A re-evaluation of the Abutilothamnus complex (Malvaceae) I. Two new species and two new genera,Sidasodes and Akrosida

A revision of certain generic boundaries within the tribe Malveae is made. A new genus,Sidasodes, is described with two species, one of which is new,Sidasodes colombiana.Akrosida is segregated as a new genus, based onBastardia macrophylla. The new realignment also recognizesTetrasida as a distinct genus, and describes as newTetrasida serrulata. New combinations includeSidasodes jamesonii (based onSida jamesonii),Akrosida macrophylla (based onBastardia macrophylla), andTetrasida chachapoyensis (based onSida chachapoyensis)     

In vitro reactive oxygen species production by histatins and copper(I,II)

The ability of the histidine-rich peptides, histatin-5 (Hst-5) and histatin-8 (Hst-8), to support the generation of reactive oxygen species during the Cu-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate and cysteine has been evaluated. High levels of hydrogen peroxide (70–580 mol/mol Cu/h) are produced by aqueous solutions containing Cu(II), Hst-8 or Hst-5, and a reductant, either ascorbate or cysteine, as determined by the postreaction Amplex Red assay. When the reactions are conducted in the presence of superoxide dismutase, the total hydrogen peroxide produced is decreased, more so in the presence of the peptides (up to 50%), suggesting the intermediacy of superoxide in these reactions. On the other hand, the presence of sodium azide or sodium formate, traps for hydroxyl radicals, has no appreciable effect on the total hydrogen peroxide production for the Cu–Hst systems. EPR spin-trapping studies using 5-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propoxy cyclophosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (CYPMPO) in the cysteine–Cu(II) reactions reveal the formation of the CYPMPO–hydroperoxyl and CYPMPO–hydroxyl radical adducts in the presence of Hst-8, whereas only the latter was observed with Cu alone.     

Two new species of the diatom genusChaetoceros (Bacillariophyta)

Two new planktonic diatom species of the genusChaetoceros are described herein:Ch. octagonus andCh. rectus, from material of Baja California coasts and the Gulf of California, respectively;Ch. rectus was also found in a sample from Australian waters.Ch. octagonus is a robust species, with a characteristic pyramidal valve shape, heavily silicified valves and setae, and one central rimoportula on every valve in the chain; it is compared with related species, which show a similar morphology, especially by electron microscopy. It belongs into subg.Chaetoceros, sect.Borealia. Ch. rectus is placed in subg.Hyalochaete, and provisionally within sect.Anastomosantia. Its major characters are: chains, cells, and setae are delicate and fragile, cells are joined in the chain by a bridge which connects sibling intercalary setae, valves and setae are weakly silicified, and one rimoportula is present on terminal valves only. Comparison is made with another species of the same section.Ch. rectus shows a different manner of chain-forming within the genus than previously described in the literature.     

Two new species of the genus Coccoloba (Polygonaceae)

Coccoloba ecuadorensis sp. nov, a large-leaved species from the humid coastal forest of Northwestern Ecuador, and C. trollii sp. nov., a small-leaved species from an isolated patch of dry forest in central Bolivia are described.     

Two new Megalothorax species of the minimus group (Collembola,Neelidae)

Two new Megalothorax species, Megalothorax potapovi sp. n. from the Russian Far East and Megalothorax sanguineus sp. n. from the French Pyrénées are described. The two new species have a set of morphological characters (including a smooth mucro) that places them among the minimus group sensu Schneider and D’Haese (2013). Megalothorax potapovi characteristics include dorsal protuberance on forehead, peculiar chaetotaxy of antenna III and strong lanceolate chaetae on body. Megalothorax sanguineus characteristics include strong red pigmentation, large network of integumentary channels on head and elongated apex of the two postero-distal spines of dens. The DNA barcodes ( cytochrome oxidase subunit I–COI) of the two species are also provided and analyzed among a broader sampling of the genus in order to support further their specific status. A special focus is given to the labral morphological characteristics. Pseudopores-like elements are reported for the first time in the genus. Positions of the τ-chaetae near the dorsal sensory field of thorax II are compared for several species of the genus.     

Two new maastrichtian species ofSerpentipora (Bryozoa)

Two new species are described of the cyclostomatous bryozoan genusSerpentipora Brood.S. germanka is not uncommon in the White Chalk of Northern Europe andS. rugosa occurs in the Upper Maastrichtian of the Netherlands. Fossil species ofSerpentipora have not been reported previously from Europe.     

