Reinhardtia paiewonskiana (Palmae), a new species for the West Indies

Reinhardtia paiewonskiana, a previously undescribed species endemic to the Dominican Republic, is formally described and represents the first record for the genus in the West Indies.     

Begonia mariannensis (Begoniaceae), a new species from Trinidad,West Indies

Begonia (sect.Begoniastrum)mariannensis is described, illustrated, and compared with its closest relative,B. glandulifera Griseb., likewise from Trinidad. The new taxon differs markedly in its much smaller habit, distinctly differently shaped leaf blades, and its much-reduced peduncles.     

A new species of eleocharis (Cyperaceae) from The West Indies

Eleocharis liogieri, described as new from Santo Domingo and the Lesser Antilles, belongs to sect.Tenuissimae in the Cyperaceae.     

Stevewoodia minutum, a new genus and species of Scolytidae (Coleoptera) from the West Indies. Studies on West Indian Scolytidae (Coleoptera) 6

A new genus of Scolytidae (Coleoptera), Stevewoodia, from St. Lucia in the Lesser Antilles, is herein named and described. The type species, Stevewoodia minutumsp. n. is also named. The genus is named in honor of the late Steven L. Wood for his many contributions to the systematics of the Scolytidae.     

Ralstonia solanacearum strains from Martinique (French West Indies) exhibiting a new pathogenic potential

We investigated a destructive pathogenic variant of the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum that was consistently isolated in Martinique (French West Indies). Since the 1960s, bacterial wilt of solanaceous crops in Martinique has been caused primarily by strains of R. solanacearum that belong to either phylotype I or phylotype II. Since 1999, anthurium shade houses have been dramatically affected by uncharacterized phylotype II strains that also affected a wide range of species, such as Heliconia caribea, cucurbitaceous crops, and weeds. From 1989 to 2003, a total of 224 R. solanacearum isolates were collected and compared to 6 strains isolated in Martinique in the 1980s. The genetic diversity and phylogenetic position of selected strains from Martinique were assessed (multiplex PCRs, mutS and egl DNA sequence analysis) and compared to the genetic diversity and phylogenetic position of 32 reference strains covering the known diversity within the R. solanacearum species complex. Twenty-four representative isolates were tested for pathogenicity to Musa species (banana) and tomato, eggplant, and sweet pepper. Based upon both PCR and sequence analysis, 119 Martinique isolates from anthurium, members of the family Cucurbitaceae, Heliconia, and tomato, were determined to belong to a group termed phylotype II/sequevar 4 (II/4). While these strains cluster with the Moko disease-causing strains, they were not pathogenic to banana (NPB). The strains belonging to phylotype II/4NPB were highly pathogenic to tomato, eggplant, and pepper, were able to wilt the resistant tomato variety Hawaii7996, and may latently infect cooking banana. Phylotype II/4NPB constitutes a new pathogenic variant of R. solanacearum that has recently appeared in Martinique and may be latently prevalent throughout Caribbean and Central/South America.     

Stirtonanthus, a new name for Stirtonia (Leguminosae, tribe Podalyrieae)

The new generic name Stirtonanthus is proposed to replace the illegitimate Stirtonia Van Wyk & Schutte (1994), which proves to be a later homonym of Stirtonia A. L . Smith (1926) and Stirtonia R. Brown (1900).     

Agouticarpa, a new neotropical genus of Tribe Gardenieae (Rubiaceae)

Agouticarpa, a new genus of the informalAlibertia group (Rubiaceae), is described and illustrated. It comprises six species, and occurs from Costa Rica to Bolivia. Three species are here described as new:Agouticarpa grandistipula, A. hirsuta, andA. velutina. Additionally, three new combinations are made:A. curvifolia andA. williamsii (previously inGenipa) andA. isernii (previously inAlibertia). Agouticarpa is characterized by being dioecious, having elliptic to abovate, membranaceous stipules, male flowers in a branched dichasial or thyrse-like inflorescence, a poorly developed cup-shaped calyx, pollen grains with 3–7 apertures, and large globose fruits.     

Mangroves found in Dominica (West Indies)

Mangroves has been described for the whole Caribbean are in their different habitats. The island of Dominica (West Indies) has always been excluded from the distribution area due to supposed inadequated conditions for mangrove growth. However, there are small areas with proper edaphic conditions for mangal in which black mangrove (Avicennia germinans L.) and white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa L.) has been found. Even the occurrence of an additional Avicennia species is under discussion.     

