Reassessing the Odontites purpureus group (Orobanchaceae) from south‐east Spain and north‐west Africa

We describe a species of Odontites, O. bolligeri E.Rico, L.Delgado & Herrero, endemic to the south‐eastern Iberian Peninsula and north Africa, from Morocco to Tunisia. This species belongs to the O. purpureus group and corresponds to the taxon that the monographer Markus Bolliger called O. squarrosus subsp. squarrosus. However, according to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), this is an invalid name, and hence we propose a new name for these plants here. Drawings of the new species are also supplied. In addition, we compare and discuss the other species of the O. purpureus group, propose a key for them and include a karyological study of the two Iberian species of the group. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 701–708.     

New Streptocarpus species (Gesneriaceae) from South Africa

Two new rosulate species of Streptocarpus are described from the eastern seaboard of South Africa. The first is endemic to Mpumalanga Province. This species has almost actinomorphic corollas with small cylindrical tubes and was previously included within Streptocarpus parviflorus. However, molecular and morphological data and habitat preference do not support this classification. The second species is from the Msikaba River Gorge in the Eastern Cape Province. It adds to the already impressive list of endemic plant species from this region and is allied to other rosulate species of the Eastern Cape. It approaches Streptocarpus rexii in flower size but differs in its much shorter corolla tubes, which lack purple nectar guides. In addition, the corolla floors are marked with yellow bars reminiscent of Streptocarpus cyaneus and also seen in sympatric populations of the small‐flowered Streptocarpus modestus. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 743–748.     

A new species of Astragalus L. (section Onobrychoidei DC.: Fabaceae) from Turkey

A new species of Astragalus L., A. trabzonicus (section Onobrychoidei DC.), is described and illustrated from north‐east Anatolia in Turkey. The diagnostic, pollen morphological, and chromosomal characteristics are discussed. A distribution map and conservation status are given. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 741–747.     

A new species of Lathyrus L. (section Cicercula; Fabaceae) from Turkey

A new species, Lathyrus egirdiricus H.Genc & A.Sahin (section Cicercula; Fabaceae), is described from Turkey, with illustrations and taxonomic comments. Characteristics of the species are compared with those of the related species Lathyrus hirsutus L., L. stenophyllus Boiss. & Heldr., L. sativus L., L. cassius Boiss. and L. gorgoni Parl., from which it differs mainly in the shape, length, width and venation of leaflets, length and width of the stipule, flower colour, legume and style length. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 301–305.     

Two new species of Mussaenda (Rubiaceae) from Panay Island,Philippines

Two new species of Mussaenda (Rubiaceae) from Aklan, Panay, Philippines are described and illustrated. Mussaenda ustii sp. nov. is distinct by its long pedicel (up to 7 mm), yellow with white margins corolla lobes forming a star and recurved stigma lobes which are always semi‐ or distinctly exserted in long‐styled morphs. Mussaenda viridiflora sp. nov. is characterized by its white, sweet‐scented corolla lobes, which are green tinged on the median ridges and bases, and strongly reflexed calyx lobes. A discussion of the relationships of the new taxa to closely related Philippine Mussaenda is provided. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 87–92.     

Taxonomy of the genus Lispe Latreille (Diptera: Muscidae) in Korea

In this paper, a total of four species of the genus Lispe are treated. Of these, L. assimilis Wiedemann and L. litorea Fallén are reported for the first time in Korea. A key to the Korean species, their domestic localities, and some illustrations are given.     

A new hexaploid species of Centaurea section Acrolophus (Asteraceae) from Evvia Island,Greece

Centaurea carystea Trigas & Constantin., a new yellow‐flowered species of Centaurea from Mt. Ochi on Evvia Island (Greece), is described and illustrated. It is a member of the polymorphic C. section Acrolophus and allied to taxa of the C. attica aggregate, C. pelia and C. mantoudii. The new species appears to be a local and threatened endemic, with the total number of individuals known being less than 500. A karyological examination revealed that it is hexaploid, with 2n = 6x = 54, an unusual number in Centaurea, which may indicate a hybrid origin. To further clarify the taxonomic position of C. carystea , we used random amplification of polymorphic DNA markers of 25 plants belonging to nine species, subspecies and varieties morphologically related to the new species, together with two reference taxa. Clustering using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean indicated a discrete position for C. carystea , close to but distinct from the yellow‐flowered C. mantoudii. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 762–774.     

Two new species of Linaria section Linaria (Scrophulariaceae‐Antirrhineae) from Iran

Linaria azerbaijanensis and Linaria shahroudensis are described as new species from the Azerbaijan and Semnan provinces of Iran, respectively, belong to section Linaria.The new species are compared to their closest relative Linaria lineolata. Linaria azerbaijanensis differs from L. lineolata in having shorter bracts, a shorter corolla, shorter spur and smaller capsules and a different microsculpturing pattern of the testa cells. Linaria shahroudensis differs from L. lineolata in having shorter stems, shorter calyx‐lobes, a longer spur, a smaller capsule and a different microsculpturing pattern of the testa cells. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 734–742.     

A new species of Cycas (Cycadaceae) from Karnataka,India

Cycas swamyi Singh & Radha, sp. nov. (Cycadaceae) is described and illustrated from Karnataka, India. This new species has been confused with Cycas circinalis L., which is found in the Western Ghats. However, on the basis of its habit, characteristic isotomous‐type dichotomous branching, pinnae anatomy, mega‐ and microsporophyll morphology and seed anatomy, it has been segregated from C. circinalis and is described here as a new species. The distribution and conservation status are also discussed. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 430–435     

A new species of Paraboea (Gesneriaceae) from a karst cave in Guangxi,China, and observations on variations in flower and inflorescence architecture

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Paraboea trisepala W.H.Chen & Y.M.Shui, from a karst cave in Guangxi, China is described and illustrated. The new species differs from other species of Paraboea by its three‐lobed calyx. Variation in flower and inflorescence architecture was observed under cultivation. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 681–688.     

