Skyttea richardsonii sp. nov. from Maine, with a key to the species known from North America

Skyttea richardsonii sp. nov. is described from a sterile corticolous lichen in Maine. It is closest to S. tavaresae, the only other member of the genus to be reported as having annelations on the excipular hairs, but that species occurs on Loxospora spp. and differs in the K+ reaction of the exciple and ascospore size. Minute Phoma-like conidiomata found in some apothecia may represent an independent fungicolous fungus growing on the new species. This is the 10th species of the genus to have been discovered in North America; a key to these species is provided.     

Fossil bananas (Musaceae): Ensete oregonense sp. nov. from the Eocene of western North America and its phytogeographic significance

Fossil seeds of Ensete, a genus presently native to Asia and Africa, have been recovered from the middle Eocene of Oregon, confirming the presence of Musaceae in the North American Tertiary. The seed of Ensete oregonense sp. nov. is operculate, with a well-defined micropylar collar, a pronounced chalazal chamber, and a wide hilar cavity. A survey of seed morphology in extant Zingiberales provides characters for distinguishing Musaceae from other families of the order, furnishes criteria for distinguishing the three extant genera of Musaceae (Musa, Ensete and Musella), and facilitates critical assessment of fossil seed remains. “Musa” cardiosperma Jain from the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary Deccan Series of India is excluded from Musaceae (although retained in Zingiberales) on the basis of fruit and seed characters, including the lack of laticifers and absence of a chalazal chamber. We reexamined the musaceous seeds from Colombia that previously were described as Tertiary fossils (Musa enseteformis Berry, 1925) and now believe that they are recent, nonfossil remains, evidently from Ensete ventricosum, which is grown in the region where the specimens were originally obtained. In addition, a reputed fossil banana fruit from the Cretaceous of Colombia was reexamined and determined to be a concretion of nonbiological origin. Ensete oregonense is significant therefore, as the first unequivocal fossil record of Ensete and of Musaceae. Although the Musaceae are currently native only to the Old World tropics, this discovery establishes that the family was present in North America about 43 million years ago.     

Phialophora cyanescens sp. nov. with Phaeosclera-like synanamorph,causing white-grain mycetoma in man

The human-pathogenic fungus, Phialophora cyanescens sp. nov. is characterized by the abundant production of chlamydospore-like cell aggregates resembling the form-genus Phaeosclera Sigler et al., and by elongate phialides with ellipsoidal conidia. A brown pigment and a blue, acid-labile pigment may be present.     

Mouriri morleyii sp. nov. (Melastomataceae) from Brazil,with notes on its foliar stomatal crypts

Mouriri morleyii R. Goldenb. & Meirelles sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other species in the genus by its large stomatal crypts (the largest ones in the genus), columnar sclereids, tetramerous flowers and calyx closed in bud. This new species was collected on an inselberg in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil.     

Polyporus phyllostachydis sp. nov. with notes on other rhizophilic species of Polyporus (Basidiomycota,Polyporaceae)

Polyporus phyllostachydis is described and illustrated as a new species. This species is characterized by its occurrence on bamboo roots, the small and centrally stipitate basidiocarps, the white pileus, usually becoming darker from the center at maturity, and the cylindrical stipe with a distinct crust. Morphological characters of the present species were compared with those of P. cryptopus and P. rhizophilus, other rhizophilic species of the genus. Polyporus cryptopus and P. rhizophilus are morphologically distinct by contextual texture, basidiospores, and hyphae, and possibly represent two distinct species. Contribution no. 205, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan     

Identification and typification of Nepenthes blancoi,with N. abalata sp. nov. from the western Visayas,Philippines

Nepenthes blancoi Bl. is neotypified on material conspecific with N. alata Blanco. Material previously associated with N. blancoi is described as N. abalata Jebb & Cheek sp. nov. This is a grassland species seemingly related to N. philippinensis Macfarl. but with similarities to the grassland species of Indo‐China. Its conservation status is assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR).     

Zamia grijalvensis sp. nov. (Zamiaceae,Cycadales) from Chiapas,Mexico with notes on hybridization and karyology

Zamia grijalvensis, a new cycad species from Chiapas, México, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to Z. lacandona with respect to leaves, but differs in habit, morphology and colour of the female and male cones. The female cone of Z. grijalvensis is reddish brown to orange brown, whereas that of Z. lacandona is dark brown with lighter beige tomentum. The male cone of Z. grijalvensis is erect, whereas that of Z. lacandona is decumbent. The new species may be of natural hybrid origin and is discussed in the light of other findings among cycads. Preliminary diploid chromosome counts for Z. grijalvensis 2n = 19, 20 and karyotypes appear variable, as previously found in its congeners with wide distribution, such as Z. paucijuga and Z. prasina, both of which are characterised by high diploid numbers with a high number of telocentric and few metacentric chromosomes. These changes in chromosome number are probably the result of stressful environmental factors.     

Typification and redelimitation of Nepenthes alata with notes on the N. alata group,and N. negros sp. nov. from the Philippines

In the course of studies to typify what has been regarded as the most widespread and common of the endemic Philippines species of Nepenthes, N. alata Blanco, we were able to review the morphological variation in what we previously regarded as a polymorphic species. This led us to redelimit that species in a narrower sense, to resurrect N. graciliflora Elmer, and to recognise N. negros sp. nov., here assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) using the IUCN standard. The Nepenthes alata group is characterised and a key to its species is provided.     

