The flora of the early Miocene Brandon Lignite, Vermont, USA. VIII. Caldesia (Alismataceae)

Caldesia, a genus of aquatic monocotyledons, is represented by four living species, which are widely distributed in the temperate and tropical Old World. The genus has an extensive Oligocene through Pleistocene fossil record in Eurasia. We survey the morphology of the extant and fossil fruits of the Alismataceae, and provide a detailed review of the morphology and anatomy of living and fossil Caldesia fruits. The latter exhibit substantial similarity, making the recognition of separate species on the basis of fruit morphology difficult. We erect the new species Caldesia brandoniana from the Early Miocene Brandon Lignite of Vermont primarily on the basis of its geographic isolation; careful revision of all fossil fruiting material of Caldesia might require placement of the Brandon specimens in a more inclusive form species. Together with leaves of Caldesia from the Miocene Clarkia flora of Idaho, this occurrence indicates that Caldesia was in the New World as recently as the Early Miocene.     

Ochyraea tatrensis gen. et spec. nov., a remarkable pleurocarpous moss from Czechoslovakia

Abstract

A new pleurocarpous moss genus and species, Ochyraea tatrensis Váňa, known only from a single collection from the Nízké Tatry Mts (Czechoslovakia) is described and figured. This genus is placed in the recently described family Hypnobartlettiaceae.     

珍稀水生植物——宽叶泽苔草的核型研究

宽叶泽苔草（Caldesia granis Samuel）。是一种珍稀濒危水生植物。它曾经一度被认为已经从中国大陆灭绝,但最近又在湖南省的一个高山沼泽中被发现。本文首次报道了依据上述新发现地点的宽叶泽苔草材料进行的细胞学研究结果。核型分析结果表明：本种染色体数目为22,其染色体组型高度不对称。结合前人对宽叶泽苔草一些近缘种的细胞学及古生物学研究结果,作者认为泽苔草属植物很可能是泽泻科中最进化的一个属。     

African Hepatics

Abstract

A new species of Amphicephalozia, A. africana Váňa &; M. Wigginton from Mt Karisimbi, Rwanda is described and illustrated. This is the third species to be recognised from the genus.     

Nichima gen. nov. (Alismataceae) based on reproductive structures from the Oligocene-Miocene of Mexico

Premise

Alismataceae, a sub-cosmopolitan family with ca. 17 genera and 113 species, is a large group of aquatic plants. Compression/impressions and bioinclusions of reproductive parts in amber support the documentation of the lineage in low-latitude North America. In Mexico, fossil aquatic plants have been infrequently documented. The new reproductive structures exhibit characteristics of Alismataceae, whose fossil record is mainly documented in the northern hemisphere through of fruits and seeds.

Methods

We described and compared 150 samples of reproductive structures preserved as impressions/compressions from the Oligocene Los Ahuehuetes locality in the state of Puebla, and two bioinclusions from the Miocene amber of Simojovel de Allende in the state of Chiapas, Mexico with extinct and extant taxa. Using a parsimony analysis based on 29 floral characters of 17 extant genera of the Alismataceae, we evaluated the relationship between the fossil material and potential living relatives.

Results

We discovered a new genus Nichima based on a perfect, actinomorphic flower with an expanded receptacle, three persistent sepals with multiple vasculatures, delicate and caducous petals, six stamens, and a gynoecium composed of three to more superior carpels, maturing into achenes. These characteristics resemble flowers of Alismataceae. Nichima represents an extinct member of the family, with two new species described here, Nichima magalloniae L. Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián sp. nov. and Nichima gonzalez-medranoi L. Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián, sp. nov. Their phylogenetic position suggests affinity with a clade that includes Baldiella, Echinodorus, and Alisma.

Conclusions

Reproductive structures from the Cenozoic of Mexico support the identification of a new extinct genus, Nichima, evidencing the extensive history of Alismataceae in North America's low latitudes and suggesting a southern extension of the boreotropical flora.

     

The genus Gottschelia Grolle (Jungermanniopsida,Lophoziaceae) in China,with a description of G. grollei,sp. nov.

Abstract

The genus Gottschelia Grolle is reported as new to mainland China, from Yunnan Province. Previously G. schizopleura (Spruce) Grolle was the only known Chinese species, reported from Taiwan. However, two further species have recently been found in the Gaoligong Shan range, Yunnan Province, G. patoniae Grolle, Schill & D.G. Long, previously known from the East Himalaya of Nepal and India (Sikkim) and G. grollei D.G. Long & Váňa, described here as a new species endemic to China, the fourth known species in the genus. The differences between the three Chinese species are enumerated with notes on distribution and ecology.     

