Heterostemma trilobatum sp. nov. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) from Thailand

A new species, Heterostemma trilobatum A. Kidyoo & Thaithong has been discovered in northern, northeastern and southeastern Thailand. It is here described, illustrated and meticulously compared with a morphologically similar species, H. xuansonense T. B. Tran & J. Hw. Kim. Both species resemble each other, having sessile to subsessile cymes, five glands on the inside of the calyx and dark red to purplish red ovate corona lobes. However, H.trilobatum is markedly differentiated by much smaller size of flowers and the presence of peculiar trilobed corona appendages.     

Neoschumannia (includingSwynnertonia), a primitive genus of theAsclepiadaceae-Stapelieae

A comparison of the West AfricanNeoschumannia Schltr. and the East AfricanSwynnertonia S. Moore reveals that the two monotypic genera must be united.Swynnertonia is sunk into synonymy ofNeoschumannia and the new combinationNeoschumannia cardinea (S. Moore)Meve is made for the East African species.Neoschumannia is shown to belong to the tribeStapelieae. The taxon exhibits a very unusual character combination: the growth form of a woody liana is combined with a tripartite corona unique within theAsclepiadaceae. The morphology of the corona suggests a position ofNeoschumannia close to the base of theStapelieae —Ceropegiinae alliance.     

Studies of pacific island plants,XXX. Notes on Fijian Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae

In the Apocynaceae the new combinationAlstonia pacifica (Seem.) A. C. Sm. is required. In the Asclepiadaceae the genusGymnema R. Br. is found not to occur in Fiji; for the two Fijian species previously referred to it the new combinationsLeichardtia stenophylla (A. Gray) A. C. Sm. andTylophora subnuda (A. Gray) A. C. Sm. are proposed. The species ofTylophora occurring in the Fijian Region are reviewed and a new Fijian species,T. venulosa, is described.     

Myth and reality of the subtribe Astephaninae (Decne.) Schumann (Asclepiadaceae)

The subtribe Astephaninae (tribe Asclepiadeae, Asclepiadaceae) is recircumscribed to contain 11 genera: Astephanus, Blyttia, Diplostigma, Goydera, Aiicroloma, Oncinema, Pentatropis, Pteurosteima, Rhyncharrhena, Schizostephanus, and Tylophoropsis. Following a character analysis, phylogeny was analysed by means of a computerized parsimony program (HENNIG86). Astephanus /Microloma is identified as the most stable clade, followed by Tylophopropsis/Pentatropis/Rhyncharrhena, Blyttia/Diplostigma and Schizostephanus/Goydera. A key to the genera is presented, as well as notes on distribution, important characters, and present state of knowledge for each genus. The genus Schizostephanus is resurrected and four new combinations are proposed.     

Development of micro satellite markers for a critically endangered species, Ceropegia fantastica from the Western Ghats, India

Ceropegia fantastica L. (Asclepiadaceae) is a highly endemic and endangered species in the Western Ghats of India. Fourteen microsatellite markers were developed for C. fantastica. Eight microsatellite primers screened had 2–5 alleles per locus and the observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.48 to 0.83 and 0.48 to 0.62, respectively. The primers were also evaluated for their cross amplification against two related species Ceropegia hirsuta and Ceropegia oculata. The microsatellites developed for this species could be used for addressing population genetics of this endemic and critically endangered species.     

A revised classification of the Apocynaceae s.l.

The Asclepiadaceae, as traditionally defined, have repeatedly been shown to be an apomorphic derivative of the Apocynaceae. It has often been recommended that the Asclepiadaceae be subsumed within the Apocynaceae in order to make the latter monophyletic. To date, however, no comprehensive, unified classification has been established. Here we provide a unified classification for the Apocynaceae, which consists of 424 genera distributed among five subfamilies: Rauvolfioideae, Apocynoideae, Periplocoideae, Secamonoideae, and Asclepiadoideae. Keys to the subfamilies and tribes are provided, with lists of genera that (as far as we have been able to ascertain) are recognized in each tribe.     

Phylogeny of fossil and extant glypheid and litogastrid lobsters (Crustacea,Decapoda) as revealed by morphological characters

A phylogenetic analysis of a total of 31 species: 27 fossil species from seven families (Glypheidae, Litogastridae, Mecochiridae, Pemphicidae, Erymidae, Clytiopsidae, Chimaerastacidae), and four extant species from three families (Glypheidae, Nephropidae, Stenopodidae) is proposed. Most of the genera considered are coded exclusively based upon their type species and, as much as possible, based upon the type specimens. The cladistic analysis demonstrates that the glypheidean lobsters (infraorder Glypheidea) form a monophyletic group including two superfamilies: Glypheoidea and Pemphicoidea new status. Glypheoidea includes three families: Glypheidae, Mecochiridae and Litogastridae. Litogastridae is the sister group of the clade Glypheidae + Mecochiridae. Pemphicoidea includes a single family: Pemphicidae. A new classification of Glypheidea is proposed and currently known genera are rearranged based upon the phylogenetic analysis.     

