A Bryophyte Flora of Berkshire and Oxfordshire

Abstract

In temperate North American forests, collections were made of myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) for which bryophytes served as the primary substrate for fruiting. Most associations among the 52 myxomycete species and 55 bryophyte species, represented in these collections, appeared to be coincidental but two species of myxomycetes (Barbeyella minutissima and Lepidoderma tigrinum) were evidently bryophilous, preferring leafy hepatics on rotten coniferous logs. Bryophytes obviously provide exposed surfaces convenient for myxomycete sporulation. Whether bryophytes also sustain the feeding phases of the myxomycete life-cycle (swarm cells, myxamoebae, and plasmodia) is not yet known.     

Correlation between pathogenicity and molecular characteristics in the willow leaf rusts <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melampsora epitea</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. humilis</Emphasis> in Japan

 We studied the correlation between pathogenicity and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) type, which was determined by polymerase chain reaction-based RFLP analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal DNA, in the willow leaf rust fungi Melampsora epitea and M. humilis. Eighteen clones of eight Salix species were inoculated with urediniospores from seven collections of the two rust species. M. epitea and M. humilis (RFLP type-5 collections) were pathogenic to six to eight Salix species. RFLP type-7 collections of M. epitea were pathogenic to only two Salix species. The taxonomic relationships of the two rust species are discussed. Received: December 11, 2002 / Accepted: February 17, 2003 RID="*" ID="*" Contribution no. 179, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba, Japan Acknowledgments We thank K. Katsuya, former professor at the University of Tsukuba, for his encouragement in this study. We are also grateful to M. Yashima, Botanical Garden, University of Tohoku, for his assistance in collecting materials and to R. Suzuki, University of Tsukuba, for providing a rust isolate.     

A new species of Castilleja (Orobanchaceae) from central Hidalgo, Mexico

Castilleja hidalgensis is described from several collections from xeric limestone sites in central Hidalgo, Mexico. The new species belongs to a small complex of poorly known and uncommon species within sect.Euchroma, sharing important characteristics withC. macrostigma, the first-described taxon in this assemblage. The new species appears to be rare and highly restricted both geographically and ecologically. A key to the species of theC. macrostigma group is provided.     

On the occurrence of the Medicinal Leech,Hirudo medicinalis L., in the Levant

Abstract

Historical records of H. medicinalis are reviewed and specimens have been identified from recent collections of leeches in northern Israel, confirming that this species has not disappeared from our area.     

A new species of Boletopsis Associated with Pinus sylvestris L. in Scotland

Summary

The identity of a recent Scottish collection thought to be Boletopsis leucomelaena was examined with the help of molecular techniques. This poroid fungus proved to be a new species of Boletopsis differing from the European species occurring with Pinus sylvestris, which should continue to be called B. grisea. The new name Boletopsis peplexa is introduced for all the Scottish collections with Pinus sylvestris.     

The species of the genus Micrambe Thomson 1863, from South Africa (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae)

The 22 species of the genus Micrambe Thomson known from South Africa are analyzed and revised. Micrambe danielssoni sp. nov is described. Following a detailed study of the type material in different entomological collections, the status of two taxa is revised and two new synonymies are proposed: Micrambe kolbei Grouvelle 1908, syn. nov. for Micrambe minuta Grouvelle 1908, and Micrambe similis Bruce 1957, syn. nov. for Micrambe peringueyi Grouvelle 1908. A lectotypus is designated for one taxon: Micrambe capensis (Redtenbacher 1867). A key to all the species occurring in South Africa is presented.     

Grias longirachis (Lecythidaceae), a new species from northwestern Ecuador

A new species,Grias longirachis S. A. Mori & J. L. Clark, with enclosed calyx in bud and unusually long inflorescence rachises, is described based on collections from northwestern Ecuador. A key to the species ofGrias is provided.     

Castilleja chambersii (Scrophulariaceae), a new rare species from the northern Coast Range of Oregon

Castilleja chambersii is described from several collections made in the Coast Range of southwestern Clatsop County, Oregon. The new species is a member of subgenusCastilleja and is most closely related toC. parviflora andC. rupicola. This rare species is known from only three small and geographically restricted populations. Two new meiotic chromosome counts ofn=12 are reported for the new species.     

Pselaphotumulus,a new genus of pselaphine endemic to New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphitae)

ABSTRACT

Pselaphotumulus Owens and Carlton, gen. nov., is described as the sixth genus in the tribe Pselaphini known from New Zealand. Three new species are described: Pselaphotumulus aorerei, sp. nov., Pselaphotumulus dubius, sp. nov. and Pselaphotumulus unus, sp. nov.. Three species, Pselaphus cavelli (Broun 1893), Pselaphus oviceps (Broun 1917) and Pselaphus urquharti (Broun 1917) are transferred to Pselaphotumulus, nov. combs. Lectotypes from type series in the New Zealand Broun Collection (Natural History Museum, London) are designated for these three species. Habitus photographs, distributional maps and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided for each species. A key to species is provided. Searches of museum collections have not yielded representatives outside of New Zealand, suggesting that this is the first endemic genus in the tribe Pselaphini described from the New Zealand’s main islands, specifically, the South Island. Pselaphotumulus species exhibit restricted distribution patterns that approximately coincide with the Pacific/Indo Australian Plate boundary.     

