Revision of the species of the Tychus rufus group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)

The species belonging to Tychus rufus group are revised. Eleven species are recognized, described and illustrated and a key to their identification is provided. Nine taxa are new to science: Tychus carpathius n. sp. from Karpathos island (Greece); T. torticornis n. sp. from Lesbos Island (Greece); T. pisidicus n. sp. and T. inermis n. sp. from southwestern Turkey; T. antiocheus n. sp. and T. effeminatus n. sp. from southeastern Turkey; T. artvinensis n. sp. from northeastern Turkey, and T. sidonicus n. sp. and T. libanus n. sp. from Lebanon.     

Conformational behaviours of 2-substituted cyclohexanones: a complete basis set,hybrid-DFT study and NBO interpretation

The generalised anomeric effect (GAE) and gauche effect (GE) associated with donor–acceptor delocalisations, dipole–dipole interactions and total steric exchange energies (TSEE) on the conformational properties of 2-methoxy- (1), 2-methylthio- (2), 2-methylseleno- (3), 2-fluoro- (4), 2-chloro- (5) and 2-bromocyclohexanone (6) have been studied by means of ab initio and hybrid density functional theory methods and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. All methods used showed that the axial conformation stability increased from 2-methoxy- (1) to 2-methylselenocyclohexanone (3) and also from 2-fluoro- (4) to 2-bromocyclohexanone (6), which is in agreement with reported NMR data. The results obtained by complete basis set 4 (CBS-4), B3LYP/6-311+G** and HF/6-311+G** levels for compounds 1, 5 and 6 are very similar, but the CBS-4 results for compound 4 are not in agreement with the reported experimental data (vapour phase). The NBO analysis showed that the GAE increases from compounds 1 to 3 and also from compounds 4 to 6. The low axial conformer populations of compounds 1 and 4 can be reasonably explained by their small GAE. GE does not have significant impact on the conformational behaviours of compounds 1–6 and GAE succeeds in accounting qualitatively for the increase in the axial preferences in both series of compounds. The results showed that the calculated Δ(TSEE_eq–ax) values decrease from compounds 4 to 6 which contradicts the suggested arguments in the literature about these compounds. On the other hand, the calculated differences between the dipole moment values of the axial and equatorial conformations, Δ(μ_eq ? μ_ax), increase from compounds 1 to 2, but decrease from compounds 2 to 3 and also decrease from compounds 4 to 6. The calculated GAE values are more significant for the explanation of the conformational preferences of compounds 1–6 than the dipole–dipole repulsion effects. The correlations between the GAE, GE, dipole–dipole interactions, Wiberg Bond Index, TSEE, donor and acceptor orbital energies and occupancies, structural parameters and conformational behaviour of compounds 1–6 have been investigated.     

Increments to the genus Mimosa (Mimosaceae) from South America

Four new species are described and discussed: from BoliviaM. (sect.Habbasia ser.Setosae)huanchacae; from SE brazilM. (sect.Habbasia ser.Pachycarpae)chiliomera andM. (sect.Mimosa)murex; and from EcuadorM. (sect.Mimosa subser.Polycarpae)Loxensis. The two Brazilian species are illustrated.     

Notes on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepraria</Emphasis> s.l. (Lecanoromycetes,Ascomycota) in North America: New species,new reports,and preliminary keys

Six new species of Lepraria are described from North America: L. barbatica, L. cryophila, L. disjuncta, L. moroziana, L. terricola, and L. xanthonica. Lepraria torii is discussed and its range extended to include boreal eastern North America. Lepraria aurescens is reported as new to North America from Florida. Preliminary keys to the genus in North America are presented.     

Three new species,a new combination,and a neotypification in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dahlstedtia</Emphasis> (Leguminosae,Millettieae, Papilionoideae) from South America

Three new species of Dahlstedtia, D. burkartii, D. dehiscens, and D. lewisiana, are described from South America, and their relationships with related species are discussed. Dahlstedtia burkartii, from Argentina, has pink flowers with standard straight, whereas D. dehiscens and D. lewisiana, both from Brazil, have purplish to lilac flowers with a reflexed standard petal. A new combination, Dahlstedtia peckoltii, is proposed based on Lonchocarpus peckoltii and a neotype is selected for the latter. Information about geographic distribution and phenology of the species is provided.     

