Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lonchocarpus</Emphasis> (Leguminosae,Papilionoideae, Millettieae) from Brazil

Two new species of Lonchocarpus from Brazil, assigned to sect. Laxiflori Benth., are described and illustrated and their affinities, geographical distribution and conservation status are discussed. Lonchocarpus laticiferus from arboreal caatinga vegetation of Bahia State, and deciduous forest of Minas Gerais State is related to L. montanus A. M. G. Azevedo ex M. J. Silva & A. M. G. Azevedo. Lonchocarpus graciliflorus, known only from the rain forest of Paraná, is morphologically similar to L. longiunguiculatus M. J. Silva & A. M. G. Azevedo.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carapichea lucida</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubiaceae: Psychotrieae</Emphasis>), a new species from Eastern Bahia,Brazil

A new species of Carapichea was discovered in the Atlantic Forest of Bahia, Brazil. Carapichea lucida J. G. Jardim &; Zappi is described, illustrated, and its phenology, habitat and conservation status are discussed.     

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.     

Four new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aloe</Emphasis> (Aloaceae) from Ethiopia,with notes on the ethics of describing new taxa from foreign countries

Subsequent to the treatment of the Aloaceae, with 38 species of Aloe, in the Flora of Ethiopia (Sebsebe Demissew & Gilbert 1997), four more species, Aloe bertemariae Sebsebe & Dioli (2000), A. friisii Sebsebe & M. G. Gilbert (2000), A. clarkei L. E. Newton (2002) and A. elkerriana Dioli & T. A. McCoy (2007) have been described from that country. Here four additional new species are described: Aloe benishangulana Sebsebe & Tesfaye from near Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz in Welega floristic region; A. ghibensis Sebsebe & Friis from the Ghibe Gorge, Kefa floristic region; A. weloensis Sebsebe from near Dessie in Welo floristic region and A. welmelensis Sebsebe & Nordal along the Welmel River in Bale floristic region. The phytogeographical positions of the new species are assessed by comparison with the previously known species. Complications with the deposition of type material of A. clarkei and A. elkerriana is used to raise various issues regarding the ethics of describing new taxa from foreign countries.     

Deviations in the life-history of Gracilaria sp. (Rhodophyta,Gigartinales), from Coquimbo,Chile, under different culture conditions

Cystocarpic branches of a species of Gracilaria from Coquimbo, Chile, were cultured in vitro. A Polysiphonia-like life history was completed in about 6 months, but some abnormalities were observed: i. carpospores gave rise to plants producing either tetrasporangia and spermatangia, or tetrasporangia only; ii. tetraspores cultured without aeration developed into plants bearing spermatangia only; tetraspores cultured with aeration developed into 1:1 female and male gametophytes; iii. plant originated from tetraspore produced spermatangia and tetrasporangia; one of these tetraspores developed into a male gametophyte; iv. some tetraspores gave rise to spherical bodies instead of the ordinary cylindrical branches; one of them bore spermatangia after three months. The results show that environmental factors seem to be interfering with the mechanism of sex determination and induce the development of spermatangia on putative female gametophytes, or on putative tetrasporophytes. Noted added in proof: The Gracilaria sp. studied here was recently described as a new species, G. chilensis by Bird C. J., McLachlan, J & Oliveira, E. C. de, 1986. Can. J. Bot. 64: 2928–2934. Noted added in proof: The Gracilaria sp. studied here was recently described as a new species, G. chilensis by Bird C. J., McLachlan, J & Oliveira, E. C. de, 1986. Can. J. Bot. 64: 2928–2934.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dypsis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ravenea</Emphasis> (Arecaceae) from Madagascar

Fourteen new species of palms (Arecaceae) from Madagascar are described and named, based on material collected over the last 15 years. Twelve species belong to the genus Dypsis, namely D. andilamenensis Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. anjae Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. betsimisarakae Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. culminis Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. dracaenoides Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. gautieri Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. gronophyllum Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. jeremiei Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. metallica Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. reflexa Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. sancta Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and D. vonitrandambo Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and two species belong to the genus Ravenea: R. beentjei Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and R. hypoleuca Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. Despite the fact that most of these species have been recorded from protected areas that are difficult to access in the eastern region of Madagasacar, they are all threatened. Based on IUCN categories and criteria, seven are Critically Endangered and seven are Vulnerable.     

Description of a second species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Joblingia</Emphasis> Dybas &; Wenzel, 1947 (Diptera: Streblidae)

A new species of Joblingia Dybas & Wenzel, 1947, collected on the bat Myotis ruber (E. Geoffroy) in Southern Brazil, is described, and the type-species, J. schmidti Dybas & Wenzel, 1947, redescribed. The diagnosis of the genus is amended. The external morphology and postgonites of both species are figured. Geographical distribution and host-parasite relationships are discussed.     

