The rust fungi of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luzuriaga</Emphasis> (Luzuriagaceae) with description of a new species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia luzuriagae-polyphyllae</Emphasis>

Three species of rust fungi (Uredinales), Puccinia perforans, P. fuegiana (= Uromyces skottsbergii), and Aecidium callixenis have been described on members of Luzuriaga (Luzuriagaceae). Puccinia luzuriagae-polyphyllae is added as a new species on Luzuriaga polyphylla from Chile. The rust had been confused hitherto with P. perforans occurring on L. radicans. Both species differ from P. fuegiana on L. marginata by the absence of a uredinial state and several telial characters. The investigated collections of Puccinia species on Luzuriaga indicate that each is restricted to a single host species. A determination key is presented.     

Another example of cryptic diversity in lichen-forming fungi: the new species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parmelia mayi</Emphasis> (Ascomycota: Parmeliaceae)

In the last decade, a number of cryptic species have been discovered in lichenized fungi, especially in species with a cosmopolitan or disjunctive distribution. Parmelia saxatilis is one of the most common and widely distributed species. Recent molecular studies have detected two species, P. ernstiae and P. serrana, within P. saxatilis s. lat., suggesting the existence of considerable genetic diversity that may not yet be expressed at the phenotypic level. Due to the complexity in the P. saxatilis s. lat. group, we used this as a model to study the species boundary and identify cryptic lineages. We used Phylogenetic (Bayes, ML and MP) and genetic distance approaches to analyze ITS and β-tubulin sequences. Our results confirm the existence of another cryptic lineage within P. saxatilis s. lat. This lineage is described herein as a new species, P. mayi. It forms an independent, strongly supported, monophyletic lineage, distantly related to the morphologically similar species P. ernstiae, P. saxatilis and P. serrana. Morphologically, it is indistinguishable from P. saxatilis but the new species is separated by molecular, bioclimatic, biogeographic and chemical characters. At present, P. mayi appears to have a restricted distribution in the northern Appalachian mountain territories of North America. It is found in climatic conditions ranging from hemiboreal and orotemperate to cryorotemperate ultrahyperhumid bioclimates.     

Study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phygasia</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from China,with descriptions of eight new species

Eight new species of Phygasia Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are described from China, P. gracilicornis, P. nigricollis, P. parva, P. pseudomedia, P. pseudornata, P. simidorsata, P. suturalis and P. yunnana. A list and a key with distribution records to the 21 Chinese species of Phygasia are provided. Antennae, male and female genitalia of most species are illustrated. P. wittmeri Medvedev and P. potanini Medvedev are proposed as new synonyms of P. diancangana Wang and P. potanini Lopatin, respectively. P. pallidipennis Medvedev, 2004 is the homonym of P. pallidipennis Chen et Wang, 1980.     

Two noteworthy <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phallus</Emphasis> from southern Brazil

During a survey of gasteroid fungi from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, two noteworthy species of the genus Phallus were identified: P. duplicatus (new record from Brazil) and P. granulosodenticulatus. The latter is a poorly known species described by Braun in 1932 that was recently recollected, and its taxonomy is discussed based on the examination of fresh and type specimens.     

Pothos vietnamensis sp. nov. (Araceae–Pothoideae–Potheae) from Vietnam

Pothos vietnamensis V. D. Nguyen & P. C. Boyce is described and illustrated from northern Vietnam as a new species of the Pothos supergroup, and it is compared with the two most similar species: P. kerrii and P. pilulifer to which P. vietnamensis is comparable by having a very small fertile portion (< 5 mm diameter) on the spadix. Ecology, habitat, population size and conservation status are also discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phuphanochloa,</Emphasis> a new bamboo genus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Poaceae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bambusoideae</Emphasis>) from Thailand

Summary  A new monotypic bamboo genus Phuphanochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from north-eastern Thailand is described, together with a new species, P. speciosa.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prorocentrum rivalis</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Dinophyceae) and its phylogenetic affinities inferred from analysis of a mixed morphological and LSU rRNA data set

A new freshwater epiphytic Prorocentrum species, Prorocentrum rivalis, from the temperate region of the Haute-Vienne, France, is described. This species is the third freshwater species identified among approximately 60 marine Prorocentrum species. This new species is described using scanning electron microscope and phylogenetic analyses by a polyphasic approach (LSU rRNA sequences combined with 9 morphological characters). The phylogenetic analysis attests that P. rivalis is close to other planktonic freshwater species and the freshwater Prorocentrum clade is evolutionarily derived from an epiphytic freshwater prorocentroid ancestor. The unique marine species in the freshwater clade results from an ecophysiological reversion. P. rivalis differs from other epiphytic taxa by its rarity, its temperate distribution and its ecophysiological needs. The phylogeny confirms also that all planktonic Prorocentrum species are evolutionarily derived from epiphytic/benthic ancestors.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Passiflora cristalina,</Emphasis> a striking new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Passiflora</Emphasis> (Passifloraceae) from Mato Grosso,Brazil

A new red-flowered species of Passiflora, P. cristalina Vanderpl. & Zappi, is described from the tropical rainforest of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The species is illustrated and its affinities with related species are discussed, and a key to the species of supersect. Distephana to which it belongs is provided.     

