Notes on some African hepatic genera 6–9

The present study deals with African species ofSyzygiella Spruce,Allisoniella Hodgs. andGymnomitriaceae Klinggr. Three species ofSyzygiella Spruce,S. geminifolia (Mitt.) Steph.,S. concreta (Gott.) Spruce and one indeterminable species with orbicular leaves (known only in sterile condition) occur in Africa.Allisoniella nigra (Rodw.) Schust. represents a genus hitherto unreported for the African flora. The present knowledge ofGymnomitriaceae Klinggr. in subsaharan Africa is summarised; five species ofMarsupella Dum., one ofGymnomitrion Corda and five ofHerzogobryum Grolle are reported. Finally, some additions to the generaIsotachis Mitt.,Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph. andLophozia (Dum.) Dum. are presented.     

Ein Beitrag zur Nomenklatur sphinctozoider Schwämme (Porifera)

The sphinctozoid sponge generaFania Senowbari-Daryan 1990 andSpica Termier &Termier 1977 are preoccupied.Fania is replaced byFanthalamia nom. nov. andSpica by the younger synonymFistulispongia Termier &Termier 1977. The invalid subfamily name FaniinaeSenowbari-Daryan 1990 is replaced by Fanthalamiinae n. subfam. The invalid family and subfamily names SpicidaeTermier &Termier 1977 and SpicinaeSenowbari-Daryan 1990 respectively are replaced by FistulispongiidaeTermier atTermier 1977 and FistulispongiinaeSenowbari-Daryan 1990. The generaWaagenium de Laubenfels 1957 andCatubria Merla 1931 were previously overlooked.Waagenium DeLaubenfels 1957 is a younger synonym ofColospongia Laube 1865. The position ofCatubria Merla 1931 is uncertain. Most probablyCatubria is an alga.     

Lower Cambrian tubular micro-to macrofossils from the Paseky Shale of the Barrandian area (Czech Republic)

The carbonaceous megafossil (mega-alga)Marpolia spissa Walcott 1919 is described from the Early Cambrian of the Barrandian area for the first time. Macroscopic remains of colonies ofM. spissa are compared with tubular microfossils of the same rocks. Different areas in colonies ofM. spissa are assignable to several (part-based) genera and species of microfossils. Therefore, the microfossil taxaSiphonophycus robustum (Schopf 1968)Knoll et al. 1991,S. typicum (Hermann 1974)Butterfield 1994,S. kestron Schopf 1968,S. capitaneum Nyberg &Schopf 1984,Polytrichoides lineatus Hermann 1974, emend.Knoll et al. 1991,Tortunema angusta (Kolosov 1984)Butterfield 1994 andTortunema wernadskii (Schepeleva 1960)Butterfield 1994 should only be used as form-species in the sense of an artificial taxonomy. The palaeoenvironment of the Paseky Shale and the biological assignment ofMarpolia spissa are discussed.     

Hybridization studies inSilene subgen.Petrocoptis (Caryophyllaceae)

Silene subgenusPetrocoptis comprises sexual diploid taxa and it is restricted to calcareous cliffs in the Iberian peninsula. Artificial crosses involvingSilene pyrenaica (Bergeret)Mayol etRosselló (≡Petrocoptis pyrenaica (Bergeret)Walp.),Silene laxipruinosa Mayol etRosselló andS. montserratii subsp.crassifolia (Rouy)Mayol etRosselló (≡P. crassifolia Rouy) were attempted to assess the extent of barriers developed within the subgenusPetrocoptis. Usually, intraspecific crosses involving allopatric populations were successful, suggesting that geographically isolated populations are not genetically isolated. Cross-compatibility was noted among the polymorphicS. pyrenaica, which developed fertile F₁ hybrids. All other interspecific crosses failed due to cross- or seed-incompatibility. Crossing results agree with available evidence supporting the merging of segregates ofS. pyrenaica within a single taxon.     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 5.Septonema,Hormiactella andLylea

Three genera of lignicolousHyphomycetes Septonema Corda,Hormiactella Saac. andLylea Morgan-Jones are discussed. Illustrations and determination keys are provided. Five species ofSeptonema—S. fasciculare (Corda) Hughes,S. leptaleum (Ellis & Harkn.) Hughes,S. pinicola Hol.-Jech.,S. secedens Corda andS. laricium Hol.-Jech.—and two species ofHormiactella—H. fusca (Preuss) Sacc. andH. asetosa Hol.-Jech.—have been found in Czechoslovakia. A new speciesS. pseudobinum Hol.-Jech. is described from Romania.Septonema tetracoilum (Corda Hughes is accommodated in the genusLylea Morgan-Jones.     

Validation and redescription ofOryctina (Loranthaceae)

The formerly obscure genusOryctina v.Tiegh. is redescribed and validated. It is shown to include two species, an old one, previously known asOryctanthus scabridus Eichl., nowOryctina scabrida (Eichl.) v.Tiegh., and a new one,Oryctina subaphylla Rizz., both from Brazil.     

