Multi-locus phylogeny and morphology reveal five new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fomitiporia</Emphasis> (Hymenochaetaceae) from China

Five newly identified species of Fomitiporia (F. alpina, F. gaoligongensis, F. hainaniana, F. subrobusta and F. subtropica) and their morphological and molecular characterisation are described in this paper. Fomitiporia alpina sp. nov. is distinguished by its pileate basidiomata, parallel tramal hyphae and large basidiospores (6.5–8 × 6–8 μm), and by its gymnosperm wood-living habitat. Fomitiporia gaoligongensis sp. nov. is distinct from other species due to its semicircular pileus and subglobose to globose basidiospores (6.5–7.6 × 6–7.4 μm). Fomitiporia hainaniana sp. nov. is marked by its resupinate basidiomata, the presence of setae and small globose basidiospores (4–5 × 3.8–4.4 μm). Fomitiporia subrobusta sp. nov. is characterised by its triquetrous basidiomata, small pores (6–9 per mm) with entire and thick dissepiments, and subglobose to obovoid basidiospores (6.2–6.8 × 5.2–6 μm). Fomitiporia subtropica sp. nov. can be differentiated by its resupinate basidiomata, smaller pores (6–10 per mm) and smaller basidiospores (5.2–6 × 4.4–5 μm). Phylogenetic analysis, based on multi-gene comparison of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA gene regions (nLSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1α) and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), confirmed affinity with the Fomitiporia species and showed association with similar fungi in the genus.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calathea</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Marantaceae</Emphasis>) from South-eastern Brazil

Summary   Calathea dryadica and Calathea reginae are described, circumscribed and illustrated. These new species are probably endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State in Southeast Brazil and are considered critically endangered because of the restricted geographic area of occurrence, sometimes enclosed by densely urbanised areas.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lirula</Emphasis> on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies</Emphasis> from Japan

Two new species of Lirula (L. japonica and L. exigua) on Abies mariesii collected in subalpine areas of northern Japan are described as members of Rhytismatales, Discomycetes. Lirula japonica causes needle cast in fir, but L. exigua seems to occur on the needles of physically damaged twigs. Morphological characteristics of both species are discussed.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erythroxylum</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhabdophyllum</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erythroxylaceae</Emphasis>) from north-eastern Brazil

Summary   Erythroxylum longisetulosum I. Loiola & M. F. Sales and E. timothei I. Loiola & M. F. Sales (sect. Rhabdophyllum) from north-eastern Brazil are described and illustrated, and their taxonomic and ecological relationships are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>1<Emphasis Type="Italic">/copia</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>3<Emphasis Type="Italic">/gypsy</Emphasis>-like DNA sequences in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus </Emphasis>species

Two repeated DNA sequences isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Helianthus annuus, p HaS13 and p HaS211, were shown to represent portions of the int gene of a Ty3 /gypsy retroelement and of the RNase-Hgene of a Ty1 /copia retroelement, respectively. Southern blotting patterns obtained by hybridizing the two probes to BglII- or DraI-digested genomic DNA from different Helianthus species showed p HaS13 and p HaS211 were parts of dispersed repeats at least 8 and 7 kb in length, respectively, that were conserved in all species studied. Comparable hybridization patterns were obtained in all species with p HaS13. By contrast, the patterns obtained by hybridizing p HaS211 clearly differentiated annual species from perennials. The frequencies of p HaS13- and p HaS211-related sequences in different species were 4.3x10(4)-1.3x10(5) copies and 9.9x10(2)-8.1x10(3) copies per picogram of DNA, respectively. The frequency of p HaS13-related sequences varied widely within annual species, while no significant difference was observed among perennial species. Conversely, the frequency variation of p HaS211-related sequences was as large within annual species as within perennials. Sequences of both families were found to be dispersed along the length of all chromosomes in all species studied. However, Ty3 /gypsy-like sequences were localized preferentially at the centromeric regions, whereas Ty1/ copia-like sequences were less represented or absent around the centromeres and plentiful at the chromosome ends. These findings suggest that the two sequence families played a role in Helianthusgenome evolution and species divergence, evolved independently in the same genomic backgrounds and in annual or perennial species, and acquired different possible functions in the host genomes.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> from Yunnan,China

Two new species of the fungal genus Trichoderma, Trichoderma compactum and Trichoderma yunnanense, isolated from rhizosphere of tobacco in Yunnan Province, China are described based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequences. Our DNA sequences included the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rDNA cluster (ITS1 and ITS2), and partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) and a fragment of the gene coding for endochitinase 42 (ech42). The analyses show that T. compactum belongs to the Harzianum clade, and T. yunnanense belongs to the Hamatum clade.     

