Pinda shrirangii,a new elegant species of Apiaceae from the northern Western Ghats,India

A new species, Pinda shrirangii Gosavi & Chandore, is described and illustrated from a high-elevation region of northern Western Ghats, India. The new species is closely allied to the only other species in the genus, Pinda concanensis (Dalzell) P.K.Mukh. & Constance which was also described from the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra state of India. Coloured photographs and illustrations are provided to facilitate the identification.     

Isachne edamalayarensis sp. nov. (Poaceae: Micrairoideae) from southern Western Ghats,India

Isachne edamalayarensis, a new species from southern Western Ghats in Kerala, India, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to Isachne oreades (Domin) Bor but can be distinguished by its large and glabrous leaves, unequal glumes, and shape and size of lower and upper glumes.     

Nanocnide zhejiangensis sp. nov. (Urticaceae: Urticeae) from Zhejiang Province,East China

Nanocnide zhejiangensis X.F. Jin & Y.F. Lu, a new species of Urticaceae from Zhejiang, east China, is described with illustrations. The new species is morphologically similar to Nanocnide japonica in having staminate inflorescence longer than leaves, but differs by having glabrous stems, petioles, peduncles and abaxial leaf surfaces, glabrous perianth lobes of staminate flowers, dorsally glabrous perianth lobes of pistillate flowers, and acuminate or solitary spinose–setaceous at the apex. Analysis based on ITS, atpF–H, atpB–rbcL and trnL–F sequences also demonstrate that Nanocnide japonica is the closest extant relative to the new species.     

Phagnalon Metlesicsii Nova Sp. Aus Westsizilien,Mit Einem Überblick Über Die Gruppe Von Phagnalon Rupestre Im Mittelmeerraum

Abstract

«Phagnalon metlesicsii», a new species from Western Sicily, with a survey of the «Ph. rupestre» — group in the Mediterranean Region. — Phagnalon metlesicsii, a new species of the complex Ph. rupestre — Ph. graecum, is described. It is entirely glabrous and occurs in Western Sicily (M. Cofano) on vertical limestone rocks, nearly 200 mts. above the sea, in community with a flora particularly rich on endemics. The variability of the whole complex is discussed and some infraspecific taxa are proposed.     

Hemiboea sinovietnamica sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from a limestone area along the boundary of Sino‐Vietnam

Hemiboea sinovietnamica W. B. Xu & X. Y. Zhuang, a new species of Gesneriaceae from a limestone area along the boundary of Sino‐Vietnam, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to H. longgangensis Z. Y. Li with its yellowish corolla, but differs in having leaf blades glabrous on both sides, involucre trigonous, 2–3 cm in diameter, glabrous outside, glabrous cymes, a white calyx that is glabrous outside, and glabrous pistil and capsule.     

Ariopsis macrosperma sp. nov. (Araceae) from the northern Western Ghats,India

Ariopsis macrosperma sp. nov. from Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, is described and illustrated. It differs from the other two species in the genus, A. peltata and A. protanthera, in having a typical terrestrial habit, growing on the soil as undergrowth below the forest canopy, thick, leathery leaves and lower number of larger, ovoid and ribbed seeds.     

A unique radiation of marine littorinid snails in the freshwater streams of the Western Ghats of India: the genus Cremnoconchus W.T. Blanford, 1869 (Gastropoda: Littorinidae)

The caenogastropod family Littorinidae is almost exclusively marine, but a unique freshwater genus, Cremnoconchus, is known from India. Its members are restricted to montane streams on the western escarpment of the Western Ghats, at altitudes between 300 and 1400 m. Four species and several varieties were described in the 19th century, but no taxonomic study has been carried out for over 120 years and the last anatomical report was in 1935. Nevertheless, they are of unusual evolutionary interest and also of conservation concern as a genus endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Based on anatomical study of newly collected material and examination of historical and type specimens, we present a systematic revision of Cremnoconchus, illustrating shells, radulae, and reproductive anatomy. The very large eggs, invaginated penial filament, and calcified operculum are unique among Littorinidae. Three valid, described species (C. syhadrensis, C. conicus, C. canaliculatus) are recognized in the northern Western Ghats in Maharashtra state, where all can occasionally be found sympatrically. We describe an additional six new species from the central Western Ghats in a small area (linear distance 80 km) of Karnataka state, over 500 km south of the previously known range of the genus. Here the species each appear to be restricted to a single drainage system. Because of their highly restricted distribution and fragile habitat, this radiation of nine species is judged to be endangered. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Chiritopsis danxiaensis sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from Mount Danxiashan,south China

A new species of Chiritopsis (Gesneriaceae), C. danxiaensis W. B. Liao, S. S. Lin & R. J. Shen, is described and illustrated from Mount Danxiashan, Guangdong Province, China. The new species is morphologically closely related to C. lobulata and C. cordifolia, but is characterized by having denticulate bracts, yellowish corolla, 2 glabrous staminodes and longer style. A revised key to all species of the genus is also provided.     

Primula hunanensis sp. nov. (Primulaceae) from Hunan,south–central China

A new species of Primulaceae, Primula hunanensis G. Hao, C. M. Hu & X. L. Yu, from Hunan, China, is described and illustrated. Based on its general morphology it clearly belongs to P. sect. Carolinella, characterized by the calyptrate capsules, but can be distinguished by its adaxially glabrous leaves which are much longer than the petioles, blade base broadly cuneate to subrounded, umbellate inflorescence, and glabrous pedicels and calyx.     