Scanning electron microscopic study of anamorphs of someBasidiomycetes in culture

The anamorphs in cultures ofLepista nuda (Bull.:Fr.)Cooke,Coprinus comatus (Müll.:Fr.)S.F. Gray,Fistulina hepatica Sohaeff.:Fr.,Pholiota adiposa (Fr.)Kumm. andAsterophora lycoperdoides (Bull.)S.F. Gray, an imperfect state ofNyctalis lycoperdoides (Bull.)Schroet., were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Arthroconidia were described inLepista nuda for the first time. Examination of the fine structure of dendroid forms inCoprinus comatus revealed why those structures were not propagative.     

A revision ofTaraxacum sect.Piesis (Compositae)

On the basis of allozyme and cultivation data, and of additional herbarium material, a taxonomic and nomenclatural revision ofTaraxacum sect.Piesis A.J. Richards exKirschner et?těpánek is provided. The section is made up of halophilous, sexually reproducing taxa. InT. stenocephalum Boiss. etKotschy,T. pindicum Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., andT. perenne Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., a tetraploid chromosome number has been recorded, representing the only known case of sexuality at the tetraploid level in the genus. The complex ofT. stenocephalum, includes some geographically and morphologically extreme populations treated as subspecies: subsp.gumusanicum (Soest)Kirschner et?těpánek, comb. nov., subsp.magnum Kirschner et?těpánek, subsp. nov., and subsp.daralagesicum (Schischk.)Kirschner et?těpánek, comb. nov. In addition toT. bessarabicum (Hornem.)Hand.-Mazz., a widely distributed Eurasian species,T. stenocephalum, a complex centred in Transcaucasia and Anatolia, andT. pachypodum H. Lindb., a North African endemic, four new species are described:T. salsum Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., a diploid endemic confined to E Crimea,T. perenne Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., a tetraploid sexual species known only from SW Crimea,T. pindicum Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., a remarkable tetraploid endemic to the Pindos Mts., Greece, andT. salsitatis Kirschner, ?těpänek etYirdirimli, sp. nov., an Anatolian diploid species. Furthermore, a hybrid betweenT. salsum andT. bessarabicum from Crimea (documented on the basis of allozyme data elsewhere) is given a binomial,T. xmesohalobium Kirschner et?těpánek, nothosp. nov.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the savanna and forb-rich communities of Pinar del Rio Province (Cuba)

Phytosociological analysis of savanna and forb-rich communities in the Pinar del Rio Province was done in the area of Remates de Guane; one locality lies on the seashore in the western part of the province. Altogether six associations were distinguished. Five of them, viz.Sclerio curtissii-Centelletum erectae, Schultezio guianensis-Rhynchosporetum fascicularis, Cassio diphyllae-Hypericetum stypheloidis, Polygalo squamifoliae-Dichromenetum seslerioidis andPhyllantho juncei-Aristidetum, all newly described in this paper, are classified into the order ofAcoelorapho-Colpothrinacetalia Bal.-Tul. inBal.-Tul. etCapote 1985 with two alliances. One association, thePaspalo debilis-Asteretum grisebachii Bal.-Tul. etCapote 1992, was put into the order ofAsteretalia grisebachii Bal.-Tul. inBal.-Tul. etCapote 1992 with one alliance bound to inland moving dunes. The plant composition reflects soil quality, above all the water regime. Very interesting is the presence of theByrsonimo crassifoliae-Andropogonetalia teneris-species in the association ofPolygalo-Dichromeneteum seslerioidis indicating the rich presence of stones in the upper part of the soil profile.     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 8.Endophragmiella andPhragmocephala

Thirteen species and one variety ofEndophragmiella Sutton and three species ofPhragmocephala Mason etHughes collected by the author in Czechoslovakia, and occasionally in other regions of Europe are described and illustrated. Four new species and one new variety are described inEndophragmiella—E. aseptata Hol.-Jech.,E. fatrensis Holt.-Jech.,E. ramificata Hol.-Jech.,E. similis Hol.-Jech. andE. uniseptata (Ellis) Hughes var.pusilla Hol.-Jech..     

Euhemerobe Kalk-Kieferngesellschaften der Kleinen Karpaten

Man made stands withPinus nigra Arn. were studied on limestone bedrock. They were planted out on biotops of previous calciphilous beech or xerothermophilous oak forests. The analysis of present phytocenological composition and the changes in ecological conditions, especially of nitrogen content in the soil, conduce to their classification, following the conception ofHada? andSofron (1980), as a new euhemerobic forest community, associationClematidi vitalbae-culti-Pinetum nigrae.     

