A taxonomic revision of the Phreodrilidae (Oligochaeta)

Seven of the 20 former species of the Phreodrilidae have been examined. Information derived from a study of this material has necessitated a re-assessment of the interpretations of some of the anatomical features formerly employed in the separation of genera. As a result, all of the known species are merged in the single genus Phreodrilus with seven subgenera, 17 species and two taxa recognizable only as unidentifiable phreodrilids.     

A taxonomic revision of Calotropis (Asclepiadaceae)

The genus Calotropis of the tribe Asclepiadeae of Asclepiadaceae subfamily Ascle-piadoideae is revised throughout its Tange in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. The three species recognized are keyed out, illustrated and described with appropriate bibliography, synonymy, notes on ecology, distribution and uses. Distribution maps for the species are provided. The taxonomic position of the genus is discussed and a historical review is provided.     

A taxonomic revision of the family Haplotaxidae (Oligochaeta)

The family Haplotaxidae is re-defined and the genera Pelodrilus, Heterochaetella and Adenodrilus are merged in the single genus Haplotaxis. Haplotaxis dubius and Haplotaxis ascaridoides are recognized as subspecies of Haplotaxis gordioides, and H. forbesi is regarded as synonymous with H. gordioides following a re-examination of the type material. The absence of the gizzard in H. smithii is reported for the first time, and the presence of both pairs of male pores in the same segment in H. violaceus is confirmed, the type material of both species having been examined. Pelodrilus monticola, P. tuberculatus and P. darlingensis are merged in Haplotaxis africanus (n. comb.), Pelodrilus aucklandicus is recognized as a synonym of H. hologynus hologynus (n. comb.), but P. bipapillatus is recognized as a subspecies of hologynus.     

A taxonomic revision of the genus Pachyrhizus (Fabaceae -Phaseoleae)

The genus Pachyrhizus is revised in order to establish the distribution of the species and their variation. Three species in cultivation ( P. erosus, P. tuberosus and P. ahipa ) and two species only occurring in the wild ( P. ferrugineus and P. panamensis ) are recognized. P. strigosus is considered conspecific with P. erosus . All the infraspecific taxa proposed by Clausen are considered untenable. The new combination P. ferrugineus is made for what was previously know as P. vernalis .     

A taxonomic revision of the genus Perdicium (Compositae -Mutisieae)

In connection with a revision of Gerbera L. nom. cons. in Africa the genus Perdicium L. is revised. The genus includes two species, P. capense L. and P. leiocarpum DC. in the Western Cape Region of South Africa.     

A taxonomic revision of Secale (Triticeae, Poaceae)

Several taxa have previously been recognized within Secale , but most of them are difficult or even impossible to distinguish morphologically. We recognize only three species: S. sylvestre, S. strictum , and S. cereale. Secale strictum has priority over S. montanum and has two subspecies, ssp. strictum and ssp. africanum , and two varieties within ssp. strictum , van strictum and var. ciliatoglume comb. nov. Secale cereale is also treated as having two subspecies. The cultivated taxa, marked by their tough rachises, are placed in ssp. cereale and the wild or weedy taxa that have more or less fragile rachis, in ssp. ancestrale. A complete synonymy is given for S. cereale , but typification has been omitted because, in many instances, type material does not exist or has been impossible to trace.     

A taxonomic revision of the genus Tordylium L. (Apiaceae)

The four related genera: Ainsworthia Boiss., Tordylium L., Synelcosciadium Boiss. and Mandenovia Alava are revised. Data are presented from detailed gross morphology, mericarp surface features and anatomy, and palynology.
The results show: (1) Ainsmorthia and Synelcosciadium are congeneric with the genus Tordylium, and that Mandenovia is a good monotypic genus; (2) Tordylium persicum is synonymous with 7. cappadocicum and 7. aegaeum with 7. pestalozzae; (3) the genus Tordylium is best divided into subgenus Tordylium (including Synelcosciadium) and subgenus Ainsworthia (Boiss.) Drude. The latter is divided into section Condylocarpus (Hoffm.) DC, section Hasselquistia (L.) Boiss. and section Univittata Drude.
A new species of Tordylium is described, and two new combinations made. A taxonomic treatment of the genus 'Tordylium', together with a key to the species, is given.     

The taxonomic status ofSedum telephium and its allied species (Crassulaceae)

The taxonomic status ofSedum Telephium and its allied species (Crassulaceae-Sedoideae) is discussed, and a new genus,Hylotelephium, is recognized. Under the genus, 27 new combinations are proposed and one new species,H. callichromum, from Central Asia is described. This study has been supported partly by Grants-in-Aid for Fundamental Scientific Research by the Ministry of Education of Japan, No. 034047 in 1975 and 1976.     

A taxonomic revision of the Antennaria media (Asteraceae: Inuleae) polyploid species complex in western North America

TheAntennaria media polyploid species complex has been evaluated, at least in part, on numerous occasions without consensus on either the taxa that should be included within the complex or the rank at which these taxa should be recognized. The primary purpose of this quantitative, multivariate, phenetic study is to propose a taxonomy for the polyploid species complex that not only is independent of a knowledge of either chromosome number or reproductive biology but that concurrently minimally reflects morphological variation associated with each. The use of canonical discriminant analysis facilitates this purpose. In an attempt to maintain consistency with other recent revisions of polyploid complexes within the genus, the rank of subspecies (A. media subsp.media, A. media subsp.ciliata, A. media subsp.compacta, A. media subsp.fusca, andA. media subsp.pulchella) is selected as the infraspecific rank that satisfies the purpose of the phenetic study and is supported by the analyses. These subspecies differ to varying degrees with respect to reproductive characters (corolla length, pappus length), vegetative-reproductive characters (involucre length, peduncle length, cauline leaf length, cauline leaf width), and vegetative characters (basal leaf length and basal leaf width).Antennaria media subsp.pulchella is a sexually reproducing, diploid subspecies, whereas the remaining four subspecies are essentially agamospermous polyploids.