The first fossil record of mites of the family Pyemotidae (Acari: Heterostigmata), with description of a new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyemotes</Emphasis> from Rovno amber

The first fossil mite of the family Pyemotidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) is recorded. Pyemotes primus sp. nov. is described from the Late Eocene of the Rovno amber from a syninclusion with the bark beetles Taphramites rovnoensis Petrov et Perkovsky, 2008. In the presence of well developed longitudinal striation on hysterosomal tergites, the new species is similar to species from scolyti group, which is characterized by parasitoidism on immature stages of bark beetles and phoresy on adult stages. P. primus differs from the closely related species P. dryas (Vitzthum, 1923), P. parviscolyti Cross et Moser, 1971, P. johnmoseri Khaustov, 2004, and P. mandelshtami Khaustov, 1998 in the subequal setae h ₁ and h ₂.     

The morphology,taxonomy, and occurrence of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoprotophyllum</Emphasis> Hollick (Platanaceae) in Late Cretaceous floras of Northern Asia

An extended generic diagnosis of Pseudoprotophyllum is given on the basis of new data from Late Cretaceous floras of Northern Asia. Both peltate and apeltate morphological types are included in the genus. The morphological diversity is described in the type species P. boreale (Dawson) Hollick from the Cenomanian-Turonian of North America and four North Asiatic species: P. minimum I. Lebed. , P. sibiricum I. Lebed., P. hatangaense Abramova, and P. giganteum Sveshn. et Budants. The geographical and stratigraphic analyses show that Pseudoprotophyllum evolved in Northern Asia since the Cenomanian until Campanian and was restricted to the Siberian-Canadian floristic region with a warm-temperate humid climate.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tabaroa</Emphasis>, a new genus of Leguminosae tribe Brongniartieae from Brazil

A new genus of Leguminosae in tribe Brongniartieae is proposed based on a new species endemic to the Caatinga of Bahia state. The new genus is named as Tabaroa L. P. Queiroz, G. P. Lewis & M. F. Wojc. and the new species as Tabaroa caatingicola L. P. Queiroz, G. P. Lewis & M. F. Wojc. A phylogenetic study of the Brongniartieae based on nuclear rDNA ITS and plastid matK sequences supports a closer relationship between Tabaroa and Harpalyce Moc. & Sessé than to the two South American genera Poecilanthe Benth. and Cyclolobium Benth., which are more similar morphologically. Optimisation of selected morphological characters on one of the most parsimonious trees indicates that the sessile ovary and the explosive pollen presentation are putative synapomorphies of the Tabaroa-Harpalyce clade. The genus Tabaroa may be diagnosed by the absence of peltate glandular trichomes; leaves imparipinnate, exstipellate and with opposite leaflets; flowers sessile, not resupinate, grouped in panicles; anthers apiculate; and fruit indehiscent. The only known species inhabits areas of arboreal caatinga on sandy soil in southwestern Bahia, near the boundaries of Dom Basílio and Livramento de Nossa Senhora municipalities.     

Bambusicolous fungi in Japan (8): a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudolachnella from</Emphasis> Yakushima Island,southern Japan

A coelomycetous fungus occurring on culms of Pleioblastus sp. in Yakushima Island, southern Japan, is described and illustrated as a new species, Pseudolachnella yakushimensis. The species is characterized by cupulate, superficial black setose conidiomata, and cylindrical 3-septate conidia with two to five appendages at each end. Pseudolachnella yakushimensis is similar to P. indica and P. scolecospora by its 3-septate conidia, but is different from them by its smaller conidia with more than two appendages.     

Potamogeton×exilis (P. alpinus×P. natans), a new hybrid pondweed from Finland

A Potamogeton hybrid recently discovered in Finland was proven to be a new taxon, which has a different parentage than the most similar P.×vepsicus (=P. natans×praelongus) described from Russia. Based on molecular and morphological investigation, the new hybrid was identified as P. alpinus×natans and is here described as P.×exilis nothosp. nov. The hybrid is known only from several nearby localities in a single river system. All discovered colonies almost certainly originate from a single hybridization event that occurred in the upper part of the river system. Other localities downstream have been established through fragmentation and dispersal of stems and rhizomes of this sterile hybrid. A detailed morphological comparison of the new hybrid with similar hybrids and species is provided.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships for nine species of the genus Paracobitis (Nemacheiliidae) in Iran

Length–weight (LWR) and length–length (LLR) relationships were estimated for 330 specimens from nine Paracobitis species in 11 localities throughout Iran. All fish were collected upon occasion by electrofishing throughout Iran from July 2010 to October 2016. These represent the first reports of LWR data for eight species including: Paracobitis atrakensis, P. hircanica, P. longicauda, P. molavii, P. persa, P. rhadinaeus, P. smithi and P. vignai and first LLR data for all species. A new maximum length is reported for P. malapterura. Four of these species are endemic and five species are native to Iran. The length–weight parameter b ranged from a minimum of 2.74 for P. atrakensis to a maximum of 3.01 for P. longicauda, with regression coefficients (r²) ranging from 0.96 to 0.99. All LLRs were highly significant (r² > .96).