Three ascomycetes on leaves of evergreen Ilex trees from Japan: Rhytisma ilicis-integrae sp. nov., R. ilicis-latifoliae, and R. ilicis-pedunculosae sp. nov.

Three species belonging to the genus Rhytisma causing tar spot were collected on leaves in evergreen trees of Ilex species from Japan. Rhytisma ilicis-latifoliae, the known species, is found on Ilex latifolia, and R. ilicis-integrae sp. nov. and R. ilicis-pedunculosae sp. nov. are found on I. integra and I. pedunculosa, respectively. Ascomata are formed on the abaxial part of the stromata in all the Rhytisma species studied, and spermogonia are formed on the amphigenous parts in R. ilicis-latifoliae and on the adaxial part in R. ilicis-integrae and R. ilicis-pedunculosae. Shape and size of asci, ascospores, and spermatia are distinctly different among the three species. The morphology of germination tubes from ascospores and appressoria is unique for each Rhytisma species. Yellowish spots arise on the newly developing leaves in mid-May, then abundant spermatia are produced in spermogonia in the three Rhytisma species. In the next year, ascospores are produced in ascomata from early April to late May in R. ilicis-integrae and from early April to early June in R. ilicis-latifoliae and R. ilicis-pedunculosae, and they are considered to be the inocula of disease infection.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN COMPOSITAE. IV. AMBROSIEAE

New chromosome observations are reported for 30 species and varieties from 4 genera of Ambrosieae: Ambrosia (including Franseria), Diceria, Hymenoclea and Iva. Neither polyploidy nor aneuploidy is known in the genera Dicorea, Hymenoclea or Xanthium. Aneuplcid reduction appears to have played a role in the genome evolution of several species of Iva and Ambrosia. Polyploid species occur in both Iva and Ambrosia and polyploid series exist for at least 5 species or species aggregates of the latter. All available evidence indicates that the primitive chromosome number for the tribe is x = 18, differentiation and speciation having occurred at this level, which is here termed diploid. The group, however, must ultimately have been of polyploid origin from forms with x = 9.     

Studies in Heterobasidiomycetes,Part 38*)Sphacelotheca polygoni-persicariae G. Demi & Oberw. spec. nov.

A new species, Sphacelotheca polygoni-persicariae, parasitizing the ovaries of Polygonum persicaria L. is described. This smut, collected several times in Madeira, Portugal, differs from other species of that genus, by its host plant and the reticulated teliospore ornamentation. On the basis of the morphological and ultrastructural characters of S. polygoni-persicariae, in connection with some recently published data on siderophore formation and 5S ribosomal RNA sequences it can be assumed that 1) members of the genus Sphacelotheca are separated from typical Ustilago species of Poaceae, 2) Sphacelotheca is restricted to species parasitizing Polygonaceae, and 3) species of Sphacelotheca and Microhotryum as well as those Ustilago species which parasitize in the flowers of Polygonaceae are closely related.     

PALEOZOIC LYCOPSID FRUCTIFICATIONS. I. LEPIDOCARPON PETRIFACTIONS

A reinvestigation of the 4 American species of Lepidocarpon described from petrifactions and of Illiniocarpon cadyi, also described from petrifactions, shows that they are all conspecific. When they, in turn, are compared with specimens of the British petrifaction L. lomaxi, no significant differences can be demonstrated. The criteria cited as diagnostic for the American petrifaction species of Lepidocarpon were found to fail as bases of discrimination when 400 specimens of Lepidocarpon found in coal balls of Pennsylvanian age were studied. Measurements and observations made of a sample size of 136 of these 400 specimens reveal a degree of variation compatible with that of a single species. All previously described American and British petrifaction taxa fall within (or not significantly beyond) this range of variability of a single species as determined from this sample. Additional evidence concerning the 3-dimensional sporophyll structure of this one species of Lepidocarpon and the configurations obtained by certain planes of section through it have served to demonstrate that Illiniocarpon cadyi is in reality a taxon based on sectioned structures of the sporophyll of this Lepidocarpon species. Under the rules of priority, this species of Lepidocarpon and the following are assigned to Lepidocarpon lomaxi: Illiniocarpon cadyi, Lepidocarpon ioense, L. magnificum (megasporangiate form), L. crenatum and L. palmerensis. On the basis of the morphological evidence, the British petrifaction described as Lepidocarpon wildianum is also equated with L. lomaxi.     

Validation of Hygrohypnum Lindb. sect. Dilatatae Szafr.

Abstract

A number of chemical habitat parameters for the species Scorpidium scorpioides, S. cossonii and S. revolvens were investigated in three areas in northern and southern Sweden. S. revolvens occurs in a much narrower range of some parameters, especially pH and conductivity, than the other two species. When pH and conductivity are considered together, S. revolvens and S. cossonii are almost completely mutually exclusive.     

GRACILARIOPSIS MCLACHLANII SP. NOV. AND GRACILARIOPSIS PERSICA SP. NOV. OF THE GRACILARIACEAE (GRACILARIALES,RHODOPHYCEAE) FROM THE INDIAN OCEAN1

Two new species of Gracilariopsis from the Indian Ocean are proposed—Gracilariopsis (Gp.) mclachlanii Buriyo, Bellorin et M. C. Oliveira sp. nov. from Tanzania and Gracilariopsis persica Bellorin, Sohrabipour et E. C. Oliveira sp. nov. from Iran—based on morphology and DNA sequence data (rbcL gene and SSU rDNA). Both species fit the typical features of Gracilariopsis: axes cylindrical throughout, freely and loosely ramified up to four orders, with an abrupt transition in cell size from medulla to cortex, cystocarps lacking tubular nutritive cells and superficial spermatangia. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of rbcL and SSU rDNA placed both species into the Gracilariopsis clade as distinct species from all the accepted species for this genus, forming a deeply divergent lineage together with some species from the Pacific. The new species are very difficult to distinguish on morphological grounds from other species of Gracilariopsis, stressing the importance of homologous molecular marker comparisons for the species recognition in this character‐poor genus.     