Freshwater mussels (genus Anodonta) from Anatolia and adjacent areas (Bivalvia,Unionidae)

Abstract

A review is given of the species of Anodontinae in Anatolia and the adjacent areas, based mainly on the author’s collections. Five species (A. anatina, A. cygnae, A. palustris, A. pseudodopsis, A. vescoiana) and several subspecies are recognized. Their distribution and the patterns of subspeciation are discussed.     

A revision of post-war collections of Hong Kong Sematophyllaceae

Abstract

Six genera and 11 species of Sematophyllaceae are confirmed for the Hong Kong moss flora based on recent collections. One genus, Brotherella, and three species, Brotherella erythrocaulis, lsocladiella surcularis and Taxithelium instratum, are new to Hong Kong. Taxithelium batanense is a new synonym of T. oblongifolium. Sematophyllum japonicum, S. pulchellum and S. subhumile are treated as a species complex awaiting further revision. The report of Trichosteleum mammosum from Hong Kong needs confirmation.     

British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain,Malawi. 17 Sematophyllaceae (Bryopsida): Part 1

Abstract

The family Sematophyllaceae is a difficult family to treat in Africa because of the large number of species described without any subsequent revision or monography and, despite the many collections mentioned in this paper, only two species had previously been identified from Malawi. A total of four species in four genera (Gammiella, Mρacrohymenium, Radulina and Wijkia) are recorded in this paper, all but one new to Malawi. The two remaining genera (Sematophyllum and Trichosteleum) present additional difficulties of identification, and will be dealt with separately.     

A record of the Plain Tiger,Danaus chrysippus,in Turkey

Summary

In this publication, a subdivision of the genus Annenica O. Boettger, 1877 sensu Auct. is proposed. One result of our study is the recognition of the genus Sprattia O. Boettger, 1883 for most of the South Anatolian species of the former genus Armenica. The genus Astrogena Szekeres, 1970, which was synonymised by H. NORDSIECK (1975: 98) with Armenica is redefined and used as a subgenus of Armenica for some species. Extensive recent collections contain new species and subspecies of this genus, which are described here.     

Revision of the cerrado hemicryptophytic Chamaesyce of Boissier's “Pleiadeniae” (Euphorbiaceae)

The species ofChamaesyce classified by Boissier as the “Pleiadeniae” are revised in light of presently available collections. Six species are accepted and new combinations are proposed forC. nana, C. setosa, C. tamanduana, andC. viscoides. Although these herbaceous perennials of cerrado vegetation of Brazil, northern Argentina, and adjacent countries are distinctive ecologically and geographically, cladistic analysis does not support their recognition as a monophyletic group.     

Genetic structure of mosses Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. ex Brid.) Mitt. and Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid. along altitude gradients in Hokkaido,Japan

Abstract

The families Pterigynandraceae and Rigodiaceae are reviewed for Africa with reference to the collections made by the BBS Expedition to Mt Mulanje, Malawi in 1991. The single African species of Rigodium (Rigodiaceae) is reported to be quite frequent on Mt Mulanje, and three of the four species of Trachyphyllum (Pterigynandraceae) found in Africa (T. gastrodes, T. dusenii and T. inflexum) are reported, the latter two for the first time from Malawi. On present limited evidence, Malawi seems to be a centre of diversity of the genus.     

A new species of Castilleja (Orobanchaceae) from the central Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico, and an annotated key to the Castilleja species of that region

Castilleja holmgrenii is described from several collections made in the Sierra Madre Occidental in southeast Sinaloa and adjacent southwest Durango, Mexico. The new species is a member of subgenus and sectionCastilleja. This apparently rare species is presently known from two small, geographically restricted populations. Also provided are a list of theCastilleja species of this region with notes on their status and distribution, a key for their identification, and nomenclatural and taxonomic notes concerning some of the species.     

A new species of Lamproderma (Myxomycetes) from Costa Rica

Lamproderma magniretisporum, a new species of myxomycete from Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by its lignicolous habitat, long stalk, dark radial capillitium, large spores, and reticulate spore ornamentation. The stability of the taxonomic characters of L. magniretisporum is supported by two well-developed collections. The morphology of the sporocarp was subjected to detailed study with both the light microscope and the scanning electron microscope. Micrographs of all relevant features are presented. Taxonomic novelty Lamproderma magniretisporum G. Moreno, C. Rojas, S.L. Stephenson & H. Singer