Demographic characteristics of the copepod <Emphasis Type=Italic>Acanthocyclops americanus</Emphasis> (Sars, 1863) (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) fed mixed algal (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Scenedesmus acutus</Emphasis>)-rotifer (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Brachionus havanaensis</Emphasis>) diet

The predatory copepod Acanthocyclops americanus is commonly found in shallow ponds and lakes in Mexico. We tested the survivorship and reproduction-related variables of this copepod, isolated from Lake Huetzalin (Xochimilco, Mexico City), on four mixed diets comprising two algal concentrations (0.8 × 10⁶ and 1.6 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ of Scenedesmus acutus) and two rotifer densities (1 and 8 ind. ml⁻¹ of Brachionus havanaensis). Survivorship patterns of naupliar and adult stages of A. americanus were evaluated at 24 ± 1°C. The demography experiments were initiated with five females and five males (1:1 ratio, 5th copepodites) into each of the 16 test [= 4 diet combinations × 4 replicates (cohorts)] jars containing 50 ml medium and with one of the chosen algal-rotifer diets. Data on the survival of naupliar and copepodites (up to V) showed a high death rate (80%) in A. americanus by the time nauplii reached the adult stage. The duration of developmental time for nauplii and the copepodite V (C-V) was about 28 days by which time A. americanus became adults. Food combination had a significant effect on both survival and duration of the naupliar and C-V but not on the development time in C-I, C-II, C-III, and C-IV. Naupliar stages showed highest life expectancy at low food levels (rotifers or alga). Adult male and female copepods showed better survival under higher availability of rotifers in the medium, while higher algal density resulted in steep mortality during the first days. Average adult lifespan and life expectancy of A. americanus varied from 19 to 23 days, depending on the diet combination. Age-specific reproductive output (m _x ) of female A. americanus showed low reproduction (<10 offspring per female on any given day) when raised on low rotifer density, regardless of the algal concentration. On the other hand, enhanced offspring production (average of about 50 nauplii per female) was recorded when the rotifer density was higher (i.e., 8 ind. ml⁻¹). Gross and net reproductive rates varied from 48 to 438 and 27 to 318 offspring per female, respectively. In general, higher availability of rotifers in the medium resulted in higher (8–10 times as compared to those in low rotifer density) gross and net reproductive rates. There was no significant difference in the generation time (13–14 days) in relation to the diet combination. The rate of population increase (r) (range: 0.29–0.69 per day) increased with greater abundance of B. havanaensis in the medium. Thus, our study showed that inclusion of animal protein in the diet is necessary for high population growth rates of A. americanus.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Eupatorieae</Emphasis> (Compositae) from Brazil

Three new species of Eupatorieae (Asteraceae) were collected in the “campos rupestres” of the Cadeia do Espinha?o, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, in the Itacolomi State Park, located between the cities of Ouro Preto and Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, during a floristic survey focusing on Compositae in this area. Eupatorium semiamplexifolium, Mikania badiniana, and Stevia alexii are described and illustrated.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Barleria compacta</Emphasis>: a new species in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Barleria</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type=Italic>Prionitis</Emphasis> (Acanthaceae) from Somalia

Following a re-examination of the material treated under Barleria brevispina (Fiori) Hedrén in the recent Flora of Somalia account of the Acanthaceae, it is concluded that two distinct species are involved and Barleria compacta Malombe & I. Darbysh. is described here from north-eastern Somalia. Its affinities and conservation status are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Psychotria kupensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Rubiaceae</Emphasis>) a new dwarf,litter-gathering species from western Cameroon

Summary   Psychotria kupensis Cheek is described as a new species in Psychotria sect. Confertiflorae Hiern. Attention is drawn to its monopodial, dwarf, litter-gathering and adventitious root-forming habit and to its anomalous stipules. The species appears to be endemic to the submontane evergeen forest of Mt Kupe in Cameroon. Its conservation status is assessed.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Boletus kermesinus</Emphasis>, a new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Boletus</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type=Italic>Luridi</Emphasis> from central Honshu,Japan

Boletus kermesinus, a new species of Boletus section Luridi, is fully described and illustrated based on the materials collected in subalpine coniferous forests of central Honshu, Japan. It has distinctive features of dark-red basidiomata having distinct viscidity in the pileus surface, usually unchanging flesh, discolorous red pores, and an entirely reticulate stipe becoming coarsely lacerate-rimose with age.     

