Dragma Hippomanicum III: Novitates Californicae

Two new taxa are described from California:Astragalus (sect.Flexuosi)shevockii from the Sierra Nevada in Tulare County representing a new subsect.Shevockiani; andA. lentiginosus var.piscinensis from an alkaline spring in Mono County. Rediscovery in Nevada of long-lostA. lentiginosus var.sesquimetralis and a new station for the same in Inyo County, California are reported.     

Dragma hippomanicum X: Astragali (Leguminosae) nevadenses novi criticive,singulo peruviano adjecto

One new species,Astragalus tiehmii, and two new varieties,A. convallarius var.margaretae andA. oophorus var.lavinii, are described from Nevada; the relationships of each are discussed and the first is illustrated. Two new combinations,A. eurylobus (Barneby) Barneby andA. serenoi var.shockleyi (M. E. Jones) Barneby are proposed and defended. A new species,A. bryogenes, is described from high Andean Peru (Junín).     

New species of hansteinia (acantaceae) from Colombia and Ecuador

New species of Hansteinia (Acanthacene) from Columbia and Equador, Brittonia 37: 203-208. 1985. – Two new species and a new variety, Hansteinia jamesonaii from Pichincha, Equador and H. Magdalensis and H. magdalenensis var. pilosa from the Sierra Nevada de Sta. Marta, are described, illustrated, and compared with H. charitopes their closest relative.     

Dragma Hippomanicum V: Two new Astragali from Intermountain United States

Astragalus (sect.Argophylli subsect.Pseudargophylli)holmgreniorum, from the Virgin valley along the Utah-Arizona border, and A. (sect.Reventi-Arrecti subsect. Orcuttiani)ackermanii, from S Nevada, are described, figured and discussed.     

Two new species of Habracanthus (Acanthaceae) from Colombia

Two new Colombian species ofHabracanthus,H. malacus from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta andH. latifolius from the Sierra de Perijá, are described, illustrated, and compared withH. antipharmacus, their closest relative.     

Ivesia aperta var. canina (Rosaceae), new from California

A new variety,Ivesia aperta var.canina, is described from Dog Valley, Sierra County, Nevada. It differs from the typical variety and approachesI. sericoleuca in its larger, paler yellow petals; longer filaments and styles; and decumbent-ascending vs ascending-erect stems. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01CT146 00004     

Notes on endangered buckwheats (Eriogonum: Polygonaceae) with three newly described from the western United States

Three unnamed buckwheats listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in December 1980 as potentially endangered or threatened plants are formally proposed:E. crosbyae from Lake Co., Oregon;E. grande var.dunklei from San Miguel Island, Santa Barbara Co., California; andE. ovalifolium var.williamsiae from Washoe Co., Nevada. Several other species proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service as potentially endangered or threatened (E. allenii, E. correllii, E. eremicum, E. floridanum, E. lemmonii, E. sp./sp. nov. ined. [=E.libertini], E. tumulosum, E. umbellatum var./var. nov. ined.,E. umbellatum var.minus, E. vestitum, andE. zionis var.coccineum) are discussed and evidence is given why they cannot be considered endangered or threatened under the present Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.     

New genera and species of ericaceae (Vaccinieae) from Costa Rica and Panama

Two new monotypic genera,Didonica andUtleya, are described, withD. pendula from Panama andU. costaricensis from Costa Rica.Disterigma trimera (Panama),D. utleyorum (Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador),Lateropora santafeensis (Panama),Lysiclesia panamensis (Panama),Macleania talamancensis (Costa Rica),Themistoclesia costaricensis (Costa Rica) andT. horquetensis (Panama),Vaccinium costaricense andV. orosiense (both from Costa Rica) and V.jefense (Panama) are all described as new. New combinations are provided for the PanamanianVaccinium floccosum (=Symphysia floccosa) and the West IndianVaccinium racemosum (=Symphysia racemosa). Keys are provided for the Central American species ofDisterigma andThemistoclesia, the species ofLateropora andLysiclesia, and the Costa Rican and Panamanian species ofVaccinium. Six new species are illustrated.     

