<Emphasis Type="Italic">Packera insulae-regalis</Emphasis> (Asteraceae,Senecioneae), a new species endemic to Isle Royale,Michigan, U.S.A.

Packera insulae-regalis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) is a new species that is only known from one population occurring near the summit of Mount Franklin on Isle Royale, Michigan, U.S.A. It resembles both P. paupercula and P. indecora but is hexaploid, whereas the former has diploid and tetraploid populations and the latter is octoploid around the western Great Lakes. Whereas most species of Packera are self-incompatible (as is P. paupercula) and a few are self-compatible (as is P. indecora), P. insulae-regalis is unique in the genus in being partially self-compatible, as far as is known. Its origin post-glacially by hybridization between these two species is hypothesized.     

Fissidens viridulus Wahlenb. and F. minutulus Sull.

Abstract

A new species of Pseudocrossidium R.S.Williams, P. exiguum M.J.Cano &; J.A.Jiménez, is described from South America (Argentina, Brazil and Peru). The species is distinguished morphologically by its lingulate to oblong-ovate leaves, leaf marginal cells not or scarcely differentiated from inner, costa ending below apex or percurrent, and semicircular to elliptical in cross-section with two guide cells, scarcely differentiated perichaetial leaves and peristome of short and straight teeth. Drawings and light microscope photographs of the new species are provided. The principal distinctive characters that separate it from the nearest species of Pseudocrossidium and related genera are discussed.     

A new section of Protium from the neotropics. Studies in neotropical Burseraceae XIII

Protium sectionPepeanthos, a neotropical group of nine species ranging from Costa Rica to the southern perimeter of Amazonia, is described, as are the group's five new species:P. calendulinum, P. gallosum, P. pecuniosum, P. retusum, andP. urophyllidium. Keys are provided to flowering and to fruiting material. The new section is characterized by a milky resin; lateral leaflet pulvinuli inconspicuous or absent; style short-branched and the stigmas caudiculate and spiculate; and the cotyledons plano-convex.     

Plutarchia ecuadorensis (Ericaceae,Vaccinieae): a new species and a new generic record for Ecuador

Plutarchia, a shrubby páramo genus, is here reported for the first time in Ecuador where two species are recognized: P. angulata A. C. Smith and the new P. ecuadorensis Luteyn. These two species are keyed, described, and the new species illustrated.     

Two new species of Protium from French Guiana. Studies in neotropical Burseraceae VIII

Revision of Protium in French Guiana has revealed two new species. Protium gallicum is related to P. aracouchini (Aubl.) Marchand and P. elegans Engl., although its fruits resemble those of P. plagiocarpium Bénoist. Protium inodorum, which also occurs in northern Pará, Brazil, is related to P. pallidum Cuatrec. and P. cuneatum Swart; it is known only from flowers and very young fruits. Even in relatively well-known regions of tropical forest, botanical exploration continues to yield new taxa.     

Taxonomic assessment of Ptychomitrium lepidomitrium and P. tortula (Bryopsida,Ptychomitriaceae)

Abstract

Ptychomitrium tortula (Harv.) A.Jaeger, P. lepidomitrium (C.Muell.) Schimp., P. rhacomitrioides Dixon and P. lindigii (Hampe) Jaeg. are similar in morphology by having scabrous calyptrae, sinuous basal leaf cells and crisped and contorted dry leaves. Studies of the type specimens of these species indicated that P. rhacomitrioides and P. lindigii are synonymous with P. tortula and P. lepidomitrium, respectively. Comparisons of the morphological features and distribution in detail showed that P. tortula and P. lepidomitrium are two distinctive species with geographical disjunction between Asia and Central and South America.     

Two new species of Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae: sect. Saccanthera) from Nevada, U.S.A.

Two Nevada species are described here for the first time: Penstemon tiehmii N. H. Holmgren, which is endemic to Mount Lewis of the Shoshone Range in Lander County; and Penstemon rhizomatosus N. H. Holmgren, which is endemic to the central Schell Creek Range in White Pine County. They both belong to section Saccanthera and are closely related to P. kingii S. Watson, a Great Basin endemic of valley sagebrush habitats. Both new species are talus plants of higher elevations and differ from P. kingii principally in their rhizomatous habit, petiolate leaves, and pubescence of shorter hairs.     