宽叶泽苔草萜类化学成分分析及其化学分类学意义

宽叶泽苔草Caldesia grandis隶属泽泻科Alismataceae,是一种珍稀濒危水生植物。其化学成分迄今未见报道。本文利用气质联用的方法鉴定了该植物的43种化学成分,并总结了已报道的其近缘泽泻属Alisma、慈姑属Sagittaria、刺果泽泻属Echinodorus植物的化学成分,据此进行化学分类学分析:它们的特征化学成分是二萜,宽叶泽苔草和泽泻属植物的二萜成分是处于二萜生源合成途径最顶端的kaurane类型;慈姑属植物的二萜成分既有处于该途径底端的clerodane型、中间的pimarene型,也有顶端的kaurane型、abietene型二萜;刺果泽泻属植物的二萜成分是处于该途径底端的clerodane型。宽叶泽苔草和泽泻属植物都有桉叶烷型和愈创木烷型的倍半萜。因此宽叶泽苔草和泽泻属植物的亲缘关系比慈姑属、刺果泽泻属植物的近,由此推测它们的进化层次可能依次是刺果泽泻属植物、慈姑属植物、泽泻属植物、宽叶泽苔草。     

Taxonomy of Foenobethylus Kieffer (Hymenoptera,Bethylidae) with description of two new species

The genus Foenobethylus Kieffer from Southeastern Asia is studied, and seven species are recognized. Four previously described species are analyzed and had their known distribution broadened: F. gracilis Kieffer, F. elongatus Várkonyi and Polaszek, F. emiliacasellae Várkonyi and Polaszek, and F. thomascokeri Várkonyi and Polaszek. Two new species are described and illustrated, F. sharkeyi sp. nov. is characterized by having the metatrochanter without spine and the metafemur with acute proximal spine; and F. pyramidis sp. nov. is characterized by having the metatrochanter with one spine and the metafemur with two spines. The following new combination is established: F. thaianus comb. nov. from Parascleroderma because it has the metafemur with two proximal spines. An update world key to the species of genus is provided.     

Chemical analysis of diterpenoids in Caldesia grandis and its chemotaxonomic implication

Caldesia grandis is a rare and endangered aquatic plant of the Alismataceae family. This paper first reports 43 chemical components of C. grandis based on the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and reviews research on the chemical compositions of some closely related genera such as Alisma, Sagittaria, and Echinodorus. Their common chemical components are diterpenoids. Kaurane diterpenoids are found in Caldesia, Alisma and Sagittaria; clerodane diterpenoids in Sagittaria and Echinodorus; and pimarene and abietene diterpenoids in Sagittaria. By the biogenesis of diterpenoids, kaurane and abietene diterpenoids represent evolutionarily derived compounds, clerodane diterpenoids are primordial, and pimarene diterpenoids are intermediate. The chemotaxonomy, karyotypical analysis and fossil records of those genera showed that Caldesia was evolutionarily closer to Alisma than to Sagittaria and Echinodorus. Possible evolution levels of Echinodorus, Sagittaria, Alisma, Caldesia in chronological order are derived.     

湖北省泽泻科、水鳖科、眼子菜科及茨藻科植物花粉形态研究

本文利用光镜及扫描电镜对湖北省泽泻科、水鳖科、眼子菜科及茨藻科11属29种1变种1变型植物(另加采于湛江的软骨草)的花粉形态进行了研究,发现泽泻科植物花粉具多个圆形萌发孔,外壁表面为小刺状纹饰;茨藻科植物花粉具远极单槽,表面为绉波状纹饰;眼子菜科及本文研究的水鳖科植物花粉均无萌发孔,分别具网状和小刺状饰纹饰。1.茨藻科植物花粉最原始,泽泻科花粉较进化,眼子菜科花粉较水鳖科花粉进化;2.泽泻属与泽苔草属花粉较慈姑属花粉原始;3.鞘叶眼子菜亚屈花粉较眼子菜亚属的花粉处于更高演化阶段;4.多孔茨藻花粉在该科中最原始。本文工作尚对易变形水生植物花粉形态研究方法进行了尝试。     

Diospyros korupensis sp. nov. and Diospyros onanae sp. nov. (Ebenaceae) from Cameroon

Diospyros korupensis Gosline is described as a new species endemic to the Korup National Park in Cameroon and neighbouring areas on the slopes of Mt Cameroon. Diospyros onanae Gosline is described as a new species from the South and Southwest Regions of Cameroon allied to the poorly known D. soyauxii Gürke & K. Schum. ex. Gürke.     

Redescription and systematic reclassification of the trematode Topsiturvitrema verticalia (Trematoda: Digenea) in a new family

The trematode species Topsiturvitrema verticalia Vélez and Thatcher 1990 is redescribed based on two paratype samples and new material from the small intestine of the bat Myotis levis (Geoffroy), from Bahia Samborombón, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. This species is characterized by the presence of a "rhynchus", that is, an anterior sucker-like attachment organ, by the position of the mouth on the ventral surface (surrounded by the ventral sucker), by two blind digestive structures, by the presence of two false saccular caeca located anteriorly and behind the anterior attachment organ, by the presence of the genital pore in the marginal anterior position of the body, and by the mid-dorsal position of the excretory pore. T. verticalia was originally described as a member of the family Lecithodendriidae (Lühe 1901), however, the presence of "rhynchus" and the position of the mouth opening in the ventral sucker constitute morphological features that preclude its inclusion in this family. On account of this, it is considered necessary to create a new family for the genus Topsiturvitrema Vélez and Thatcher 1990, which is included in a new family, Topsiturvitrematidae fam. nov. Furthermore, the geographic range of the species is expanded from Colombia to Argentina and M. levis is added to the species' host list.     

