Lectotypification of Buxbaumia aphylla Hedw. and B. aphylla var. viridis DC. (Buxbaumiaceae)

Abstract

The two species of Buxbaumia Hedw. known to occur in Europe were both originally discovered on this continent and were the earliest in the genus (as presently delimited) to be described. Already widely known, Buxbaumia aphylla Hedw., was validated by Johannes Hedwig in 1801, whereas B. viridis (DC.) Moug. & Nestl. was initially described as a variety of B. aphylla by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1815. After two centuries in the bryological literature, these taxa are herein effectively typified. Lectotypes for the names B. aphylla and B. viridis are designated based on original herbarium sheets from the Hedwig-Schwägrichen and De Candolle collections in G.     

Predicting the distribution of a rare species of moss: The case of Buxbaumia viridis (Bryopsida,Buxbaumiaceae)

Buxbaumia viridis is a rare policy species restricted to decaying woods in forests. Although Member States of EU are required to monitor its conservation status, specific models able to predict species distribution are still lacking. However, the availability of such models would strongly improve the efficiency in collection additional data and consequently lead to a better knowledge of its ecology. Aims of this work were (i) to provide a model for species distribution assessing the importance of different environmental variables thought to be important in setting the occurrence of Buxbaumia viridis and (ii) to test the effect of imperfect detection in defining the environmental space where the species occur. With this work, records of B. viridis increased twofold in the Alpine region of Italy, passing from 13 records to 26. We showed that on the Alps, occurrence of Buxbaumia viridis was best predicted by northness, rainfall, canopy closure and necromass. Necromass was the single most important variable. A volume of 48–61 m³/ha of necromass was identified as the threshold value determining the high probability of species occurrence. The imperfect detection probability of the species (p = 0.25), biased towards zero the importance of the environmental variables.     

Notes On Strand Plants. II. Cakile Maritima,Scop

Summary

Buxbaumia aphylla is a rare and enigmatic moss in Britain where it is found regularly and in sizeable populations only on colliery debris (‘bings’) in central Scotland. Its habitat preferences and ecology are described from a range of sites. It has persisted in quantity in several localities for over 20 years, but in other apparently suitable sites it is absent. Destruction and landscaping of bings are seen as the major threat to the species in Scotland.     

Novelties in Begonia (Begoniaceae) from the coastal forests of Brazil

Two new narrow endemic species ofBegonia from the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil,B. espiritosantensis andB. ibitiocensis, are described and illustrated.Begonia schenkii var.calvescens, an endemic taxon from the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, is transferred to species rank, and described and illustrated. A distribution map is provided for all three taxa.     

Substratum preference,spore output and temporal variation in sporophyte production of the epixylic moss Buxbaumia viridis

Abstract

Occupancy and sporophyte numbers of Buxbaumia viridis on patches of decaying wood were investigated during a 4-year period (1996-99). Temporal variation in sporophyte number was investigated in relation to precipitation. Spore number per sporophyte was counted and spore number per substratum patch area and forest area were calculated. To predict the occupancy of B. viridis on decaying logs and stumps in a forest, the patch size (suitable wood area) was the most important variable. Decomposition stage was included in the model as a quality factor, expressing the higher and more stable humidity in late wood-decay stages. The suitable wood area of each patch was determined first and foremost by the stage of decomposition and diameter of the decaying wood. Only 16% of all wood patches considered suitable for production of sporophytes were occupied. The probability of a patch being occupied increased linearly with patch size to approximately 7 dm²; above this size the probability of being colonized was close to one. Both the number of sporophytes and the number of occupied patches were correlated with precipitation amounts during the summer months, with a reduction of occupied patches of 73% in the dry year 1999, compared with mean values for 1996-98. Spore number per sporophyte was correlated with length and width of the capsule, and varied between 1.4 and 9.0 million, with a mean value of 6.0 million. It is suggested that the rarity of B. viridis is caused by a low probability of patches being occupied because of their short longevity and small size, together with the facts that the species is dioicous, short-lived, sensitive to desiccation of the substratum, and has a gametophyte that is so minute it cannot compete with larger bryophytes.     

