Some remarks on the genus Astragalus sect. Incani in Iran

New findings are given for the Astragalus sect. Incani , which occurs within the area covered by the Flora of Iran. Astragalus wojciechowskianus Ranjbar is described as a new species. A. procerus Boiss. & Hausskn . , A. cottonianus Aitch. & Baker, A. achundovii Grossh., A. orduabadensis Grossh. and A. glaucophyllus Bunge are reported as new records for the flora of Iran .   © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 143 , 443–447.     

A palynological study of the genus Mentha L. (Lamiaceae)

The pollen morphology and exine structure of 10 Mentha L . species were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains of all 11 species were hexazonocolpate with granular membranes and a circular amb, varying in shape from prolate-spheroidal to suboblate. Different colpus shapes were recognized in M . ×  dumetorum . The exine was bireticulate in section Pulegium , and reticulate in section Menthae . A correlation was found between pollen size and chromosome number. The results indicate that the pollen characters of the genus Mentha are valuable for taxonomic applications and may be useful for classification.  © 2008 Uludag University. Journal compilation © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 141–154.     

A new species of Cryptolepis (Apocynaceae: Periplocoideae) from Kenya and Tanzania, Africa

A new species of Cryptolepis is described from Kenya and Tanzania. It is a tropical forest climber and its unique second corona whorl of deeply cleft lobes distinguishes it from all other Cryptolepis species.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 343–346.     

Three new species of Echinops (Compositae, Cynareae) from Iran

As a result of extensive collections and subsequent determinations made in recent years through most regions of Iran (now preserved in herbarium TARI), three new species of Echinops ( E. longipenicillatus, E. procerus and E. shahrudensis ) are described and illustrated. All belong to E . sect. Oligolepis Bunge, which is endemic to Iran.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 140 , 181–186.     

Phenetic patterns in Poa section Dioicopoa: a new species from the Puneña and Altoandina phytogeographical provinces of Argentina

Based on multivariate analyses, a new dioecious species of Poa from the Puneña and Altoandina phytogeographical provinces of Argentina is described. This species is most similar to Poa calchaquiensis of Poa section Dioicopoa . The ligule length, plant size, and glabrous pistillate anthoecia distinguish Poa nubensis . A key for identification and illustrations are also included.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 239–248.     

A new species of Betula section Betulaster (Betulaceae) from China

A new species of Betulaceae, Betula fujianensis , is described and illustrated from Luoboyan Reserve, Fujian Province, south-eastern China. Betula fujianensis is distributed in subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest at elevations above 500 m, mostly as scattered individuals and occasionally as populations alone or with B. luminifera . Betula fujianensis belongs to section Betulaster and differs from other species in general morphology and phenology. A key to all species currently recognized in this section is presented, and the relationships between the new species and its closely related taxa are discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 523–528.     

A new species of Linum (Linaceae) from west Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Linum vuralianum Yılmaz & Kaynak, is described and illustrated from west Anatolia, Turkey. It is closest to L. flavum L., but differs by its annual or biennial life form, the presence of rosette leaves at anthesis, and the absence of staminodes. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) threat category and observations on the population are noted. The geographical distribution of the new species and its related taxon is given.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 459–462.     

Dendrobium wangliangii (Orchidaceae), a new species belonging to section Dendrobium from Yunnan, China

Dendrobium wangliangii G. W. Hu, C. L. Long & X. H. Jin, a new species from the north of the Yunnan Province in China is described and illustrated. The morphological differences between the new species and the related species, Dendrobium flexicaule , and its endangered status are discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 217–221.     

The genus Maesa (Maesaceae) in the Philippines

A comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus Maesa Forssk. (Maesaceae) occurring in the Philippines is presented for the first time. Thirteen species are recognized, including a newly described species, M. stonei , which is most similar to M. reflexa . Several previously used names are reduced to synonymy, including M. pachyphylla and M. undulata (both reduced to synonymy with M. cumingii ), and M. elmeri , M. laxa and M. ramosii (all reduced to synonymy with M. indica ). Extensive lectotypification has been necessary due to the destruction of many type specimens, particularly those of C. Mez (in B) and E. D. Merrill (in PNH). The conservation status of each species is determined using the IUCN red list categories and criteria.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 17–43.     

Systematics and biogeography of the New World species of Trichadenotecnum Enderlein (Insecta: Psocodea: 'Psocoptera': Psocidae)

The taxonomy of the New World species of the genus Trichadenotecnum is revised. A total of 44 species, including 29 new species, were treated. These species are classified into 12 monophyletic species groups, eight of them newly proposed here. Two species previously assigned to Trichadenotecnum , T. pichincha New & Thornton and T. sylvaticum Turner, are recognized as not belonging to this genus. Phylogenetic relationships among 16 previously and presently proposed species groups are estimated based on a data matrix of 58 morphological characters. Trees from these analyses support monophyly of Trichadenotecnum and the proposed species groups. The New World species were divided into three major clades. Based on the phylogenetic hypothesis and distributional pattern of the species groups, the biogeographical history of the New World Trichadenotecnum is discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 651–723.     