A new species of Erebonectes (Copepoda,Calanoida) from marine caves on Caicos Islands,West Indies

The insects of a small and cold aestival stream in northern Sweden were studied from semiquantitative kick-samples taken every ten days throughout the ice-free season in 1987. The stream froze solid at least in some sections in some winters. In addition to dipterans that were only identified to the family level, five ephemeropteran, four plecopteran, 11 coleopteran (Dytiscidae), and four trichopteran (Limnephilidae) species were found. Baetis bundyae Lemkuhl, Heptagenia orbiticola Kluge (Ephemeroptera), Nemoura cinerea (Retzius) (Plecoptera), Hydroporus palustris (L), Agabus setulosus (J. Sahlberg) (Coleoptera), Anabolia concentrica (Zetterstedt), Limnephilus coenosus Curtis, and Micopterna sequax McLachlan (Trichoptera) were all common. Malaise trap data are given for Plecoptera. The two ephemeropteran species Heptagenia orbiticola and Metretopus alter Bengtsson, and the plecopteran species Nemoura viki Lillehammer were recorded for the first time in Sweden. The remarkable species composition was attributed to the harsh abiotic and poorly studied environment. We predicted that the larval composition of this stream was representative for aestival streams in northernmost Fennoscandia.     

West Indian novelties I: a new species of Marsdenia (Asclepiadaceae) from Puerto Rico and a new name for a Jamaican species of Calyptranthes (Myrtaceae)

The new speciesMarsdenia woodburyana from southwestern Puerto Rico is described, illustrated, and contrasted to its putatively closest relative. The new nameCalyptranthes proctorii is provided for the later homonymCalyptranthes uniflora Proctor.

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Resumen  En el presente artículo, la nueva especieMarsdenia woodburyana es descrita, ilustrada y comparada con su pariente mas cercano. Adicionalmente, se provee el nuevo nombreCalyptranthes proctorii (Myrtaceae) para reemplazarCalyptranthes uniflora Proctor, un homónimo posterior.

     

Manipulus Rubiacearum III. Deppeeae,a new tribe of Rubioideae (Rubiaceae)

A new tribe,Deppeeae, in subfamily Rubioideae Verdc. of the Neotropical Rubiaceae is described. It is easily distinguished by the presence of raphides, contorted or modified alternative aestivation of the corolla, numerous small ovules, and placenta attached to the middle of the septum. Three genera are known to be members of the tribe,Deppea, Schenckia, andOmiltemia. A hypothetical phylogenetic tree for the tribe is presented.     

Diel biting activity of Culex (Melanoconion) caudelli in Trinidad, West Indies

The diel biting periodicity of the arbovirus vector Culex (Melanoconion) caudelli Dyar and Knab (Diptera; Culicidae) in the Aripo-Wallerfield forest, Trinidad, was studied by collecting mosquitoes attracted to mouse-baited traps at 2-hourly intervals during eight 24 h periods. Biting females of Cx caudelli were collected during all night-time hours, 18.00-06.00 hours, with an overall unimodal pattern, i.e. one well-defined peak between 22.00 and 04.00 hours. This contrasts with previous reports that Cx caudelli is diurnally active. During the four moon phases, the period of peak biting activity varied from 22.00 to 24.00 hours at fullmoon, from 22.00 to 04.00 hours at first quarter, and from 24.00 to 02.00 hours at new moon and last quarter phases. The number of mosquitoes collected varied significantly with moon phases, the highest (152/24 h) being collected in the first lunar quarter and the lowest (71/24 h) in the last lunar quarter. Cloud cover and rainfall had no significant effect on the diel biting periodicity of Cx caudelli.     

Carapichea guianensis: the correct name for Psychotria carapichea (Rubiaceae), with a correction on the authority of P. carapichea, and a new combination in Carapichea

The correct name forPsychotria carapichea isCarapichea guianensis. Also, the authority ofPsychotria carapichea was previously incorrectly cited, because of an oversight of the illegitimacy ofTapogomea carapichea Poir. The complex taxonomic history of this species is analyzed, and the authority of the binomial is correctly cited. In addition,P. ligularis, which was treated as closely related toC. guianensis in previous publications, is transferred toCarapichea and it is now known asCarapichea ligularis.     

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.     

Four new species of Ixora (Rubiaceae, Ixoreae) from Brazil

Four new species of Ixora (Rubiaceae, Ixoreae) from Brazil are described and illustrated and their relationships to morphologically similar species as well as their conservation status are discussed. The new species, Ixora cabraliensis, Ixora emygdioi, Ixora grazielae, and Ixora pilosostyla are endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia and Espirito Santo.