Novelties in spermacoceae (Rubiaceae) from Bolivia and Paraguay

One new Bolivian species (Borreria pazensis) and three new varieties (Borreria densiflora var.minima, Richardia, scabra var.chacoensis andStaelia virgata var.killeenii) are described and illustrated. The genusDiodella, with three species (D. apiculata comb. nov., D. radula comb. nov., andD. teres), is reported for the first time.Borreria limae, B. wunschmannii, B. scabiosoides var.scabiosoides, andB. scabiosoides var.anderssonii are also reported as new to Bolivia.     

Three new species of the aphaenopsian trechine genus Pilosaphaenops Deuve & Tian, 2008 from South China Karst (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

Summary

Three new trechine species of the genus Pilosaphaenops Deuve & Tian, 2008, P. qianzhii n. sp. from cave Lubian Dong in Pingtang County, southern Guizhou Province, P. mengzhenae n. sp. and P. weiguofui n. sp. from cave Xia Dong in Nandan County, and cave Shenlong Gong in Huanjiang County respectively, northern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, are described and illustrated. A key to all known species of this genus is also provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:170C467F-5421-49AD-B1B1-091D8BD58B88     

Two new species of Blechnum (Blechnaceae) from the neotropics

Blechnum moranianum is a new species similar toB. loxense, andB. nigrum is segregated from theB. fragile complex. Both are described and illustrated as result of the author's taxonomic fern work in Costa Rica. Blechnum moranianum es una especie nueva similar aB. loxense, yB. nigrum es segregada del complejoB. fragile. Ambas son aquí descritas e ilustradas como resultado de los trabajos taxonómicos del autor en los helechos de Costa Rica.     

The Cyatheaceae (Polypodiopsida) of Peru

A summary is presented of all Peruvian species of scaly tree ferns (Cyatheaceae). A total of 83 species is native to Peru (Sphaeropteris 1 sp., Alsophila sect. Alsophila 9 spp., Alsophila sect. Gymnosphaera 1 sp., Cyathea 72 spp.), with 13 endemic species in Cyathea and one in Alsophila. The following new species are described and illustrated: Alsophila gastonyi, Cyathea chontilla, C. nephele, C. polliculi, and C. praetermissa. The genera Cnemidaria and Trichipteris are no longer recognized and merged in Cyathea. Necessary combinations are made for Cyathea alatissima, C. nervosa, and C. uleana. Cyathea serpens is presented in detail and its relationship is discussed. An artificial key to the Peruvian species of Cyatheaceae is provided.     

Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae)

A new genus, Bobgunnia, is established in tribe Swartzieae for the African species of Swartzia. Two new combinations are made: B. fistuloides and B. madagascariensis. The new genus has seeds, unlike the remainder of tribe Swartzieae but like the other tribes of Faboideae. The systematic position of Swartzieae is reevaluated.     

Cytogenetics of Batrachyla species (Anura: Neobatrachia: Ceratophryidae) of southern South America,with phylogenetics comments

Abstract

A comparative cytogenetic analysis showed that B. antartandica, B. leptopus, B. nibaldoi and B. taeniata share the same diploid number 2n = 26, but not the same fundamental number (FN), which was 52 in B. leptopus and 50 in the other three species. The karyotype of B. nibaldoi, including C‐band patterns and locations of the NORs, are described for the first time. The C‐band patterns were species‐specific and were helpful in distinguishing taxa. Batrachyla leptopus can be distinguished from its congeners by the absence of telocentric chromosomes and by secondary constrictions in the long arms of pair 6 and short arms of pairs 7 and 11. The chromosomal data suggest that Batrachyla might be a paraphyletic genus.     

Differences in investment and functioning of cluster roots account for different distributions of Banksia attenuata and B. sessilis,with contrasting life history

Aims

Banksia attenuata is a resprouting species growing in deep sand, while B. sessilis is a fire-killed species occurring in shallow sand over laterite or limestone. We aimed to discover the ecophysiological basis for their different distributions by exploring their investment in deep non-cluster roots and shallow cluster roots, and their cluster-root functioning.

Methods

Deep-pot (1 m), shallow-pot (400 mm), hydroponic experiments and phosphorus (P)-extraction experiment were carried out. Biomass allocation, cluster-root exudation, plant P and leaf manganese (Mn) concentrations were measured.

Results

Banksia attenuata allocated more biomass to deep roots and less biomass to cluster roots than B. sessilis did in deep pots. The two Banksias released similar carboxylates in all experiments, with similar carboxylate-exudation rates in hydroponics. The carboxylate amount per unit cluster root of B. sessilis grown in shallow pots was greater than that of B. attenuata, and B, sessilis acquired more P than B. attenuata did in limestone substrate.

