Cyclopropane- and spirolimonoids and related compounds from Hortia oreadica

The dichloromethane extract from taproots of Hortia oreadica afforded six limonoids, these are 9,11-dehydro-12α-acetoxyhortiolide A, hortiolide C, 11α-acetoxy-15-deoxy-6-hydroxyhortiolide C, hortiolide D, hortiolide E, 12β-hydroxyhortiolide E, in addition to the known limonoid, guyanin. The dichloromethane extract from stems of H. oreadica also afforded two limonoids 9,11-dehydro-12α-hydroxyhortiolide A and 6-hydroxyhortiolide C. As a result of this study and literature data, Hortia has been shown to produce highly specialized limonoids that are similar to those from the Flindersia (Flindersioideae). The taxonomy of Hortia has been debatable, with most authors placing it in the Toddalioideae. Considering the complexity of the isolated limonoids, Hortia does not show any close affinity to the genera of Toddalioideae. That is, the limonoids appear to be of little value in resolving the taxonomic situation of Hortia.     

On the identity of Jacquinia armillaris (Theophrastaceae) and related species

TheJacquinia armillaris group, a natural assemblage of chiefly Caribbean taxa, is revised. The group was found to include three species with different but slightly overlapping distributions:J. keyensis Mez, northern Caribbean,J. arborea Vahl, of central and southern Caribbean, andJ. armillaris Jacq., of southern Caribbean (Lesser Antilles), northern South America, and eastern Brazil. All taxa are described and illustrated. Nomenclature is discussed and most names are typified.     

A new acicular-leaved species of Sauvagesia (Ochnaceae) from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

A new species of Sauvagesia is described and illustrated under the name Sauvagesia paniculata. This new species is morphologically similar to the acicular-leaved species of the subsect. Vellozianae. However, S. paniculata can be clearly differentiated from the other acicular-leaved species by the paniculate inflorescence. Other diagnostic characters of S. paniculata include the shorter pedicel and longer leaves. This new species seems to be narrowly endemic to the “campo rupestre” vegetation in the Esbarrancado mountain range of Mucugê, in the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil.     

A revision of Habenaria section Macroceratitae (Orchidaceae) in Brazil

Habenaria sect.Macroceratitae from Brazil is revised, and seven species are recognized:H. bractescens, H. gourlieana, H. johannensis, H. longicauda, H. macronectar, H. nabucoi, and the newly describedH. paulistana. A main feature of these species is the presence of long, separated, involute stigmatic processes.Habenaria bractescens, H. gourlieana, H. johannensis, andH. macronectar are distributed mainly from central and southeastern Brazil to southern Brazil and southern South America, whereasH. longicauda andH. nabucoi are distributed mainly from west central, southeastern and northeastern Brazil to northern South America.Habenaria paulistana is restricted to the state of São Paulo.Habenaria bradei, H. juergensii, andH. sartoroides are lectotypified, andH. kleyi is neotypified. The identity ofH. fastor is discussed andH. nabucoi is recognized as the valid name for this species. Seven other species previously placed in sect.Macroceratitae are sufficiently distinct and are removed from the section.     

Swampy area transformations by exploitation ofRaphia hookeri (Arecaceae) in southern Benin (West Africa)

The Raphiapalms in the southern part of Benin are confined to freshwater swamps, where the natural vegetation consists of a forest rich in Dicotyledons. Human activity has transformed this forest into a “raphiale” where Raphia hookerihas become the main arborescent species. The influence of this transformation on the vegetation results in a more regular distribution of Raphis hookeritrunks and a gradual disappearing of clumps of ramets. By now, the future of Raphis hookerispecies is almost ensured except in situations of over-exploitation.     

Hirticrusta gen. nov. segregated from Neofomitella in Polyporaceae (Polyporales)

Taxonomic studies including morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on Japanese “uragin-take”, an unidentified species from Amazonia, Brazil and their allies. Phylogenetic analyses using ITS, nrLSU and RPB2 regions revealed that “uragin-take”, Neofomitella polyzonata and the unidentified species formed a monophyletic clade separate from the clade including the other four Neofomitella spp. and that “uragin-take” is conspecific with N. polyzonata. Morphological investigations on authentic specimens revealed that Polyporus subradiatus is a prior name for N. polyzonata. We propose Hirticrusta gen. nov. typified by H. subradiata segregated from Neofomitella, and we erected H. amazonica sp. nov. for the unidentified species. Hirticrusta is characterized by annual to biennial and sessile basidiocarps, semicircular to dimidiate pileus, velutinous to tomentose hairs on pileus surface, buff to brown context with a crustose layer indicated by a dark brown line forming a longitudinal section below the superficial hairs, a trimitic hyphal system, crustose layer composed of parallel and densely arranged brown hyphae and cylindrical basidiospores. The new species, H. amazonica is distinguishable from other polypores by downy and long tomentum on the pileus surface (up to 20 mm thick), brown context with a dark brown layer below the tomentum and round pores (5–7/mm).     

