A taxonomic revision of the genus Tordylium L. (Apiaceae)

The four related genera: Ainsworthia Boiss., Tordylium L., Synelcosciadium Boiss. and Mandenovia Alava are revised. Data are presented from detailed gross morphology, mericarp surface features and anatomy, and palynology.
The results show: (1) Ainsmorthia and Synelcosciadium are congeneric with the genus Tordylium, and that Mandenovia is a good monotypic genus; (2) Tordylium persicum is synonymous with 7. cappadocicum and 7. aegaeum with 7. pestalozzae; (3) the genus Tordylium is best divided into subgenus Tordylium (including Synelcosciadium) and subgenus Ainsworthia (Boiss.) Drude. The latter is divided into section Condylocarpus (Hoffm.) DC, section Hasselquistia (L.) Boiss. and section Univittata Drude.
A new species of Tordylium is described, and two new combinations made. A taxonomic treatment of the genus 'Tordylium', together with a key to the species, is given.     

A revision of Centella series Capenses (Apiaceae)

Centella capensis (L.) Domin and related species form a distinct but poorly known group within the genus. The most conspicuous diagnostic feature is the unique inflorescence structure. Each umbel comprises a central umbellule reduced to a single, sessile, functionally female flower and four lateral, functionally male, pedicellate umbellules each reduced to a single flower. The umbel is surrounded by four large, foliaceous bracts. Another unusual character is the habit. Most of the species are annuals or short-lived perennials, while all other species of the genus are perennial shrublets. A taxonomic revision of the four species and three varieties recognized, is presented.     

A new species of the genus Torilis Adanson (Apiaceae)

JURY, S. L., 1987. A new species of the genus Torilis Adanson (Apiaceae). The name Torilis nodosa (L.) Gaertner has been shown to have been used to include two very distinct variants. Torilis nodosa is therefore typified, and the other variant described as a new species.     

A revision of the genus Triplaris (Polygonaceae)

The neotropical genus Triplaris Loefl. ex L. is revised. A total of 73 taxa had previously been described. In the present revision 17 species, 1 subspecies, and 1 variety are recognized. A new combination Triplaris melaenodendron (Bertol.) Standl. & Steyerm. ssp. colombiana (Meisner) Brandbyge is made, and a new variety T. setosa Rusby var. woytkowski Brandbyge is proposed. Keys based on both pistillate and staminate specimens are presented.     

A revision of the genus Sclerosperma (Arecaceae)

Summary  A taxonomic revision of the palm genus Sclerosperma (Arecaceae) is presented. Three species are recognised: S. mannii H. Wendl., which is relatively widespread from Liberia to the Democratic Republic of Congo; S. walkeri A. Chev., which is apparently confined to the interior of Gabon and a band along the Congo River; and S. profiziana, a new species previously considered conspecific to S. mannii that is found in southwest Ghana, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. The taxonomic history, morphology, distribution and conservation status of the genus and each species are discussed.     

A revision of the genus Phaeonychium (Brassicaceae)

Phaeonychium consists of six species distributed in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kashmir, Nepal, and Tajikistan. The new combinations P. villosum and P. kashgaricum are proposed. Phaeonychium jafrii is described as new. The limits and relationships of Phaeonychium are discussed.     

A revision of the genus Sarcococca (Buxaceae)

SEALY, J. R., 1985. A revision of the genus Sarcococca (Buxaceae). The genus Sarcococca is idely distributed in SE Asia from Afghanistan through the Himalaya to SE Tibet, Assam, Upper Burma and China, southwards in peninsula India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indochina, to Java and Sumatra, Taiwan and Luzon. The genus is accepted as comprising 11 species, one with three varieties, two with two varieties each, and another of two forms. These are described in detail. Sarcococca walhchii f. membranacea from Manipur, is a new form and V. zevlanica var. brevifolia is a new combination.     

A revision of the genus Mouretia (Eubiaceae)

Four species are recognised in Mouretia, a genus previously thought to be monospecific. Two new species M. vietnamensis and M. larsenii are described, and M. tonkinensis var_: inequalis is elevated to the rank of species. All species are illustrated. The chromosome number far M. larsenii is given. The character states for the genus are presented. A comparison between Mouretia and Mycetia show them to share most of their character states. It is suggested that the two genera form a monophyletic group, that should be included in the tribe Hedyotideae.     

A revision of the genus Microula (Boraginaceae)

1. Having analyzed the external morphology of the genus Microula, the author has proposed a series of criteria as bases for the construction of a classification scheme of this genus. The most important ones are as follows: 1) The normally developed stem is primitive, and the strongly abbreviated stem more advanced. 2) The small inconspicuous bracts are more primitive than the large suborbicular densely arranged ones, which almost entirely cover the flowers and the fruits. 3) Nutlets with small dorsal pit are more primitive than those with larger pit on one hand or those without it on the other. 4) The dorsal pit with simple margin precedes that with double margins. 5) Nutlets with subbasal areola precede those with lateral or apical areola. 6) Nutlets without glochids precede those with glochids. 2. Basing upon these criteria the genus Microula may be divided into six sections. The section Schistocaryum may be the primitive one, and the others may be evolved from it respectively. The possible affinities between them are demonstrated in figure no. two. 3. The genus Microula, containing 30 species, is mainly distributed in the Chinghai-Tibetan plateau and the majority of its species concentrates in the eastern border of the plateau, and of the 30 species 26—that is 90 percent—are endemic to China, and the remaining 4 are distributed elsewhere in China, too, and extending southward and westward to Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal and Kashmir respectively. In the region between Heishui, Province Szechuan, and Chinghai Lake there are 9 species, which, curiously, represent all the six sections of Microula, hence this region seems to be the center of maximum variation of this genus. M. ovalifolia whose nutlets have small dorsal pit and subbasal areola may be considered the most primitive species. Thus the author is of the opinion that the western part of province Szechuan, to which M. ovalifolia is endemic, may probably be the center of origin of the genusMicroula.     

A revision of the genus Dopatrium (Scrophulariaceae-Gratioloideae)

The genus Dopatrium is revised and 14 species are recognized. The distribution and ecology of each species is described and illustrations and distribution maps are provided. The new combination Dopatrium tenerum is proposed.