Novel isotrichid ciliates endosymbiotic in Australian macropodid marsupials

Samples of foregut content were collected from 86 macropodid marsupials and examined for the presence of endosymbiotic ciliates. Four host species were examined: Macropus giganteus (eastern grey kangaroo), M. fuliginosus (western grey kangaroo), M. robustus (common wallaroo) and Thylogale billardierii (Tasmanian pademelon). Ciliate morphology was determined by microscopical examination of live and silver-impregnated specimens. Isotrichid ciliates were detected in 51 (59%) of the 86 animals examined. Five new species and one new genus are described. Three of the species belong to the genus Dasytricha Schuberg, 1888: D. dehorityi n. sp. from M. giganteus, D. dogieli n. sp. from M. robustus and D. mundayi n. sp. from T. billardierii. Bitricha n. g. is characterised by the possession of two fields of somatic ciliation, a transverse ventral and a longitudinal dorsal field. B. oblata n. sp. is described from M. giganteus and M. fuliginosus and B. tasmaniensis n. sp. is described from T. billardierii. The occurrence of isotrichid ciliates in both metatherian and eutherian mammals suggests that the family either evolved prior to the divergence of the mammalian lineages or switched hosts from one group to the other following host diversification.     

Three new genera of lichenicolous fungi

Three new genera of fungi occurring on lichens are described and illustrated. Clypeococcum D. Hawksworth (Pleosporales) is introduced for the species previously treated as Phaeodothis cladonema (Wedd.) Theiss. & Syd, which occurs in thalli of Cetrelia olivetorum sensu lato and Parmelia vermculifera. Doratomyces phillipsii , a species hitherto not recognized as lichenicolous, occurs on Steinia geophana and Thrombium epigaeum , both of which have Leptosira as the algal partner; this fungus is sufficiently different from other Doratomyces species to justify the new genus Leightoniomyces D. Hawksworth & Sutton (Dematiaceae). Refractohilum D. Hawksworth (Moniliaceae) is introduced for three species: Sporidesmium achromaticum Sutton (on Parmelia aff. sulcata and wood), R. galligenum sp. nov. (forming galls on Nephroma laevigatum) , and Ovularia peltigerae Keissl. (forming galls on Peltigera species).     

Munnogonium affinissp. n.: A New Species of Isopod (Asellota: Paramunnidae) from the Coast of Korea,Sea of Japan

The new species Munnogonium affinisfrom the coast of Korea (the Sea of Japan) is described. This is the first record of the genus Munnogoniumfrom the western Pacific. The new species differs considerably from the four eastern Pacific American species of this genus and is most similar to M. maltiniifrom the Mediterranean Sea.     

Djinga cheekii sp. nov. (Podostemaceae) from Cameroon

A new species is added to the monotypic African genus Djinga. Djinga cheekii Ghogue, Huber & Rutish. (Podostemaceae) is described as a new species from Cameroon (Littoral Province) and its morphological affinities and conservation status are assessed. The main distinguishing characters are: stamens 2 (not 1 as in D. felicis), flower buds inside spathella strongly inclined (not only slightly inclined as in D. felicis), and stems lacking or only up to 6 mm long (not up to > 6 cm as in D. felicis). A molecular analysis revealed that D. cheekii is sister to D. felicis, and both together are sister to Ledermanniella linearifolia and L. pusilla which show completely inverted flower buds inside the spathella, as typical for the large and still artificial genus Ledermanniella.     

湖南植物志资料（二）：石竹科,壳斗科,伞形科,茜草科,菊科,泽泻科补遗

湖南植物新记录区计１０种,隶属于６科８属,泽苔草属为新记录;沼生繁缕,大苗山柯,白毛青冈,肾叶天胡荽,金草,剑叶耳草,多花茜草,秃果华千里光,崇澍华千里光,宽叶泽苔草为新记录种。     

Dracaena mokoko sp. nov. (Dracaenaceae–Ruscaceae/Asparagaceae) a critically endangered forest species from Mokoko,Cameroon

Dracaena mokoko Mwachala & Cheek sp. nov. is described from the Mokoko forest in the western foothills of Mt Cameroon, in Cameroon, west Africa. Using the IUCN standard it is assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) due to its small population size (less than 50 individuals are known), its small extent of occurrence, and threats from oil exploration and logging in the Mokoko forest. The new species is considered allied to D. aubryana Brongn. ex C. J. Morren of west–central Africa but differs in having spiralled leaves with the blade gradually narrowing into the petiole rather than distichous leaves in which there is an abrupt transition from the well‐developed blade to the petiole.     

Phylogeny of Alisma (Alismataceae) revisited: implications for polyploid evolution and species delimitation

Journal of Plant Research - Alisma L. is a genus of aquatic and wetland plants belonging to family Alismataceae. At present, it is thought to contain ten species. Variation in ploidy level is known...