New taxa and combinations in Malvastrum A. Gray (Malvaceae: Malveae)

The genusMalvastrum A. Gray is interpreted to include 22 taxa in 14 species. Seven taxa are here described as new, namely:M. americanum var.stellatum,M. tomentosum subsp.pautense,M. bicuspidatum subsp.campanulatum,M. bicuspidatum subsp.oaxacanum, M. bicuspidatum subsp.tumidum var.tumidum, M. bicuspidatum subsp.tumidum var.glabrum, andM. coromandelianum subsp.fryxellii. In addition, two new combinations are proposed, namely:M. tomentosum andM. coromandelianum subsp.capitato-spicatum.     

Arceuthobium (Viscaceae) in Mexico and Guatemala: Additions and range extensions

Three new dwarf mistletoes are described:Arceuthobium globosum subsp.grandicaule (Mexico and Guatemala),A. aureum subsp.aureum (Guatemala) andA. aureum subsp.petersonii (Chiapas, Mexico).Arceuthobium guatemalense is recorded for the first time in Mexico. Significant range extensions are recorded forA. abietisreligiosae, A. divaricatum,A. gillii subsp.nigrum, andA. rubrum. New hosts are reported for several taxa. Nineteen members of the genus are presently known from Mexico, and three (possibly four) from Guatemala. Chromosome counts are reported for the first time for 3 taxa.     

A revision of Vernonia series Buddleiifoliae (Compositae: Vernonieae)

SeriesBuddleiifoliae of the genusVernonia of southeastern South America consists of 18 species which are keyed, described, discussed and mapped.Vernonia goiasensis is proposed as a new name, whileV. wasshausenii andV. monocephala subsp.irwinii are described as new taxa, and V.asteriflora subsp.kuntzei is presented as a new combination.     

Synonymy in peperomia berteroana (Piperaceae) results in biological disjunction between Pacific and Atlantic oceans

Placing Peperomia berteroana of the Juan Fernandez Islands in the Pacific Ocean in synonymy with P. tristanensis of Tristan da Cunha in the Atlantic Ocean results in a species with a wide geographical disjunction of more than 5000 km. Morphological data indicate that these taxa are best treated as subspecies (P. berteroana subsp. berteroana and P. berteroana subsp. tristanensis).     

A taxonomic revision of the Antennaria rosea (Asteraceae: Inuleae: Gnaphaliinae) polyploid complex

TheAntennaria rosea species complex is circumscribed to contain four subspecific taxa. A complete synonymy and key to the subspecies ofA. rosea is presented. The following new combinations are proposed:Antennaria rosea subsp.arida (E. Nels.) R. Bayer,A. rosea subsp. confinis (Greene) R. Bayer, andA. rosea subsp. pulvinata (Greene) R. Bayer. The affinities ofA. rosea to other species ofAntennaria are discussed and a key to separateA. rosea from related polyploid complexes is provided.     

A taxonomic revision of the Antennaria media (Asteraceae: Inuleae) polyploid species complex in western North America

TheAntennaria media polyploid species complex has been evaluated, at least in part, on numerous occasions without consensus on either the taxa that should be included within the complex or the rank at which these taxa should be recognized. The primary purpose of this quantitative, multivariate, phenetic study is to propose a taxonomy for the polyploid species complex that not only is independent of a knowledge of either chromosome number or reproductive biology but that concurrently minimally reflects morphological variation associated with each. The use of canonical discriminant analysis facilitates this purpose. In an attempt to maintain consistency with other recent revisions of polyploid complexes within the genus, the rank of subspecies (A. media subsp.media, A. media subsp.ciliata, A. media subsp.compacta, A. media subsp.fusca, andA. media subsp.pulchella) is selected as the infraspecific rank that satisfies the purpose of the phenetic study and is supported by the analyses. These subspecies differ to varying degrees with respect to reproductive characters (corolla length, pappus length), vegetative-reproductive characters (involucre length, peduncle length, cauline leaf length, cauline leaf width), and vegetative characters (basal leaf length and basal leaf width).Antennaria media subsp.pulchella is a sexually reproducing, diploid subspecies, whereas the remaining four subspecies are essentially agamospermous polyploids.     

