Tripogon mahendragiriensis sp. nov. (Poaceae) from the Eastern Ghats of Odisha (Orissa) State,India

Tripogon mahendragiriensis (Poaceae), a new species from Mahendragiri Hills, Eastern Ghats, Odisha (Orissa) State, India is described and illustrated. It is similar to Tripogon humilis and T. purpurascens, but differs mainly by having longer culms, leaf blades and spike, unlobed lemmas and 2 anthers which are longer. From T. purpurascens it also differs by having 3‐awned lemmas.     

唐松草属六新种

描述了毛茛科唐松草属六新种:(1)大关唐松草,发现自云南东北部,与多枝唐松草甚为近缘,区别为其小叶较厚,较大,多呈卵形或宽卵形,心皮花柱较短,稍向后弯曲,瘦果呈新月形。(2)宽柱唐松草,发现自甘肃南部,其特征为心皮花柱扁平,近长圆形,腹面无柱头或柱头组织,据此特征可与此属中国其他种区别。(3)六脉萼唐松草,发现自四川中部,与白茎唐松草近缘,区别为其茎和小叶有毛,萼片具六条脉,一些雄蕊的花药败育,子房被短柔毛,柱头无翅。(4)吉隆唐松草,发现自西藏南部,与白茎唐松草甚为近缘,区别为小托叶卵形、急尖,复单歧聚伞花序一条顶生,无侧生者,雄蕊花药呈狭长圆形,顶端钝,无短尖头。(5)螺柱唐松草,发现自云南西北部,可能与白茎唐松草有亲缘关系,区别为其萼片具1条脉,花有4~5枚雄蕊,心皮花柱顶部螺旋状弯曲,柱头不明显。(6)札达唐松草,发现自西藏西南部,与多叶唐松草近缘,区别为其小叶顶端急尖,边缘具尖牙齿,聚伞圆锥花序具少数分枝和少数花,萼片狭卵形,花药狭长圆形。     

唐松草属五新种

该文描述了毛茛科唐松草属五新种:(1)小花唐松草,发现自贵州东北部,与多枝唐松草近缘,区别为其小叶较小,雄蕊较少,花丝较短,呈狭条形。(2)新宁唐松草,发现自湖南南部,与爪哇唐松草近缘,区别为本种的雄蕊花丝呈狭条状棒形,花只含3~6枚心皮。(3)短蕊唐松草,发现自河南东南部,在体态上与爪哇唐松草十分相似,区别为本种的雄蕊很短,花丝呈丝形,花只含4~6枚心皮。(4)毛蕊唐松草,发现自四川北部,与长柄唐松草有密切的亲缘关系,区别为本种的茎和花梗被短柔毛,萼片被缘毛,花药不具短尖头,子房密被短柔毛。(5)小金唐松草,发现自四川西部,与白茎唐松草在亲缘关系上甚为相近,区别为本种的小叶被微硬毛,雄蕊花丝呈狭条形,花药顶端无短尖头或具极小短尖头,心皮较小,长仅2.4 mm,柱头无翅。     

Chirita tiandengensis (Gesneriaceae) sp. nov. from Guangxi,China

Chirita tiandengensis Fang Wen & Hui Tang, a new species of Chirita from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to C. napoensis Z. Y. Li, C. lunglinensis W. T. Wang and C. obtusidentata W. T. Wang, but differs by leaf blades ovate‐lanceolate, both surfaces sparsely strigulose; cymes 5‐ or 8‐flowered, bracts narrowly lanceolate, 6–8×1.5–2.0 mm; larger flowers (3.8–4.6 cm long), pink corolla, infundibuliform‐tubular tube; backside of anthers puberulous, filaments straight; staminodes glabrous, fused on the capitate top; stigma bipartite to the base with narrowly lanceolate lobes.     

