Sphaeromeria,a genus closer to Artemisia than to Tanacetum (Asteraceae: Anthemideae)

A new species,Sphaeromeria ruthiae, from Zion National Park, and three new combinations,S. martirensis,S. compacta, andS. potentilloides var.nitrophila, are presented. Morphological and anatomical evidence is used to support the recognition ofSphaeromeria as distinct fromTanacetum.     

A new Bolivian Mimosa of section Habbasia series Leptostachyae (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae), close kin of the fictitious genus Schranckiastrum

Mimosa dalyi is described from eastern Bolivia, figured, and shown to be a carpologically modified member of seriesLeptostachyae, but also congeneric withSchranckiastrum. The defective protologue ofSchranckiastrum is analyzed and its one species transferred toMimosa asM. insignis (Hassler) Barneby.     

A new section of clitoria subgenus neurocarpum (Leguminosae) and a new species endemic to Thailand

Tanystyloba Fantz is a section ofClitoria subgenusNeurocarpum which includes six species:C. macrophylla Wall, ex Benth.,C. javanica Miq.,C. australis Benth.,C. hanceana Hemsl.,C. linearis Gagn., andC. cordiformis Fantz, a species endemic to Thailand.     

Nomenclatural notes on neotropical Marantaceae

Two new combinations are made:Stromanthe macrochlamys (Woodson & Standley), transferred fromCalathea, andCtenanthe amabilis (Morren), transferred fromStromanthe. Calathea crotalifera S. Watson from Guatemala is an earlier name forC. insignis Petersen.     

Revision of Plerandra (Araliaceae). I. A synopsis of the genus with an expanded circumscription and a new infrageneric classification

Phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Schefflera, the largest genus of Araliaceae, is grossly polyphyletic, comprising five distinct clades within the family. In an effort to establish monophyletic genera among the elements that currently comprise Schefflera, the genus Plerandra is expanded to encompass all of the members of one of these clades. In this synoptical revision, a new infrageneric classification is presented (along with a key) in which six subgenera are recognized. Four of these subgenera are newly described (Plerandra subgenera Canacoschefflera, Costatae, Gabriellarum, and Veilloniorum) and a fifth represents a new combination (Plerandra subg. Dizygotheca). A total of 33 species (one with two subspecies) are accepted, one of which is newly described (P. veilloniorum), and 22 new combinations are made (P. actinostigma, P. baillonii, P. cabalionii, P. costata, P. crassipes, P. elegantissima, P. elongata, P. emiliana, P. gabriellae, P. leptophylla, P. nono, P. osyana, P. osyana subsp. toto, P. pachyphylla, P. pancheri, P. plerandroides, P. polydactylis, P. reginae, P. seemanniana, P. tannae, P. vanuatua, P. veitchii). Neotypes are provided for six accepted names and one heterotypic synonym, and lectotypes are designated for 13 accepted names and 16 heterotypic synonyms. For each accepted species, full synonymy is provided along with geographic range and notes.     

A new series and three new species of Passiflora subgenus Astrophea from the Guianas

A new series,Passiflora ser.Carneae, and three new species are described inPassiflora subg.Astrophea:P. ascidia from Guyana and Venezuelan Guayana;P. balbis from Guyana, Venzuelan Guayana, and Amazonian Brazil; andP. saulensis from central French Guiana. A key to the 19 Guiana species ofPassiflora subg.Astrophea is provided.     

New genera and species of ericaceae (Vaccinieae) from Costa Rica and Panama

Two new monotypic genera,Didonica andUtleya, are described, withD. pendula from Panama andU. costaricensis from Costa Rica.Disterigma trimera (Panama),D. utleyorum (Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador),Lateropora santafeensis (Panama),Lysiclesia panamensis (Panama),Macleania talamancensis (Costa Rica),Themistoclesia costaricensis (Costa Rica) andT. horquetensis (Panama),Vaccinium costaricense andV. orosiense (both from Costa Rica) and V.jefense (Panama) are all described as new. New combinations are provided for the PanamanianVaccinium floccosum (=Symphysia floccosa) and the West IndianVaccinium racemosum (=Symphysia racemosa). Keys are provided for the Central American species ofDisterigma andThemistoclesia, the species ofLateropora andLysiclesia, and the Costa Rican and Panamanian species ofVaccinium. Six new species are illustrated.     

