Studies in the morphology and systematics of berberidaceae

The floral vasculature in three allied genera,Plagiorhegma, Jeffersoria andAchyls is investigated, and the results are compared with those ofEpimedium andVancouveria which are related closely toPlagiorhegma andJeffersonia. The vasculature in the receptacle ofPlagiorhegma andJeffersonia is similar, but that ofAchlys is much simpler. Slightly different trace patterns are observed in the sepals ofPlagiorhegma andJeffersonia. InJeffersonia, the 3-trace condition leaving 2 or 3 gaps is most frequently observed, but inPlagiorhegma traces of a double nature leaving a single gap are more frequent. The traces to the innermost sepals, petals and stamens are usually of a double nature leaving a single gap in both genera. Regular division and fusion are not observed in the receptacular stele. The vascular differentiation between sepals and petals is more advanced inPlagiorhegma andJeffersonia than inEpimedium andVancouveria. InAchlys, the traces are all staminal and single throughout their course. Two parts recognized in the pistils ofPlagiorhegma, Jeffersonia andAchlys are traversed by independent vasculature. The comparisons of pistil morphology including vasculature ofPlagiorhegma, Jeffersonia, Achlys, Epimedium andVancouveria lead to the interpretation that the pistils are based on the same morphological plan. The probable evolutionary trend in pistil is then suggested in these five genera.     

Early Jurassic gastropods from England

Abstract: Twenty‐five gastropod taxa are reported from the Early Jurassic (Hettangian to Toarcian) of England. Of these, 14 are identified to species level, and the remaining 11 are treated in open nomenclature. One genus (Lensataphrus) and six species are introduced as new. The new species are Lensataphrus tatei, Lensataphrus tenuis, Tricarilda toddi, Cylindrobullina dorsetensis, Cylindrobullina ventricosa and Consobrinella greeni. The following new combinations are introduced: Cassianopsis hebertana (d’Orbigny, 1852) for Neritopsis hebertana; Cryptaulax abscisum (Terquem and Piette, 1868) for Cerithium abscisum; and Cylindrobullina avena (Terquem, 1855) for Striactaeonina avena. Most of the genera and some of the species are also known from Central Europe (Germany and France). Typical vetigastropod genera that are present in England and Central Europe are Colpomphalus, Costataphrus, Ooliticia, Eucycloscala and Eucycloidea. The caenogastropod genera Levipleura and Cryptaulax are present in both regions, as are the heterobranchs Tricarilda and Cylindrobullina. The heterobranch genus Consobrinella is reported from England for the first time. Gastropods seem to follow the diversity trends of other marine invertebrates during the Early Jurassic. They diversify until the Late Pliensbachian but decrease sharply in number around the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary. This may reflect both regional anoxia and a global mass extinction event in the Early Toarcian.     

Evolutionary relationships in thePodalyrieae andLiparieae (Fabaceae) based on morphological, cytological, and chemical evidence

Taxonomic relationships amongst the genera of the southern African tribesPodalyrieae andLiparieae are discussed. Data gained from morphological, cytological and chemical investigations are analyzed cladistically to determine relationships. The genusCadia (tribeSophoreae) is included in the investigation to establish whether it should be transferred to thePodalyrieae. The results clearly indicate that thePodalyrieae andLiparieae are monophyletic and that they should be united, but thatHypocalyptus andCadia should be excluded. Within the monophyletic group, there are two distinct subclades each supported by three apomorphies. The results also show that there is a strong sister relationship betweenAmphithalea andCoelidium. In the taxonomic treatment theLiparieae are placed into synonymy under thePodalyrieae and two subtribes are recognized. A key to the genera in the tribe is given, followed by a synopsis of the genera.     

Name changes and additions to the southern African freshwater fish fauna

Changes made to the scientific names of southern African freshwater fishes since 2001 are explained and discussed. Adjustments to the phylogeny and classification of the fauna are outlined. Recent systematic studies on cyprinines are discussed and changes to the genera Labeobarbus (expanded concept), Pseudobarbus (expanded concept), and Enteromius are supported. The introduction of the family names Alestidae and Nothobranchiidae is discussed. Adjustments made to the genera Nannocharax, Micropanchax, Tilapia, Coptodon and Mastacembelus are explained. Species name changes for Hepsetus and Zaireichthys are detailed. New species described from the region, or resurrected from synonymy, since 2001 are listed.     

