<Emphasis Type="Italic">Funastrum rupicola</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apocynaceae:</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">Asclepiadoideae</Emphasis>), a new species from Bolivia

Summary   Funastrum rupicola Goyder, a new species of Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae from Bolivia, is described and illustrated. The conservation status of this species is assessed.     

Phylogenetic evaluation of anamorphic species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cirrenalia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cumulospora</Emphasis> with the description of eight new genera and four new species

Four new helicoid anamorphic fungi collected from marine habitats in Egypt and Japan are described. Three marine and one terrestrial Cirrenalia species along with two Cumulospora species and the four new fungi were sequenced for LSU and SSU rDNA. Phylogenetic analyses of the generated sequences, along with those from GenBank, confirmed the polyphyly of the genera Cirrenalia and Cumulospora, and new genera are erected to accommodate the displaced species. Eight new genera, four new species and six new combinations are made: 1. Halazoon anam.-gen. nov. (Halazoon melhae sp. nov., H. fuscus for Cirrenalia fusca), 2. Moheitospora anam.-gen. nov. (Moheitospora fruticosae sp. nov., M. adarca for Cirrenalia adarca), 3. Moleospora anam.-gen nov. (Moleospora maritima sp. nov.), and 4. Glomerulispora anam.-gen. nov. (Glomerulispora mangrovis sp. nov); Cirrenalia pygmea, Cirrenalia tropicale and Cumulospora varius are transferred to the new genera, 5. Hydea anam.-gen. nov, 6. Matsusporium anam.-gen. nov., and 7. Moromyces anam.-gen. nov., respectively. These genera can be assigned to the order Lulworthiales, TBM (Torpedospora/Bertia/Melanospora) clade, while Cirrenalia macrocephala is nested within the order Halosphaeriales. Few morphological characters delineate the genera and species assigned to the Lulworthiales and this aspect is discussed in relation to the molecular data. The phylogenetic position of the terrestrial species, Cirrenalia japonica, shows that it is a member of the order Pleosporales, and a new genus, 8. Hiogispora anam.-gen. nov. is proposed for the fungus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Typhonium stigmatilobatum</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Araceae</Emphasis> tribe <Emphasis Type="Italic">Areae</Emphasis>), a new species from Vietnam

Summary   Typhonium stigmatilobatum V. D. Nguyen, a new species from Vietnam, is described and illustrated.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis> species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccanthera</Emphasis> subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis>

A revision of Penstemon sect. Saccanthera subsect. Serrulati includes a new species (P. salmonensis), a new variety (P. triphyllus var. infernalis), and the elevation of a subspecies to species (P. curtiflorus), bringing the total number of species to eight, which are keyed and described, complete with nomenclature and type citations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>1<Emphasis Type="Italic">/copia</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>3<Emphasis Type="Italic">/gypsy</Emphasis>-like DNA sequences in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus </Emphasis>species

Two repeated DNA sequences isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Helianthus annuus, p HaS13 and p HaS211, were shown to represent portions of the int gene of a Ty3 /gypsy retroelement and of the RNase-Hgene of a Ty1 /copia retroelement, respectively. Southern blotting patterns obtained by hybridizing the two probes to BglII- or DraI-digested genomic DNA from different Helianthus species showed p HaS13 and p HaS211 were parts of dispersed repeats at least 8 and 7 kb in length, respectively, that were conserved in all species studied. Comparable hybridization patterns were obtained in all species with p HaS13. By contrast, the patterns obtained by hybridizing p HaS211 clearly differentiated annual species from perennials. The frequencies of p HaS13- and p HaS211-related sequences in different species were 4.3x10(4)-1.3x10(5) copies and 9.9x10(2)-8.1x10(3) copies per picogram of DNA, respectively. The frequency of p HaS13-related sequences varied widely within annual species, while no significant difference was observed among perennial species. Conversely, the frequency variation of p HaS211-related sequences was as large within annual species as within perennials. Sequences of both families were found to be dispersed along the length of all chromosomes in all species studied. However, Ty3 /gypsy-like sequences were localized preferentially at the centromeric regions, whereas Ty1/ copia-like sequences were less represented or absent around the centromeres and plentiful at the chromosome ends. These findings suggest that the two sequence families played a role in Helianthusgenome evolution and species divergence, evolved independently in the same genomic backgrounds and in annual or perennial species, and acquired different possible functions in the host genomes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cambessedesia tiradentensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Melastomataceae</Emphasis>), a new species from Brazil