The Chemotaxonomy of Cynanchum and Its Allied Genera

This paper is a continuation of “Chemotaxonomy of Cynanchum and Its Allied Genera with Notes on the Generic Characteristics of Vincetoxicum”, published in Acta Botanica Yunnanica (11: 41-50, 1989). There are other three sections of Cynanchum in “Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae” (Vol. 63), which were considered as separate genera by some authors. These sections are Cynanchum Sect. Rhodostegiella, Sect. Seutera and Sect. Cyathella, also of a single corona. They were not given generic rank as chemical data of Sect. Rhodostegiella were inavailable. It is for this reason that we have studied the chemical constituents of this section. A very marvellous result was obtained. No C₂₁ steroidal compounds but flavonols were identified from the section Rhodostegiella. Some flavones were isolated from Hoya bella of Asclepiadaceae (Bass et al., 1979), but no report has been given from Cynanchum and the tribe Asclepiadeae up to now. The family Asclepiadaceae mainly contains C21 steroids, but some genera contain cardenolides or terpenoids, and only a few genera, such as Cryptolepis and Tylophora, have alkaloids. The genus Cynanchum sensu Tsiang et P. T. Li, like most members of Asclepiadaceae, has C₂₁ steroids except the section Rhodostegiella. Flavonols, therefore, may be the characteristic of the section. Considering the corona characteristics and geographical distribution, we suggest that the section Rhodostegiella be given generic rank. Because of the separation of Vincetoxicum Wolf and Rhodostegiella (Pobed.) C. Y. Wu et D. Z. Li from Cynanchum sensu Tsiang et P.T. Li, the rank of the sections Seutera and Cyathella should be reconsidered. Obviously, the problem of evolution of the sections of Cynanchum sensu Tsiang et P. T. Li is complicated. The corona, chemical constituents, habit, root-type are not congruent with one another in evolution. The authors support the establishment of the genera Seutera and Cyathella by Reichenbach (1828) and Decne (1838) respectively. Taxonomic treatments, including a new status, Rhodostegiella (Pobed.) C.Y. Wu et D. Z. Li, and 12 new combinations, are given.Key words Cynanchum Linn.; Rhodostegiella (Pobed.) C. Y. Wu et D. Z. Li; Seutera Reichb.; Cyathella Decne.; Flavonols; Chemotaxonomy; New combination     

Jumping plant lice (Homoptera: Psylloidea) of the temperate neotropical region. Part 1: Psyllidae (subfamilies Aphalarinae, Rhinocolinae and Aphalaroidinae)

The psyllid-fauna of temperate and subantarctic South America comprises members of three families: Calophyidae, Triozidae and Psyllidae. Three subfamilies of the Psyllidae are revised in this paper: the Aphalarinae are represented by two species in two genera, one of which develops on Aquifoliaceae; the Rhinocolinae are represented by two congeneric species on Anacardiaceae while the Aphalaroidinae contain 38 species in seven genera trophically linked to the Compositae, Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae, Myzodendraceae, Rhamnaceae, Solanaceae and Zygophyllaceae. The family Psyllidae (= Aphalaridae syn. nov. , =Spondyliaspididae syn. nov. ) and the constituent subfamily Aphalaroidinae (= Arepuninae syn nov. , = Ciriacreminae auct. pp) are redefined. Three genera and 30 species are described as new and two new generic, two new specific synonyms, and five new combinations are proposed. Information on larvae and host plant relationships is also given. Lectotypes are designated for eight species and a type-species is fixed for one genus. Keys are provided for the identification to species.     

Phylogenetic classification of Eudorylini (Diptera: Pipunculidae)

Abstract. The phylogenetic relationships of members of Eudorylini (Diptera: Pipunculidae: Pipunculinae) were explored. Two hundred and fifty-seven species of Eudorylini from all biogeographical regions and all known genera were examined. Sixty species were included in an exemplar-based phylogeny for the tribe. Two new genera are described, Clistoabdominalis and Dasydorylas . The identity of Eudorylas Aczél, the type genus for Eudorylini, has been obscure since its inception. The genus is re-diagnosed and a proposal to stabilize the genus and tribal names is discussed. An illustrated key to the genera of Pipunculidae is presented and all Eudorylini genera are diagnosed. Numerous new generic synonyms are proposed. Moriparia nigripennis Kozánek & Kwon is preoccupied by Congomyia nigripennis Hardy when both are transferred to Claraeola , so Cla. koreana Skevington is proposed as a new name for Mo. nigripennis .     

Two new species and a new name in Andean Asclepiadaceae

Two new species of Asclepiadaceae, Cynanchum ellemannii and Gonolobus saraguranus , collected by Lis Elleman the "Aarhus University Ecuador Project" as part of an ethnobotanical study in the Province of Loja, are here described and illustrated. Moreover, the new name Cynanchum trianae is proposed.     