A new subspecies and new combinations in Comarostaphylis (Ericaceae)

Comarostaphylis spinulosa subsp.glandulifera is described from the mountains of Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico. Four new combinations inComarostaphylis are also made:C. arbutoides subsp.costaricensis, C. discolor subsp.rupestris, C. polifolia subsp.minor, andC. spinulosa.Arctostaphylos glabrata, A. rupestris, andA. spinulosa are lectotypified and the status ofC. polifolia is discussed.     

Hibiscus section Furcaria (Malvaceae) in islands of the Pacific Basin

Hibiscus sectionFurcaria includes more than 60 known taxa. The section has a mainly tropical distribution, but a few species penetrate subtropical and temperate regions. Seven taxa are recognized that occur in the islands of the Pacific Basin, five of which are endemic.Hibiscus fijiensis is described and a new combination,Hibiscus brackenridgei subsp.molokaianus, is proposed.     

Penstemon miniatus (Scrophulariaceae): New combinations

Penstemon apateticus Straw is found to be synonymous withP. miniatus Lindl.Penstemon miniatus subsp.apateticus andP. miniatus subsp.townsendianus are presented as new combinations. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01CT127 00005     

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.     

Two new taxa of Sedum section Gormania (Crassulaceae) endemic to the Trinity Mountains in California

Two taxa, narrowly endemic to the Trinity Mountains in northwestern California, are described.Sedum laxum subsp.flavidum is a tetraploid (n = 30) and is found on metabasaltic outcroppings, andSedum obtusatum subsp.paradisum is a diploid (n = 15) and occurs on granite outcroppings.     

Taxonomic revision of the Chilean Puya species (Puyoideae, Bromeliaceae), with special notes on the Puya alpestris-Puya berteroniana species complex

The Chilean Puya species (Puyoideae, Bromeliaceae) constitute an early diverging group within the genus and thus are key taxa for the understanding of the early evolution and biogeography of Puya. However, a modern taxonomic treatment including information from molecular phylogenetic studies is still lacking. Here, a taxonomic revision of the Chilean species of Puya is presented based on morphological, molecular, and biogeographic data. A re-evaluation of the widely applied concept of P. berteroniana led us to the conclusion that the type of P. berteroniana is of hybrid origin and is maintained as Puya × berteroniana. Our studies revealed that the name P. berteroniana has been widely misapplied to what in fact is the northern metapopulation of P. alpestris, which is here described as a new subspecies, Puya alpestris subsp. zoellneri, a member of subgenus Puya. A lectotype is designated for Puya copiapina and a neotype for P. chilensis. Altogether, six Puya species, two subspecies, four varieties and one hybrid taxon are recognized for the Chilean flora in this revision: P. alpestris subsp. alpestris and subsp. zoellneri; P. boliviensis; P. chilensis; P. gilmartiniae; P. coerulea var. coerulea, var. intermedia, var. monteroana, and var. violacea; P. venusta; and P. × berteroniana. A key is provided for their identification.     

Taxonomic considerations of piptocarpha (Compositae: Vernonieae) and new taxa in Brazil

The distribution, affinities and delimiting characters and prospects for a new classification ofPiptocarpha are discussed. Two new species and one subspecies from Brazil are described and figured:Piptocarpha densifolia, P. ramboi andP. rotundifolia (Less.) Baker subsp.hatschbachii.     

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.     

New species of Pectis (Asteraceae) from the West Indies,Mexico, and South America

Four new species ofPectis are described:P. ericifolia from Barbuda,P. luckoviae from west-central Mexico,P. arida from Ecuador and Peru, andP. cajamarcana from Peru. Chromosome counts forP. ericifolia (n=48) andP. luckoviae (n=12) are presented. Relationships of the newly described taxa are discussed.     

New taxa of Consolea Lemaire (Cactaceae: Opuntioideae) from Cuba

The ranges ofConsolea nashii andC. moniliformis were found to extend from the Bahamas and Hispaniola, respectively, into Cuba. Two new subspecies are now recognized on the basis of morphological and geographical discontinuities of populations:Consolea nashii subsp.gibarensis from the coastal thickets between Manatí and Maisí, northeastern Cuba, andC. moniliformis subsp.guantanamana from the cacti thorn-woodlands and thickets of Guantánamo and Santiago de Cuba Provinces, on the southern coast and adjacent dry plains of eastern Cuba. A key to the Cuban species ofConsolea is provided.