An annotated check-list of the Pteridophyta of Ceylon

The indigenous species of Pteridophyta known to occur in Ceylon number 314. In addition, 18 naturalized species occur as weeds of cultivation or as introduced aliens. Fifty-seven species are endemic to Ceylon and 28 non-endemic species are absent from India. Lists of these and other phytogeographical groupings are given. The full list of species is followed by comments on the taxonomy or nomenclature of 76 taxa. Four new combinations are made: Asplenium polyodon var. bipinnatum (Sledge) Sledge; Deparia polyrhizon (Baker) Sledge; Polystichum harpophyllum (Zenker ex Kunze) Sledge, and Bolbitis appendiculata var. asplenifolia (Bory) Sledge. Athyrium puncticaule (Blume) T. Moore and A. lanceum (Kunze) T. Moore replace A. anisopterum Christ and A. macrocarpum (Blume) Beddome, respectively.     

Lijndenia, a re–established paleotropical genus of the Melastomataceae–Memecyleae

The genus Lijndenia Zoll. & Mor. is re–established and emended to include four species, L. laurina Zoll. & Mor. from W Malesia and Java, L. capitellata (Arn.) Bremer from Ceylon, L. gardneri (Thw.) Bremer from Ceylon, and L. barteri (Hook. f.) Bremer from tropical W Africa. The latter three names are new combinations.     

NEW SPECIES AND RECORDS OF POLYCHAETA FROM CEYLON

A collection of polychaetes made by the author in December 1961 and April 1962 from a number of places on the coast of Ceylon was examined. Seven new species and one new subspecies are described and sixteen species are recorded new to the fauna of Ceylon. The holotypes and lectotypes have been deposited in the British Museum (Natural History).     

Revision of Lycoseris (Compositae-Mutisieae)

The genus Lycoseris is revised to include eleven species of dioecious subshrubs with mostly scrambling branches. It is distributed from Guatemala to northwestern and western South America, reaching south to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Three new species are described, viz. L. colombiana, L. minor , and L. peruviana. One new combination is made, viz. L. trinervis ssp. altissima.     

The Hygrophila complex (Acanthaceae) in India and Ceylon

A reassessment of the genus Hygrophila in India and Ceylon is made with reference to Asteracantha, Cardanthera, Synnema, Hemiadelphis and Adenosma , recognized as allied genera by past Indian and Ceylon authors. An over-emphasis on variable and overlapping characters by respective authors has led to the delimitation of these genera from one another and from Hygrophila. Examination of additional material from increasing floristic activity in Africa and Asia reveals that several characters are too variable to establish their generic status. It is concluded that they represent only two genera, viz. Hygrophila and Hemiadelphis. Additional clarifications are made to Heine's amendment of Hygrophila.     

Freshwater triclads (Turbellaria, Tricladida) from the oriental region

Two new freshwater triclad species of the genus Dugesia Girard, 1850 are described from the oriental region. The first is the only species of freshwater triclad described from Ceylon and the second, a cavernicolous form, is the only one known from Malaya. A synopsis, in tabular form, of the oriental Dugesia species is also given and some aspects of their distribution are discussed. It is intended that the tabular synopsis should provide diagnostic characters for the delimitation of the new and previously described species, and act as a basis for a future revision of the oriental representatives of the genus, many of which are poorly described or poorly known. Apreliminary dichotomous key to the valid species is also provided.     

Chorigyne, a new genus of the Cyclanthaceae from Central America

Chorigyne is described as a new genus, characterized by distichous leaves with bifid lamina, free pistillate flowers, four subapical placentas, and fusiform seeds. It is most closely related to Sphaeradenia and Stelestylis. The generic relationships, and the restricted distribution of Chorigyne in Costa Rica and Panama, are discussed. Five species are described as new, viz. C. densiflora, C. pterophylla, C. paucinervis, C. cylindrica , and C. tumescens. Furthermore, two new combinations are made, viz. C. ensiformis and C. pendula. A key to the species is given, each species is described, and the new ones are illustrated.     

Notes on mosses from Ceylon and India, 7. Some species of Trichostomum

Abstract

Trichostomum bombayense C.M. is typified and T. cylindrotheca Mitt. reduced to synonymy under it. The records of Trichostomum species from Ceylon are critically examined and T. tenuirostre (Hook. & Tayl.) Lindb. removed from the Ceylon moss flora. Records of T. orthodontum (C.M.) Broth. and T. cuspidatum (D. & M.) D. & M. hitherto published are based on misidentifications, but new records are given of both. Differences between T. cuspidatum and T. stenophyllum (Mitt.) Broth., which latter binomial is not a homonym as Index Muscorum states, are dealt with and illustrated by S.E.M. photographs. T. stenophyllum is a good species which has been relegated to extraordinary synonymy in the past.     

