The genus Rhaponticoides Vaill. (Asteraceae) in Turkey: a new species and first key

Turkish representatives of the genus Rhaponticoides Vaill. are examined. A key and distribution map of Rhaponticoides species occurring in Turkey are provided for the first time. R. hierroi Ö. Eren sp. nov., from Bakacak pass in the Western Taurus range, SW Anatolia, allied to R. mykalea (Hub.-Mor.) M. V. Agab. &; Greuter is described as a species new to science and illustrated. Its habitat conditions and conservation status are considered. Pollen micrographs of R. hierroi and R. mykalea are presented using scanning electron microscopy.     

Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China IV: Z. pauciflorum sp. nov. from Yunnan

Zingiber pauciflorum L.Bai, ?korni?k., D.Z.Li & N.H.Xia (Zingibereae, Zingiberaceae), a new species from southern Yunnan, China, is described and colour plates are provided. It belongs to Z . sect. Cryptanthium Horan. and is compared with three similar species, namely Z. tenuifolium L.Bai, ?korni?k. & N.H.Xia, Z. smilesianum Craib and Z. yunnanense S.Q.Tong & X.Z.Liu. A colour plate of the most similar species, Z. smilesianum is also provided for comparison.     

Silene demirizii sp. nov. and S.marschallii subsp. anamasi subsp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey

Two new taxa of Silene L. (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey, Silene demirizii K. Y?ld?z & Ç?rp?c? sp. nov. and Silene marschallii C. A. Meyer subsp. anamasi K. Y?ld?z & Dadand? subsp. nov. are described and illustrated. Their taxonomic positions are discussed and they are compared with allied taxa. The distributions of the new and closely related species are mapped. Pollen grain and seed coat ultrastructure of the new and allied taxa were examined by SEM.     

Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VI: Z. leucochilum,a new species with running rhizome from Sichuan

Zingiber leucochilum L.Bai, ?korni?k. & N.H.Xia (Zingibereae, Zingiberaceae), a new species from southeastern Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated with a colour plate. Notes on ecology, distribution and a preliminary IUCN conservation assessment are also provided. The new species is assigned to Z . sect. Cryptanthium Horan. and compared to five morphologically similar species from China which share the characteristic well‐elongated and running rhizome, namely, Z. emeiense Z.Y.Zhu, Z. leptorrhizum D.Fang, Z. pauciflorum L.Bai, ?korni?k., D.Z.Li & N.H.Xia, Z. smilesianum Craib and Z. yunnanense S.Q.Tong & X.Z.Liu. A key to the above six species is provided and their distributions are mapped.     

Haplodontium zangii X.R.Wang & J.C.Zhao,sp. nov. (Bryaceae,Bryopsida) from Xizang,China

Haplodontium zangii X.R.Wang &; J.C.Zhao, a new moss species from Xizang, China, is described and illustrated. Previously, specimens of H. zangii have been identified as Mielichhoferia himalayana Mitt. However, H. zangii is distinctly different from M. himalayana in having excurrent costae with short awns (vs long denticulate awns), short-pyriform capsules, 0.8–1?mm (vs long-pyriform capsules, 2.5–3?mm), and densely papillose exostome teeth (vs smooth or vertically striped exostome teeth). Haplodontium zangii is similar to H. macrocarpum (Hook.) J.R.Spence, which was traditionally placed in Mielichhoferia Nees &; Hornsch. as M. macrocarpa (Hook.) Bruch &; Schimp. The main differences between H. zangii and H. macrocarpum are in the morphology of the leaves, capsules, guide cells, and stomata. Mielichhoferia himalayana and another Chinese species of Mielichhoferia, M. sinensis Dix., are also transferred to Haplodontium Hampe, a new genus in the bryoflora of China, as H. himalayanum (Mitt.) X.R.Wang &; J.C.Zhao and H. sinensis (Dix.) X.R.Wang &; J.C.Zhao. A morphological comparison and a key to the three species of Haplodontium in China as well as to H. macrocarpum, a species that is likely to be found in China, are provided.     