Chromosome counts of some MongolianPotentilla species

Chromosome numbers are reported for 26 collections representing 12 MongolianPotentilla taxa. The first chromosome records are reported forP.[x]agrimonioides Bieb. (2n = 42, 49–50),P. [x]chionea Soják (2n = 64, 74+1B, 84–86, 86),P. [x]stepposa Soják (2n = 62) andP. supina, L. subsp.costata Soják (2n = 42). Tetraploid and pentaploid populations ofP. sericea L. (2n = 28, 34, 35) and hexaploid populations ofP. omithopoda Tausch (2n = 42) were found in Mongolia. Chromosome numbers of the following species were confirmed:P. longifolia Willd. exSchlecht. (2n = 14),P. multifida L. (2n = 28),P. sanguisorba Willd. exSchlecht. (2n = 28),P. sericea L. (2n = 42),P. supina L. subsp.paradoxa (Nutt.) Soják (2n = 28 China) andP. tanacetifolia Willd. exSchlecht. (2n = 28). Taxonomic observations are briefly discussed.     

Reclassifications and new names for some European Phanerogams

On the basis of taxonomic and nomenclatural revisions of various plant groups 37 new nomenclatural combinations are proposed mostly for European phanerogamous taxa (21 for species, 14 for subspecies, 2 for hybrids.)Medicula Medicus,Pseudofumaria Medicus andThlasidia Rafin. are accepted as taxonomically justified genera and correct generic names.Dactylorhiza longebracteata (F. W. Schmidt)Holub is proposed instead ofD. fuchsii (Druce) Soó, andHylotelephium triphyllum (Haworth) Holub isstead ofH. purpureum (L.)Holub.     

Notes on the genusOenothera subsect.Oenothera (Onagraceae) in the Czech Republic

Up-to-date results of taxonomic and phytogeographic studies ofOenothera subsect.Oenothera in the eastern part of the Czech Republic (Moravia and Silesia) are presented. A new hybridogenous species,Oe. moravica Jehlík etRostański (=Oe. fallax × Oe. victorini), is described from S Moravia. Several taxa and hybrids are reported for the first time for the Czech Republic:Oe. victorini Gates etCatcheside (=Oe. rostanskii Jehlík),Oe. × wienii Renner exRostański,Oe. acutifolia × Oe. victorini. Other taxa are recorded from the eastern part of the Czech Republic for the first time:Oe. acutifolia Rostański,Oe. hoelscheri Renner exRostański,Oe. parviflora L.,Oe. subterminalis Gates. The taxonomy ofOe. pycnocarpa Atkinson etBartlett is discussed. A survey of species and hybrids ofOenothera subsect.Oenothera in the Czech Republic is added.     

Further taxonomic notes onRubiaceae in Europe

Several new names and combinations of EuropeanRubiaceae, i.e.Galium andCruciata, are proposed. The nomenclatorial interpretation ofGalium saxatile L. (=G. harcynicum Weigel) andG. megalospermum All. (=G. helveticum Weigel) is clarified. Among important publications from the year 1806Willdenow, Sp. Pl.4(2) has priority overSibthorp etSmith, Prodr. Fl. Graec.1 (part 1).     

Notes on some African hepatic genera 1–5

The present study deals with five genera of hepatics in Africa, Isotachis Mitt., Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph., Tritomaria Schiffn. ex Loeske, Gymnocoleopsis (Schust.) Schust. and Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. All African populations of the genus Isotachis Mitt. are considered to be one species, I. aubertii (Schwaegr.) Mitt. Four species of Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph. (s.l.), A. auritum (Lehm.) Steph., A. piligerum (Nees) Spruce, A. subcomplicatum (Lehm. et Lindenb.) Steph. and A. minutum (Schreb.) Schust., and two species of Tritomaria Schiffn. et Loeske, T. camerunensis S. Arnell and T. exsecta (Schrad.) Schiffn. ex Loeske occur in Africa. Gymmocoleopsis multiflora (Steph.) Schust. represents a genus and species hitherto unreported for the African flora. Finally, five Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. species, L. argentina (Steph.) Schust., L. capensis S. Arnell, L. decolorans (Limpr.) Steph., L. hedbergii S. Arnell and L. tristaniana (S. Arnell) Váňa, are reported from central and southern Africa; two of these (L. argentina (Steph.) Schust. and L. decolorans (Limpr.) Steph.) represent the first reports from Africa.     

The stuttgart collection of oligocene primates from the fayum province of Egypt

In 1907, R. Markgraf made a small collection of Oligocene fossil primates from Egypt for the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde in Stuttgart. Circumstances of discovery suggest that this collection came from the same stratigraphic horizon (the Upper Fossil Wood zone) and possibly the same locality as a similar collection made earlier that year byMarkgraf for the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Three new genera and species were described bySchlosser, based on the Stuttgart collection.Parapithecus fraasi Schlosser is a junior synonym ofApidium phiomense Osborn. “Parapithecus“grangeri Simons is placed in the new genusSimonsius. Propliopithecus haeckeli Schlosser andMoeripithecus markgrafi Schlosser have previously been recognized as synonyms. In addition,Aegyptopithecus zeuxis Simons is known from the Upper Fossil Wood zone.