Interspecific hybridizations in the Elymus semicostatus group (Poaceae).

Meiotic pairing in 16 interspecific hybrids in the genus Elymus is reported. The hybrids were made among seven species in the Elymus semicostatus group, viz., E. semicostatus, E. validus (subgroup I), E. abolinii (subgroup II), E. fedtschenkoi, E. nevskii, E. praeruptus (subgroup III), and E. panormitanus (subgroup IV). All species are tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28) and possess the SY genomes. Meiotic pairing was distinctly higher in hybrids made within subgroups than between subgroups, but the genomes in E. panormitanus have differentiated from those in the other species. These results generally support the subdivision of the E. semicostatus group based on morphological data but also indicate that the subgroups are more distantly related than previously believed, and that the group may be nonmonophyletic.     

Spirorbinae (Polychaeta:Serpulidae) from Chios (Aegean Sea)

Twelve species are described, of which two are new, viz. Spirorbis (Janua) gnomonicus and Spirorbis (J.) parvulus, and three others have been recognized only very recently, viz. S. (Pileolaria) clavus, S. (P.) endoumensis, S. (P.) heteropoma. Some such as 5. (jf.) corrugatus and S. (P.) koehleri were widely distributed between depths of 0–60 m, but others showed a tendency towards depth zonation, with S.(J.)pagenstecheri abundant in shallow and S. (Spirorbis) cuneatus in somewhat less shallow water. 5. (P.) pseudomilitaris and S. (Marsipospira) striatus were confined to greater depths except where the former occurred amongst ships fouling and the latter in a dark cave. 5. (P.) militaris seems rather uncommon.
A remarkably high percentage of the species (over 80%) are opercular incubators. Outside the Mediterranean, the only areas known to have similar percentages are Ceylon and the West Indies, suggesting that the habit may have originated in the Sea of Tethys.     

Taxonomic revision and phytogeographic studies in Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in the Khorassan provinces of Iran

This study is focused on the genus Euphorbia L. in a part of northeast Iran, viz. the three Khorassan provinces. Since there are many taxa of Euphorbia in Iran which are used in different industries and have significant effects on human and non‐human life it is important to revise their taxonomy. With about 90 species, following Turkey with 91 species, Iran is the second richest country for Euphorbia in Asia. Of these, 30 species are distributed in the Khorassan provinces. This is the first comprehensive work on the genus in this region. According to ‘Flora Iranica’, there are 17 species of Euphorbia in northeast Iran, while according to our results, there are 30 species of Euphorbia in the Khorassan provinces alone. In addition to various new taxonomic and biogeographic results, a new species, viz. E. chamanbidensis, is described. Euphorbia chamanbidensis is closely related to E. aucheri, but seed micro‐morphological characters differentiate them. Two identification keys to the Euphorbia species of the studied area are provided, one based on macro‐morphological characters and another based on seed micro‐morphological characters. Phytogeographic analysis and distribution maps for all species are also presented.     

Nordic equiseticolous Pyrenomycetes

The Pyrenomycete flora on Equisetum has been studied, mainly on Nordic material. With regard to frequency and host specificity these fungi can be divided into three groups, viz. 1) true Equisetum fungi; 2) common species but not restricted to Equisetum; 3) accidental species. An annotated list is given of the two first categories which comprise the following taxa. 1: Didymosphaeria equiseti–hiemalis, Phaeosphaeria berlesei, P. equiseti, Mycosphaerella equiseti, M. equiseticola, Scirrhia castagnei, S. silvalica , and probably Didymella equisetina. 2: Phaeosphaeria eustoma, P. fuckelii, Mycosphaerella cf. aspidii.
Two new taxa and one new combination are published, viz. Phaeosphaeria equiseti (Karst.) L. & K. Holm comb, nov., P. equiseti var. lindii L. & K. Holm var. nov., Scirrhia silvalica L. & K. Holm sp. nov.     

Chromosomal behaviour and evolutionary trends in Chlorophytum (Liliaceae)

Chlorophytum laxum R. Rr. (Liliaceae) is a common perennial herb occurring in many parts of India, Ceylon, Borneo, Tropical Africa and Australia. The earlier cytological studies report two numbers of chromosomes, viz. 2n = 14 & 16, for the species. The present study, based on meiotic behaviour, concludes that this species is a segmental allopolyploid from two closely related but still unknown species with 2n = 8 chromosomes. Further evolution proceeded in two different directions. In one, diploidization by chromosomal rearrangements resulted into species with 2n = 16 chromosomes, while in the other, elimination of a non-homologous segment gave rise to species with 2n = 14 chromosomes and several autopolyploids.