Novitates Gabonensis 79: Hymenostegia elegans and H. robusta spp. nov. (Leguminosae–Caesalpinioideae) from Gabon

We have observed among the holdings of Hymenostegia (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) in several major herbaria that many of the specimens determined as H. klainei Pierre ex Pellegr. are not identified correctly and instead represent undescribed taxa. We speculate that the misidentifications may be a direct consequence of the sole use of leaf characters to distinguish species in the dichotomous keys of two major regional treatments of the genus. Two such previously unrecognised taxa, both new species from Gabon, Hymenostegia elegans Wieringa and Mackinder and Hymenostegia robusta Wieringa and Mackinder are described here accompanied by a distribution map, illustrations and conservation assessments. Both species have a limited distribution area and are assessed as ‘Vulnerable’ and ‘Endangered’, respectively. This publication brings the total number of species in Hymenostegia s.s. to nine.     

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.     

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.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gagea robusta</Emphasis> (Liliaceae), a new species from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flora Iranica</Emphasis> area

A new species, endemic to the Flora Iranica area, Gagea robusta (Liliaceae) is described and illustrated. It differs from G. reticulata (Pall.) Schult. & Schult. f. in having a puberulent indumentum on the basal leaf and from G. setifolia Baker ex Aitch. in having a long neck (up to 12 cm long). Its ecology, distribution and conservation status are discussed.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dypsis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ravenea</Emphasis> (Arecaceae) from Madagascar

Fourteen new species of palms (Arecaceae) from Madagascar are described and named, based on material collected over the last 15 years. Twelve species belong to the genus Dypsis, namely D. andilamenensis Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. anjae Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. betsimisarakae Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. culminis Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. dracaenoides Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. gautieri Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. gronophyllum Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. jeremiei Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. metallica Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. reflexa Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. sancta Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and D. vonitrandambo Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and two species belong to the genus Ravenea: R. beentjei Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and R. hypoleuca Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. Despite the fact that most of these species have been recorded from protected areas that are difficult to access in the eastern region of Madagasacar, they are all threatened. Based on IUCN categories and criteria, seven are Critically Endangered and seven are Vulnerable.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Berlinia korupensis</Emphasis> (Leguminosae <Emphasis Type="Italic">–</Emphasis> Caesalpinioideae), a new tree species from Cameroon

Summary  The tree species Berlinia korupensis Mackinder & Burgt is described as new. The species is endemic to the southern part of Korup National Park in Cameroon. Seventeen trees have been found so far, the largest being 42 m high and having a trunk diam. of 88 cm. The new species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR D) under the criteria of IUCN. Two distribution maps are included; one map indicating the single locality in Cameroon near the Nigerian border where the new species was found and another map of the permanent plot where 14 of the 17 trees were recorded. A line drawing is also included, along with colour photographs of the flowers and the trunk.

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lecomtedoxa plumosa</Emphasis> (Sapotaceae), a new tree species from Korup National Park,Cameroon

Summary   Lecomtedoxa plumosa Burgt (Sapotaceae), a new tree species from the southern part of Korup National Park in Cameroon, is described and illustrated. The flowers show the characteristics of the genus Lecomtedoxa: for example the staminodes are free and placed alternately to the stamens and corolla lobes. The leaves of the new species are clearly different from other Lecomtedoxa spp., but they look similar to the leaves of Gluema ivorensis, especially to those of the collections from Cameroon. In total 26 trees ≥ 10 cm dbh were found. The largest trees found were 36 m high and 74 cm dbh. The trees grow in primary rain forest, in clusters of up to 10 trees on 2 ha, mixed with many other tree species. The seed dispersal is ballistic. The conservation status of the species is assessed as Endangered, EN D.     

Two new species of Polystachya Hook. (Orchidaceae) from Africa

Two new species of Polystachya Hook. are described and illustrated: Polystachya rydingii Baranow & Mytnik occurring from the Democratic Republic of Congo and P. sosefii Baranow & Mytnik from Cameroon. The species belong to the section Polystachya Kraenzl., which is the only pantropical section in the genus. Maps of the distribution for the new species and their closest relatives and a brief discussion with notes on their habitat, ecology, and altitude are provided.     