The anomalous-stemmed species of Heteropterys subsect. Aptychia (Malpighiaceae)

Species of the anomalous-stemmed complex ofHeteropterys are revised after intensive fieldwork in eastern Brazil.Heteropterys patens (=H. anomala) is redefined, and three new species are described (H. admirabilis, H. imperata, andH. nordestina). In addition, this treatment provides brief synonymy, lectotypifications, illustrations, and comments for those four species, and a key to all taxa of the complex.     

The “sapucaia” group of Lecythis (Lecythidaceae)

Four previously much confused species of Lecythis, which form a coherent group of species collectively known in Brazil as “sapucaias,” are described and differentiated in a key. A summary of their pollination and dispersal is presented as well as of their present-day distributions in relation to past geological and climatological events. Fruit variability, the cause of name proliferation in this group, is described and related to the problem of species concepts in the Lecythidaceae.     

Validation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoraputia</Emphasis> (Galipeae,Rutaceae) and description of two new species from Eastern Brazil

The name Neoraputia was published without citation of the type, making it and the names of the four species transferred to it invalid. The genus name and combinations are validated here. Lectotypes are chosen for the basionyms, Aruba alba, Raputia magnifica, R. paraensis, and Raputia trifoliata. Two new species, Neoraputia micrantha and N. calliantha, from forests of eastern Bahia, Brazil, are described.     

Molecular and morphological evidence suggests the reallocation from Parastrigea brasiliana (Szidat, 1928) Dubois, 1964 to Apharyngostrigea Ciurea, 1927 (Digenea: Strigeidae), a parasite of boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) from the Neotropical region

Parastrigea brasiliana (Szidat, 1928) Dubois, 1964, was described from (Cochlearius cochlearius) in South America. The taxonomy of this species has been unstable due that it was described as a member of Strigea Abildgaard, 1790. However, the same author one year later transferred it to Apharyngostrigea Ciurea, 1927 and since then, it has been alternatively placed in the genus Apharyngostrigea or Parastrigea Szidat, 1928 from Strigeidae. In the current research, specimens identified as P. brasiliana were collected from type host in southeastern Mexico. We sequenced three molecular markers: the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 including the 5.8S gene (ITS region), the D1-D3 domains of the large subunit (LSU) from nuclear DNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox 1) from mitochondrial DNA. These sequences were aligned with other sequences available in the GenBank dataset from Strigeidae. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses inferred with three molecular markers consistently showed that P. brasiliana is not closely related to other members of the genus Parastrigea and are placed in a reciprocal monophyletic clade inside Apharyngostrigea, with very low genetic divergence, varying from 0 to 0.09% for the ITS, from 0 to 0.08% for the LSU and from 0.21 to 0.43% for cox 1. Consequently, we proposed to reallocate it to A. brasiliana. The phylogenetic analyses obtained are key and very useful for re-evaluate the morphology of A. brasiliana because this species share morphological characters with the genera Parastrigea (concentration of vitelline follicles distributed in two lateral expansions on the forebody) and Apharyngostrigea (absence of pharynx). Finally, the current record of A. brasiliana expands its distribution range in four countries, namely, the USA, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil, in the Neotropical region.     

Croton campanulatus (Euphorbiaceae s.s.), a new species from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest

Croton campanulatus, a new species from southeastern Brazil in the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, is here described and illustrated. Morphological data indicate that this species belongs to Croton section Cleodora based on its arborescent habit, pistillate flowers with imbricate sepals, reduced petals, and multifid styles that are fused at the base.     

A new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) from Brazil

A new species of the genusMicrolicia,M. flava, from the highland “campo rupestre” vegetation of Serra da Canastra National Park, São Roque de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described and illustrated.     

Species of hypocrella

Summary Additional information is given from studies of types and authentic specimens for 25 species of Hypocrella.Stereocrea aurantiaca is transferred to Hypocrella asH. aurantiaca (Petch) comb. nov.,H. caulium is considered an invalid name andH. brasiliana (P. Henn.) comb. nov. is proposed. It is concluded thatH. sloaneae, H. nectroides, H. citrina, H. melaena, H. disjuncta andH. amazonica all are valid species.H. verruculosa is considered conspecific withH. phyllogena. H. fluminensis is a synonym ofH. epiphylla andH. guaranitica, H. spegazzini, H. orbicularis andH. cornuta are synonyms ofH. palmae. Similarities between several species of the eastern and western hemispheres are noted.Paper from the Herbarium and the Department of Botany, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.     