Two new and three redescribed species of Viscosia (Nematoda,Oncholaimidae)

Viscosia coomansi sp. nov. and Viscosia heterolaina sp. nov. are described from Lake Grevelingen and Eastern Scheldt (The Netherlands). Viscosia glabra (Bastian, 1865) de Man 1890, Viscosia franzii Boucher 1977, and Viscosia viscosa (Bastian 1865) de Man 1890 are redescribed, taking into account new important characters. Juvenile specimens are depicted for V. viscosa. Viscosia carnleyensis Ditlevsen, 1921 is synonymized with Viscosia glabra (Bastian, 1865). Mononcholaimus viscosus Allgén, 1930 and Mononcholaimus elegans sensu Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1942, 1950 (nec. Kreis, 1924) are synonymized with Viscosia viscosa (Bastian, 1865).     

Two new species of Caprella (Crustacea:Amphipoda:Caprellidea) collected from sandy bottoms in the Strait of Gibraltar

Two new species of the genus Caprella (Crustacea:Amphipoda:Caprellidea) are described based on specimens collected from the Strait of Gibraltar (Southern Spain and Northern Africa). Both species were found living in sandy bottoms. Caprella pseudorapax n. sp. is very close to the species C. rapax (Mayer, 1890) and C. lilliput (Krapp-Schickel & Ruffo, 1987). Caprella sabulensis n. sp. resembles C. cavediniae (Krapp-Schickel & Vader, 1998).     

Two new species of Aa (Orchidaceae,Spiranthoideae) from Colombia

Two new species of the Andean genus Aa (Orchidaceae, Spiranthoideae) are described: Aa lozanoi Szlach. and S. Nowak, and Aa figueroi Szlach. and S. Nowak. They are restricted in distribution mainly to Cordillera Oriental in the department of Cundinamarca, however, A. lozanoi was also collected in Cordillera Central and A. figueroi in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in northern part of Colombia. Each species is described and illustrated, detailed habitat and distribution data are provided. A distribution map of the new species is presented. A dichotomous key for determination of the Colombian species of Aa is provided. Brief discussion about the most important threats for plants in Andes is presented.     

Two new species of Alcantarea (Bromeliaceae,Tillandsioideae) from Brazil

Alcantarea turgida andA. tortuosa are described and illustrated as new species from southeastern Brazil. The relationships ofA. turgida withA. extensa and withA. vinicolor and ofA. tortuosa withA. farneyi and withA. benzingii are discussed.     

Two new species of Grindelia (Astereae,Asteraceae) from Uruguay

Taxonomic revision of South American species ofGrindelia Willd. has revealed two new species from Uruguay:G. rupestris, an erect subshurb with crowded obovate denticulate leaves, subsessile heads, and pappus composed of numerous awns, andG. linearifolia, a prostrate shrublet with small entire linear leaves. Both species are described and illustrated. A key for the UruguayanGrindelia species is provided.     

Two new species of Pselaphia (Diptera, Chloropidae) from Zambia

Pselaphia haladai sp. n. and Pselaphia zambiensis sp. n. are described from Zambia. All African Pselaphia species are keyed and main differential characters are illustrated.     

Two new species of Steccherinum (Basidiomycota, Polyporales) from Taiwan

Steccherinum cremicolor and S. elongatum are described and illustrated as new species from Taiwan. Steccherinum cremicolor is characterized by strictly resupinate basidiocarps, a fimbriate margin, short spines, generative hyphae dominating in the trama and subiculum, encrusted skeletocystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Steccherinum elongatum has strictly resupinate and membranaceous basidiocarps, bearing fairly long spines, generative hyphae-dominated subiculum, elongated skeletocystidia, and ellipsoid to subglobose basidiospores.     

Two new species of Mendoncia (Acanthaceae) from Bahia, Brazil

Two new species, Mendoncia bahiensis and Mendoncia blanchetiana, of the subgenus Bremekampia are described and illustrated. A key to four species represented in Bahia and commentary on their taxonomic affinities are provided.     

Two new species and a new combination in Manfreda (Agavaceae)

Two new species ofManfreda are named,M. longibracteata from Michoacán, Mexico, andM. sileri, a succulent-leaved species from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Mexico.Agave hauniensis is transferred toManfreda.     

Two new species ofInocybe, sectionMarginatae (Agaricales, Cortinariaceae) from Japan

Two new species of the sectionMarginatae are described, namely,Inocybe populea sp. nov. andI. leptoclada sp. nov., from western Japan and eastern Japan, respectively.Inocybe leptoclada is assigned to sectionMarginatae, even though it lacks a marginate bulb.Inocybe populea is placed in the sectionMarginatae because of the presence of a marginate (often indistinct) bulbous base of stipe and the caulocystidia throughout. The discoveries ofI. leptoclada andI. populea provide further evidence that sectionMarginatae and sectionInocybe [=Cortinatae] are poorly defined.