Host range of Neozygites floridana isolates (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) to spider mites

Neozygites floridana (Weiser & Muma) (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) has been reported infecting naturally at least 18 species of tetranychids worldwide. However, the host range of N. floridana is unknown. Epizootics caused by this pathogen to tetranychid populations indicate that N. floridana has the potential to be used as a biological control agent. However, the virulence and specificity of species and strains of Neozygites need to be assessed in the laboratory to reveal its potential as a biological control agent. N. floridana isolates are currently been investigated in Brazil as biological control agents against the tomato red mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard, and the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The pathogenicity of five strains of N. floridana obtained from T. urticae, T. evansi and T. ludeni Zacher was assessed against populations of Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar), Schizotetranychus sacharum Flechtmann & Baker, Tetranychus abacae Baker & Pritchard and Tetranychus armipenis Flechtmann & Baker, in addition to the species from which the fungus was obtained. Mummified mites were placed on leaf discs of the host plant of each tetranychid to promote fungal sporulation, and after 24 h the mites were transferred to the leaf discs. Contamination, infection and mummification were evaluated daily for seven days after confinement. Each isolate was pathogenic to three or four out of the six spider mite species tested. However, except for isolate ESALQ1421, all isolates caused higher levels of infection and significant mummification only to the tetranychid species from which they were collected. None of the isolates was pathogenic to S. sacharum and only one isolate infected T. abacae. Alternative hosts may be important for N. floridana survival in tropical regions where resting spores are rarely found.     

Agave rzedowskiana, a new species in subgenus Littaea (Agavaceae) from western Mexico

Agave rzedowskiana is described and illustrated from the states of Sinaloa and Jalisco, Mexico. This species is a member of subgenusLittaea (Tagliabue) Baker “groupStriatae” of Baker. It is compared withA. petrophila García-Mend. & E. Martínez andA. dasylirioides Jacobi & Bouché.

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Resumen  Se describe e ilustraAgave rzedowskiana de los estados de Sinaloa y Jalisco, México. La especie pertenece al subgéneroLittaea (Tagliabue) Baker “Grupo Striatae” de Baker. Se le compara conA. petrophila García-Mend. & E. Martínez yA. dasylirioides Jacobi & Bouché.

     

中国香港17种植物新记录

报道了香港17种植物新记录:无配膜叶铁角蕨[Hymenasplenium apogamum(N.Murak.&Hatan.)Nakaike]、似薄唇蕨(Leptochilus decurrens Blume)、穿心藤[Amydrium hainanense(H.Li,Y.Shiao&S.L.Tseng)H.Li]、毛背...     

Tantulocarida (Crustacea) from the Southern Ocean deep sea,and the description of three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tantulacus</Emphasis> Huys,Andersen &; Kristensen, 1992

During the expedition ANT XIX/3 meiofauna samples were collected from the German research vessel Polarstern near the Shackleton Fracture Zone. During sorting of the samples 86 tantulus larvae were found. Extensive examination of the larvae revealed a high diversity of tantulocaridans in the Southern Ocean deep sea (33 species). A remarkable proportion of these were new species of Tantulacus Huys, Andersen & Kristensen, 1992. The present paper reports the discovery of three new Antarctic tantulocarids which are referred to Tantulacus. The affiliation of T. longispinosus n. sp., T. karolae n. sp. and T. dieteri n. sp. to Tantulacus is straightforward: all representatives of the Tantulocarida are characterised by the presence of 1-2 slender setae on the endopod of the second to fifth thoracopods, but in none of the hitherto described genera, other than Tantulacus, are these elements modified. Tantulacus hoegi Huys, Andersen & Kristensen, 1992 and the three new species share the possession of a distal rigid spine on the endopod of the second to fifth thoracopods as a synapomorphy and thus can be readily distinguished from other tantulocaridans. This is the first record of free-living sediment-inhabiting tantulus larvae from this area, although this probably reflects the degree of undersampling.     