New taxa and combinations in Malvastrum A. Gray (Malvaceae: Malveae)

The genusMalvastrum A. Gray is interpreted to include 22 taxa in 14 species. Seven taxa are here described as new, namely:M. americanum var.stellatum,M. tomentosum subsp.pautense,M. bicuspidatum subsp.campanulatum,M. bicuspidatum subsp.oaxacanum, M. bicuspidatum subsp.tumidum var.tumidum, M. bicuspidatum subsp.tumidum var.glabrum, andM. coromandelianum subsp.fryxellii. In addition, two new combinations are proposed, namely:M. tomentosum andM. coromandelianum subsp.capitato-spicatum.     

Mycopteris,a new neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae)

Mycopteris, a new genus of grammitid ferns, is described and combinations are made for the species that belong to it. Mycopteris is diagnosed by castaneous rhizome scales with turgid cells, usually pectinate laminae, blackish petioles and rachises, blackish pinna costae and veins, reddish setae, cretaceous hydathodes, glabrous sporangia, and the presence of Acrospermum ascomes. It is entirely neotropical, ranging from Mexico east into the West Indies and south to Bolivia. Mycopteris is one of two genera of grammitid ferns that are consistently associated with Acrospermum, an epibiotic ascomycete that produces black clavate fruiting bodies. Seventeen species of Mycopteris are recognized here, including one new species (M. longipilosa) and one elevated from the rank of variety to species (M. costaricensis). The following additional combinations are made here: M. alsopteris, M. amphidasyon, M. attenuatissima, M. cretata, M. grata, M. leucolepis, M. leucostica, M. longicaulis, M. pirrensis, M. praeceps, M. semihirsuta, M. steyermarkii, M. subtilis, M. taxifolia, and M. zeledoniana. Lectotypes are chosen for Ctenopteris leucosticta, Polypodium amphidasyon, and Polypodium pectinatum var. hispidum. For each accepted species, full synonymy and geographical range are provided. Taxonomic discussion is provided for species not widely recognized in previous treatments.     

New variety and nomenclatural changes in neotropical Gaultheria (ericaceae)

Gaultheria sclerophylla var.hirsuta Luteyn from Ecuador is described, illustrated, and discussed, and the following new combinations are validated:Gaultheria buxifolia var.elassantha (A. C. Smith) Luteyn,G. buxifolia var.secunda (E. J. Remy) Luteyn,G. lanigera var. rufolanata (Sleumer) Luteyn,G. strigosa var.revoluta (A. C. Smith) Luteyn,G. eriophylla var.mucronata (E. J. Remy) Luteyn,G. alnifolia var.grata (A. C. Smith) Luteyn,G. serrata (Vell. Conc.) Sleumer ex Kinoshita-Gouvêa.     

New penstemons (scrophulariaceae) from the intermountain region

Four new species,Penstemon janishiae,P. barnebyi,P. mucronatus andP. patricus, and three new varieties,P. dolius var.duchesnensis. P. angustifolius var. vernalensis andP. acuminatus var.latebracteatus, all from the Intermountain Region, are described, illustrated and mapped, and relationships with next of kin are discussed.     

Studies in the cyperaceae of Thailand II. Miscellaneous taxa of fimbristylideae,rhynchosporeae, scirpeae and sclerieae

Seven Thai species of Cyperaceae are taxonomically discussed, and references are made to two related Vietnamese species. Described as new areEleocharis macrorrhiza,Fimbristylis parvilenta,F. subtricephala (from Vietnam) andSchoenus smitinandii. New combinations made areBolboschoenus maritimus subsp.affinis. Diplacrum exiguum (from Vietnam),Rhynchospora hirticeps andSchoenoplectus annamicus.     

Revision of Plerandra (Araliaceae). I. A synopsis of the genus with an expanded circumscription and a new infrageneric classification

Phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Schefflera, the largest genus of Araliaceae, is grossly polyphyletic, comprising five distinct clades within the family. In an effort to establish monophyletic genera among the elements that currently comprise Schefflera, the genus Plerandra is expanded to encompass all of the members of one of these clades. In this synoptical revision, a new infrageneric classification is presented (along with a key) in which six subgenera are recognized. Four of these subgenera are newly described (Plerandra subgenera Canacoschefflera, Costatae, Gabriellarum, and Veilloniorum) and a fifth represents a new combination (Plerandra subg. Dizygotheca). A total of 33 species (one with two subspecies) are accepted, one of which is newly described (P. veilloniorum), and 22 new combinations are made (P. actinostigma, P. baillonii, P. cabalionii, P. costata, P. crassipes, P. elegantissima, P. elongata, P. emiliana, P. gabriellae, P. leptophylla, P. nono, P. osyana, P. osyana subsp. toto, P. pachyphylla, P. pancheri, P. plerandroides, P. polydactylis, P. reginae, P. seemanniana, P. tannae, P. vanuatua, P. veitchii). Neotypes are provided for six accepted names and one heterotypic synonym, and lectotypes are designated for 13 accepted names and 16 heterotypic synonyms. For each accepted species, full synonymy is provided along with geographic range and notes.     