A new species,new combinations,and a new name in Acanthaceae from northern South America

A new species of Acanthaceae (Ruellia saülensis) is described and illustrated from French Guiana, and three new combinations (Justicia potarensis, J. flaviflora, andJ. tobagensis) and one new name (Justicia coppenamensis) are proposed. The new species is compared to its closest relative (Ruellia rubra), and a justification of the transfers is provided.     

Mycopteris,a new neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae)

Mycopteris, a new genus of grammitid ferns, is described and combinations are made for the species that belong to it. Mycopteris is diagnosed by castaneous rhizome scales with turgid cells, usually pectinate laminae, blackish petioles and rachises, blackish pinna costae and veins, reddish setae, cretaceous hydathodes, glabrous sporangia, and the presence of Acrospermum ascomes. It is entirely neotropical, ranging from Mexico east into the West Indies and south to Bolivia. Mycopteris is one of two genera of grammitid ferns that are consistently associated with Acrospermum, an epibiotic ascomycete that produces black clavate fruiting bodies. Seventeen species of Mycopteris are recognized here, including one new species (M. longipilosa) and one elevated from the rank of variety to species (M. costaricensis). The following additional combinations are made here: M. alsopteris, M. amphidasyon, M. attenuatissima, M. cretata, M. grata, M. leucolepis, M. leucostica, M. longicaulis, M. pirrensis, M. praeceps, M. semihirsuta, M. steyermarkii, M. subtilis, M. taxifolia, and M. zeledoniana. Lectotypes are chosen for Ctenopteris leucosticta, Polypodium amphidasyon, and Polypodium pectinatum var. hispidum. For each accepted species, full synonymy and geographical range are provided. Taxonomic discussion is provided for species not widely recognized in previous treatments.     

A revision of the West Indian species of Lepanthes (Orchidaceae). III. Cuba

A study of herbarium material ofLepanthes indicates that there are at least 18 species on Cuba. The history of the collections and publications on the genus from the island is summarized, and a detailed key to the species is given. One new combination is proposed (L. blepharophylla) and the following species are described as new:L. acunae,L. dressleri,L. cubensis,L. grisebachiana,L. obliquiloba, andL. occidentalis, of which three are from western provinces and two have been associated with inappropriate names.L. mandibularis Reichb. f. is tentatively considered a synonym ofL. chrysostigma Lindl. although the type ofL. mandibularis could not be found. The range of variation included under the nameL. fulva Lindl. suggests that more than one species is involved.     

Revision of the neotropical species of Triplophyllum (Tectariaceae)

This paper re-examines the species of Triplophyllum in the neotropics. The indument of the laminae (hairs and glands) provides many characteristics for distinguishing the species. Nine species are recognized, including three new ones: T. boliviense, T. chocoense, and T. glabrum. New combinations are made for T. hirsutum and T. perpilosum . A key is provided to distinguish the species, and all species are described and illustrated. The spores of the neotropical species are like those from African and Madagascan species. As such, they offer no evidence to determine whether the neotropical species form a monophyletic clade within the genus.     

The Aristida pansa complex and a key to the Divaricatae group of North America (Gramineae: Aristideae)

Variation in lateral awn length and pulvini development is described for A. pansa and A. gypsophila. The two species are distinguished by lateral awn development. Within each species, forms are based on pulvini development. Three new forms are described (A. pansa f. contracta; A. gypsophila f. gypsophiloides and f. diffusa), A. dissita is reduced to a form of A. pansa, and A. tehuacanensis is considered synonymous with A. pansa f. dissita. Keys, illustrations, and maps are provided.     

Taxonomy of Gundlachia (Compositae: Astereae)

Gundlachia, a genus of shrubs occurring in the Caribbean islands, is treated as comprising two species, one of which has six varieties. Five new combinations are made: Gundlachia corymbosa var. apiculata (Britton & S. F. Blake) M. A. Lane, G. corymbosa var. compacta (Urb. & Ekman) M. A. Lane, G. corymbosa var. cubana (Britton & S. F. Blake) M. A. Lane, G. corymbosa var. foliosa (Britton & S. F. Blake) M. A. Lane, and G. corymbosa var. ocoana (Urb. & Ekman) M. A. Lane. Gundlachia is probably most closely related to Gymnosperma.     

