Okeanomyces, a new genus to accommodate Halosphaeria cucullata (Halosphaeriales, Ascomycota)

The taxonomic affinity of Halosphaeria cucullata to Halosphaeria is reassessed based on a recent collection of this fungus. Halosphaeria cucullata is characterized by immersed, darkly coloured ascomata, clavate asci which deliquesce very early in development, and cylindrical ascospores with or without a polar cap-like appendage at one end. In a phylogenetic analysis of the LSU rDNA sequences from members of the Halosphaeriaceae, H. cucullata did not form a monophyletic clade with H. appendiculata , the type species of the genus. These results suggest that H. cucullata should not be included in Halosphaeria . Okeanomyces gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate this fungus.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 223–229.     

Taxonomic revision of the genus Succisella (Dipsacaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

A revision of the three endemic Iberian species of Succisella G. Beck ( S. carvalhoana , S. microcephala and S. andreae-molinae ), based on herbarium studies, SEM photographs and field observations, is presented utilizing morphological, palynological, karyological, biogeographical and ecological characters. The distribution of the species in the Iberian Peninsula is shown in a grid map. Full synonymy is given for all taxa.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 144 , 351–364.     

A new endemic species of Epipactis (Orchidaceae) from north-east Portugal

A new species, Epipactis duriensis Bernardos, D. Tyteca, Revuelta & Amich is described and illustrated from north-east Portugal. Notes on its distribution, ecology, karyology, micromorphology and taxonomic relationships are presented as well as molecular data based on ITS analysis. A list of diagnostic differences between E. duriensis and the closely related species E. lusitanica and E. tremolsii is provided.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 239–249.     

Clarification of the name Nothofagus alpina and a new epithet for a Nothofagus hybrid

Arguments in favour of using Nothofagus alpina (Poepp. & Endl.) Oerst. (Fagaceae) rather than N. procera Oerst. or N. nervosa (Phil.) Krasser as the correct name for rauli are presented. We also refute suggestions that N. alpina is based on hybrid material. The hybrid of N. alpina with N. obliqua (Mirb.) Blume is formally described as N . ×  dodecaphleps Mike L. Grant & E. J. Clement and a key to the deciduous taxa of Nothofagus is provided.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 447–451.     

Phylogeography of the land snail Albinaria hippolyti (Pulmonata: Clausiliidae) from Crete, inferred from ITS-1 sequences

The polytypic Cretan land snail Albinaria hippolyti has a range that is partly fragmented and partly subdivided by hybrid zones. For this reason, it has served as a model species for investigating speciation and radiation in Mediterranean Clausiliidae. The first internal transcribed spacer ( ITS-1 ) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA was sequenced in 20 populations of A. hippolyti and phylogenetically analysed using maximum parsimony. We employed a novel method involving logarithmic weighting of gaps and topological constraints based on bootstrap values. The resulting phylogeography suggests that the species has undergone a recent cycle of range expansion and range reduction. Speciation cannot be linked to major geological vicariance events in the Miocene and Pliocene, as has been suggested previously. The subspecies A. h. arthuriana appears unrelated to other A. hippolyti subspecies, which supports recent suggestions, based on morphology, to regard it as a separate species.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 83 , 317–326.     

A new species of Arabis (Brassicaceae) from inner Anatolia

A new species of Arabis L., A. erikii Mutlu sp. nov. , is described and illustrated. The species is restricted to inner Anatolia, south-west of Sivas. It grows on steppes. Diagnostic morphological characters are given for discrimination from the most similar taxa.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 251–256.     

A new species of Exostyles (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Swartzieae s.l.), from Paraná State, Brazil

A new species Exostyles godoyensis Soares-Silva & Mansano (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Swartzieae), endemic to Paraná state in southern Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species is distinct from all the other species of Exostyles in having a leaf with up to five leaflets, while the other species have at least seven leaflets per leaf. The new species is distinct from Exostyles amazonica Yakovlev in its longer stamen filaments and ovary stipe and from E. glabra Vogel and E. venusta Schott by its shorter anthers. In addition to these morphological characters E. godoyensis has a disjunct geographical distribution.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 103–106.