Studies of Pacific island plants,XXXI. Notes on Fijian Sapotaceae

In reviewing the Fijian Sapotaceae it was found necessary to describe three new species,Planchonella sessilis, Palaquium porphyreum, andBurckella parvifolia, and to propose one new combination,B. fijiensis (Chelonespermum fijiense Hemsl.).     

Calycadenia hooveri (Asteraceae), a new tarweed from California

In accord with its cytological and morphological distinctiveness and its geographical disjunction, the Sierran element ofC. pauciflora A. Gray is described as a new species,C. hooveri. Its chromosome number ofn = 7 is documented for the first time. Evidence from cytogenetic analysis of synthetic hybrids is presented to support the conclusion thatC. hooveri is more closely related toC. villosa DC. than toC. pauciflora. Characteristics of ligule morphology and the distribution of the peculiar saucer-shaped glands on the peduncular and receptacular bracts of these species also support the new interpretation.     

STUDIES OF PACIFIC ISLAND PLANTS. XXVII. THE GENUS GARDENIA (RUBIACEAE) IN THE FIJIAN REGION

The genus Gardenia (Rubiaceae), noted for its beautiful and fragrant flowers, is widespread throughout the Old World tropics. In the Fijian Region it is represented by eleven indigenous species, of which eight are endemic to Fiji; an additional oriental species is occasionally found in cultivation. The taxonomic relationships and nomenclature of these species are discussed, and one new Fijian species, G. anapetes, is described.     

STUDIES OF PACIFIC ISLAND PLANTS. XXVI. METROSIDEROS COLLINA (MYRTACEAE) AND ITS RELATIVES IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC

The genus Metrosideros (Myrtaceae) is an abundant and taxonomically confusing component of the vegetation throughout much of its range. In the southern Pacific, from the New Hebrides eastward to the Society and Tuamotu Islands, the genus is represented by one variable species, M. collina (J. R. & G. Forst.) A. Gray, in which three widespread varieties seem to merit recognition. An attempt is here made to clarify the nomenclature and inter-relationships of these varieties. Additionally, two local endemics are related to the M. collina group—M. gregoryi Christophersen in Samoa and M. ochrantha A. C. Sm. (sp. nov.) in Fiji.     

An overlooked new species of Smilax (Smilacaceae) from Northern California

Smilax jamesii, a new species from northern California is described and illustrated. Its distribution and its distinction from the other species of the area, 5.californica (A. DC.) A. Gray, are discussed, as is its relationship to the other species of the sectionCoprosmanthus.     

Taxonomy of Senecio multilobatus and its allies

A revision is presented for ten closely related species of western North America. The assemblage approximates the sectionsBolanderiani Greenman andLobati Rydb. Two new infraspecific combinations are made:Senecio bolanderi Gray var.harfordii (Greenman) T. M. Barkley, andS. eurycephalus Torr. & Gray ex Gray var.Iewisrosei (J. T. Howell) T. M. Barkley.     

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.     

Taxonomy and distribution of Clematis,sect. Atragene (Ranunculaceae), in North America

Two North American species ofClematis, sect.Atragene (L.) DC, are recognized.C. occidentalis (Hörnern.) DC. is divided into three varieties, native respectively to eastern North America, the Rocky Mountains, and the Cascade Mountains of Washington.C. columbiana (Nutt.) Torr. & Gray is divided into two extensively intergrading varieties, one prevailing in the southern Rocky Mountains, the other in the northern foothills and in outlying mountain ranges. After a study of the type specimen ofC. columbiana, it was concluded that this name should be applied to the species hitherto commonly known asC. pseudoalpina (O. Kuntze) A. Nels., rather than to the taxon with which it has usually been associated. The two species are evidently closely related and appear occasionally to have hybridized in nature.     

Cytotaxonomic notes on eleven species of Cirsium native to Mexico

Data on chromosome numbers in eleven species and three forms ofCirsium are presented. The species treated areC. nivale (H.B.K.) Schultz Bip.,C. jorullense (H.B.K.) Spreng.,C. durangense (Greenman) Ownbey,C. ochrocentrum Gray,C. undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng.,C. velatum (Wats.) Petrak,C. mexicanum DC.,C. rhaphilepis (Hemsley) Petrak,C. occidentalis (Nutt.) Jepson subsp.acrolepis Petrak,C. conspicuum (Sweet) Schultz Bip., andC. ehrenbergii Schultz Bip. A case of autotriploidy is reported forC. durangense. Natural hybridization betweenC. durangense and a form ofC. mexicanum is reported. Photomicrographs of the mitotic or meiotic chromosomal configurations of nine species and two forms are reproduced.C. ochrocentrum Gray var.durangense Greenman is raised to species rank.     