Contributions à la réorganisation systématique des Peritelini ouest-paléarctiques. IX. Révision du genre Meira Jacquelin du Val 1852 (Coleoptera : Curculionidae : Entiminae)

The genus Meira Jacquelin du Val 1852 is revised, four lectotypes and a neotype are designated, a new synonymy is proposed and four new species from France – one from Alpes-Maritimes (Meira alpina n. sp.), two from Var (M. echinoides n. sp. and M. teloniensis n. sp.), one from Vaucluse (M. germanni n. sp.) and one from Italy, from Abruzzo (M. osellai n. sp.) are described,. Synonyms, bibliographic and ecological data are provided. Whole-body photos of the types of the old species and of the four new species, drawings of systematically important characters, keys and distribution maps are also presented.     

Transfers to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Simsia</Emphasis> and description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Davilanthus</Emphasis>, a new genus of Asteraceae (Heliantheae)

Taxonomic changes are made to reflect a reassessment of morphology based on the results of molecular phylogenetic studies. A new genus, Davilanthus, is described to include six species that collectively form the sister group to Simsia, and includes the following species transferred from Viguiera: Davilanthus davilae, Davilanthus hidalgoanus, Davilanthus hypargyreus, Davilanthus huajuapanus, Davilanthus purpusii, and Davilanthus sericeus. Three species formerly placed in Viguiera ser. Grammatoglossae are transferred to Simsia: Simsia benziorum, Simsia ovata, and Simsia rhombifolia.     

Increments to genus Chamaecrista (Caesalpiniaceae: Cassiinae) from Bolivia and from Atlantic and Planaltine Brazil

Six taxa of genusChamaecrista are described: In sect.Apoucouita (Bentham) Irwin & Barneby,Ch. amorimii Barneby andCh. pteropoda Barneby, both from Atlantic Bahia; in sect.Absus ser.Incurvatae Irwin & Barneby,Ch. caspariifolia Barneby andCh. linearifolia var.latifolia Barneby, both from interior Minas Gerais; in sect.Absus ser.Hedysaroides Irwin & Barneby,Ch. fulgida Barneby, from northern Goiás; and in ser.Prostratae (Bentham) Irwin & Barneby,Ch. chiquitana Barneby, from lowland Bolivia. The affinities and differential characters of each are pointed out, and all but var.latifolia are illustrated.     

Program MULDER -- a tool for extracting torsion angles from NMR data

MULDER (Mostly UniversaL Dihedral angle ExtractoR) is a program for extraction of torsion angle information from NMR data. Currently, it can analyze two types of input data: The torsion angle data, where several ³J-coupling constants and/or interatomic distances are combined in order to reduce the torsion angle ambiguity arising from solving the isolated Karplus (or distance) equation, and the sugar pucker data, where the dynamics of five-membered sugar rings is evaluated by postprocessing the results calculated from ³J_(HH) coupling constants by program PSEUROT. Program MULDER can be used either as an alternative to r-MD programs in situations where only specific structural features are studied, or as a preparatory tool in connection with full r-MD structure calculation for extraction of unambiguous torsion angle restraints.     

Six new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Timonius</Emphasis> (Rubiaceae: Guettardeae) from Papuasia

Six new species of Timonius (T. alius, T. bosaviensis, T. creber, T. cyathicalyx, T. insularis, and T. pullenii) are described from New Guinea and surrounding islands. The new species are illustrated and notes are provided on their habitat, distribution and phenology. None of the new species is readily assignable to any previously recognized subgenus or species-group.     

Descriptions of new Neotropical Lycoperdininae (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) and their phylogenetic placement

Two new genera and three new species of Lycoperdininae (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) from South America, are described and illustrated based on adults: Hylaperdina n. g., along with H. brevicornis n. sp. from Ecuador and H. costariciensis n. sp. from Costa Rica, and Chileanus n. g., along with C. talca n. sp. from Chile. Their most likely placement within the Lycoperdininae is discussed. A key to genera of the neotropical Lycoperdininae is provided.     

A synopsis of Costa Rican Ruellia (Acanthaceae), with descriptions of four new species

We describe four new species of Ruellia from Costa Rica; three from the Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas province (R. exilis, R. mira, R. odorata), and one from the southwestern corner of San José province (R. norvegigratiosa). Ruellia matagalpae is reported as a new record for the country. New combinations are made in Ruellia for the two Costa Rican species of Blechum (R. blechum and R. costaricensis). Three species are reduced to synonymy, and another species is considered doubtfully worthy of recognition. Notable range extensions are reported for two species. Corollas and fruits of all 22 Costa Rican species of Ruellia are shown and compared as easily used identification aids. An informal guide to species groups and a dichotomous key to the 22 species are presented.     