Nymphaea tetragona and Nymphaea leibergii (Nymphaeaceae): two species of diminutive water-lilies in North America

Although all past floras of northern North America have recognized only one species of diminutive water-lily, actually two distinct species occur in the region. The circumboreal Nymphaea tetragona Georgi is largely confined to the northwestern part of the continent, extending as far east as Manitoba and occurring in the contiguous United States only in northwest Washington. A second species, N. leibergii Morong, is restricted to, but widely distributed in, northern North America, though it is absent from the extreme northwest. The two species are distinguishable from each other by several floral and foliar characters and the two species form a section, Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea sects. Chamaenymphaea, stat: nov. This is distinguished from the two other sections of subg. Nymphaea in a key, and Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea sect. Xanthantha, stat. nov., is proposed. Sect. Chamaenymphaea is described for North America, synonymy and nomenclature for both species are discussed, and a key including N. odorata Aiton is presented. A lectotype is provided for N. leibergii and the typification of N. tetragona is examined.     

New taxa and nomenclatural changes in arceuthobium (viscaceae)

The following new taxa are recognized inArceuthobium: subgeneraArceuthobium andVaginata; sectionsVaginata, Campylopoda, andMinuta; seriesCampylopoda,Rubra, andStricta; speciesA. apachecum,A. californicum,A. guatemalense,A. hondurense, andA. pini; new formae spécialesA. abietinum f. sp.concoloris,A. abietinum f. sp.magnificae. New combinations:A. abietinum (Engelm.) Hawksworth & Wiens, andA. microcarpum (Engelm.) Hawksworth & Wiens.     

Genetic diversity and genetic relationships of Chukrasia spp. (Meliaceae) as revealed by inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

Key message

ISSR characterization of Chukrasia populations from the natural range revealed two distinct groups of populations consonant with morphological differentiation. Results suggest the current taxonomic classification of the genus should be reviewed.

Abstract

There are different views as to whether the genus Chukrasia (Meliaceae) consists of one species, C. tabularis, or two species C. tabularis and C. velutina. Despite a clear pattern of variation in many morphological characteristics such as leaves and bark, some authors regard the latter merely an ecotype of the former in seasonal forest. In the present study, we used ISSR markers to determine the genetic diversity and population structure among 23 Chukrasia subpopulations from across the natural range in Asia. Molecular analysis clearly differentiated two distinct groups of subpopulations, corresponding to the putative species, as well as well-defined subpopulations corresponding to geographic regions within the two groups. The molecular results are in concordance with morphological differentiation and corresponded to the two recognized taxa. The present study suggests that current taxonomic classification of the genus Chukrasia should be reviewed.     

Generic delimitations of Central American Bignoniaceae

Generic delimitations in the Bignoniaceae are discussed, a number of Central American genera are reduced to synonymy, and a new genusPseudocatalpa is proposed. Generic mergers includeLevya withCydista, Saldanhaea withCuspidaria, Doxantha withMacfadyena, Pseudocalymma withPachyptera, andPhaedranthus withDistictis. New combinations necessitated by these mergers include the following:Arrabidaea costaricensis (Kränzl.) Gentry,A. pubescens (L.) Gentry,Cuspidaria floribunda (DC.) Gentry,C. weberbaueri (Spr.) Gentry,Cydista aequinoctialis var.hirtella (Benth.) Gentry,Distictis buccinatoria (DC.) Gentry,Macfadyena unguiscati (L.) Gentry,Melloa quadrivalvis (Jacq.) Gentry,Pachyptera alliacea (Lam.) Gentry,P. hymenaea (DC.) Gentry,P. kerere var.incarnata (Aubl.) Gentry,P. standleyi (Steyerm.) Gentry, andPseudocatalpa caudiculata (Standl.) Gentry. In addition, the fruits of several species are described for the first time, and their taxonomic significance is discussed.