Two new Brazilian species and new combinations in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euploca</Emphasis> (Heliotropiaceae)

Summary  Two new species of Euploca (Heliotropiaceae): E. krapovickasii J. I. M. Melo & Semir and E. pottii J. I. M. Melo & Semir are described for Brazil, and 12 new combinations are proposed in neotropical Euploca. Discussions of taxonomic relationships based on morphology, with illustrations and information on geographical distribution, flowering and fruiting phenology are presented.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Plantago pyrophila</Emphasis> (Plantaginaceae), a new species from the cerrados of Eastern Bolivia

A new species Plantago pyrophila Villarroel & J. R. I. Wood is described from the Serranias de Santiago de Chiquitos in the cerrados of eastern Bolivia. It is clearly adapted to survival in the cerrado environment where grassland fires are a frequent event. The new species is remarkable for being geographically isolated from other species of the genus, being the only species of Plantago known from the cerrado biome.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tabaroa</Emphasis>, a new genus of Leguminosae tribe Brongniartieae from Brazil

A new genus of Leguminosae in tribe Brongniartieae is proposed based on a new species endemic to the Caatinga of Bahia state. The new genus is named as Tabaroa L. P. Queiroz, G. P. Lewis & M. F. Wojc. and the new species as Tabaroa caatingicola L. P. Queiroz, G. P. Lewis & M. F. Wojc. A phylogenetic study of the Brongniartieae based on nuclear rDNA ITS and plastid matK sequences supports a closer relationship between Tabaroa and Harpalyce Moc. & Sessé than to the two South American genera Poecilanthe Benth. and Cyclolobium Benth., which are more similar morphologically. Optimisation of selected morphological characters on one of the most parsimonious trees indicates that the sessile ovary and the explosive pollen presentation are putative synapomorphies of the Tabaroa-Harpalyce clade. The genus Tabaroa may be diagnosed by the absence of peltate glandular trichomes; leaves imparipinnate, exstipellate and with opposite leaflets; flowers sessile, not resupinate, grouped in panicles; anthers apiculate; and fruit indehiscent. The only known species inhabits areas of arboreal caatinga on sandy soil in southwestern Bahia, near the boundaries of Dom Basílio and Livramento de Nossa Senhora municipalities.     

Two new species and a new combination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Conchocarpus</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rutaceae,Galipeeae</Emphasis>) from eastern Brazil

Two new species of Rutaceae, Conchocarpus hamadryadicus Pirani & Kallunki and C. minutiflorus Groppo & Pirani are described and illustrated. Both are known so far only from small remnants of forests, the former in the caatinga dominium in Bahia, the latter in moist forests near Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Their main diagnostic features are delineated, and their relationships to other species of Conchocarpus are discussed. Because Rauia racemosa Nees & Mart. can no longer be recognised as a synonym of Conchocarpus fontanesianus (A. St.-Hil.) Kallunki & Pirani, a new combination, C. racemosus (Nees & Mart.) Kallunki & Pirani, is provided, with comments.     

Characterization of the strain <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monascus floridanus</Emphasis> P. F. Cannon &; E. L. Barnard,isolated from aviation fuel

A fungus was isolated from aviation fuel and identified as Monascus floridanus P.F. Cannon & E.L. Barnard (FR827895) according to its morphological and genetic properties. The isolate has some properties that are unusual for the type strain, including a prominent stripe on one of the sides of the ascospores and occurrence, along with the known Basipetospora-type thallic conidia, of the phialophora-like spore formation. The isolated strain Monascus floridanus, like the known kerosene fungus Hormoconis resinae (Lindau) Arx & G.A. de Vries, is capable of active growth in aviation fuel.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crypthonia</Emphasis>, a new genus of byssoid Arthoniaceae (lichenised Ascomycota)

Crypthonia with 11 species is described as belonging to the Arthoniaceae. The new genus is characterised by (1) white to pale carneous, maculiform ascomata lacking a distinct exciple, (2) a weakly gelatinised, hydrophobic hymenium of paraphysoids, (3) a discontinuous layer of branched ascogenous hyphae in the hypothecium, (4) small, clavate to broadly clavate asci of the Arthonia-type lacking a hemiamyloid ring structure in the tholus, (5) eight small, hyaline, 1–3-septate, thin-walled ascospores per ascus, (6) loosely attached thalli with a byssoid, coloured hypothallus, and (7) a chemistry of mainly β-orcinol depsidones and tridepsides including psoromic, norstictic, and gyrophoric acids. Rugulosin occurs in C. bella and C. citrina. Crypthonia athertoniensis Frisch & G. Thor, C. bella Frisch & G. Thor, C. brevispora Frisch & G. Thor, C. citrina Frisch & G. Thor, C. olivacea Frisch & G. Thor, C. palaeotropica Frisch & G. Thor, and C. vandenboomii Frisch & G. Thor are described. C. albida (Fée) Frisch & G. Thor, C. biseptata (Aptroot & Wolseley) Frisch & G. Thor, C. mycelioides (Vain.) Frisch & G. Thor, and C. polillensis (Vain.) Frisch & G. Thor are new combinations. The delimitation from similar genera and the position within the Arthoniaceae is discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeocarpus</Emphasis> for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flora Malesiana</Emphasis>: new taxa and understanding in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganitrus</Emphasis> group