Viola pluviae sp. nov. (Violaceae), a member of subsect. Stolonosae in the Pacific Northwest region of North America

As hirtherto circumscribed, the allo‐octoploid Viola palustris L. exists in three distinct races in North America. The race occurring in the Pacific Northwest of North America has previously been shown to have originated by polyploidy from a different set of ancestral tetraploids than the nominal, Amphi‐Atlantic race. These two races differ also in a number of morphological characters, which has been a historical source of confusion. We here propose a new name for the western plants, V. pluviae Marcussen, H.E. Ballard & Blaxland, and typify it with a specimen collected near Mt Rainier (USA, Washington) with known chromosome number. Distribution, phylogenetic history and taxonomy are discussed and an updated morphological key to the Pacific Northwestern species of Viola is presented.     

Salvia geminata sp. nov. with remarkable stamen arrangement from southern Yemen, with notes on S. areysiana (Lamiaceae)

The new species Salvia geminata , a dwarf shrublet from rocky coastal slopes of the Mahrah Region in Yemen, is described and illustrated. A remarkable feature of the species is that the upper thecae of the stamens are inflexed and connate, a condition that seems to be previously unknown in the genus. The apparently closely related S. areysiana , previously known only from the area of Jebel Areys in the Abyan Region, is reported also from the Hadramaut Region.     

A new troodontid theropod, Talos sampsoni gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous Western Interior Basin of North America

Background

Troodontids are a predominantly small-bodied group of feathered theropod dinosaurs notable for their close evolutionary relationship with Avialae. Despite a diverse Asian representation with remarkable growth in recent years, the North American record of the clade remains poor, with only one controversial species—Troodon formosus—presently known from substantial skeletal remains.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here we report a gracile new troodontid theropod—Talos sampsoni gen. et sp. nov.—from the Upper Cretaceous Kaiparowits Formation, Utah, USA, representing one of the most complete troodontid skeletons described from North America to date. Histological assessment of the holotype specimen indicates that the adult body size of Talos was notably smaller than that of the contemporary genus Troodon. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Talos as a member of a derived, latest Cretaceous subclade, minimally containing Troodon, Saurornithoides, and Zanabazar. MicroCT scans reveal extreme pathological remodeling on pedal phalanx II-1 of the holotype specimen likely resulting from physical trauma and subsequent infectious processes.

Conclusion/Significance

Talos sampsoni adds to the singularity of the Kaiparowits Formation dinosaur fauna, which is represented by at least 10 previously unrecognized species including the recently named ceratopsids Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops, the hadrosaurine Gryposaurus monumentensis, the tyrannosaurid Teratophoneus, and the oviraptorosaurian Hagryphus. The presence of a distinct troodontid taxon in the Kaiparowits Formation supports the hypothesis that late Campanian dinosaurs of the Western Interior Basin exhibited restricted geographic ranges and suggests that the taxonomic diversity of Late Cretaceous troodontids from North America is currently underestimated. An apparent traumatic injury to the foot of Talos with evidence of subsequent healing sheds new light on the paleobiology of deinonychosaurians by bolstering functional interpretations of prey grappling and/or intraspecific combat for the second pedal digit, and supporting trackway evidence indicating a minimal role in weight bearing.     

Sebdenia cerebriformis sp. nov. (Sebdeniaceae, Sebdeniales) from the south and western Pacific Ocean

A new species of red alga, Sebdenia cerebriformis N'Yeurt et Payri sp. nov. (Sebdeniaceae, Sebdeniales), is described from various localities in the south and western Pacific including Fiji, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Indonesia (Java Sea). The new species is characterized by a ruffled thallus with multiple perennial stipitate holdfasts, large conspicuous inner cortical stellate cells, and a lax filamentous medulla.     

Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov. (Corticiales), an amphi-Beringian species and revision of the occurrence of Vuilleminia comedens in North America

Vuilleminia is a basidiomycete genus the species of which have resupinate, corticioid fruiting bodies. It is apparently a North Hemisphere genus, and the majority of its species are distributed in Europe and western Asia. In North America, there are two reports of Vuilleminia comedens. Detailed study of North American specimens and comparisons with additional collections led to the conclusion that they belong to a new lineage named Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov., whose distribution extends from western North America to East Asia, Siberia, and Finland. The species is recognized by the decorticating fruiting bodies with preference for species of Betulaceae in the boreal zone, relatively small allantoid basidiospores, and little-developed cystidia with apical appendix.     

Phellinus setifer sp. nov. andP. acontextus, two noteworthy polypores from temperate areas of Japan, with notes on their allies

Type examination ofTrametes gilvoides revealed that it is distinct from the fungus hitherto known asPhellinus gilvoides in Japan.Phellinus setifer sp. nov. is described for the Japanese materials. This species is characterized by effusedreflexed basidiocarps with strigose pileus surface, often dentate dissepiments, subulate setae, and cylindrical basidiospores.Phellinus acontextus, known only from the type material collected in Nepal, is newly reported from Japan. This species is characterized by sessile and often pendent basidiocarps with multisulcate pileus surface, very thin context, lack of setae, and dark-colored basidiospores. Cultural characters of the two species are also described.Phellinus acifer comb. nov. is proposed.Phellinus contiguus andP. ferreus are newly reported from Japan.