Summary  A new and probably endemic species of Cambessedesia DC. is described from campo rupestre vegetation, as part of a floristic survey of Melastomataceae from the S?o José mountain range, Tiradentes District, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Miscellaneous  Accepted for publication April 2008.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bulbophyllum fendlerianum</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orchidaceae</Emphasis>), a new species from Venezuela

Summary   Bulbophyllum fendlerianum is newly described based on a collection of August Fendler in Venezuela, deposited at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was previously confused with B. manarae, but differs significantly from the latter species in its petal and lip shape, particularly the callus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaphoglossum mickeliorum</Emphasis> (Dryopteridaceae), a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaphoglossum</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polytrichia</Emphasis> from Peru

Elaphoglossum mickeliorum, a new species from the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes, is here described and illustrated. It belongs to E. sect. Polytrichia, which is characterized by the presence of subulate scales and absence of hydathodes on the sterile leaves of adult sporophytes. Herbarium specimens of this new species were first collected by Alwyn H. Gentry ca. 40 years ago, but these got readily confused with E. erinaceum and went undescribed since then. The new species differs from members of the E. erinaceum complex by having a nearly continuous band of planar, nonsubulate scales along the laminar margins of sterile leaves. Based on this character, E. mickeliorum resembles species such as E. glaziovii, E. ornatum, and E. scolopendrifolium. It differs from these by the presence of minute glandular hairs on petioles and costae. A distribution map and a figure with line drawings are also provided. For comparative purposes, the line drawing includes E. blepharoglottis, which is here illustrated for the first time.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria khalkhalensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria</Emphasis>, Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Iran

Summary   Linaria khalkhalensis Hamdi & Assadi is described as a new species from Azerbaijan and Guilan provinces (northern Iran), belonging to Linaria sect. Linaria. It is close to Linaria lineolata Boiss. and L. elymaitica (Boiss.) Kuprian., which it resembles in habit and vegetative features. However, floral and seed characters together with a distinctive geographical distribution, warrant recognition at the species rank. An illustration of the new species, a distribution map, scanning electron micrographs of seed and capsule surfaces, and an identification key are also included.     

A new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dactylella</Emphasis> species from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orbilia alba</Emphasis>

A new Dactylella species, Dactylella alba was isolated from the ascospores of Orbilia alba collected in Wenshan County, Yunnan Province, China. Conidiophores were either not branched or occasionally branched, bearing divergent sterigmata on the tip with single conidium on each. Conidia were elongated ellipsoids, 1–2 septate, mostly 1 septate. By combining the ITS sequence with morphological characteristics, a new anamorphic species is described and illustrated together with its teleomorph.     

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">Amanita concentrica</Emphasis>: a new species in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amanita</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amanita</Emphasis> from Japan

Amanita concentrica sp. nov. is described from an evergreen broad-leaved forest of Chiba Prefecture with Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii and Quercus glauca. The fungus is a medium to large, white to yellowish-white mushroom characterized by many pyramidal warts on pileus, striate margin of pileus, distinct ascending concen-tric rings at upper part of stipe bulb, and inamyloid basidiospores. It is considered to belong to the section Amanita. Received: March 30, 2001 / Accepted: October 1, 2001     

Four new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllosticta</Emphasis>, one new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudocercospora</Emphasis>, and one new combination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Passalora</Emphasis> from Japan

During a survey of plant-inhabiting fungi in a botanical garden in Japan, some noteworthy fungi were collected from leaf spots of some herbal and arboreal plants. Among them, five new species are described, namely: Phyllosticta. ardisiicola on Ardisia crenata, Phy. aspidistricola on Aspidistra elatior, Phy. kerriae on Kerria japonica, Phy. fallopiae on Fallopia japonica, and Pseudocercospora davidiicola on Davidia involucrata. Passalora pyrrosiae, a new combination for Pseudocercospora pyrrosiae on Pyrrosia lingua, is proposed based on its morphological characteristics designating the neotype specimen.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sativumoides</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cladosporiopsis</Emphasis>, two new genera of hyphomycetes from China