东川铁线莲, 云南毛茛科一新种

描述了自云南东北部发现的毛茛科铁线莲属一新种,东川铁线莲。此种由于其叶为单叶,萼片直立,雄蕊的花丝和花药均被短柔毛而与曲柄铁线莲近缘,与后者的区别在于其叶呈心状卵形,叶缘具粗牙齿,花序为二歧聚伞花序,以及花药顶端钝,不具短尖头。     

东川铁线莲, 云南毛茛科一新种

描述了自云南东北部发现的毛茛科铁线莲属一新种,东川铁线莲。此种由于其叶为单叶,萼片直立,雄蕊的花丝和花药均被短柔毛而与曲柄铁线莲近缘,与后者的区别在于其叶呈心状卵形,叶缘具粗牙齿,花序为二歧聚伞花序,以及花药顶端钝,不具短尖头。     

Thladiantha tomentosa (Cucurbitaceae) comb. nov. from southwestern China

In this paper, we propose that Thladiantha cordifolia (Blume) Cogn. var. tomentosa A. M. Lu & Z. Y. Zhang should be recognized at species rank as Thladiantha tomentosa (A. M. Lu & Z. Y. Zhang) W. Jiang & H. Wang. This species is similar to T. cordifolia and T. angustisepala W. J. de Wilde & Duyfjes, from which it differs mainly by having ovate bracts, linear sepals, and ellipsoidal, rostrate, ribbed verrucose fruits.     

Tropaeolum sparrei sp. nov. (Tropaeolaceae) from western Ecuador

A new species, Tropaeolum sparrei Ståhl (Tropaeolaceae), is described from submontane cloud forest habitat in western Ecuador. It differs from T. papillosum Hughes (the species it resembles most) by having thinner, tomentose stems, smaller, glabrous or subglabrous leaves with the petiole inserted relatively closer to the lower leaf margin, and flowers with uniformly coloured and straight calyx spurs. In leaf shape it is also similar to T. repandum Heilborn, from which it differs in its larger flowers with entirely black petals and blue anthers.     

Effect of environmental conditions on decomposition in eight woody species of a dry tropical forest

Litter decay is a significant part of carbon budget. Due to strong environmental control, the changes in the environment may drastically influence the litter decay rates. Litter decomposition of eight dry tropical woody species, viz. Shorea robusta, Buchanania lanzan, Diospyros melanoxylon, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Lannea coromandelica, Terminalia tomentosa, Holarrhena antidysenterica and Lantana camara was studied to document the effect of intra-annual changes in the environment. Litter decomposition was monitored at monthly intervals at five sites using litter bag technique over an annual cycle in a dry tropical deciduous forest of Vindhyan highland, India. Weight loss differed among species and through months, and ranged from 15.38% in L. camara at Kotwa site in January to 30.72% in T. tomentosa at Hathinala site in August. Peak weight loss occurred in August and averaged 46.2% across species and sites. Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization rates also varied significantly from species to species. T. tomentosa having higher nitrogen content and lower C/N ratio than other species exhibited faster weight loss. Nitrogen and phosphorus contents of litter showed significant positive correlation with weight loss. C/N ratio was negatively related to decay constant, and the weight loss was positively related to the soil surface temperature as well as soil moisture content.     

Clausena agasthyamalayana sp. nov. (Rutaceae) from Kerala,India

A new species of Clausena, C. agasthyamalayana is described and illustrated from the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. It is similar to C. indica but differs from it being of dwarf habit, and having greenish–black bark, smaller and fewer leaflets, obovate and coriaceous leaves with obtuse or emarginated apex, elliptic and obtuse petals, oblong‐cordate anthers, consistently 4‐locular ovary with 2 ovules in each chamber and ellipsoid fruits.     

Zingiberanamalayanum sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from India

Zingiber anamalayanum (Zingiberaceae), a new species from the southern western Ghats, India is described and illustrated. A phenetic analyses to assess the similarity indices and the uniqueness of the new species have been performed. A diagnostic key to Zingiber spp. in south India is provided.     

Spiradiclis densa sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from limestone areas in Guangxi,China

A new species of Rubiaceae, Spiradiclis densa, is described and illustrated from southwestern China. It is similar to S. tomentosa, but differs in the elliptic or oblong leaf blades, distylous flowers and inner sides of corolla tube with dense pubescence near throat. The conservation status of the new species is preliminarily assessed as ‘Vulnerable’ according to IUCN categories and criteria.     