Phylogenetic relationships of species in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoroegneria</Emphasis> (Poaceae: Triticeae) and related genera inferred from nuclear rDNA ITS (internal transcribed spacer) sequences

To evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of species in Pseudoroegneria and related genera, the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were analyzed for eighteen Pseudoroegneria (St), two Elytrigia (E ^e St), two Douglasdeweya (StP), three Lophopyrum (E ^e and E ^b ), three Agropyron (P), two Hordeum (H), two Australopyrum (W) and two Psathyrostachys (Ns) accessions. The main results were: (i) Pseudoroegneria gracillima, P. stipifolia, P. cognata and P. strigosa (2x) were in one clade, while P. libanotica, P. tauri and P. spicata (2x) were in the other clade, indicating there are the differentiations of St genome among diploid Pseudoroegneria species; (ii) P. geniculata ssp. scythica, P. geniculata ssp. pruinifera, Elytriga caespitosa and Et. caespitosa ssp. nodosa formed the E ^e St clade with 6-bp indel in ITS1 regions; and (iii) Douglasdeweya wangii, D. deweyi, Agropyron cristatum and A. puberulum comprised the P clade. It is unreasonable to treat P. geniculata ssp. scythica and P. geniculata ssp. pruinifera as the subspecies of P. geniculata, and they should be transferred to a new genus Trichopyrum, which consists of species with E ^e St genomes. It is also suggested that one of the diploid donor of D. wangii and D. deweyi is derived from Agropyron species, and it is reasonable to treat tetraploid species with StP genomes into Douglasdeweya.     

The genus Gottschelia Grolle (Jungermanniopsida,Lophoziaceae) in China,with a description of G. grollei,sp. nov.

Abstract

The genus Gottschelia Grolle is reported as new to mainland China, from Yunnan Province. Previously G. schizopleura (Spruce) Grolle was the only known Chinese species, reported from Taiwan. However, two further species have recently been found in the Gaoligong Shan range, Yunnan Province, G. patoniae Grolle, Schill & D.G. Long, previously known from the East Himalaya of Nepal and India (Sikkim) and G. grollei D.G. Long & Váňa, described here as a new species endemic to China, the fourth known species in the genus. The differences between the three Chinese species are enumerated with notes on distribution and ecology.     

Plesiochorus irwinorum n. sp. (Trematoda: Gorgoderidae) from the urinary bladder of the hawksbill turtle,Eretmochelys imbricata (Testudines: Cheloniidae), off the east coast of Australia

Plesiochorus Looss, 1901 is a genus of Gorgoderidae infecting the urinary bladders of marine turtles globally. Currently, just two morphologically similar species are recognised, Plesiochorus cymbiformis (Rudolphi, 1819) Looss, 1901 and Plesiochorus elongatus Pigulevsky, 1953, which have been distinguished by molecular data and subtle morphological differences. Here we describe a new species, Plesiochorus irwinorum n. sp., infecting hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata (L.)), which is primarily distinguished from the other two species of Plesiochorus on the basis of ITS2, cox1 and 28S sequence data. Morphometric data for specimens examined during this study overlap between P. cymbiformis and P. irwinorum n. sp. for every measured feature, rendering them functionally cryptic. However, principal components analysis clearly distinguishes the two species. Additionally, we report new specimens of P. cymbiformis, and provide new sequence data for specimens from Australian loggerhead (Caretta caretta (L.)) and hawksbill turtles. There is little understanding of the host-specificity or geographical distribution of the three species of Plesiochorus, and it remains possible that some of the previously reported sequences have been attributed to the wrong species.

     

Review of subtribe Pterellina Rohdendorf, 1967 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) of Middle East with descriptions of twelve new species

Summary

Based on a revision of large recent collections housed at the Natural History Museum (London), Tel Aviv University and in the private collection of Yu. Verves and L. Khrokalo (Kyiv, Ukraine), new distributional data and an updated list with comments of 28 species of Middle Eastern Sarcophagidae of the subtribe Pterellina are presented. Seventeen of them are recorded for Israel, 11 for Egypt, four for Iran, two each for the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and one each for Jordan and the UAE. No data are known for the territories of Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria and Yemen. Twelve species new to science are described, including nine from Israel (Chaetapodacra montana n. sp., Eremasiomyia bicolor n. sp., E. deserta n. sp., E. fuscata n. sp., Protomiltogramma bidentata n. sp., P. serrata n. sp., Pterella hermonica n. sp., P. indigens n. sp., P. zefatica n. sp.), two from Egypt (Chaetapodacra griseola n. sp., Eremasiomyia alba n. sp.) and one from Saudi Arabia (Protomiltogramma arabica n. sp.). The male of Eremasiomyia nigra Rohdendorf, 1935 is described for the first time. One new combination of specific name is proposed ? Protomiltogramma immunita (Villeneuve, 1923), n. comb. Original keys for the identification of genera and species are proposed. An annotated list of all world genera and species and compiled data on larval habits of Pterellina are included.     

