A new species of Orchidantha (Lowiaceae) from Borneo

Orchidantha holttumii , a new species of Lowiaceae is described from Brunei. The chromosome number is 2n = 18     

Orchidantha foetida (Lowiaceae) a new species from Thailand

Orchidantha foetida sp. nov. from NE Thailand is described and illustrated and a key to the three species occurring in Thailand is presented.     

A new pollination system: dung-beetle pollination discovered in Orchidantha inouei (Lowiaceae, Zingiberales) in Sarawak, Malaysia

Lowiaceae, a family of the Zingiberales, comprise 11 species in the single genus Orchidantha. Here we present the first report on the pollination of Lowiaceae and describe a new system of dung-beetle pollination from Sarawak, Borneo. Orchidantha inouei has a zygomorphic flower located just above the ground. Observations revealed that the plant is visited frequently and is pollinated by scarabaeid dung beetles, mainly members of the genus Onthophagus. All four species of Onthophagus collected on O. inouei have also been caught using traps baited with dung or carrion in Borneo. Onthophagus was presumably attracted to the dung-like odor of the flower. Pollination of O. inouei is different from other examples of beetle pollination in that its flower provides neither reward nor protected space. Dung beetles are excellent at following a particular dung scent. Orchidantha is the only genus that includes species lacking floral nectar. It is interesting that this deception pollination using dung beetles was found in Zingiberales, in which all known species have mutual and specialized relationships with their long-distance, but costly, pollinators-bees, birds, and bats.     

兰花蕉属植物染色体新计数

首次报道了国产兰花蕉属植物2种1变种的体细胞染色体计数,其中兰花蕉及其变种长萼兰花蕉为2n=54,为六倍体;海南兰花蕉为2n=18,为二倍体。分析了世界范围内兰花蕉属植物染色体数及其倍性的地理学关系。     

Neomussaenda (Rubiaceae), a new genus from Borneo

A new genus, Neomussaenda is described to accommodate the species Greenea xanthophytoides and the new species Neomussaenda kostermansiana , described here. Neomussaenda is endemic to Borneo and differs from the genus Greenea in the induplicate-valvate aestivation, shape and indumentum of the corolla, heterostyly, bifid stipules, pollen morphology, seed exotestal cells with tuberculate inner wall, ideoblasts filled with numerous minute druses, and fruits not opening while attached to the inflorescence, but may open later loculicidally by decay. It is close to the genera Pseudonmussaenda and Schizomussaenda , with which it shares the induplicate-valvate aestivation and fruits with a splitting zone for loculicidaly dehiscence. Neomussaenda is placed in the tribe Isertieae.     

Five new species of Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) from Borneo

Recent collections from Sabah and Sarawak have revealed a wide species diversity among the Bornean members of the genus Zingiber. Four previously unknown and one incompletely known species of the genus are presented. Z. vinosum is a lowland species characterized by its burgundy colour of the lower surface of the leaves. Z. lambii was collected in primary lowland forest on ultramafic soil while Z. argenteum was collected in primary lowland forest on limestone. Both are characterized by their silvery leaves and orange inflorescences. Z. pendulum, found in primary mountain forest, has pending leafy stems and a deeply split labellum with very well developed side-lobes. Z. latifolium, found in secondary mountain forest, is vegetatively distinct by its broad leaves with a densely pubescent margin Z. vinosum, Z. Iambii, Z. pendulum and Z. latifolium are from Sabah and Z. argenteum is from Sarawak.     

Three new species of Etlingera (Zingiberaceae) from Borneo

Three new species from northern Borneo are described: Etlingera rubromarginata from Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah; E. belalongensis presently only known from the Temburong District of Brunei; and E. corrugata presently only known from Danum Valley, Sabah.     

Six new species of Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) from Borneo

Six new species of the genus Zingiber from Borneo are presented. Z viridiflavum was collected in primary lowland forest, while Z chlorobracteatum was collected in hilly secondary forest. Both are characterized by their slender fusiform inflorescences with yellow-green bracts. Z. flagelliforme found in primary lowland forest displays a peculiar reproduction habit in its tapering leafy shoots which bend over to trail on the ground where plantlets produced in the leaf-axis take root. Z velutinum was found in mid-elevation secondary forest. It is a tall plant with large ovate inflorescences and bright red, densely hairy bracts. Z phillippsii was found in a gulley in montane primary forest. It is vegetatively characterized by its purple stems and glabrous leaves while the inflorescence has a similarity to the common Bornean species Z. coloratum. Z. georgeii is distinct by its procumbent inflorescences with orange bracts. Z viridiflavum, Z. chlorobracteatum, Z. flagelliforme, Z. phillippsii and Z velutinum are from Sabah and Z georgeii is from Sarawak.     

Two new species of Boesenbergia (Zingiberaceae) from Borneo

Two new species of Boesenbergia are described from Temburong District, Brunei, Borneo and their relationships are discussed. Additional chromosome counts of Bosenbergia are included.     

A new species of Gonystylus (Thymelaeaceae) from Sarawak, Borneo

A new species, Gonystylus othmanii Tawan (Thymelaeaceae) from Sarawak (Borneo) is described and illustrated. It is considered to be endemic to Sarawak. The morphological differences between the new species and related taxa are included.     

A new genus and species from Borneo and a new species from Java and Sumatra of Cicadini (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

A new cicada genus and species, Minilomia triquetra, gen. and sp. nov., is described from Borneo. The new genus Minilomia is closely allied to Platylomia Stål and is placed in the subtribe Dundubiina of the tribe Cicadini. Another new cicada species, Pomponia brevicaudata, sp. nov. (subtribe Psithyristriina), is described from Java and Sumatra. The new species belongs to the Pomponia linearis species group and the P. linearis species complex but is distinguished from its congeners by the unusually short male abdomen.     

Synanceia quinque,a new species of stonefish (Synanceiidae) from Borneo and Flores

A new species of stonefish, Synanceia quinque (Synanceiidae) is described on the basis of two specimens (61.5–84.4 mm standard length) collected off Sabah (Borneo), Malaysia and Flores, Indonesia. The new species is characterized by 12 pectoral-fin rays, and is most similar to Synanceia alula Eschmeyer and Rama-Rao 1973 (11 pectoral-fin rays in the latter vs. 14 or more in other congeners). Other characters distinguishing S. quinque from S. alula include numbers of pelvic-fin rays [I, 5 in the former vs. I, 3 or 4 (usually I, 4) in the latter], gill rakers (0 + 4 or 5 vs. 0 or 1 + 7), and five preopercular spines/skin flaps (upper three spines relatively well developed, lower two rudimentary) (vs. four preopercle spines, fifth spine or skin flap absent). An updated key to species of Synanceia is provided.

     

Stipa valdemonensis (Poaceae), a new species from Sicily

Abstract

A new species of Stipa, endemic to Sicily, named Stipa valdemonensis is described here. The new taxon is related to Stipa crassiculmis. Owing to the small number of individuals observed, in few restricted localities only, it is assigned the IUCN threat status “vulnerable”.     

Silene ichnusae (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Sardinia

Silene ichnusae (Caryophyllaceae) a new species of S. sect. Siphonomoipha is described and illustrated. It is a rare chasmophyte localized at Capo Falcone (W Sardinia), on siliceous rocks near the sea. Its relationships with S. velutina, of the S. mollissima group, are discussed.