A review of the bloodsucking midges of Trinidad and Tobago,West Indies (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae)*

Data are presented recording the presence of 49 species of bloodsucking cerato-pogonids in Trinidad, West Indies. Of these, 45 are Culicoides, one is a Leptoconops, and three belong to Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea). Five species are reported from Tobago: three Culicoides, one Leptoconops, and one Lasiohelea. The males of Culicoides benarrochi and C. fluviatilis are described for the first time, and the female of C. debilipalpis is redescribed. Culicoides filariferus and C. pseudodiabolicus are resurrected from synonymy, and characters are presented distinguishing them from C. diabolicus and C. guttatus. Biological data and keys to genera and species are included.     

越南荨麻科楼梯草属和赤车属植物新记录

报道了7个楼梯草属和赤车属植物(荨麻科)新纪录,它们分别为锐齿楼梯草(E. cyrtandrifolium),变黄楼梯草(E. xanthophyllum),对叶楼梯草(E. sinense),宽叶楼梯草(E. platyphyllum),托叶楼梯草(E. nasutum),短叶赤车(P. brevifolia)和华南赤车(P. grijsii)。列出了各个物种的标本引证和地理分布情况。     

Corticioid fungi from the Kimberley Region,Western Australia

Summary  Corticioid fungi from the Kimberley Region of Western Australia are reviewed. 31 species are reported, of which five, Aleurodiscus kimberleyanus, Athelopsis vesicularis, Dendrothele cornivesiculosa, Hyphoderma tubulicystidium, and Phanerochaete subcrassispora are described as new. Grandinia glauca is given the new combination Grammothele glauca, and Hydnum investiens the new combination Phanerochaete investiens. A further eight species are recorded which have not previously been reported from Australia.     

Three new genera of Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) from New Zealand

Abstract

Three new genera—Austroclima, Mauiulus, and Cryophlebia—are established for species of Leptophlebiidae from New Zealand. The following new combinations are included: Austroclima sepia (Phillips) and Cryophlebia aucklandensis (Peters). Atalophlebioides sepia is redescribed as Austroclima sepia and a neotype is designated. Two new species, Austroclima jollyae and Mauiulus luma, are described. All life stages are described, and the relationships of each genus are discussed. Keys are given to male and female imagos, subimagos, and nymphs of each species, and to all New Zealand genera with species previously placed in Atalophlebioides.     

Some interesting Orthotrichum species from mainland Greece and Evvia

Abstract

Based on collections made by the authors in mainland Greece, including the Peloponnese and the island of Evvia, several Orthotrichum records of interest are documented. Orthotrichum acuminatum, O. philibertii, O. tortidontium, O . hispanicum, O. macrocephalum and O. shawii are reported for the first time from Greece, the last three also being new to the eastern Mediterranean. O. rivulare, O. scanicum, and O. alpestre, hitherto doubtfully recorded, are confirmed for Greece and new localities are given for O. stramineum, for which there are few previous records.     

Taxonomic review of Hemistola Warren, 1893 from China,with descriptions of seven new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae,Geometrinae)

The genus Hemistola Warren from China is reviewed, and seven new species are described: H. viridimargo, sp. nov., H. glauca sp. nov., H. asymmetra sp. nov., H. arcilinea sp. nov., H. flavifimbria sp. nov., H. orbiculosoides sp. nov. and H. stueningi sp. nov. Two species, acyra and christinaria, are transferred from Hemistola to Maxates and Comostola, respectively: Maxates acyra comb. nov. and Comostola christinaria comb. nov. Including the 25 species previously known from China, a total of 32 species is now recorded. All Chinese species are redescribed. Generic characters based on all species are summarized. Illustrations of adults and genitalia are presented.     

A revision of the grass-living genus Podothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)

The genus Podothrips Hood is redefined, and three new species are described: orion and australis from Australia and moundi from New Guinea. Two new synonymies are recorded in Podothrips and fuscus Moulton and monsterae Moulton are excluded. A key to the nineteen species and an annotated catalogue are provided. The distribution and biology of the genus are briefly discussed.     

A Revision of South American Austroperlidae (Plecoptera)

The South American Austroperlidae are revised. Klapopteryx kuscheli and Penturoperla barbata are redescribed. The male and nymph of K. armillata are described and figured for the first time and the female genitalia redescribed. K. costalis is declared a junior synonym of K. armillata. K. barilochensis is transferred to Andesobius new genus and redescribed. New family and generic diagnoses and keys to genera and species are given.     