Sativumoides punicae gen. et sp. nov. and Cladosporiopsis ovata gen. et sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Sativumoides is characterized by macronematous, individual, percurrently extending conidiophores, integrated, monoblastic, apical, lageniform conidiogenous cells, and single, apical, pale brown to brown, garlic-bulb-shaped dictyosporous conidia with predominantly longitudinal septa. Cladosporiopsis is unique in possessing pigmented, apiosporous conidia seceding schizolytically from integrated, monoblastic, determinate conidiogenous cells; the conidia, arising from the sides or ends of ramoconidia, form short, acropetal chains. Sativumoides is compared with similar anamorphic genera including Triposporium, Iyengarina, Acrodictys, Actinocladium, Piricaudiopsis, Cheiroidea, Stephanoma, Domingoella, Acrogenospora and Shrungabeeja. The distinctions between Cladosporiopsis and similar genera including Cladosporium, Ochrocladosporium, Rachicladosporium, Rhizacladosporium, Toxicocladosporium, Ramularia, Bispora, Lylea and Devriesia are also discussed. Keys to these two novel genera and their morphologically similar genera are provided.     

A new methanol assimilating yeast, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ogataea</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">parapolymorpha</Emphasis>, the ascosporic state of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">parapolymorpha</Emphasis>

Ogataea parapolymorpha sp. n. (NRRL YB-1982, CBS 12304, type strain), the ascosporic state of Candida parapolymorpha, is described. The species appears homothallic, assimilates methanol as is typical of most Ogataea species and forms hat-shaped ascospores in asci that become deliquescent. O. parapolymorpha is closely related to Ogataea angusta and Ogataea polymorpha. The three species can be resolved from gene sequence analyses but are unresolved from fermentation and growth reactions that are typically used for yeast identification. On the basis of multiple isolates, O. angusta is known only from California, USA, in association with Drosophila and Aulacigaster flies, O. parapolymorpha is predominantly associated with insect frass from trees in the eastern USA but O. polymorpha has been isolated from various substrates in the USA, Brazil, Spain and Costa Rica.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microlimus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Simbosia</Emphasis> (Limidae,Bivalvia), two new genera from the Upper Eocene of Ukraine

Two new bivalve genera and three new species of the family Limidae from the Upper Eocene of Ukraine are described.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mellonella</Emphasis> are Resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">murina</Emphasis> Infection

Studying Pneumocystis has proven to be a challenge from the perspective of propagating a significant amount of the pathogen in a facile manner. The study of several fungal pathogens has been aided by the use of invertebrate model hosts. Our efforts to infect the invertebrate larvae Galleria mellonella with Pneumocystis proved futile since P. murina neither caused disease nor was able to proliferate within G. mellonella. It did, however, show that the pathogen could be rapidly cleared from the host.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of callus cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crataegus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aronia</Emphasis>

A genetic transformation system has been developed for callus cells of Crataegus aronia using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Callus culture was established from internodal stem segments incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5 mg l⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA). In order to optimize the callus culture system with respect to callus growth and coloration, different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators were tested. Results indicated that the best average fresh weight of red colored callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.5 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kin) (callus maintenance medium). Callus cells were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium harboring the binary plasmid pCAMBIA1302 carrying the mgfp5 and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) genes conferring green fluorescent protein (GFP) activity and hygromycin resistance, respectively. Putative transgenic calli were obtained 4 weeks after incubation of the co-cultivated explants onto maintenance medium supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the transgenes in transformed callus. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in Crataegus aronia.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lirula</Emphasis> on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies</Emphasis> from Japan

Two new species of Lirula (L. japonica and L. exigua) on Abies mariesii collected in subalpine areas of northern Japan are described as members of Rhytismatales, Discomycetes. Lirula japonica causes needle cast in fir, but L. exigua seems to occur on the needles of physically damaged twigs. Morphological characteristics of both species are discussed.