Four new species of genus Cordia (Cordiaceae, Boraginales) from Brazil

We describe four new species of Cordia (Cordiaceae) from Brazil: Cordia fusca, C. glabrifolia, C. restingae, and C. tarodae. These are illustrated, and data on habitat, phenology, and distribution are provided.     

New combinations for Panicum subgenus Panicum and subgenus Dichanthelium (Poaceae) of the Southeastern United States

Twenty-two new varietal combinations are made for the treatment of the genusPanicum of the Southeastern United States. The following 3 new combinations are made in the subgenusPanicum:Panicum rigidulum var.elongatum, P. rigidulum var.pubescens, P. rigidulum var.combsii. The following 19 new combinations are made in the subgenusDichanthelium:P. strigosum var.glabrescens P. strigosum var.leucoblepharis, P. dichotomum var.roanokense, P. dichotomum var.lucidum, P. dichotomum var.ramulosum, p. dichotomum var.mattamuskeetense, P. dichotomum var.yadkinense, P. ensifolium var.curtifolium, P. chamaelonche var.breve, P. portoricense var.nashianum, P. acuminatum var.fasciculatum, P. acuminatum var.unciphyllum, P. acuminatum var.columbianum, P. acuminatum var.lindheimeri, P. acuminatum var.densiflorum, P. acuminatum varlongiligulatum, P. acuminatum var.leucothrix, P. ovale var.pseudopubescens, andP. ovale var.villosum.     

New taxa of Apiaceae,Hydrophyllaceae and Saxifragaceae from Oregon and Idaho

One new taxon from Idaho,Saxifraga bryophora A. Gray var.tobiasiae, and two from Oregon,Cymopterus acaulis (Pursh) Raf. var.gree-Ieyorum andPhacelia lutea (Hook. & Arn.)J. T. Howell var.mackenzieorum are described and compared with their nearest relatives.     

New taxa from the Venezuelan Guayana

Seven new taxa, mainly from the Guayana Highland of Venezuela, are described. These include four new species (Cottendorfia atrorosea, Navia emergens, Navia ovoidea, and Pitcairnia nematophora) and one new variety (Cottendorfia brachyphylla var. angustior) of Bromeliaceae, one new species (Swartzia cowanii) of Leguminosae, and one new species (Marlierea pudica) of Myrtaceae.     

Enhanced β-turn conformational stability of tripeptides containing ΔPhe in cis over trans configuration

Conformations of three pairs of dehydropeptides with the opposite configuration of the ΔPhe residue, Boc-Gly-Δ^Z/EPhe-Phe-p-NA (Z- p -NA and E- p -NA), Boc-Gly-Δ^Z/EPhe-Phe-OMe (Z-OMe and E-OMe), and Boc-Gly-Δ^Z/EPhe-Phe-OH (Z-OH and E-OH) were compared on the basis of CD and NMR studies in MeOH, TFE, and DMSO. The CD results were used as the additional input data for the NMR-based calculations of the detailed solution conformations of the peptides. It was found that Z- p -NA, E- p -NA, Z-OMe, and Z-OH adopt the β-turn conformations and E-OMe and E-OH are unordered. There are two overlapping type III β-turns in Z- p -NA, type II’ β-turn in E- p -NA, and type II β-turn in Z-OMe and Z-OH. The results obtained indicate that in the case of methyl esters and peptides with a free carboxyl group, Δ^ZPhe is a much stronger inducer of ordered conformations than Δ^EPhe. It was also found that temperature coefficients of the amide protons are not reliable indicators of intramolecular hydrogen bonds donors in small peptides.     

New species and combinations in Houstonia (Rubiaceae)

Two new species are described:Houstonia butterwickiae from Texas andH. teretifolia from Mexico, and two new combinations are made:H. acerosa subsp.polypremoides andH. mullerae.