A contribution to the taxonomy of Piptadenia (Mimosaceae) in South America

Four new species ofPiptadenia are described:P. anolidurus (from Amazonian Ecuador, Peru and Brazil),P. buchtienii (from trans-Andean Bolivia),P. cuzcoënsis (from southern Peru), andP. imatacae (from Venezuelan Guayana); andP. adiantoides var.peruviana J. F. Macbr. is raised in rank toP. peruviana. In relation toP. imatacae the transfer ofP. uaupensis Benth. andP. floribunda Kleinhoonte toAdenopodia Presl is shown to be ill-advised. The affinities of each new species are discussed and critical characters are illustrated.Mimosa tessmanii Harms is newly synonymized withP. uaupensis.

     

Primulina rubella sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from a limestone area in Guangdong,China

A new species of Primulina (Gesneriaceae) from a limestone area in southern China, P. rubella L.H. Yang & M. Kang, is described and illustrated. The new species has purple‐red flowers and is thus similar to P. lijiangensis, but differs by its petiole, leaf blade, cyme, filament, stigma and ovary. In adition, a molecular phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that P. rubella and P. lijiangensis belong to quite different clades. Instead, P. rubella appears to be closely related to the sympatric P. qingyuanensis, although these two species are obviously differentiated both in terms of flower color and other vegetative and floral characters. The conservation status of P. rubella is assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) according to the IUCN red list categories and criteria.     

Plinthus persicus n. sp. with biogeographic considerations on the P. illotus species group (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae)

Plinthus persicus n. sp. is described; type locality: Iran, Mazandaran, 10 km SW of Rudbarak. The new species belongs to the group of Plinthus illotus, composed of some species distributed in Armenia and Transcaucasus; it expands the range of the genus to northern Iran. Some biogeographical and ecological notes are discussed. A key to the P. illotus species group is added.     

Macromitrium maolanense Zeyou Zhang,D.D.Li,Jing Yu & S.L.Guo,a new species from China based on molecular and morphological evidence

Introduction. During a field excursion in Guizhou Province, China, we collected some interesting moss specimens with branch leaves subulate in the upper part, partially and variably bistratose laminae, and a Macromitrium-like epiphytic growth habit on tree trunks. We present morphological and phylogenetic arguments for recognising these plants as a new moss species in the genus Macromitrium Brid. (Orthotrichaceae).

Methods. We compared the morphology of the potential new species with closely related species of Macromitrium, and constructed a phylogenetic tree based on ITS2, trnL and trnG including sampling from 14 other morphologically similar species of Macromitrium.

Key results. The proposed new species belongs to the genus Macromitrium (Orthotrichaceae, Musci). It is closely related to M. gymnostomum Sull. & Lesq. in the phylogenetic tree and according to gametophytic morphological features, represents a hitherto undescribed species.

Conclusions. A new moss species, Macromitrium maolanense Zeyou Zhang, D.D.Li, Jing Yu & S.L.Guo, is described and illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the following features of the branch leaves: (1) oblong-lanceolate, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to an easily broken subula; (2) rather obscure upper and medial cells, often with blackish stains among cells, densely pluripapillose; (3) variably and partially bistratose laminae in the upper 1/3 portion; (4) basal cells clear, hyaline and smooth, those near costae forming a ‘cancellina region’; and (5) with numerous brownish, clavate gemmae on upper portion. We also discuss the principal distinctive characters separating the new species from its nearest congeners.     

Notes on the genus Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae) in Bolivia, with descriptions of ten new species

We describe ten new species ofPolystichum (Dryopteridaceae, Pteridophyta) from Bolivia, provide brief notes on the other eleven species of the genus in the country, and present a key to all species, New species are:P. albomarginatum, P. amboroense, P. bachii, P. chaparensis, P. congestum, P. giganteum, P. lepidotum, P. paramicola, P. rufum, andP. solomonii.     

A new Indian species of Riccia L. with connections to northern Australia

Introduction. During a recent explorative field trip to the Western Ghats a new species of Riccia was discovered with possible links to the northern Australian species, Riccia caroliniana Na-Thalang.

Key Results. Morphological similarities between the new species, R. sahyadrica and R. caroliniana include the ventral positioning of the photosynthetic tissue in the ventral section of the thallus in specialised structures known as ventral lamellae. These form a v-shaped patterning along the ventral surface of the thallus and are unique to these two species. Both species also bear similar spores with differences in the micro-ornamentation. Differences between the two species also extend to sexual condition, whereby R. caroliniana is dioicous and R. sahyadrica is monoicous.

Conclusions. A new species, Riccia sahyadrica Manju & Cargill is described and illustrated and compared to the only other morphologically similar species, R. caroliniana endemic to northern Australia. Both species possess the unique characteristic of bearing ventral photosynthetic tissue in contrast to the dorsal position typically seen in all other Riccia species.