A new species of Silene (Caryophyllaceae) from east Anatolia, Turkey

Silene bitlisensis O.Tugay & Ertugrul from the Green Line Afforestation Zone (B9: Bitlis Province) is a new species described and illustrated here. It is closely related to S. caramanica Boiss. & Heldr. var. ilarslanii Aytaç & Dural, from which it mainly differs in its habit, leaf, and floral features.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 463–466.     

Systematics of the bryozoan genus Macropora (Cheilostomata)

Macropora is a distinctive genus of anascan cheilostomes. All species have large zooids with an extensive cryptocystal frontal shield perforated by numerous pores through which parietal muscle strands pass. Also characteristic of Macropora are the calcified opercula closing the d -shaped orifice, avicularia resembling autozooids but having slightly enlarged, typically crenulated opercula/mandibles, and large ovicells that are often costate. This mostly Australasian genus has a documented fossil record stretching back to the Eocene. Here we revise the generic diagnosis of Macropora and describe eight new species from New Zealand (three Recent: M. nodulosa sp. nov. , M. filifera sp. nov. and M. carlosi sp. nov. ; five fossil: M. septispinosa sp. nov. , M. similis sp. nov. , M. pittensis sp. nov. , M. leeae sp. nov. and M. bullata sp. nov. ) and one new species from Japan ( M. mawatariorum sp. nov. ), the only species known with certainty to occur in the northern hemisphere. New observations are given for some previously described species, several of which are illustrated using SEM for the first time. The northern hemisphere Upper Cretaceous species Monoporella exsculpta (Marsson), showing features allowing it to be placed tentatively in the stem-group of Macropora , is redescribed. Attempts to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of species within Macropora were hampered by the relatively few morphological characters compared with the number of species, and it proved impossible to obtain a phylogeny robust to slight changes in taxon and/or character inclusion. The favoured cladogram has poor bootstrap and Bremer support, and its stratigraphical and biogeographical congruences are low.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 115–146.     

Teucrium francoi M. Seq., Capelo, J.C. Costa & R. Jardim, a new species of Teucrium gr. scorodonia (Lamiceae) from Madeira

The species formerly recognized as Teucrium scorodonia in Madeira is here described as new: Teucrium francoi M. Seq., Capelo, J.C. Costa & R. Jardim. Morphologically close to species of Teucrium gr. scorodonia [ T. scorodonia L., T. pseudoscorodonia Desf., T. siculum (Raf.) Guss. and T. kotschyanum Poech], it exhibits, nonetheless, some distinct diagnostic characters. The indumentum density and type of hairs of T. francoi are clearly distinct from those of related species, as are the shape and dimensions of the leaves and bracts, calyx, and corolla, which are all taken as taxonomically significant diagnostic features. A diagnosis and a distribution map are presented for this new species. Morphology, ecology, biogeography, and conservation issues are discussed. Teucrium francoi , which is an endemic from Madeira (Portugal), is to be found mostly in the scope of the association Teucrio francoi–Origanetum virentis J.C. Costa, Capelo, Jardim, Sequeira, Lousã & Rivas-Martínez, but also occurs in somewhat humid habitats, such as open stands of Rosa mandonii Déségl. associated with small streams.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 639–647.     

Nomenclatural changes in preparation for a World Rubiaceae Checklist

During the preparation of a World Rubiaceae Checklist , numerous unplaced taxa were encountered, including illegitimate and invalid names, and species for which generic placement is uncertain. In this contribution, 35 new combinations and 20 new names are proposed, and the names of three taxa are validated.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 115–124.     

The internodal species concept: a response to 'The tree, the network, and the species'

Samadi and Barberousse attempt to provide a precise, formal definition of the species category that is faithful to the internodal species concept (Samadi S, Barberousse A. 2006. The tree, the network, and the species. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 89: 509–521). Here, it is argued that their study is technically flawed. Most of the necessary corrections to their definitions are provided in order to accurately portray the internodal concept. It is then argued that the internodal concept is fundamentally flawed; it does not solve the 'classical problems' that Samadi and Barberousse claim it does. In particular, it does not allow for the possibility of interspecies hybridization. In addition, the proposal is unworkable in practice, and also theoretically problematic because it entails that, in many lineages, speciation events are taking place every few generations.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 93 , 865–869.     

Minuartia graminifolia (Caryophyllaceae), a south-east European species

A re-evaluation of Minuartia graminifolia has been undertaken based on comparative morphological studies. M. graminifolia subsp. rosani (an endemic of the south-central Apennines and Sicily) and subsp. hungarica (an endemic of the Banat region of Romania) are accepted infraspecific taxa. M. graminifolia subsp. hungarica is lectotypified. M. graminifolia subsp. clandestina is confirmed for Italy; the taxon is neotypified. The type subspecies is considered an endemic to the east-central Alps. Keys to the species of Minuartia ser. Graminifoliae and to the subspecies of M. graminifolia are provided.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 143 , 419–432.