A new species of Centaurea (Asteraceae) from Sicily

A new species of Centaurea, Centaurea sicana , endemic to Sicily, is described. This new taxon is close to Centaurea parlatoris and Centaurea giardinae (Sect. Dissectae), the former occurring at Palermo and in the Madonie Mountains, while the latter occurs on the Etna volcano. The new species has so far been found only on the Sicani Mountains, a limestone mountain range in western Sicily, while the related species occur in the surrounding mountains. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 785–788.     

A revision of Elatostema section Weddelia series Salvinioida (Urticaceae)

Based on examinations of specimens of Elatostema and Pellionia housed at K, KUN, L, P, PE, and YUNU, Elatostema section Weddelia series Salvinioida is taxonomically revised. Two species are recognized, described, and illustrated, and a key to the species is provided. Elatostema salvinioides var. robustum W.T.Wang is treated as a synonym of E. salvinioides W.T.Wang. Pellionia imbricata Gagnepain is transferred to Elatostema and a lectotype is designated herein. A new name, Elatostema simplicissimum Q. Lin, is provided because Elatostema imbricans was previously occupied. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 62–66.     

A new species of Maytenus section Gymnosporia (Celastraceae) from Hainan Island,China

Maytenus dongfangensis , a new species of Maytenus section Gymnosporia from Hainan Island, China, is described and illustrated. It is most similar to M. longlinensis, from which it differs in its glabrous rachis, deltoid sepals, 2 stigmas, and obconical capsules. A key to the species of Maytenus section Gymnosporia in China is provided. No claim to original Chinese Government works. Journal compilation © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 534–538.     

A new species of Allium (Alliaceae) from Dalmatia,Croatia

Allium croaticum , a new species from the island of Vis in Central Dalmatia (Croatia) is described and illustrated. Its relationships with allied species belonging to the A. stamineum group (Allium section Codonoprasum) are discussed. It is a diploid species (2n = 16), colonizing calcareous screes and flowering in early summer. Its morphology, leaf anatomy, karyology, palynology, ecology and taxonomic position are examined. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 106–114.     

A new species of Aeschynomene L. (Leguminosae,Papilionoideae) from a continental sand dune area in north‐eastern Brazil

Aeschynomene sabulicola L.P. Queiroz & D. Cardoso is proposed as a new species of the section Ochopodium. This new species seems to be related to the series Viscidulae, as it presents herbaceous, slender branches, densely covered by viscid glandular hairs. However, it possesses fruits much larger than expected for this series. Aeschynomene sabulicola can be diagnosed by the erect habit, reaching c. 3.5 m high, inflorescences divaricate and horizontal with remote flowers, and fruits with only one subreniform article, this measuring 13–14 × 7–8 mm. The species occurs only in a continental sand dune area along the middle São Francisco River basin in the State of Bahia, north‐eastern Brazil. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 749–753.     

Tripleurospermum ziganaense (Asteraceae,Anthemideae), a new species from north‐east Anatolia,Turkey

A new species of Tripleurospermum Sch.Bip., Tripleurospermum ziganaense Inceer & Hay?rl?oglu‐Ayaz (Asteraceae, Anthemideae), is described and illustrated. The species grows in open places, on rocky slopes and on roadsides in north‐east Anatolia, Turkey. The diagnostic morphological characters that distinguish it from closely related taxa are discussed, and its conservation status is indicated. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 696–700.     

A new species of Polygala L. (Polygalaceae) from south‐west Anatolia

Polygala peshmenii Eren, Parolly, Raus & Kürschner is described and illustrated as a new species from Antalya province in south‐west Anatolia, Turkey. Within subgenus Polygala section Polygala, it seems to be taxonomically quite isolated. As far as the Flora of Turkey area is concerned, technical comparison can be made with the informal P. alpestris Rchb. and P. vulgaris L. groups. The habitat conditions of P. peshmenii and its conservation status are considered. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 82–86.     

The genus Huperzia (Lycopodiaceae) in the Azores and Madeira

The taxonomy and nomenclature of the genus Huperzia Bernh. in the Azores and Madeira have been reviewed. Plants collected in the Azores and Madeira were characterized morphologically. The independence between two endemic species common to Madeira and the Azores Islands –Huperzia suberecta (Lowe) Tardieu and Huperzia dentata (Herter) Holub – is clearly shown. A clear‐cut morphological separation between these taxa and Huperzia selago (L.) Bernh. ex Schrank & Mart. of continental Europe is established. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 522–533.     

Taxonomy of the Onosma echioides (L.) L. complex (Boraginaceae) based on morphometric analysis

A morphometric study on five populations of the Onosma echioides complex was carried out through univariate analysis, principal coordinate analysis and cluster analysis (the unweighted pair‐group method with arithmetic mean; UPGMA). In consideration of the quantitative morphological variability, of the known karyological homogeneity and of the allopatric distribution of the taxa, we propose here to treat this complex as a single species subdivided in four subspecies. The names O. angustifolia Lehm., O. canescens J. et C. Presl, O. dalmatica Scheele, O. echioides var. columnae Lacaita, O. echioides var. veronensis Lacaita and O. javorkae Simonkai are typified. The new combinations O. echioides subsp. angustifolia (Lehm.) Peruzzi & N. G. Passal., O. echioides subsp. canescens (J. et C. Presl) Peruzzi & N. G. Passal. and O. echioides subsp. dalmatica (Scheele) Peruzzi & N. G. Passal. are proposed. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 763–774.