Primula vallicola sp. nov. (Primulaceae) from Sichuan,China

A new species of Primula, P. vallicola Y. Xu, G. Hao & C.M. Hu, is described and illustrated from Sichuan province, China. Based on general morphology the new species is assigned to Primula sect. Aleuritia subsect. Yunnanensis. It is closely allied to P. kialensis, but can be distinguished by its larger stature, leaf shape, and the well‐differentiated petiole. The leaf shape of the new species is ovate to ovate‐elliptic and usually sub‐rounded at base. The new species also resembles P. homogama, but differs in being glabrous rather than with appressed hairs, and with longer petiole.     

Carex dapanshanica sp. nov. (C. sect. Mitratae,Cyperaceae) from Zhejiang,China

Carex dapanshanica X. F. Jin, Y. J. Zhao & Z. L. Chen, a new species of Cyperaceae from Mount Dapan, Zhejiang Province, eastern China is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to C. chungii C. P. Wang, but differs in having 2 or 3spikes, pistillate scales with brown margins and short‐awned at apex, and glabrous perigynia. Micromorphological photographs of the achenes of C. dapanshanica and C. chungii under SEM (scanning electron microscope) are provided as well.     

Ceropegia thaithongiae sp. nov. (Apocynaceae,Asclepiadoideae) from northern Thailand and preliminary observations on impacts of climate change on its only known population

A new pendulous herb, Ceropegia thaithongiae Kidyoo (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), is described from northern Thailand. This plant is strictly endemic to Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary and critically endangered owing to it living in an ecosystem affected by frequent natural disturbances. It is here described, illustrated and compared to the similar species, C. mairei. Both species have fusiform rootstocks, 1–2‐flowered cymes, deeply bifid outer corona lobes and linear, hairy inner corona lobes. However, the new species can be distinguished by its glabrous stem, leaf covered with hairs on both surfaces and glabrous corolla tube and lobes.     

Calanthe yaoshanensis sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from northeastern Yunnan,China

A new species of Orchidaceae, Calanthe yaoshanensis Z. X. Ren & H. Wang from northeastern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to C. brevicornu Lindley, from which it differs by having a glabrous column and an elliptical middle lobe with three triangular lamellae. The morphological differences between C. yaoshanensis and related species are discussed. The habitat was investigated and its conservation status was assessed as a ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR).     

Gaultheria gonggashanensis sp. nov. (Ericaceae) from Sichuan,China

Gaultheria gonggashanensis P. W. Fritsch & Lu Lu, a new species from western Sichuan Province, China, is described and illustrated. This species belongs to Gaultheria ser. Trichophyllae Airy Shaw and is most similar to G. sinensis J. Anthony, but differs by its longer stem setae, glabrous petioles and leaf blade midveins adaxially, thick‐chartaceous to subcoriaceous leaf blades, larger calyx lobes, and smaller anther thecae. The species is known with certainty only from the Hailuo Valley on the east slope of Mount Gongga in the Daxue Range.     

Goeppertia mendesiana sp. nov. (Marantaceae) from Bahia,Brazil, with a key to the species of Goeppertia with ornamented leaves in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

Goeppertia mendesiana, a new species from the Atlantic Forest of Bahia, Brazil, is described and illustrated. It resembles G. widgrenii (Körn.) Borchs. & Suárez, but differs from that species by its villose petioles and peduncles (vs glabrous in G. widgrenii) and by the absence of bracteoles and interphylls, a rare feature in the genus. The ecology, distribution and conservation status of the new species is presented, along with a key to the species of Goeppertia with ornamented leaves in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.     

Ranunculus uttaranchalensis (Ranunculaceae): a new species from Western Himalaya,India

A new species of the genus Ranunculus, R. uttaranchalensis, is described from Gangotri National Park, Uttaranchal in Western Himalaya, India. It is distinguished from the closely allied R. lobatus in having radical leaves sub‐cordate with hairy lamina base and petiole hairy above; cauline leaves sessile, 3–7 lobed with linear to narrowly lanceolate lobes; sepals usually reddish brown, externally hairy; petals rounded‐obovate and oblong, receptacle glabrous except 1–3 hairs at the top.     

Dendrobium tamenglongense sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from Manipur,India

Dendrobium tamenglongense R. Kishor, Y. N. Devi, H. B. Sharma, J. Tongbram & S. P. Vij sp. nov. from Manipur, India is described and illustrated as a new species. The new species differs from D. jaintianum in having larger and glabrous leaves with acute apices, green sepal apices, a 1–3‐flowered inflorescence, smaller and non‐fragrant flowers and a 3‐lobed labellum with fimbriate midlobe.     

Primula jiugongshanensis sp. nov. (Primulaceae) from China,based on morphological and molecular evidence

Primula jiugongshanensis J. W. Shao, a new species from Mt Jiugongshan in Hubei Province, China, is described and illustrated. This species is a biennial glabrous herb with pinnately compound leaves, and affiliated to P. sect. Ranunculoides C. M. Hu. It is distinguished from other species of the section by outer simple leaves ovate, flowers distylous, corolla lobe apex conspicuously emarginate, and lack of bulblets. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of nrDNA internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS) was conducted and the results also supported the recognition of P. jiugongshanensis as a new species. The species is known from only three separated unprotected populations and is categorized as ‘Endangered’ (EN).