A new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dactylella</Emphasis> species from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orbilia alba</Emphasis>

A new Dactylella species, Dactylella alba was isolated from the ascospores of Orbilia alba collected in Wenshan County, Yunnan Province, China. Conidiophores were either not branched or occasionally branched, bearing divergent sterigmata on the tip with single conidium on each. Conidia were elongated ellipsoids, 1–2 septate, mostly 1 septate. By combining the ITS sequence with morphological characteristics, a new anamorphic species is described and illustrated together with its teleomorph.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudopyricularia</Emphasis> from Iran

Two new species, Pseudopyricularia hyrcaniana and P. iraniana, are described, illustrated, and discussed in this paper. Phylogenetic analyses of the large subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and their internal transcribed spacer regions, and protein encoding gene introns and exons, including the largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II and calmodulin, confirmed their placement in Pseudopyricularia. Pseudopyricularia hyrcaniana was isolated as a pathogen from leaves of Cyperus alternifolius, while P. iraniana was from Juncus sp. Conidia of P. hyrcaniana are obclavate and 1-septate; those of P. iraniana are fusiform or cylindrical and 2-septate. Analyses of multigene sequences confirm the distinction between P. hyrcaniana and P. iraniana, and reveal their relationship with their allies in Pyriculariaceae.     

Conspecificity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Endothia eugeniae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryphonectria cubensis</Emphasis>: a re-evaluation based on morphology and DNA sequence data

Cryphonectria cubensis and Endothia eugeniae are fungal pathogens of Eucalyptus and clove that were reduced to synonymy on the basis of results of cross-inoculation studies, isozyme analysis, cultural studies, and morphology. A previous phylogenetic study on Cryphonectria, based on sequence variation in the ITS region of the ribosomal RNA operon, also supported the conspecificity of C. cubensis and E. eugeniae, but was based on only one E. eugeniae isolate. New collections from clove in Brazil and Indonesia have become available, providing the opportunity to reconsider the conspecificity of C. cubensis and E. eugeniae. The occurrence of C. cubensis on clove was confirmed based on morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal DNA and β-tubulin gene sequence data. In addition to C. cubensis, other fungi morphologically similar to Cryphonectria species on the basis of their orange stromata were present on some clove specimens, but no isolates were available for these fungi. Furthermore, some isolates, for which no herbarium material exists, grouped separately from the C. cubensis clade and closer to the Cryphonectria clade. The presence of more than one closely related fungus on clove raises questions relating to the legitimacy of the synonymy of E. eugeniae and C. cubensis. Based on the presence of C. cubensis on the type specimen of E. eugeniae, we recognize the synonymy of the two fungi but provide evidence that other fungi, more closely related to Cryphonectria spp. than to C. cubensis, are present on clove.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Funastrum rupicola</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apocynaceae:</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">Asclepiadoideae</Emphasis>), a new species from Bolivia

Summary   Funastrum rupicola Goyder, a new species of Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae from Bolivia, is described and illustrated. The conservation status of this species is assessed.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perenniporia</Emphasis> (Polyporales,Basidiomycota) described from southern China based on morphological and molecular characters

A new poroid wood-inhabiting basidiomycete, Perenniporia nanlingensis, collected in Guangdong Province, southern China, is described and illustrated on the basis of three collections. Both the morphology and phylogenetic analysis of rDNA ITS sequences support this new species. Macroscopically, the new species is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps with pinkish buff to cinnamon-buff pore surface when dry. Microscopically, it has a trimitic hyphal system, slightly dextrinoid and cyanophilous skeletal and binding hyphae, and its basidiospores are ellipsoid, truncate, strongly dextrinoid and cyanophilous, 9.0–9.8 × 5.0–5.9 μm.     

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.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Caragana aliensis</Emphasis>, a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caragana</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leguminosae</Emphasis>) from Tibet,China

Summary   Caragana aliensis a new species from Tibet, China, is described and illustrated.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis> species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccanthera</Emphasis> subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis>

A revision of Penstemon sect. Saccanthera subsect. Serrulati includes a new species (P. salmonensis), a new variety (P. triphyllus var. infernalis), and the elevation of a subspecies to species (P. curtiflorus), bringing the total number of species to eight, which are keyed and described, complete with nomenclature and type citations.     

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.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Typhonium stigmatilobatum</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Araceae</Emphasis> tribe <Emphasis Type="Italic">Areae</Emphasis>), a new species from Vietnam

Summary   Typhonium stigmatilobatum V. D. Nguyen, a new species from Vietnam, is described and illustrated.