A synopsis of Costa Rican Ruellia (Acanthaceae), with descriptions of four new species

We describe four new species of Ruellia from Costa Rica; three from the Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas province (R. exilis, R. mira, R. odorata), and one from the southwestern corner of San José province (R. norvegigratiosa). Ruellia matagalpae is reported as a new record for the country. New combinations are made in Ruellia for the two Costa Rican species of Blechum (R. blechum and R. costaricensis). Three species are reduced to synonymy, and another species is considered doubtfully worthy of recognition. Notable range extensions are reported for two species. Corollas and fruits of all 22 Costa Rican species of Ruellia are shown and compared as easily used identification aids. An informal guide to species groups and a dichotomous key to the 22 species are presented.     

Six new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Timonius</Emphasis> (Rubiaceae: Guettardeae) from Papuasia

Six new species of Timonius (T. alius, T. bosaviensis, T. creber, T. cyathicalyx, T. insularis, and T. pullenii) are described from New Guinea and surrounding islands. The new species are illustrated and notes are provided on their habitat, distribution and phenology. None of the new species is readily assignable to any previously recognized subgenus or species-group.     

Species Diversity of Japanese Clusiidae (Diptera: Acalyptrata) with description of 12 new species

The Japanese Clusiidae are revised and 23 species, including 12 species new to science, are recognized and keyed. Clusiodes angulosus n. sp., Clusiodes discostylus n. sp., Clusiodes tobi n. sp., Clusiodes usikumuri n. sp., Craspedochaeta varicolor n. sp., Heteromeringia crenulata n. sp., Heteromeringia quadrispinosa n. sp., Heteromeringia sexramifera n. sp., Heteromeringia yamata n. sp., Phylloclusia quadrivittata n. sp., Sobarocephala uncinata n. sp., and Tetrameringia borealis n. sp. were described as new. Distribution records were compiled and mapped. Transitional climatic zone between the warm and cool temperate zones is possibly suggested as one of the most richest temperate area in terms of Japanese clusiid species richness. Hendelia beckeri Czerny 1903, Paraclusia japonica Sasakawa 1957, and Clusiodes plumosus Sasakawa 1964 are broadly distributed over all the Japanese temperate forests, but these are not always most abundant species. The clusiid assemblage was heterogeneous in the species composition among various forest types. The femalebiased sample caught by Malaise traps and distinction of clusiid species composition between temperate and subtropical zones are also pointed out.     

Nomenclatural changes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lithospermum</Emphasis> (Boraginaceae) and related taxa following a reassessment of phylogenetic relationships

Lithospermum (Boraginaceae) comprises approximately 40 species in both the Old and New Worlds, with a center of diversity in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Using ten cpDNA regions, a phylogeny of Lithospermum and related taxa was reconstructed. Lithospermum (including New World and Old World species) and related New World members of Lithospermeae form a monophyletic group, with Macromeria, Onosmodium, Nomosa, Lasiarrhenum, and Psilolaemus nested among species of Lithospermum. New World Lithospermeae also is a monophyletic group, with Eurasian species of Lithospermum sister to this group. Because Lithospermum is not monophyletic without the inclusion of the other New World genera, species from these genera are transferred to Lithospermum, and appropriate nomenclatural changes are made. New combinations are Lithospermum album, Lithospermum barbigerum, Lithospermum dodrantale, Lithospermum exsertum, Lithospermum helleri, Lithospemum leonotis, Lithospermum notatum, Lithospermum oaxacanum, Lithospermum pinetorum, Lithospermum rosei, Lithospermum trinverium, and Lithospermum unicum; new names are Lithospermum chiapense, Lithospermum johnstonii, Lithospermum macromeria, Lithospermum onosmodium, Lithospermum rzedowskii, and Lithospermum turneri.     

