (Fabaceae) in Iran and other new Hedysarum records

Hedysarum al-shehbazii , a new species endemic to Iran, is described and illustrated. This species belongs to Hedysarum section Multicaulia . It is confined to the western part of Iran (Kermanshah Province), and is known from a single population close to the Iraq frontier, although possibly also growing in the adjoining eastern part of Iraq. The conservation status of this species is 'vulnerable' according to World Conservation Union (IUCN) criteria. In addition, H. varium and H. syricum are reported as new records from a single gathering close to the Turkish frontier. Moreover, H. kotschyi and H. pogonocarpum are transferred from Hedysarum section Crinifera to Hedysarum section Multicaulia .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 505–512.     

A new species of Centaurea L. (Cardueae: Asteraceae) from Turkey

A new species of Centaurea L., C. kizildaghensis (Cardueae: Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from south Anatolia. It is restricted to the serpentine rocky slopes of Kızıl Dağ (C3 Konya–Derebucak, Çamlık), and is closely related to C. pseudokotschyi Wagenitz and C. drabifolioides Hub.-Mor., from which it differs in stem, leaf, and phyllary appendage characters. The diagnostic morphological characters are discussed. A new key is produced for Group G species for the flora of Turkey.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 61–66.     

A taxonomic revision of the genus Flagenium Baill. (Rubiaceae–Octotropideae)

A taxonomic revision of the genus Flagenium Baill. is presented. Flagenium is endemic to Madagascar and comprises six species; three new species are described here ( F. farafanganensis , F. petrikensis , and F. pedunculatum ) and one species ( F. arboreum ) is transferred into synonymy. Each species is fully described, and summaries of distribution, habitat and ecology, and phenology are given; conservation assessments are provided for each species. Flagenium is characterized by having ovaries with at least two erect and two pendulous ovules per locule, which, depending on the species, can display an additional two to four horizontal ovules per locule arranged between the uppermost and lowermost ovules. In addition, Flagenium has a longitudinally ten-ribbed fruit. These features are potentially unique within the Octotropideae.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 557–570.     

Taxonomic revision, phylogenetic analysis, and biogeography of the bee genus Tropidopedia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Tapinotaspidini)

The species of the bee genus Tropidopedia stat. nov. are revised. Thirteen new species are proposed: T. carinata sp. nov. , T. caracicola sp. nov. , T. danunciae sp. nov. , T. duckeana sp. nov. , T. eliasi sp. nov. , T. flavolineata sp. nov. , T. friesei sp. nov. , T. japuraensis sp. nov. , T. nigrita sp. nov. , T. nigrocarinata sp. nov. , T. ornata sp. nov. , T. peruana sp. nov. and T. venezuelana sp. nov. Taxonomic notes are provided for another four species: Tropidopedia punctifrons (Smith, 1879) comb. nov. , T. pallidipennis (Friese, 1899) comb. nov. , T. seabrai (Michener & Moure, 1957) and T. arcuatilis (Vachal, 1909) comb. nov. , including designation of a lectotype for Tetrapedia arcuatilis Vachal. An identification key, illustrations for main diagnostic characters, and distributions maps for all species are provided. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out to evaluate the monophyly of Tropidopedia and its main species groups, as well as to position it among the related genera. Biogeographical patterns are discussed.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 511–554.