Three new species of Parkia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) from tropical South America

Parkia cachimboensis andP. bahiae are described from central and eastern Brazil respectively. The third new species,P. panurensis, which is widespread in central and western Amazonia, has passed hitherto under the incorrect nameP. pectinata (Willd.) Benth.     

Miscellaneous mistletoe notes, 1–9

Three new species,Cladocolea biflora Kuijt,Struthanthus condensatus Kuijt, andS. lojae Kuijt are described and six new combinations,Cladocolea diversifolia (Benth.) Kuijt,C. lenticellata (Diels) Kuijt,Dendrophthora virgata (Trel.) Kuijt,Korthalsella chilensis (Hook. & Arn.) Kuijt,Phthirusa retroflexa (Ruiz & Pavon) Kuijt, andStruthanthus flexilis (Rusby) Kuijt are proposed. Nomenclature of two more neotropical Loranthaceae,Psittacanthus ramiflorus (DC.) G. Don andStruthanthus interruptus (H.B.K.) Blume is revised.     

Morphology of the unusual polyad in Amazonian Parkia legume trees

Key message

An unusual polyad occurs in three Parkia species, named cavitate polyad. It has an internal central space full of lipoprotein substances, contacting all pollen grains, probably aiding pollen germination.

Abstract

This study details the unusual morphology of polyads of three species of Parkia (P. multijuga Benth., P. ulei (Harms) Kuhlm., and P. pendula (Willd.) Benth. ex Walp.) and suggests functions for polyad adaptive traits that are linked to the reproductive success of the species. Polyads within the anthers of the three Parkia species were analysed by surface (scanning electron microscopy) and anatomical (light microscopy) studies. Ultrastructure and development studies were carried out for P. pendula polyads. Polyads are globose and cavitated, i.e., exhibit an internal cavity that varies in size, being more conspicuous in P. ulei and P. pendula. Other differences among species are related to the polyad size, exine ornamentation and the type of substances stored in the pollen grain. The polyad internal cavity is filled with an exudate that may be related to the pollen germination through the internal pores and/or translocation of substances from the anther loculus to the inside or vice versa. This inference is supported by the following observations: the spaces between the pollen grains in a polyad are also filled with the exudate, and the exudate inside the polyad is similar to the anther locular fluid. The morphology and substances stored within the pollen grains of Parkia polyads seem to be more related to polyad functionality and physiology than to the selective pressures exerted by different pollinators on the group.     

Studies in Stryphnodendron (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) including two new taxa

Stryphnodendron campestre Forero andS. guianense (Aubl.) Benth. ssp.glandulosum Forero are described and illustrated, and notes on the nomenclature ofS. adstringens and on the exclusion ofS. colombianum from the genus are included.     

The taxonomy and nomenclature of Crotalaria foliosa (Leguminosae) and related species

Crotalaria foliosa Benth. is found to be a later homonym and the new nameCrotalaria mohlenbrockii is proposed to replace it. A new speciesCrotalaria paraguayensis is described andC. martiana Benth. is redefined.     

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.     

Generic delimitations of Central American Bignoniaceae

Generic delimitations in the Bignoniaceae are discussed, a number of Central American genera are reduced to synonymy, and a new genusPseudocatalpa is proposed. Generic mergers includeLevya withCydista, Saldanhaea withCuspidaria, Doxantha withMacfadyena, Pseudocalymma withPachyptera, andPhaedranthus withDistictis. New combinations necessitated by these mergers include the following:Arrabidaea costaricensis (Kränzl.) Gentry,A. pubescens (L.) Gentry,Cuspidaria floribunda (DC.) Gentry,C. weberbaueri (Spr.) Gentry,Cydista aequinoctialis var.hirtella (Benth.) Gentry,Distictis buccinatoria (DC.) Gentry,Macfadyena unguiscati (L.) Gentry,Melloa quadrivalvis (Jacq.) Gentry,Pachyptera alliacea (Lam.) Gentry,P. hymenaea (DC.) Gentry,P. kerere var.incarnata (Aubl.) Gentry,P. standleyi (Steyerm.) Gentry, andPseudocatalpa caudiculata (Standl.) Gentry. In addition, the fruits of several species are described for the first time, and their taxonomic significance is discussed.     