The Cyatheaceae (Polypodiopsida) of Peru

A summary is presented of all Peruvian species of scaly tree ferns (Cyatheaceae). A total of 83 species is native to Peru (Sphaeropteris 1 sp., Alsophila sect. Alsophila 9 spp., Alsophila sect. Gymnosphaera 1 sp., Cyathea 72 spp.), with 13 endemic species in Cyathea and one in Alsophila. The following new species are described and illustrated: Alsophila gastonyi, Cyathea chontilla, C. nephele, C. polliculi, and C. praetermissa. The genera Cnemidaria and Trichipteris are no longer recognized and merged in Cyathea. Necessary combinations are made for Cyathea alatissima, C. nervosa, and C. uleana. Cyathea serpens is presented in detail and its relationship is discussed. An artificial key to the Peruvian species of Cyatheaceae is provided.     

Pselaphotumulus,a new genus of pselaphine endemic to New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphitae)

ABSTRACT

Pselaphotumulus Owens and Carlton, gen. nov., is described as the sixth genus in the tribe Pselaphini known from New Zealand. Three new species are described: Pselaphotumulus aorerei, sp. nov., Pselaphotumulus dubius, sp. nov. and Pselaphotumulus unus, sp. nov.. Three species, Pselaphus cavelli (Broun 1893), Pselaphus oviceps (Broun 1917) and Pselaphus urquharti (Broun 1917) are transferred to Pselaphotumulus, nov. combs. Lectotypes from type series in the New Zealand Broun Collection (Natural History Museum, London) are designated for these three species. Habitus photographs, distributional maps and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided for each species. A key to species is provided. Searches of museum collections have not yielded representatives outside of New Zealand, suggesting that this is the first endemic genus in the tribe Pselaphini described from the New Zealand’s main islands, specifically, the South Island. Pselaphotumulus species exhibit restricted distribution patterns that approximately coincide with the Pacific/Indo Australian Plate boundary.     

Transfers to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Simsia</Emphasis> and description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Davilanthus</Emphasis>, a new genus of Asteraceae (Heliantheae)

Taxonomic changes are made to reflect a reassessment of morphology based on the results of molecular phylogenetic studies. A new genus, Davilanthus, is described to include six species that collectively form the sister group to Simsia, and includes the following species transferred from Viguiera: Davilanthus davilae, Davilanthus hidalgoanus, Davilanthus hypargyreus, Davilanthus huajuapanus, Davilanthus purpusii, and Davilanthus sericeus. Three species formerly placed in Viguiera ser. Grammatoglossae are transferred to Simsia: Simsia benziorum, Simsia ovata, and Simsia rhombifolia.     

A synopsis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cohniella</Emphasis> (Orchidaceae,Oncidiinae)

A synopsis of the genus Cohniella is presented with nomenclatural updates with a discusion of diagnostic features and biogeographical data. Thirteen species and one natural hybrid are recognized. Two new species, Cohniella pendula and Cohniella biorbicularis, are described and illustrated. The following four new combinations are proposed: Cohniella binotii, Cohniella brachyphylla, Cohniella cepula, and Cohniella longifolia. Lectotypes are selected for Oncidium subulifolium, Oncidium helicanthum, Oncidium humboldtii, Oncidium jonesianum var. phaeanthum, Oncidium cepula, and Oncidium wittii. We also propose an amended lectotype for Epidendrum cebolleta and several epitypifications and new synonyms. A key to the genera of the Trichocentrum complex is presented (Appendix) as well as keys to the species of Cohniella.     

Philopotaminae of Madagascar (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)

The Malagasy fauna includes two genera of Philopotaminae: Wormaldia McLachlan 1865 and an endemic new genus, Ranarijaodes n. gen. The Malagasy and African (sensu stricto) lineages of Wormaldia are distinct. Apomorphic characters (the shape of the phallic apparatus for the African species and the splitting of the median lobe of the tenth tergite for the Malagasy species) confirm their separation. New captures are reported for two of the four previously known species of Wormaldia. Seven new species are described: Wormaldia ambahibeae n. sp., W. faharoa n. sp., W. fahatelo n. sp., W. randriamasimananai n. sp., W. fahefatra n. sp., W. legrandi n. sp. and W. fahadimy n. sp. Ranarijaodes n. gen. is close to Dolophilodes Ulmer 1909. It is described for the three new species Ranarijaodes fiana n. sp., R. angapi n. sp. and R. atsimo n. sp. The 14 Malagasy species of Philopotaminae are endemics of the island. Their geographical distributions and ecological preferences are described and discussed.     