Bufonia yildirimhanii sp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey

Bufonia yildirimhanii?lçim & Behçet sp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae) is described and illustrated from Turkey. This new species is confined to C7 Sanl?urfa‐Birecik where it grows on calcarous slopes. The species is compared with the closely related Bufonia calyculata and B. kotschyana subsp. kotschyana. Notes on its ecology and conservation status are provided. A distribution map of the new and related species is also included.     

Curcuma pygmaea sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from Vietnam and notes on two related species C. parviflora and C. thorelii.

Curcuma pygmaea?korni?k. & ?ída f. (Zingiberaceae), a new species from Vietnam, is described and illustrated. Notes on its closest allies in Curcuma subgenus Hitcheniopsis, C. parviflora Wall. and C. thorelii Gagnep., are provided and a lectotype of C. thorelii is designated.     

Curcuma pygmaea sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from Vietnam and notes on two related species C. parviflora and C. thorelii.

Curcuma pygmaea?korni?k. & ?ída f. (Zingiberaceae), a new species from Vietnam, is described and illustrated. Notes on its closest allies in Curcuma subgenus Hitcheniopsis, C. parviflora Wall. and C. thorelii Gagnep., are provided and a lectotype of C. thorelii is designated.     

Flavonoids from the Turkish endemic plant Rhaponticoides mykalea (Hub.-Mor.) M.V.Agab. & Greuter (Asteraceae)

The genus Rhaponticoides, recently segregated from the genus Centaurea, belongs to the family Asteraceae (tribe Cardueae). Rhaponticoides mykalea (Hub.-Mor.) M.V.Agab. & Greuter is an endemic species narrowly distributed in the Aegean part of Turkey. Owing to the existing anthropogenic impacts (such as urbanization and road construction) throughout its distribution range, the species has been the subject of several conservation studies. Phytochemical research on the aerial parts of R. mykalea led to the isolation of a new flavonoid, namely patuletin 7-O-(6″-E-sinapyl)-β-glucopyranoside, together with four known flavonoids from n-butanol extract. The structures of all isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS), as well as by comparison with the relevant literature data. All of the compounds have been isolated from the genus Rhaponticoides for the first time.     

Klasea serratuloides subsp. karamanica subsp. nov. (Asteraceae), from the central and south Anatolia transition zone,Turkey

A new subspecies, Klasea serratuloides (DC.) Greuter & Wagenitz subsp. karamanica B. Dogan & A. Duran (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The subspecies grows on stony places in the Ayranc? and Ermenek district (C4 Karaman Province), Ere?li district (C5 Konya province) and Uluk??la (C5 Ni?de province) in the central and south Anatolia transition zone. It is morphologically similar to K. serratuloides subsp. serratuloides. Diagnostic morphological characters from closely similar taxa are discussed and arranged in a key. Ecology and conservation status of the subspecies is also presented. In addition, the geographical distribution of the new subspecies and other related species is mapped. The pollen morphology and achene surface of K. serratuloides subsp. karamanica and K. serratuloides subsp. serratuloides were examined by SEM.     

Scorzonera tuzgoluensis sp. nov. (Asteraceae), a new halophytic species from central Anatolia,Turkey

A new halophytic species, Scorzonera tuzgoluensis A. Duran, B. Do?an & S. Makbul sp. nov. (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from Tuz Lake, central Anatolia, Turkey. The new species grows in salt marshes, is endemic (confined to central Anatolia) and closely related to Scorzonera parviflora Jacq. and S. elata Boiss. The diagnostic morphological characters of these similar taxa are discussed. The ecology, biogeography and conservation status of the new species are also presented. The geographic distribution of the new species and related species is mapped.     

Jurinea cataonica subsp. mardinensis subsp. nov. (Asteraceae) from southeast Anatolia,Turkey

A new subspecies, Jurinea cataonica Boiss. & Hausskn. subsp. mardinensis B. Do?an & A. Duran (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The subspecies grows on abandoned fields in the Bakirkiri place (C8 Mardin Province) in southeastern Anatolia. It is morphologically similar to J. cataonica subsp. cataonica. Diagnostic morphological characters between these closely similar taxa are discussed and arranged in a key. Ecology and conservation status of the subspecies is also presented. In addition, the geographical distributions of the new subspecies and other related species are given.