Conclusions

Greater investment in deep roots for water uptake accounts for the presence of B. attenuata in deep sand, and vice versa for the absence of B. sessilis. A larger investment in cluster roots, which released greater amounts of carboxylates, likely accounts for B. sessilis occurring over limestone. Trade-offs in investment and cluster-root functioning support the species’ distribution patterns and life histories. Leaf Mn concentration was a good proxy for the plant capacity to acquire P.

     

Three new species of Parhydraenida Balfour-Browne, 1975 (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT

Three new species of Parhydraenida Balfour-Browne, 1975 are described from southeastern Brazil: P. plesioformis, sp. n.; P. proboscis sp. n.; P. unicornis sp. n. The genus Parhydraenida is recorded from Minas Gerais for the first time, and P. hygropetrica Perkins, 1980 is recorded from Rio de Janeiro for the first time. We describe one secondary sexual character, which enables, for the first time, unambiguous distinction of males and females. Habitus photographs as well as line drawings of the male and female genitalia of all three new species, and of P. hygropetrica are provided.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CCA56FB6-897A-4128-B8DD-3892464A8D1B     

New Nemonychidae,Brentidae and Curculionidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Turonian of Kzyl-Dzhar (Kazakhstan)

Five new genera, Turononemonyxn. gen. (type species: Turononemonyxsamsonovin. sp.) (Nemonychidae: ? Cretonemonychinae: ? Cretonemonychini), Falsotanaosn. gen. (type species: Falsotanaos convexusn. sp.), Pretanaosn. gen. (type species: Pretanaosocularisn. sp.), Longotanaosn. gen. (type species: Longotanaosrasnitsynin. sp.) from Brentidae: Apioninae: Tanaini) and Turonerirhinusn. gen. (type species: Turonerirhinuskaratavensisn. sp.) from Curculionidae (Erirhininae: Erirhinini), and seven new species, Falsotanaosconvexusn. sp., Paratanaos samsonovin. sp., Pretanaos ocularisn. sp., Longotanaos rasnitsynin. sp., Turonerirhinus karatavensisn. sp., Turonerirhinuspunctatusn. sp. and Turonerirhinus poinarin. sp., are described from Kzyl-Dzhar locality (Kazakhstan, Upper Cretaceous, Turonian).http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:13E0316E-C229-471A-90AA-2D71253B12F9     

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.     

Su La Temperatura Della Pianta Del Gelso (Notizie Preliminari)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine tocopherol (Toc), fatty acid and phytosterol content in dry seeds of nine wild taxa of Sicilian Brassica sect. Brassica. Analyses were performed by gas chromatography (GC)‐mass spectroscopy (MS). The biochemical analysis of dry seeds showed that in the nine taxa examined, α‐ and γ‐Toc were the major isomers, δ‐Toc was present in traces and β‐Toc was never found. All taxa had a similar fatty acid composition with C 16:0 (357.2 mg kg^?1 DW), C 18:1 (393.94 mg kg^?1 DW) and C 22:1 (618.29 mg kg^?1 DW) acids present in higher amount. Unsaturated fatty acids (52.5–66.5%) were more abundant than saturated (33.5–47.5%) ones relative to the total fatty acids. Moreover, sitosterol was the most abundant (61.7–69.6%) of all phytosterols in all species and subspecies, followed by brassicasterol and campesterol at 16.0–19.3% and 11.9–20.7%, respectively. Total Toc content and the relative percentage of single isoforms were useful to discriminate seeds of B. incana, B. macrocarpa, B. rupestris group and B. villosa group. On the basis of these results, B. villosa subsp. villosa, B. villosa subsp. bivoniana, B. villosa subsp. drepanensis and B. villosa subsp. tinei can be ascribed to the B. villosa group. These taxa, having the highest T‐Toc, γ‐Toc and phytosterol contents, are potentially the most bioactive ones, and could, therefore, be exploited in breeding programmes to develop genotypes with putative positive effects on human health.

Abbreviations: B, Brassica; DW, dry weight; FA, fatty acids; RH, relative humidity; T‐FA, total fatty acids; T‐Phy, total phytosterols; T‐Toc, total tocopherol; Toc, tocopherol