Mycopteris,a new neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae)

Mycopteris, a new genus of grammitid ferns, is described and combinations are made for the species that belong to it. Mycopteris is diagnosed by castaneous rhizome scales with turgid cells, usually pectinate laminae, blackish petioles and rachises, blackish pinna costae and veins, reddish setae, cretaceous hydathodes, glabrous sporangia, and the presence of Acrospermum ascomes. It is entirely neotropical, ranging from Mexico east into the West Indies and south to Bolivia. Mycopteris is one of two genera of grammitid ferns that are consistently associated with Acrospermum, an epibiotic ascomycete that produces black clavate fruiting bodies. Seventeen species of Mycopteris are recognized here, including one new species (M. longipilosa) and one elevated from the rank of variety to species (M. costaricensis). The following additional combinations are made here: M. alsopteris, M. amphidasyon, M. attenuatissima, M. cretata, M. grata, M. leucolepis, M. leucostica, M. longicaulis, M. pirrensis, M. praeceps, M. semihirsuta, M. steyermarkii, M. subtilis, M. taxifolia, and M. zeledoniana. Lectotypes are chosen for Ctenopteris leucosticta, Polypodium amphidasyon, and Polypodium pectinatum var. hispidum. For each accepted species, full synonymy and geographical range are provided. Taxonomic discussion is provided for species not widely recognized in previous treatments.     

New genera and species of ericaceae (Vaccinieae) from Costa Rica and Panama

Two new monotypic genera,Didonica andUtleya, are described, withD. pendula from Panama andU. costaricensis from Costa Rica.Disterigma trimera (Panama),D. utleyorum (Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador),Lateropora santafeensis (Panama),Lysiclesia panamensis (Panama),Macleania talamancensis (Costa Rica),Themistoclesia costaricensis (Costa Rica) andT. horquetensis (Panama),Vaccinium costaricense andV. orosiense (both from Costa Rica) and V.jefense (Panama) are all described as new. New combinations are provided for the PanamanianVaccinium floccosum (=Symphysia floccosa) and the West IndianVaccinium racemosum (=Symphysia racemosa). Keys are provided for the Central American species ofDisterigma andThemistoclesia, the species ofLateropora andLysiclesia, and the Costa Rican and Panamanian species ofVaccinium. Six new species are illustrated.     

Sphaeromeria,a genus closer to Artemisia than to Tanacetum (Asteraceae: Anthemideae)

A new species,Sphaeromeria ruthiae, from Zion National Park, and three new combinations,S. martirensis,S. compacta, andS. potentilloides var.nitrophila, are presented. Morphological and anatomical evidence is used to support the recognition ofSphaeromeria as distinct fromTanacetum.     

Revision of Plerandra (Araliaceae). I. A synopsis of the genus with an expanded circumscription and a new infrageneric classification

Phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Schefflera, the largest genus of Araliaceae, is grossly polyphyletic, comprising five distinct clades within the family. In an effort to establish monophyletic genera among the elements that currently comprise Schefflera, the genus Plerandra is expanded to encompass all of the members of one of these clades. In this synoptical revision, a new infrageneric classification is presented (along with a key) in which six subgenera are recognized. Four of these subgenera are newly described (Plerandra subgenera Canacoschefflera, Costatae, Gabriellarum, and Veilloniorum) and a fifth represents a new combination (Plerandra subg. Dizygotheca). A total of 33 species (one with two subspecies) are accepted, one of which is newly described (P. veilloniorum), and 22 new combinations are made (P. actinostigma, P. baillonii, P. cabalionii, P. costata, P. crassipes, P. elegantissima, P. elongata, P. emiliana, P. gabriellae, P. leptophylla, P. nono, P. osyana, P. osyana subsp. toto, P. pachyphylla, P. pancheri, P. plerandroides, P. polydactylis, P. reginae, P. seemanniana, P. tannae, P. vanuatua, P. veitchii). Neotypes are provided for six accepted names and one heterotypic synonym, and lectotypes are designated for 13 accepted names and 16 heterotypic synonyms. For each accepted species, full synonymy is provided along with geographic range and notes.     

New taxa and combinations in Malvastrum A. Gray (Malvaceae: Malveae)

The genusMalvastrum A. Gray is interpreted to include 22 taxa in 14 species. Seven taxa are here described as new, namely:M. americanum var.stellatum,M. tomentosum subsp.pautense,M. bicuspidatum subsp.campanulatum,M. bicuspidatum subsp.oaxacanum, M. bicuspidatum subsp.tumidum var.tumidum, M. bicuspidatum subsp.tumidum var.glabrum, andM. coromandelianum subsp.fryxellii. In addition, two new combinations are proposed, namely:M. tomentosum andM. coromandelianum subsp.capitato-spicatum.     