The Ganitrus group of Elaeocarpus L. (incl. Elaeocarpus Sect. Ptilanthus Schltr.) as found in Malesia is examined and some understanding reached. The group is more complex and speciose in eastern Malesia, especially in Papuasia (with the Philippines, Sulawesi and Maluku somewhat less rich) than in western and central Malesia. E. angustifolius Blume (syn. E. ganitrus & E. sphaericus auctt. mult.) — the source of the ornamental beads known as rudraksha of eastern commerce, from which malas or rosaries are made — is considered to be very variable in Malesia and probably varies further in the extremes of its range; outside Malesia the Ganitrus group is represented by ‘E. angustifolius s.l.’ only. The following species are recognised: E. altisectus Schltr. with a new subsp. carrii Coode from New Guinea; E. angustifolius Blume; E. avium Coode sp. nov. from New Guinea; E. buderi Coode; E. dolichostylus Schltr. with E. chloranthus treated as var. chloranthus (A. C. Sm.) Coode from New Guinea, with a new var. elliptifolius Coode from the Talaud/Sangihe Is. and a new var. hentyi Coode (replacing and re-interpreting subsp. collinus Coode) from New Guinea; E. fulvus Elmer; E. kaniensis Schltr.; E. ornatus Coode sp. nov. from New Guinea; E. osiae Coode sp. nov. from Bougainville I.; E. ptilanthus Schltr.; E. ramiflorus Merr. and E. trichopetalus Merr. & Quisumb. — a total of 12 species although the last two are perhaps not truly distinct from E. angustifolius. The stone sculpturing is discussed and some useful characters revealed. Attention is drawn to a collection from mid-altitude in Papua New Guinea, inadequately known but probably a new species in this group.     

Diospyros foliosa: the correct name for D. elliptica, and new combinations in Fijian and Samoan Diospyros (Ebenaceae)

The correct name in Diospyros L. (Ebenaceae) for a species from Tonga first described as Maba elliptica J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. and incorrectly known as D. elliptica (J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.) P. S. Green is D. foliosa (A. Gray) Bakh. In addition to the nominate variety, six additional varieties are recognised from Fiji and Samoa. As these varieties lack names under D. foliosa, the following new combinations are proposed: D. foliosa var. elliptica (J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.) Dorr, D. foliosa var. fijiensis (Bakh.) Dorr, D. foliosa var. fructuosa (A. C. Sm.) Dorr, D. foliosa var. iridea (Fosberg) Dorr, D. foliosa var. opaca (A. C. Sm.) Dorr, and D. foliosa var. savaiiensis (Christoph.) Dorr.     

Validation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Christianella</Emphasis> Guiart, 1931 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) and its taxonomic relationship with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Grillotia</Emphasis> Guiart, 1927

Christianella Guiart, 1931 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) is redefined as a subgenus of Grillotia Guiart, 1927 based on the type-species, G. (C.) minuta (van Beneden, 1849), from the elasmobranch Squatina squatina (Linnaeus). Grillotia smarisgora (Wagener, 1854) is treated as a synonym of G. (C.) minuta, as are G. angeli Dollfus, 1969 and G. bothridiopunctata Dollfus, 1969. Other species included in the subgenus are G. (C.) carvajalregorum Menoret & Ivanov, 2009 (formerly Progrillotia dollfusi Carvajal & Rego, 1983), G. (C.) australis Beveridge & Campbell, 2001, G. (C.) longispinis (Linton, 1890) n. comb. (formerly Rhynchobothrium longispine Linton, 1890) and G. (C.) yuniariae Palm, 2004. The subgenus is similar to Grillotia Guiart, 1927 (sensu stricto), having two bothria and an atypical heteroacanthous armature, but differs in having a single row of intercalary hooks, fewer, elongate segments with testes often in longitudinal columns, a distinctive basal armature, an internal seminal vesicle which extends beyond the cirrus or hermaphroditic sac and no uterine pore. The adults of three species are known, all parasitising members of Squatina Duméril.