Redefinition and taxonomic revision of the “buqueti” species-group,Dichotomius Hope, 1838 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

On the basis of external morphology and genitalia of males, as well as a comparison between different species belonging to other groups of Dichotomius, we propose a redefinition of the “buqueti” species group separated by Luederwaldt (1929). Six species are excluded from this group and transferred to other groups: D. ribeiroi (Pereira, 1954) in the “cotopaxi” group; D. camposeabrai Martínez, 1974 in the “bitiensis” group; D. reclinatus (Felsche, 1901), D. horridus (Felsche, 1911), D. quadrinodosus (Felsche, 1901) and D. nimuendaju (Luederwaldt, 1925) (revalidated species) forming the newly defined “reclinatus” group. The other species kept in the “buqueti” group include D. buqueti (Lucas, 1857) from Brazil (lectotype here designated), D. haroldi (Waterhouse, 1891) from Argentina and D. nutans (Harold, 1867) from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The taxonomic revision of the “buqueti” group are presented, including a history of the included species, a determination key, illustrations of the structures of external morphology, male genitalia and sclerites of the internal sac, and a distribution map.     

Population dynamics of two suspension-feeding bivalves on a sheltered beach in southeastern Brazil

The population biology and secondary production of the bivalves Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791) and Diplodonta punctata (Say, 1822) were studied on a sheltered beach on the southeast coast of Brazil (Flexeiras Beach) between December 2006 and February 2009. Six transects were established perpendicular to the shoreline. Along each transect, sampling units (SUs) were extracted every 3?m, with a 0.04?m² metal sampler and to a depth of 25?cm, from the base of the boulder wall until 9?m below the waterline during low tide. The abundances of A. brasiliana and D. punctata were inversely correlated over time. The populations differed in several aspects: (1) A. brasiliana occupied mainly the upper levels, whereas D. punctata occupied the lower level of the beach; (2) total abundance, growth rate, and production were higher for A. brasiliana; and (3) mortality and turnover rate were higher for D. punctata. The differences in growth, mortality, and production parameters may be associated with a difference in the species’ abilities to exploit resources.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Amyris amazonica</Emphasis> (Rutaceae), a new species from Ecuador

Amyris amazonica, from the Amazonian forests of northeastern Ecuador, is described. This new species is characterized by a shrubby or arborescent habit, very large unifoliolate leaves, long petioles, and fasciculate, pseudoracemose inflorescences.

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Resumen  Se describe Amyris amazonica, una nueva especie de arbusto o arbolillo de la selva Amazónica del nororiente de Ecuador. Esta nueva especie se caracteriza por presentar hojas unifolioladas con largos pecíolos y muy grandes láminas e inflorescencias pseudoracemosas fasciculadas.

     

Hygrophorus yukishiro sp. nov., a new vernal edible mushroom from Nagano Prefecture,Japan

A novel basidiomycetous species, Hygrophorus yukishiro, is described from Japan. The basidiomata of this fungus have been referred to as “yuki-shiro”, “yuki-take”, and “yuki-wari”, and used as an edible mushroom in the central region of Nagano, Japan. Hygrophorus yukishiro fruits in the early spring season under oak-dominated stands. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene indicated that H. yukishiro is a sister species of H. arbustivus and belongs to section Hygrophorus, subsect. Fulventes. Hygrophorus yukishiro is similar in its external morphology and fruiting phenology to H. roseobrunneus, H. leucophaeo-ilicis, and H. roseodiscoideus, but differs in the color and texture of its pileus surface and microscopic characteristics.     

It’s not what it looks like: molecular data fails to substantiate morphological differences in two sea hares (Mollusca,Heterobranchia, Aplysiidae) from southern Brazil

Species of sea hares have been recognized traditionally based on morphological traits, mainly the radula, external coloration, and reproductive anatomy. However, recent studies have shown substantial color variation in some sea slug species. Molecular data have been successfully used to differentiate morphologically similar species of “opisthobranchs” and resolve questions on the taxonomic value of color. The objective of this paper is to use molecular data in an attempt to elucidate whether specimens of Aplysia brasiliana with distinct colorations and morphologies are actually the same species. To this end, DNA from 14 specimens of A. brasiliana was extracted, including five specimens identified as a distinct morphotype from typical A. brasiliana. Although the two morphotypes have consistent differences in their external morphology and radula, the molecular data confirmed that there are no significant genetic differences between them. This is another example of the need to re-evaluate taxonomic decisions based on morphology in light of molecular evidence.     

A new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Comanthera</Emphasis> (Eriocaulaceae) from the Espinhaço Range,Minas Gerais,Brazil

We describe and illustrate the new species Comanthera brunnea (Eriocaulaceae: Paepalanthoideae). This species is endemic to the sandy fields of the campos rupestres of the northeastern Espinhaço range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We compare it with Comanthera suberosa, the morphologically most similar species, and with C. brasiliana, which also has similar features. The morphological variation, habitat, geographic distribution, and conservation status of this new species are discussed.