Sesquiterpene alcohols from Artemisia pygmaea

Artemisia pygmaea Gray contains two sesquiterpene alcohols: the known cryptomeridiol (I) and pygmol (II), a new compound. No sesquiterpene lactones were found in the plant although other species of the section Tridentatae Rydb., with which A. pygmaea has been classified, are usually rich in lactones.     

R-Plasmids in Pasteurella multocida.

Multiple drug-resistant strains of Pasteurella multocida were associated with a high incidence of fatal pneumonia in feedlot cattle. A representative strain, CAH160, resistant to tetracycline (Tc), streptomycin (Sm), and sulfonamide (Su) was studied. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Tc was 32 μg/ml while Sm had an MIC of 256 μg/ml. Plasmid DNA was isolated from CAH160 by cesium chloride-ethidium bromide centrifugation. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that at least three distinct species of plasmid DNA were present. DNA isolated from CAH160 was used to transform Escherichia coli K12 strain C600 r_k^?m_k^?. Transformants resistant to Tc; to Sm, Su; and to Tc, Sm, Su were obtained. Contour length measurements of plasmid DNA isolated from transformant cells showed that Tc resistance was associated with a 3-Mdal plasmid (pSR10), while Sm, Su resistance resided on a 2.7-Mdal molecule (pSR11). More than 20% of the transformants were resistant to Tc, Sm, Su and contained both plasmid species. In E. coli the MIC of Tc was 256 μg/ml and that of Sm was 64 μg/ml. The buoyant density of pSR10 was 1.699 g/cm³, while the density of pSR11 was 1.709 g/cm³.     

A new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Carlia spp. (Sauria: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea

A new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from rainbow skinks, Carlia ailanpalai Zug and Carlia eothen Zug is described from specimens collected in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Oöcysts of Eimeria zugi n. sp. from one of one (100%) C. eothen are ellipsoidal to cylindroidal, with a smooth, colourless, bi-layered wall, measure 25.1 × 15.5 μm and have a length/width ratio of 1.6. The micropyle and the oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. The sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal and 10.3 × 7.1 μm in size and do not contain Stieda, sub-Stieda or para-Stieda bodies; and the sporocyst residuum is composed of a compact mass of large globules. The sporozoites are elongate, 12.8 × 2.9 μm in size, and contain anterior and posterior refractile bodies with a nucleus between them. This is the ninth species of coccidium described from skinks from PNG, and the new species described herein is apparently endemic to the skink genus Carlia (Gray).     

Nomenclatural notes on Aster (Asteraceae)—III. The status of a. Sandwicensis

Plants ofAster sandwicensis (A. Gray in H. Mann) Hieron. belong inA. subulatus Michaux but are recognized as taxonomically distinct from those of var.subulatus. A new combination is needed:A. subulatus var.sandwicensis (A. Gray in H. Mann) A. G. Jones, comb. nov.Chamisso s.n. (G-DC!) is chosen as the lectotype.     

Notes on some Mimosae (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) of the Chihuahuan Desert akin to M. zygophylla

TheMimosa of trans-Pecos Texas passing latterly asM. zygophylla Benth. is described as a new species.M. turneri Barneby. Its relationships to vicariantM. borealis A. Gray and to the gypsophileM. unipinnata Parf. & Pink. are thought to be closer than toM. zygophylla. Significant differences between these four species are discussed and summarized in a key, and the known range of each is mapped.     

Two new species of yellow-shouldered bats,genus Sturnira Gray, 1842 (Chiroptera,Phyllostomidae) from Costa Rica,Panama and western Ecuador

Two new species of yellow-shouldered bats Sturnira Gray, 1842 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) from Central America and western South America are described using molecular and morphological data. The two new species, which occur in Costa Rica and Panama and in western Ecuador, were previously confused with S. ludovici, and S. lilium and S. luisi, respectively. Sturnira now includes 22 described species, making it the most speciose genus in the Neotropical family Phyllostomidae.     

Revision of the bulbous Iridaceae of North America

The native bulbous Iridaceae of North America excluding Mexico comprise seven species in four genera. The type species ofAlophia Herb. (1836) is shown to belong toEustylis Engelm. & Gray (1836), hence the latter genus is reduced to synonymy. The well known genusAlophia (sensu auct. non Herb.) (Herbertia Sweet) now takes the nameTrifurcia. As a result of the new interpretation ofAlophia, new combinations are made for the North American and Latin American species ofTrifurcia andAlophia. New chromosome counts are given forNemastylis floridana (2n = 56) andTrifurcia lahue (2n = 56).