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.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Valeriana neglecta</Emphasis> (Valerianaceae), a new species from Colombia

Valeriana neglecta R. Bernal (Valerianaceae) from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in northern Colombia, is described as new, and illustrated, based on two specimens collected in 1844. It belongs to subgenus Valeriana sect. Porteria (Hook.) Benth. & Hook f., and differs from other species of the group in its corymboid inflorescence, with dense, capitoid, partial inflorescences, and in its narrowly spathulate leaves that are remotely dentate towards apex.     

Revision of the genus Thermistis Pascoe 1867, with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Saperdini)

The genus Thermistis Pascoe 1867 is revised. T. croceocincta conjunctesignata Rondon & Breuning 1971 is upgraded to a species and newly recorded from China and Myanmar. T. xanthomelas Holzschuh 2007 is newly recorded from Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. T. sulphureonotata Pu 1984 is newly recorded from Vietnam and Laos. Three new species are described from China: T. hainanensis Lin & Yang n. sp. from Hainan Island, T. kaiyuni Chou & Kurihara n. sp. from Taiwan Island and T. cheni Lin & Chou n. sp. from Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Photographs of habitus and terminalia and a key to the eleven valid species of Thermistis are presented.     

Studies in African thelephoroid fungi: 1. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomentella capitata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomentella brunneocystidia</Emphasis>, two new species from Benin (West Africa) with capitate cystidia

This paper presents Tomentella capitata and Tomentella brunneocystidia as new species based on molecular data and anatomical features. Both T. capitata and T. brunneocystidia form sister species with Tomentella pilosa. All three taxa are well supported by bootstrap values. Anatomically, T. capitata and T. brunneocystidia are very close and are similar in shape, size, ornamentation of basidiospores, and size and colour of subicular hyphae. Monomitic rhizomorphs sometimes covered by irregularly shaped thin hyphae are present in both species. Shape and pigmentation of the cystidia are the most discriminating features between T. capitata and T. brunneocystidia. The cystidia of T. capitata are maximum 35 μm long, show a distinctive globose apex and are sometimes covered with dark brown pigmentation and/or encrustation, whereas cystidia of T. brunneocystidia are bigger, up to 55 μm long, with a sub-capitate shape and dark blue to dark green contents all over their length. The differences to species, already described as having capitate and clavate cystidia, are discussed. A key for the identification of cystidioid Tomentella species is given. Taxonomical novelties: Tomentella capitata Yorou & Agerer, Tomentella brunneocystidia Yorou & Agerer.     

Conservation in the community: the Kilum-Ijim Forest Project,Cameroon

Thomas, D.H.L., Anders, S. & Penn, N.J. 2000. Conservation in the community: the Kilum-Ijim Forest Project, Cameroon. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 157–161.

BirdLife International has worked for ten years in Cameroon's North-West Province to assist the local people and government of Cameroon in achieving the conservation and sutainable management of the last significant remnant of a unique montane forest ecosystem. The Kilum/Ijim forests are almost certainly the last remaining habitat for the conservation of two endemic and threatened bird species, Bannerman's Turaco Tauraco bannermani and Banded Wattle-eye Platytiera laticincta. The forests have no legal designation as formal protected areas but have been conserved through local concern and knowledge of the multiple values of an intact forest ecosystem, backed up by the enforcement of traditional regulations, and support from the project to finding solutions to peoples' land use and natural resource management needs within and outside the forests. The project is now working under the umbrella of a national Biodiversity Conservation and Management Programme in Cameroon, funded by the Global Environment Facility, to establish the Kilum/Ijirn as the first community-managed forest in the country. A brief history and background to the project is presented, with emphasis on lessons learned by BiraLife and the success of current efforts to achieve the conservation of the forests through community management. The issues are discussed in the general context of an integrated conservation and development programme (ICDP).