Some Entolomataceae (Agaricales) from Costa Rica

A preliminary account of Entolomataceae from Costa Rica is presented. Three new taxa are described, two inClitopilus, one inRhodocybe, and three new combinations are proposed inInocephalus. Five taxa ofClitopilus are reported for the first time from Costa Rica and a key to species is provided. Four species ofRhodocybe are discussed and a key to the six species known from Costa Rica is also provided.Alboleptonia earlei, Inocephalus murraii, Inocephalus quadratum, Rhodocybe incarnata andRhodocybe pseudonitellina are now known to occur in Costa Rica.     

Phylogenetic relationships of epacrids and vaccinioids (Ericaceae s. l.) based onmatK sequence data

Cladistic relationships of epacrids and vaccinioids (Ericaceae) are investigated using nucleotide sequence data from the chloroplast encodedmatK gene. Sequences of 56 taxa were aligned and analyzed using parsimony methods. Results show thatVaccinioideae as currently recognized are not monophyletic. The epacrids are sister to a clade that includes theLyonia group, theGaultheria group, and theVaccinieae. Arbutus andPyrola branch early inEricaceae, before the rhododendroid group.Enkianthus is sister to the remainingEricaceae (includingEpacridaceae).Vaccinieae are strongly supported as monophyletic, butVaccinium andAgapetes are polyphyletic.     

Heterostyly in species ofNarcissus (Amaryllidaceae) andHugonia (Linaceae) and other disputed cases

The hypothesis ofHenriques andFernandes that several Iberian species ofNarcissus (Amaryllidaceae) are tristylous is reconsidered. Contrary to the opinion ofBateman and most subsequent authors, we believe that the available evidence indicates that some populations ofN. triandrus andN. fernandesii, at least, are tristylous; other populations ofN. triandrus are distylous.Hugonia cf.penicillanthemum (Linaceae) from new Caledonia is distylous, but it remains possible that other species ofHugonia are tristylous. The disputed occurrence of heterostyly in S. African species ofBauhinia (Leguminosae),Cleome (Capparaceae) andAneilema (Commelinaceae), and inAgelaea (Connaraceae) is discussed.     

Chromosome numbers of miscellaneous Malagasy Acanthaceae

Meiotic chromosome numbers are reported for 12 species in eight genera of Acanthaceae from Madagascar. Chromosome numbers of 11 species are reported for the first time. Counts inMendoncia (n=19) andNeuracanthus (n=20) are the first for these genera. A new chromosome number (n=30) is reported inJusticia. Systematic implications of the chromosome counts are addressed and basic chromosome numbers for these eight genera of Malagasy Acanthaceae are discussed.     

Systematic relationships of theLactoridaceae,an endemic family of the Juan Fernandez Islands,Chile

The systematic relationships ofLactoridaceae are problematical, with alternative assignments toMagnoliales, Laurales, andPiperales. Phenetic analyses suggest thatLactoridaceae are best accomodated withinMagnoliales and are most closely related toAnnonaceae. Cladistic analyses indicate that the family is a relatively derived member of theMagnoliales, with affinities toAnnonaceae, Eupomatiaceae, Himantandraceae, andMyristicaceae. These analyses together with fossil pollen data are used to interpret the phylogeny ofLactoridaceae and its relatives.     

Recent developments inRhizobium taxonomy

Recent developments inRhizobium taxonomy are presented from a molecular and evolutionary point of view. Analyses of ribosomal RNA gene sequences provide a solid basis to infer phylogenies in the Rhizobiaceae family. These studies confirmed thatRhizobium andBradyrhizobium are only distantly related and showed thatRhizobium andBradyrhizobium are related to other groups of bacteria that are not plant symbionts.Rhizobium andAgrobacterium species are intermixed. Differences in plasmid content may explain to a good extent the different behavior ofRhizobium andAgrobacterium as symbionts or pathogens. Other approaches to identify and classify bacteria such as DNA-DNA hybridization, fatty acid analysis, RFLP and RPD-PCR techniques and phylogenies derived from other genes are in general agreement to the groupings derived by ribosomal sequences. Only a small proportion of nodulated legumes have been sampled for their symbionts and more knowledge is required on the systematics and taxonomy ofRhizobium andBradyrhizobium species.