Primulina duanensis sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from Guangxi,China

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Primulina duanensis Fang Wen & S. L. Huang is described and illustrated from Guangxi, China. It differs from P. ronganensis (D. Fang & Y. G. Wei) Mich. Möller & A. Weber in having broadly lanceolate bracts, being 1–3‐flowered and possessing hairs on the upper part of the anthers where connected with the filaments; from P. sclerophylla (W. T. Wang) Yan Liu in having narrowly ovate to ovate leaf blade, leaf blade margin interrupted shallowly crenate, broadly lanceolate bracts, being 1–3‐flowered and possessing hairs on the upper part of the anthers where connected with the filaments; from P. shouchengensis (Z. Y. Li) Z. Y. Li in having narrowly ovate to ovate leaf blade, leaf blade margin interrupted shallowly crenate, broadly lanceolate bracts and possessing hairs on the upper part of the anthers where connected with the filaments.     

Host range of the defoliator Strepsicrates sp. is too broad for biological control of the invasive weed Rhodomyrtus tomentosa

In its native range the invasive weed, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa is host to a suite of herbivores. One, Strepsicrates sp. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), was collected in China in 2014, introduced under quarantine in Florida, USA, and tested against related species to determine its host range and suitability for biological control. In no-choice tests, neonates fed and completed development to the pupal stage on several species of Myrtaceae, including the target weed R. tomentosa, the exotics Melaleuca quinquenervia, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and three native species, Eugenia axillaris, Mosiera longipes and Morella cerifera (Myricaceae). Due to the broad host range exhibited in quarantine testing, this species will not be pursued as a biological control agent of R. tomentosa.     

Carex tomentosa versus C. filiformis (Cyperaceae): the long‐standing debate comes to its happy end

The type of Carex filiformis is an illustration, which is pluri‐interpretable and therefore an epitype is designated here. As epitypified, C. filiformis L. becomes synonymous with Carex montana L. (the latter getting priority), and therefore not the correct name for Carex tomentosa L. as stated by Nelmes and other authors. Carex tomentosa is the accepted name for the taxon sometimes referred to as C. filiformis.     

Gentianella tumailica (Gentianaceae) – A new species from cold deserts of northwest Himalaya,India

A new species of Gentianella, G. tumailica sp. nov., from Tumail in the Kargil district of Ladakh, northwest Himalaya, India is described and illustrated. This novelity is morphologically similar to the sympatric G. stoliczka in inflorescence pattern, calyx and corolla shapes, sagitate anthers, more or less rounded seeds, but differs in smaller size of vegetative and floral structures, larger basal leaves, few cauline leaves, leaf apex obtuse to rounded, calyx lobes unequal (2 longer, 3 shorter), inflorescence enveloped by 4 foliaceous bracts, capsule elliptic to oblong and seed coat smooth. In addition, a diagnostic key to all Indian species of Gentianella is presented.     

Resource availability and growth responses to defoliation in seedlings of three early-successional,tropical, woody species

A growth experiment was conducted using seedlings of three early-successional, tropical, woody species:Dillenia suffruticosa (Dilleniaceae),Macaranga heynei (Euphorbiaceae) andTrema tomentosa (Ulmaceae). These species are characteristic of different positions along a soil fertility gradient in Singapore, withD. suffruticosa being the least andT. tomentosa the most demanding of high nutrient availability. The seedlings were grown in vermiculite at either low or high nutrient availabilities supplied by watering with different concentrations of a commercial plant food. Half the seedlings were subjected to a 50% defoliation at the start of the experiment by cutting off the distal half of each leaf. After 9 weeks the plants were harvested.Macaranga heynei andT. tomentosa seedlings showed no significant difference in parameters of growth such as total dry weight and total leaf area between the defoliated and control seedlings. The seedlings compensated completely for the loss of leaf area.Dillenia suffruticosa did show significant reductions in growth in some parameters due to defoliation, and these were more pronounced under the high nutrient treatment. These findings support the hypothesis that plants characteristic of resource-rich sites can readily recover from herbivory through fast growth, probably associated with a rapid turnover of leaves, whereas species of resource-poor habitats cannot easily replace losses due to herbivory and are adversely effected by defoliation.     

Myosotis wumengensis sp. nov. (Boraginaceae) from central Yunnan,southwest China

Myosotis wumengensis, a distinct new species endemic to Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species differs from all Myosotis species in China by having exserted anthers and a long corolla tube. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the generic position of the new species. In addition, the pollen morphology of the new species is described.