Stipa narynica sp. nov. (Poaceae) from the western Tian‐Shan Mountains

Stipa narynica M. Nobis sp. nov. from the western Tian‐Shan Mts (western Kyrgyzstan) is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to sect. Smirnovia Tzvel. Morphologically the species is similar to S. aktauensis, a species from which it is easily distinguished by its longer glumes (41–)44–55(–62) mm vs 35–45 mm, longer anthecium (11.5–) 12.0–14.2(–14.8) mm vs 9.5–11.2(–11.7) mm, longer hairs on the seta (5.5–)6.0–8.0(–8.5) mm vs (3.0–)3.8–5.5(–6.0) mm and by the top of the lemma which in S. narynica is either glabrous or with a poorly developed ring of short hairs, while in S. aktauensis, the top of lemma is always distinctly and densely pilose. The lemma and leaf blade structure of both species were examined by means of SEM. The main features differentiating S. narynica and S. aktauensis and distribution of the taxa are presented. An original key to the middle Asiatic species of the sect. Smirnovia, the most similar to Stipa narynica is provided.     

Deyeuxia sorengii sp. nov. (Poaceae,Agrostidinae) from the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

Deyeuxia sorengii B. Paszko & W. L. Chen, a new species of Deyeuxia from the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to D. zangxiensis P. C. Kuo & S. L. Lu, but differs from it by having a well‐developed and conspicuously hairy rachilla prolongation and a straight awn. Deyeuxia sorengii occurs in alpine meadows of central Xizang and central Qinghai. The first records of Deyeuxia zangxiensis are reported from western and eastern Xinjiang and northeastern Qinghai (China).     

Stipa zeravshanica sp. nov. (Poaceae), an endemic species from rocky walls of the western Pamir Alai Mountains (middle Asia)

Stipa zeravshanica M. Nobis sp. nov. from the western Pamir Alai Mts (Tajikistan) is described and illustrated. Morphologically, the new species is similar to S. gracilis, but it is easily distinguishable by pilose (vs. glabrous) lower part of the awn, and generally somewhat longer ligules of the vegetative shoots. Epidermal patterns of the lemma in S. zeravshanica and three other closely related taxa, namely S. gracilis, S. himalaica and S. orientalis, were examined by means of SEM. The main macro‐morphological and micro‐morphological characteristics differentiating all mentioned species are presented. Additionally, a lectotype for S. gracilis is designated. Based on phytosociological relevés prepared during field investigation in the western Pamir Alai Mts, a new plant association Asperulo albiflorae–Stipetum zeravshanicae, occurring on shelves and rocky crevices is also described.     

Infructescences of Friisicarpus sarbaensis sp. nov. (Platanaceae) from the Cenomanian-Turonian of western Kazakhstan

Platanoid capitate infructescences are described as a new species Friisicarpus sarbaensis. Infructescences of Friisicarpus N. Maslova et Herman have been first found in the Cretaceous of Kazakhstan. A joint burial of Friisicarpus infructescences and other platanoid reproductive structures as well as Platanus-like leaves are discussed. This indicates a considerable role of the group in the Cretaceous flora of Kazakhstan.     

Sageretia santapaui sp. nov. and S. devendrae sp. nov. (Rhamnaceae) from western Himalaya, India

Two new species of Sageretia Brongn. (Rhamnaceae), S. santapaui Pusalkar & D. K. Singh and S. devendrae Pusalkar, are described and illustrated. Both species are allied to S. thea (Osbeck) M. C. Johnst., but differs in the pubescence of young branches, leaf shape, leaf margins, stipule shape, inflorescence type, length of the inflorescence, number and arrangement of flowers, bracteole number and shape.     

Eragrostis nilgiriensis sp. nov. (Poaceae) from Nilgiri district,Tamil Nadu,India

A new species of the grass genus Eragrostis Wolf, E. nilgiriensis C. P. Vivek, G. V. S. Murthy & V. J. Nair sp. nov. from Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu, India is described and illustrated. The species is allied to E. barrelieri, but differs from it mainly by the primary panicle branches not spiculate up to base, leaves not glaucous, lemma shorter and acute and by a much smaller caryopsis. The new species is morphologically similar also to E. minor and E. nigra. A table listing differences between these species is provided.     

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.     

Rotala belgaumensis sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from western Ghats,India

During a floristic survey in the Belgaum district, Karnataka state, some specimens of Rotala L. were collected from a lateritic plateau in western Ghats, India. The specimens did not match with any previously described species of Rotala, but closely resembled R. macrandra Koehne and R. rosea (Poir.) C. D. K. Cook ex H. Hara in their exserted stamens and styles. The new species is described and illustrated here as Rotala belgaumensis S. R. Yadav, Malpure & Chandore.     

Ligusticum gongshanense sp. nov. (Umbelliferae) from western Yunnan,China

Ligusticum gongshanense Pu, R. Li & H. Li, a new species of Umbelliferae from western Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is closely similar to L. franchetii H. de Boissieu, but differs by having unbranched and light yellow stem, white petals, and styles shorter than stylopodium.     