Gambierdiscus (Gonyaulacales,Dinophyceae) diversity in Vietnamese waters with description of G. vietnamensis sp. nov.

Viet Nam has a coastline of 3200 km with thousands of islands providing diverse habitats for benthic harmful algal species including species of Gambierdiscus. Some of these species produce ciguatera toxins, which may accumulate in large carnivore fish potentially posing major threats to public health. This study reports five species of Gambierdiscus from Vietnamese waters, notably G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carpenteri, G. pacificus, and G. vietnamensis sp. nov. All species are identified morphologically by LM and SEM, and identifications are supported by molecular analyses of nuclear rDNA (D1–D3 and D8–D10 domains of LSU, SSU, and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region) based on cultured material collected during 2010–2021. Statistical analyses of morphometric measurements may be used to differentiate some species if a sufficiently large number of cells are examined. Gambierdiscus vietnamensis sp. nov. is morphologically similar to other strongly reticulated species, such as G. belizeanus and possibly G. pacificus; the latter species is morphologically indistinguishable from G. vietnamensis sp. nov., but they are genetically distinct, and molecular analysis is deemed necessary for proper identification of the new species. This study also revealed that strains denoted G. pacificus from Hainan Island (China) should be included in G. vietnamensis sp. nov.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS OF CAMPANULACEAE. II. THE LOBELIA TUPA COMPLEX OF CHILE

Gametic chromosome numbers are reported for 27 collections representing the four species of the Lobelia tupa complex (Campanulaceae, Lobelioideae) in Chile; all are n = 21. This represents the first report of chromosome numbers for L. bridgesii Hook. & Arn., L. excelsa Bonpl., and L. polyphylla Hook. & Arn., and confirms previous reports of this number in L. tupa L. As the basic chromosome number of Lobelioideae is x = 7, these species are interpreted as hexaploids. Higher polyploids are extremely rare among Lobelioideae; most of those previously reported have been either sporadic individuals or populations within an otherwise diploid or tetraploid species, or occasional species within an otherwise diploid and tetraploid lineage. This is the first report of an entire complex of lobelioid species that is uniformly hexaploid. This suggests that the Chilean endemics are relatively derived within Lobelia, and offers some support for the monophyly of the complex.     

Scaphochlamys krauensis and S. pusilla spp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from Krau Wildlife Reserve,Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia

Two new species of Scaphochlamys, S. krauensis Y. Y. Sam and S. pusilla Y. Y. Sam, from the Krau Wildlife Reserve, Pahang are described and illustrated. Another two Scaphochlamys species, S. pennipicta and S. oculata are also reported from Krau Wildlife Reserve, considerably extending their known distribution. An identification key for all four Scaphochlamys species found in the Krau Wildlife Reserve is provided.     

Miliusa cambodgensis sp. nov. (Annonaceae) from Cambodia and M. astiana,M. ninhbinhensis spp. nov. from Vietnam

The genus Miliusa in Cambodia and Vietnam is reviewed. Cambodia and Vietnam each harbors six species of Miliusa, including three which are described as new to science: one from Cambodia (Miliusa cambodgensis sp. nov.), the other two from Vietnam (M. astiana and M. ninhbinhensis spp. nov.). In addition, a complete nomenclature and relevant information about the Miliusa species previously known from Cambodia and Vietnam are provided, including keys to the Cambodian and Vietnamese species, the designation of a lectotype for M. baillonii and the synonymization of M. balansae var. elongatoides, M. chunii and M. sinensis with M. balansae.     

A revision of Malesian Austrobuxus (Picrodendraceae/Euphorbiaceae s.l. subfam. Oldfieldioideae)

The Malesian species of the predominantly New Caledonian genus Austrobuxus were revised. Three species are recognized. Austrobuxus nitidus is widespread from south Thailand to Borneo. Characteristic for this species are the very short papillae of the caruncle. The caruncle papillae are much longer in the other two, newly described species. Austrobuxus celebicus sp. nov. is endemic to Sulawesi, where it is found on ultramafic soils, and A. dentatus sp. nov. is an endemic species of western New Guinea. The former is notable for the very small fruits and the latter for the teeth‐like glands along the leaf blade margins, unique within the genus.     

STUDIES IN SOME FOLIOSE RED ALGAE OF THE PACIFIC COAST. I. CRYPTONEMIACEXE1

Pacific coast species of the red algae Halymenia and Cryptonemia are described Of the 8 previously reported species of Halymenia 3 (H. abyssicola Dawson, H. megaspore Dawson, H refugiensis Dawson) hive been placed in synonymy with other species. Halymenia hollenbergii from southern California is described as new; H cocinea is transferred from Schizymenia (and includes Aeodes gardneri Kylin) and H. templetonii is a transfer from Weeksia. Five species of Cryptonemia are described; one of them, C. taylorii from the Revillagigedo Archipelago, as new. Wider distribution ranges are given for the remaining species, C. ovalifolia, C. obovata, C. bore alis and C. angustata. Keys to genera of the west coast Cryptonemiaceae and to the species of Halymenia and Crypronemia are provided.