Dos especies nuevas de Borreria (Rubiaceae) y sinopsis de las especies de Bolivia

Two new species are described, Borreria cerradoana and B. velascoana, from Bolivia and Brazil, and a new combination is made, B. spinosa var. minima. Through an identification key, all 28 species of Borreria for Bolivia are recorded, and comments on geographical distribution and habitat are provided. Borreria brachystemonoides, B. poaya, and B. tenera are confirmed as new records for the country.     

Four new species of genus Cordia (Cordiaceae, Boraginales) from Brazil

We describe four new species of Cordia (Cordiaceae) from Brazil: Cordia fusca, C. glabrifolia, C. restingae, and C. tarodae. These are illustrated, and data on habitat, phenology, and distribution are provided.     

New Rubiaceae from the Brazilian Planalto

Three new species from Brazil,Hindsia irwinii, Manettia irwinii, andMitracarpus pusillus, are described. A new section,Brevicalyx, is erected for Hindsia irwinii, and another new section,Irwinianthus, forManettia irwinii.     

A revision of the West Indian species of Lepanthes (Orchidaceae). III. Cuba

A study of herbarium material ofLepanthes indicates that there are at least 18 species on Cuba. The history of the collections and publications on the genus from the island is summarized, and a detailed key to the species is given. One new combination is proposed (L. blepharophylla) and the following species are described as new:L. acunae,L. dressleri,L. cubensis,L. grisebachiana,L. obliquiloba, andL. occidentalis, of which three are from western provinces and two have been associated with inappropriate names.L. mandibularis Reichb. f. is tentatively considered a synonym ofL. chrysostigma Lindl. although the type ofL. mandibularis could not be found. The range of variation included under the nameL. fulva Lindl. suggests that more than one species is involved.     

New species and combinations in Odontonema (Acanthaceae)

Six new species ofOdontonema are described:Odontonema album, O. amicorum, O. breedlovei, O. laxum, O. mortonii andO. speciosum. In addition two new combinations are proposed forOdontonema,O. glaberrimum andO. nitidum var.album, and nine species are transferred fromOdontonema to other acanthaceous genera, namelyAnisacanthus ramosissimus, Buceragenia foliaceo-bracteata, Pseuderanthemum cuspidatum, P. hookerianum, P. interruptum, P. paniculatum, P. stenostachyum, Stenostephanus longistaminus andStreblacanthus dubiosus.     

New species of Habracanthus (Acanthaceae) from Ecuador

Four new Ecuadorian species ofHabracanthus,H. asplundii from Pichincha,H. laxus andH. lugonis from Tungurahua, andH. luteynii from Napo, are described, illustrated, and compared with their closest relatives.     

Rubiacearum Americanarum Magna Hama Pars XXXII. New Species and a New Combination in Coussarea (Coussareeae) from Western South America

The Neotropical genus Coussarea is species-rich and widely distributed but not well known. Seven new species are described here, documented mainly by recent botanical exploration: C. acrensis is found in western Brazil, C. boliviensis and C. mexiae in the mountains of northwestern Bolivia, and C. camposiana, C. maranonensis, C. pseudopilosula, and C. vasqueziana in Peru. The new combination C. insolita is based on Rudgea insolita from Colombia.     

Notes on melastomataceae of the guianas

New species of Melastomataceae from the Guianas are described in the genera Adelobotrys (Adelobotrys ayangannensis) and Clidemia (Clidemia ayangannensis, C. granvillei). Davya crassiramis Naudin is transferred as Meriania crassiramis, Tschudya pulverulenta DC. is given the new name Miconia aliquantula, and Henriettella venosa Gleason is transferred as Clidemia venosa.     

New species and combinations in Thelypteris subg. Goniopteris (Thelypteridaceae)

Three new species ofThelypteris are described and illustrated:T. littoralis andT. paranaensis, endemic to the rainforest of the southern Brazilian Atlantic coast, andT. multigemmifera, endemic to inland gallery forests of the São Paulo state. In addition, four new combinations are made:T. cutiataensis (Brade) Salino,T. iguapensis (C. Chr.) Salino. A new name is proposed forDryopteris lugubris var.quadrangularis:T. montana Salino. The species treated here belong toThelypteris subg.Goniopteris due to the indument of furcate and stellate trichomes.     

Three New Species of Vernonia (Compositae: Vernonieae) from Mexico

Three new Mexican species ofVernonia,V. macphersonii,V. pugana andV. tequilana, are described.