江苏野生藤本植物多样性初探

通过野外调查和文献资料查阅,初步统计出江苏野生藤本植物共有35科74属153种,其中蕨类植物有1科1属1种,单子叶植物有3科4属12种,双子叶植物有31科69属140种。该区藤本植物以寡种科(属)、单种科(属)为主;地理成分复杂,具有明显的热带亲缘性,并受温带成分的影响。生长型以木质藤本为主(56.58%),草质藤本次之,其中,共有17科全为木质藤本,如木通科(Lardizabalaceae)以及防己科(Menispermaceae);共有13科全为草质藤本,如百部科(Stemonaceae)以及萝藦科(Asclepiadaceae)等;共有4科含木质与草质藤本植物,如百合科(Liliaceae)以及葡萄科(Vitaceae)等。高位芽植物最多(56.58%),地面芽植物(20.39%)、一年生植物(11.19%)、地下芽植物(8.55%)及地上芽植物(3.29%)的数量依次减少。该区藤本植物攀援类型可以分为4大类,以缠绕类居多(40.13%),其他依次是卷曲类(30.26%)、搭靠类(22.37%)以及吸固类(7.24%)。有性繁育系统以两性花最多(76.97%),单性花次之(19.74%),杂性花最少(3.29%);花序组成丰富,以无限花序占有绝对优势(71.05%)。     

Five new C21 steroidal glycosides from Cynanchum komarovii Al.Iljinski

Five new C21 steroidal glycosides, namely, komarosides D (1), E (2), F (3), G (4), and H (5), along with two known C21 steroidal glycosides cynatratoside E (6) and hancoside A (7), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the roots of Cynanchum komarovii Al.Iljinski (Asclepiadaceae). Their structures were determined by physiochemical and spectroscopic analysis. Among these glycosides, five had an aberrant 13,14:14,15-disecopregnane-type skeleton, and the other two had normal four-ring C21 steroid skeletons. The existence of more than one type of C21 steroid skeleton in one species is rare in the plants of the family Asclepiadaceae, and this has chemotaxonomic significance for this species.     

New feather mite taxa of the Rhytidelasma Gaud, 1966 generic group (Astigmata: Pterolichidae) from the red-flanked lorikeet Charmosyna placentis placentis (Psittacidae)

Two new genera and species related to Rhytidelasma Gaud, 1966 and Lorilichus Atyeo & Gaud, 1991 are described from the plumage of the red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis placentis (Temminck) (Psittacidae). These are Ceratolichus mirabilis n. g., n. sp. and Charmosylichus anamphiestos n. g., n. sp. In addition, an improved diagnosis of Lorilichus is proposed and two new species of this genus are described from the red-flanked lorikeet, L. longiphallos n. sp. and L. paralobiger n. sp.     

A rearrangement of the family Tethyidae (Porifera Hadromerida) with establishment of new genera and description of two new species

The discovery of new species, a study of the type material of already described species and an analysis of the literature data call for an extensive rearrangement of the Family Tethyidae, whose last revision dates from Burton (1924). The rearrangement proposed here attributes to the Family eight genera: Tethya Lam. (type genus), Burtonitethya gen nov. , Columnitis Schmidt, Halicomeies Topsent, Stellitethya gen. nov., Tectnitethya gen. nov., Tethycometes gen. nov . and Xenospongia Gray. The genus Aaptos is excluded from the Tethyidae. Three of the new genera have been established for species previously attributed to the genus Tethya and two are new: Burtonitethya gemmiformis (Burton & Rao) and Tethycometes sibogae sp. nov . Five species, previously attributed to Tethya , are considered 'incertae sedis'. An analytical key and discussion of the evolution of the family are included.     

鹅绒藤属及其近缘属的化学分类——兼论Vincetoxicum的恢复问题

本文讨论了鹅绒藤属及其近缘属的分类问题。根据这类植物所含的C_(21)甾体甙元结构类型的分类,生源合成途径假说,以及C_(21)甾休甙元的分布,结合形态学的比较分析和其它证据,认为Vincetoxicum是一个脱胎于Cynanchum,但又较之进化的自然类群,应恢复其属级地位。列举了国产白前属全部分类群的正确学名,其中包括15个新组合,1个改级新组合和1个新改级。     

Critical Reexamination of Palynological Characters Used to Delimit Asclepiadaceae in Comparison to the Molecular Phylogeny Obtained from PlastidmatK Sequences

The family Asclepiadaceae (Dicotyledones) was created by Brown in 1810 by splitting in two the family Apocynaceae of Jussieu established in 1789. The morphological characters used to make this distinction were mainly palynological, such as presence of tetrads or pollinia and number and orientation of pollinia. Those characters, still used in higher taxonomic delimitation (families, subfamilies, and tribes), are here critically reexamined and compared to a molecular phylogeny obtained with one of the more variable plastid genes (matK) of 46 species in the order Gentianales. In this molecular phylogeny, Asclepiadaceae form a monophyletic group derived from within Apocynaceae. Each of the subfamilies of Asclepiadaceae is monophyletic and based on reliable palynological characters, but palynological characters are not useful to delimit tribes of the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. Based on the molecular data, these tribes have undergone parallelisms in several reproductive traits.