New Hypogastrura species and new distributional data for Hypogastrura distincta (Axelson 1902) from China (Collembola: Poduromorpha: Hypogastruridae)

Two new species, Hypogastrura analpapillata n. sp., on mushrooms from Yunnan Province, and Hypogastrura microspinata n. sp., on moss from Hunan Province, are described. Hypogastrura analpapillata n. sp. is the sixth species with highly modified mouthparts in the trybomi group. Hypogastrura microspinata n. sp. is close to H. yosii Stach 1964, but can be differentiated from the latter by body granules, tenent hair and lateral teeth on tibiotarsus. A key to Chinese species of Hypogastrura is provided and a list of Chinese Hypogastrura species and their distributional data are given.     

Synthesis of Optically Pure (R)-4a-Methyl-4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-2(3H)-naphthalenone and Its Transformation into (+)-7-Hydroxycostal

A novel synthesis of the enone 12 starting from (+)-dihydrocarvone (3) and its transformation into (+)-7-hydroxycostal (1) are described. The ketone 10, obtained from 4 through a four-step sequence was converted to 12 by acid-catalyzed elimination and subsequent regioselective hydrogenation. Alternatively, the methoxyhydroperoxide 13 generated by the ozonolysis of 4 was subjected to the Criegee rearrangement, providing a mixture of 10 and 14, which on acid treatment, gave 11. Transformation of 12 into 19 was accomplished via a five-step reaction sequence. The reaction of 19 with the lithium alkoxide of 2-lithio-2-propenol afforded (+)-7-hydroxycostol (2), whose oxidation with manganese dioxide gave rise to (+)-7-hydroxycostal (1).     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocotea</Emphasis> (Lauraceae) from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">campos rupestres</Emphasis> of Brazil

Three new hermaphrodite species of Ocotea (Lauraceae) from the campos rupestres of Brazil are described and illustrated: Ocotea pumila, which is known from Bahia state; and Ocotea colophanthera and Ocotea rupestris both from Minas Gerais state. Their diagnostic features are pointed out, and a discussion of their relationships to other species of Ocotea is provided.     

Stenogrammitis, a new genus of grammitid ferns segregated from Lellingeria (Polypodiaceae)

Stenogrammitis , a new genus of grammitid ferns, is segregated from Lellingeria based on morphological and molecular evidence. It differs from Lellingeria by linear leaves usually less than 5 mm wide, clathrate iridescent rhizome scales that are glabrous except for a single apical cilium, veins unbranched and only one per segment, fertile veins usually with the dark sclerenchyma visible beneath the sporangia, and x = 33. In contrast, Lellingeria has broader laminae, veins pinnate within the segments, and fertile veins not visible beneath the sporangia. Melpomene, which is sister to Stenogrammitis and Lellingeria, differs from those two genera by reddish setae on the leaves and rhizome scales papillate at the apex. Some species of Stenogrammitis are also distinctive by hemidimorphic laminae that have the fertile portion less dissected than the sterile. Stenogrammitis is pantropical and currently comprises 24 species, 12 of which occur in the Neotropics, six in Africa, four in Madagascar, and two on Pacific Islands. New combinations are made for Stenogrammitis aethiopica, S. anamorphosa, S. ascensionensis, S. boivinii, S. delitescens, S. jamesonii, S. hartii, S. hellwigii, S. hildebrandtii, S. limula, S. luetzelburgii, S. myosuroides, S. nutata, S. oosora, S. paucipinnata, S. prionodes, S. pumila, S. ruglessii, S. rupestris, S. saffordii, S. strangeana, S. tomensis, S. subcoriacea, and S. wittigiana. Lectotypifications are made for Grammitis muscosa, Polypodium itatiayense, P. oosorum var. micropecten, P. serrulatum forma major, P. serrulatum forma minor, S. luetzelburgii, S. myosuroides, and S. wittigiana. Illustrations are presented for the diagnostic characters of the genus, as well as a map with the geographical distribution.     

A revision of the Chinese Catops Paykull 1798 of the Catops fuscus species group (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae)

Five species of the Catops fuscus species group are reported from China. Three species are newly described: C. hlisnikovskyi n. sp. from the Beijing municipality and Jiangsu province, C. schuelkei n. sp. from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and C. smetanai n. sp. from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Female of C. sasajii Nishikawa 2007 is described and the species is reported from Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces for the first time. Catops nigricans (Spence 1813) is reported for the first time from China (Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region). Important morphological characters are illustrated and the distribution of all species in China is mapped. Preliminar phylogenetic analysis separates (C. hlisnikovskyi n. sp.+C. fuscus fuscus Panzer 1794) as a sister clade to C. nigricans+(C. sasajii+(C. schuelkei n. sp.+C. smetanai n. sp.)), with C. paramericanus Peck & Cook 2002 as outgroup.