Four species from western Mexico new to Lobelia (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae)

Lobelia knoblochii, L. mcvaughii, andL. villaregalis are described and referred, withHeterotoma macrocentron Benth., toLobelia “grex Eriniformes” Wimmer. All are narrow endemics occurring on volcanic soils in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico.Lobelia macrocentron, L. mcvaughii, andL. villaregalis are known only from the type localities.     

Mycopteris,a new neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae)

Mycopteris, a new genus of grammitid ferns, is described and combinations are made for the species that belong to it. Mycopteris is diagnosed by castaneous rhizome scales with turgid cells, usually pectinate laminae, blackish petioles and rachises, blackish pinna costae and veins, reddish setae, cretaceous hydathodes, glabrous sporangia, and the presence of Acrospermum ascomes. It is entirely neotropical, ranging from Mexico east into the West Indies and south to Bolivia. Mycopteris is one of two genera of grammitid ferns that are consistently associated with Acrospermum, an epibiotic ascomycete that produces black clavate fruiting bodies. Seventeen species of Mycopteris are recognized here, including one new species (M. longipilosa) and one elevated from the rank of variety to species (M. costaricensis). The following additional combinations are made here: M. alsopteris, M. amphidasyon, M. attenuatissima, M. cretata, M. grata, M. leucolepis, M. leucostica, M. longicaulis, M. pirrensis, M. praeceps, M. semihirsuta, M. steyermarkii, M. subtilis, M. taxifolia, and M. zeledoniana. Lectotypes are chosen for Ctenopteris leucosticta, Polypodium amphidasyon, and Polypodium pectinatum var. hispidum. For each accepted species, full synonymy and geographical range are provided. Taxonomic discussion is provided for species not widely recognized in previous treatments.     

A new name and new combinations in Campomanesia and Pimenta (Myrtaceae)

One new name is proposed and eleven new combinations are made inCampomanesia andPimenta. Lectotypes are selected forC. eugenioides var.desertorum, C. phaea, andP. racemosa var.hispaniolensis, var.ouza, and var.terebinthina.     

Bryosedgwickia,a new synonym of Platygyriella (Hypnaceae)

Bryosedgwickia is considered a synonym ofPlatygyriella and the following transfers are proposed:P. aurea, P. aureoides, P. densa, P. fragilifolia, P. kirtikarii andP. pringlei. A key is provided to the accepted species ofPlatygyriella. Excluded species are treated asHondaella entodontea (C. Müll.) Buck andIsopterygium jamaicense (Bartr.) Buck.     

A new unifoliolate Lupinus (Fabaceae: Lupininae) from the Brazilian Planalto

Lupinus elaphoglossum Barneby, related toL. crotalarioides Mart. ex Benth., but differing in leaves and stipules, is described and illustrated.     

A new series and three new species of Passiflora subgenus Astrophea from the Guianas

A new series,Passiflora ser.Carneae, and three new species are described inPassiflora subg.Astrophea:P. ascidia from Guyana and Venezuelan Guayana;P. balbis from Guyana, Venzuelan Guayana, and Amazonian Brazil; andP. saulensis from central French Guiana. A key to the 19 Guiana species ofPassiflora subg.Astrophea is provided.     

Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on west Indian hypnaceae

Taxonomic investigations on the West Indian Hypnaceae have resulted in the following new taxa,Taxiphyllum gallorum, Ectropothecium aquaticum, andIrelandia (forIsopterygium robusticaule). Vesicularia in the West Indies is treated as a single species with four varieties,V. vesicularis var.vesicularis, var.rutilans (Brid.) comb. nov., var.portoricensis (Brid.) comb. nov., and var.crassicaulis (Mitt.) comb. nov.Chryso-hypnum is segregated fromMittenothamnium; the combinationC. diminutivum (Hampe) Buck is made.     

A new Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae) from northwestern Nevada

Penstemon floribundus, belonging to sect.Saccanthera (Benth.) A. Gray and known only from the western edge of the Jackson Mountains, Humboldt Co., Nevada, is described, illustrated, and discussed.     

A preliminary account of colura (Hepaticae,Lejeuneaceae) in Australia

Four species of Colura not previously reported from Australia are: C. acroloba (Mont.) Jovet-Ast, C. ari Steph., C. conica (Sande Lac.) Goeb., and Colura queenslandica sp. nov. A key to all ten species occurring in Australia is provided. Saccate lobules of C. simplicior are described and illustrated for the first time. The name Colura sect. Lingua Jovet-Ast ex Thiers is validated.