Pleurospermum tripartitum sp. nov. (Umbelliferae) from western Yunnan,China

Pleurospermum tripartitum Pu, R. Li & H. Li, a new species of Umbelliferae from western Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is closely similar to P. macrochlaenum K. T. Fu & Y. C. Ho, but differs by having unbranched stem, conspicuous calyx teeth, and white petals.     

Sporobolus copei sp. nov. (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) from Tenerife (Canary Islands,Spain)

Sporobolus copei F. Verloove sp. nov. is described and illustrated. It has been known since at least the 1970s on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). Until now it has been confused with both Sporobolus diandrus and S. indicus. Its origin and affinities are discussed. A status as very locally naturalised xenophyte seems most reasonable.     

Juncus fernandez‐carvajaliae sp. nov. (Juncaceae) from Castilla‐La Mancha,central Spain

Juncus fernandez‐carvajaliae Romero Zarco & Arán sp. nov. (Juncaceae), collected from Castilla‐La Mancha in central Spain, is described and illustrated. The main distinguishing features of the new species are compared with allied species of J. sect.Tenageia.     

Dendrocalamus longiligulatus sp. nov. (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Son La,Dien Bien province,Vietnam

A new species of Dendrocalamus, D. longiligulatus N. H. Xia & V. T. Nguyen, is described and illustrated. This species is distinguished from D. pachystachys Hsueh & D. Z. Li and D. jianshuiensis Hsueh & D. Z. Li by its inconspicuous culm sheath auricles, margins with 8–10 mm long fimbriations, fimbriate ligules of culm sheath 11–14 mm long, palea with 3 veins between and 1 vein on either side of the keels, and blunt paleaceous apex.     

Rhynchospora modesti-lucennoi, sp. nov. (Cyperaceae), from the western Mediterranean, Madagascar and Africa

From the study of the material available, it is concluded that the western Mediterranean populations previously considered as Rhynchospora rugosa should be treated as a separate species, described here as R. modesti-lucennoi .     

Bifidobacterium primatium sp. nov., Bifidobacterium scaligerum sp. nov., Bifidobacterium felsineum sp. nov. and Bifidobacterium simiarum sp. nov.: Four novel taxa isolated from the faeces of the cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator)

Four novel Gram-stain-positive, non spore forming and fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase-positive strains were isolated from the faeces of a cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and an emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA revealed that bifidobacterial strains TRE 1^T exhibit close phylogenetic relatedness to Bifidobacterium catulorum DSM 103154 (96.0%) and Bifidobacterium tissieri DSM 100201 (96.0%); TRE D^T and TRE H^T were closely related to Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum ATCC 15708^T with similarity values of 97.4% and 97.5%, respectively; TRI 7^T was closely related to Bifidobacterium tissieri DSM 100201 (96.0%). The Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) and in silico DDH (isDDH) analysis with closest neighbour supported an independent phylogenetic position of all strains with values ranged from 74 to 85% for ANI and from 24 to 28% for isDDH. DNA base composition of the four strains was in the range of 58.3–63.5 mol% G + C. Based on the phylogenetic, genotypic and phenotypic data, the strains TRE 1^T, TRE D^T, TRE H^T and TRI 7^T clearly represent four novel taxa within the genus Bifidobacterium for which the names Bifidobacterium primatium sp. nov. (type strain TRE 1^T = DSM 100687^T = JCM 30945^T), Bifidobacterium scaligerum sp. nov. (type strain TRE D^T = DSM 103140^T = JCM 31792^T), Bifidobacterium felsineum sp. nov. (type strain TRE H^T = DSM 103139^T = JCM 31789^T) and Bifidobacterium simiarum sp. nov. (type strain TRI 7^T = DSM 103153^T = JCM 31793) are proposed.     

Scorzonera ahmet‐duranii sp. nov. (Asteraceae) from southwest Anatolia,and its phylogenetic position

Scorzonera ahmet‐duranii S. Makbul & Coskuncelebi sp. nov. (Asteraceae) is described and illustrated as a new species endemic to Turkey. It is morphologically similar to S. semicana DC., but differs by its rootstock, deeply undulating basal leaves and glabrous achenes. Additionally, the size and micro‐morphological properties of achenes and some anatomical traits of the leaf and stem are helpful in distinguishing these closely related taxa. A phylogenetic analysis based on nrDNA ITS sequence data showed that S. semicana is the sister species of the new taxon presented in this study.     

Rhus neoglutinosa sp. nov. (Anacardiaceae) and Teclea borenensis sp. nov. (Rutaceae) from Ethiopia.

Two new species, Rhus neoglutinosa M. Gilbert (Anacardiaceae) and Teclea borenensis M. Gilbert (Rutaceae) are described in preparation for the forthcoming Flora of Ethiopia.