Two new species and a new combination in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Conchocarpus</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Rutaceae,Galipeeae</Emphasis>) from eastern Brazil

Two new species of Rutaceae, Conchocarpus hamadryadicus Pirani & Kallunki and C. minutiflorus Groppo & Pirani are described and illustrated. Both are known so far only from small remnants of forests, the former in the caatinga dominium in Bahia, the latter in moist forests near Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Their main diagnostic features are delineated, and their relationships to other species of Conchocarpus are discussed. Because Rauia racemosa Nees & Mart. can no longer be recognised as a synonym of Conchocarpus fontanesianus (A. St.-Hil.) Kallunki & Pirani, a new combination, C. racemosus (Nees & Mart.) Kallunki & Pirani, is provided, with comments.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Passiflora cristalina,</Emphasis> a striking new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Passiflora</Emphasis> (Passifloraceae) from Mato Grosso,Brazil

A new red-flowered species of Passiflora, P. cristalina Vanderpl. & Zappi, is described from the tropical rainforest of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The species is illustrated and its affinities with related species are discussed, and a key to the species of supersect. Distephana to which it belongs is provided.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Gagea robusta</Emphasis> (Liliaceae), a new species from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Flora Iranica</Emphasis> area

A new species, endemic to the Flora Iranica area, Gagea robusta (Liliaceae) is described and illustrated. It differs from G. reticulata (Pall.) Schult. & Schult. f. in having a puberulent indumentum on the basal leaf and from G. setifolia Baker ex Aitch. in having a long neck (up to 12 cm long). Its ecology, distribution and conservation status are discussed.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Dalea</Emphasis> ser. <Emphasis Type=Italic>Versicolores</Emphasis> (Leguminosae: Amorpheae) from Durango,Mexico

Dalea conetensis, a new species from the central part of the State of Durango, Mexico, is described and illustrated. It is referred to Dalea subgenus Parosela sect. Parosela series Versicolores. It is morphologically similar to D. pinetorum var. pinetorum but can be distinguished by its shorter stipules, leaves, bracts, calyx teeth, petals, androecium, fewer and shorter leaflets, and the calyx pubescence.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Mentzelia</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type=Italic>Bartonia</Emphasis> (Loasaceae) from the Grand Canyon,Arizona

Mentzelia hualapaiensis, a new species of Mentzelia sect. Bartonia, is described from the Grand Canyon region of Arizona. The new species is closely related to M. puberula, which is found west of M. hualapaiensis along the Colorado River, and to M. oreophila, M. polita, and M. tiehmii. It shares with these species a suffrutescent shoot system characterized by a subterranean, branching caudex, multiple annual branches, and similar leaves that have shallowly lobed or toothed to entire laminas. The flowers of M. hualapaiensis differ from those of its closest relatives in having cream-white, linear to narrowly spatulate petals and staminodes, characteristics that are convergent with those of the flowers of the Chihuahuan Desert species M. humilis.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Cortinarius</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type=Italic>Orellani</Emphasis> from Japan

Cortinarius breviradicatus sp. nov., found in deciduous forests, is described and illustrated from Niigata, Japan. It is characterized by its medium-sized to large dark brown basidiocarp, acutely conical pileus, and rooting stipe, and by subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores. In addition, the extracting solution from its basidiocarps exhibits a strong fluorescence around 400–430 nm in ultraviolet radiation (250 nm), which was observed in a species of Cortinarius sect. Orellani. The new species belongs to the section Orellani. The differences between the new taxon and similar species are briefly discussed.     

New species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Dypsis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Ravenea</Emphasis> (Arecaceae) from Madagascar

Fourteen new species of palms (Arecaceae) from Madagascar are described and named, based on material collected over the last 15 years. Twelve species belong to the genus Dypsis, namely D. andilamenensis Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. anjae Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. betsimisarakae Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. culminis Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. dracaenoides Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. gautieri Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. gronophyllum Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. jeremiei Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. metallica Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. reflexa Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. sancta Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and D. vonitrandambo Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and two species belong to the genus Ravenea: R. beentjei Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and R. hypoleuca Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. Despite the fact that most of these species have been recorded from protected areas that are difficult to access in the eastern region of Madagasacar, they are all threatened. Based on IUCN categories and criteria, seven are Critically Endangered and seven are Vulnerable.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Paraliparis adustus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Paraliparis bullacephalus</Emphasis>: two new snailfish species (Teleostei: Liparidae) from Alaska

Paraliparis adustus sp. nov., a snailfish species from the Bering Sea near the Aleutian Island Archipelago, Alaska, is described based on a single mesopelagic specimen. This new species is clearly distinguished by a combination of several morphological features and meristic counts, including long pointed gill rakers with 0–3 spinules at or near the tip, anus positioned forward near the pectoral symphysis, and color uniform brown. Paraliparis bullacephalus sp. nov. from Shelikof Strait, Gulf of Alaska, is also described. This new species is very similar in meristic characters and general body shape and size to P. holomelas Gilbert, but differs primarily in morphological features of the head, particularly in the shape of the dorsal contour of the head, snout, and opercular flap, mouth size, and eye position.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Dalea</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type=Italic>Parosela</Emphasis> (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Amorpheae) from Guerrero,Mexico

Dalea gymonocodon is described from eastern Guerrero, Mexico. It is referred to Dalea subgenus Parosela series Pectinatae. Morphologically similar to Dalea escobilla, it differs by its leaf characters, with 2–6 pairs of leaflets, and by its greenish (drying pale greenish-yellow) flowers.