Synopsis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mickelia</Emphasis>, a newly recognized genus of bolbitidoid ferns (Dryopteridaceae)

Our recent molecular phylogenetic study revealed a previously unrecognized clade of six species that is sister to Elaphoglossum. Within this clade, four species are currently classified in Bolbitis, one in Lomagramma, and one in Acrostichum. For this clade, we propose the name Mickelia, with M. nicotianifolia as the type species. We also make new combinations for the species in our phylogenetic study shown to belong to Mickelia (M. bernoullii, M. guianensis, M. hemiotis, M. nicotianifolia, M. oligarchica, and M. scandens) and two other species believed to belong to the clade based on morphology (M. lindigii, M. pergamentacea). A new hybrid and two new species are also described (M. ×atrans, M. furcata, and M. pradoi). In total, Mickelia consists of ten species and one hybrid. It is entirely neotropical. We provide a key to the genera of bolbitidoid ferns and a synopsis of Mickelia that gives for each species a complete synonymy, geographical distribution, comparative discussion, and illustration.     

Two new species and a new combination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaphoglossum</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polytrichia</Emphasis> subsect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apoda</Emphasis> (Dryopteridaceae) from Costa Rica and Panama

Two new species, Elaphoglossum alvaradoanum and E. pendulum, are described. The first species is endemic to Cocos Island, and the second to the mountains of Costa Rica. Elaphoglossum auripilum var. longipilosum is elevated to species rank as E. longipilosum.     

Developing a taxonomic identification system of Phytophthora species based on microsatellites

BackgroundPhytophthora is the most important genus of the Oomycete plant pathogens. Nowadays, there are 117 described species in this genus, most of them being primary invaders of plant tissues. The different species are causal agents of diseases in a wide range of crops and plants in natural environments. In order to develop control strategies against Phytophthoraspecies, it is important to know the biology, ecology and evolutionary processes of these important pathogens.AimsThe aim of this study was to propose and validate a low cost identification system for Phytophthora species based on a set of polymorphic microsatellite (SSRs) markers.MethodsThirty-three isolates representing Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora andina, Phytophthora sojae, Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora nicotianae, Phytophthora capsici and Phytophthora cinnamomi species were obtained, and 13 SSRs were selected as potentially transferable markers between these species. Amplification conditions, including annealing temperatures, were standardized for several markers.ResultsA subset of these markers amplified in all species, showing species-specific alleles.ConclusionsThe adaptability and impact of the identification system in Colombia, an Andean agricultural country where different Phytophthora species co-exist in the same or in several hosts grown together, are discussed.     

Dilleniaceae Novae Neotropicae VIII. Two new species of Davilla from Brazil

Two new species of the genusDavilla from Brazil are described and illustrated (D. kubitzkii andD. morri). The new species are assigned to sect.Homalochlaena and their relationships with allied species are discussed.     

New Hypogastrura species and new distributional data for Hypogastrura distincta (Axelson 1902) from China (Collembola: Poduromorpha: Hypogastruridae)

Two new species, Hypogastrura analpapillata n. sp., on mushrooms from Yunnan Province, and Hypogastrura microspinata n. sp., on moss from Hunan Province, are described. Hypogastrura analpapillata n. sp. is the sixth species with highly modified mouthparts in the trybomi group. Hypogastrura microspinata n. sp. is close to H. yosii Stach 1964, but can be differentiated from the latter by body granules, tenent hair and lateral teeth on tibiotarsus. A key to Chinese species of Hypogastrura is provided and a list of Chinese Hypogastrura species and their distributional data are given.