Ophrys helenae (Orchidaceae), eine lange verkannte Sippe der Balkanhalbinsel

Population analyses, scatter diagrams and field observations demonstrate thatOphrys helenae is morphologically (and ecologically) well separated from the partly sympatricO. mammosa andO. ferrumequinum in N. Greece. Hybrids with the distantly relatedO. mammosa are very rare.

     

Stuessya (Asteraceae: Heliantheae), a new genus from southcentral Mexico

Stuessya, a new genus from the Pacific slopes of southcentral Mexico is described. It is comprised of three species:S. apiculata, previously assigned to the genusViguiera;S. perennans, the generotype; andS. michoacana. The latter two taxa are previously undescribed. The genus is characterized by its urceolate, sclerified (at maturity) involucre. Chromosome counts of2n = 34 are reported forS. perennans. Relationships are problematical, but are reckoned to be somewhere betweenAldama andViguiera.     

Notulae de Chrysobalanaceis Malesianis Praecursoriae

In preparation for the treatment of Chrysobalanaceae forFlora Malesiana, New and critical taxa are discussed and described. Two new species were found,Atuna cordata andParastemon grandifructus.Hunga fusicarpa is transferred to the genusLicania asL. fusicarpa. Species complexes aroundParinari costata andP. papuana are discussed; in both cases previously recognized species are reduced to subspecific rank within rather polymorphic species.     

Two new species of the carnivorous genusPinguicula, (Lentibulariaceae) from Mediterranean habitats

Two species ofPinguicula (P. submediterranea andP. mundi) are newly described from the south and east of the Iberian Peninsula. We analysed morphometric, cytogenetic, RAPD, ecological, and breeding system data to support the distinctness of these taxa.Pinguicula submediterranea andP. mundi are both hexaploid (2n = 48), a chromosome number previously not reported for the genus. Biometric, cytogenetical and molecular results distinguishP. submediterranea andP. mundi from otherPinguicula species, and from each other.Pinguicula mundi is predominantly outbreeding, whereasP. submediterranea both inbreeds and outbreeds.Pinguicula submediterranea andP. mundi appear to be isolated reproductively, although gene flow between the allopatricP. submediterranea andP. mundi is unlikely. BothP. submediterranea andP. mundi are threatened with extinction because suitable habitats are diminishing in size, or even disappearing, due to current aridity in the region.     

The systematics of clarkia bottae,C. Cylindrica,and a related new species,C. Rostrata

Populations ofClarkia cylindrica andC. bottae were studied in the field and in the garden. Seed from which the garden progenies were grown was collected in the wild. Experimental crosses were made between and within taxa. Fertility and chromosome pairing were observed in the hybrids. A maternal influence on seed set was found in crosses between C.cylindrica andC. bottae. Two taxa are described as new:Clarkia rostrata andC. cylindrica ssp.clavicarpa.     

A biosystematic study of Pacific Northwestern blue-eyed grasses (Sisyrinchium,Iridaceae)

Thirteen species of blue-eyed grasses had been described for the Pacific Northwest prior to this study. Contemporary taxonomic treatments vary; some authors recognize several of the taxa as valid species, others recognize only one highly variable, widely distributed species. Work has been directed to achieve an understanding of the biological integrity of all previously described species within the northwest. Living plants from natural populations were utilized in controlled artificial hybridization experiments, analysis of breeding systems, and cytological investigations. Hybrids of intraand interspecific crosses were examined for pollen fertility, and investigated cytologically for meiotic behavior. Eight genetically compatible groups are indicated from these experiments. Additional information gained from cytological analysis, breeding systems, ecology, distribution, and morphological studies substantiates the recognition of each genetically compatible group at the specific level, including the new species,S. hitchcockii, from southern Oregon. The following taxa are recognized for the Pacific Northwest: tetraploids (n = 16)S. bellum S. Wats.,S. halophilum Greene,S. septentrionale E. P. Bicknell; octoploids (n = 32)S. idahoense E. P. Bicknell (including the vars.segetum,macounii, andoccidentale), andS. hitchcockii D. Henderson; duodecaploids (n = 48)S. idahoense E. P. Bicknell var.idahoense, S. littorale Greene,S. montanum Greene, andS. sarmentosum Suksd. ex Greene.     

A new point of view on the taxonomy ofPottia starckeana agg. (Musci,Pottiaceae)

A new taxonomic treatment is proposed for thePottia starckeana species complex. The peristome development is not considered to be a useful feature to separate the taxa. On the basis of spore morphology only two species are accepted:P. starckeana, with spores wavy in outline, andP. davalliana, with variously-shaped and developed processes on the spores.Pottia starckeana var.brachyoda is reduced to synonymy withP. starckeana; P. conica andP. commutata are treated as synonyms ofP. davalliana. The speciesP. mutica, P. affinis, P. salina, P. microphylla, P. texana, andP. arizonica (included var.mucronulata) are considered taxa of doubtful affinity, as they have spore features intermediate between the two spore types established for the group. The identity ofP. appertii andP. recurvifolia has not been elucidated because the type material has been destroyed.     

New species of Pectis (Asteraceae) from the West Indies,Mexico, and South America

Four new species ofPectis are described:P. ericifolia from Barbuda,P. luckoviae from west-central Mexico,P. arida from Ecuador and Peru, andP. cajamarcana from Peru. Chromosome counts forP. ericifolia (n=48) andP. luckoviae (n=12) are presented. Relationships of the newly described taxa are discussed.     

A biosystematic study of the Panicum amarum-P. Amarulum complex (Gramineae)

Panicum amarum andP. amarulum exhibit north-south clinal variation and are virtually indistinguishable in the southern part of their range. Cytological evidence indicates thatP. amarum (2n = 54) is probably an autohexaploid derivative ofP. amarulum (2n = 36). The minor morphological differences, the apparent close genetic relationship, and the close ecological and chemical affinities between these two taxa indicate thatP. amarum andP. amarulum should have varietal rather than specific rank.     

Taxonomy and phylogeny of theParanourosorex lineage,Neogene of Eurasia (Mammalia: Soricidae: Anourosoricini)

Paranourosorex remains from 14 Miocene and Pliocene localities in Inner Mongolia (China) and SW Siberia (Russia, Kazakhstan) are referred to a detailed biochronological sequence. The fossils are considered to represent a single evolutionary lineage which ranges in time from late middle Turolian (MN 12) through late early Ruscinian (MN 14). The lineage is subdivided into 5 species, including the previously describedP. gigas Rzebik-Kowalska 1975 from Poland.Neomys inexspectatus Schlosser 1924 is assigned toParanourosorex, andP. seletiensis n.sp. is described as new. All taxa are diagnosed. Evolutionary changes within theParanourosorex lineage over a period of about 1.5 my are discussed. Intratribal comparisons suggest 3 anourosoricine clades during the Mio/Pliocene of Eurasia, consisting of 1)Crusafontina, 2) Paranourosorex, and 3)Anourosorex andAmblycoptus.     

Neocrassinid bivalves (Heterodonta) from the Middle Bathonian (Jurassic) of Kachchh,Western India

Six bivalve taxa belonging to the genusNeocrassina Fischer have been described from Middle Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) rocks of Kachchh, Western India. Of these,Neocrassina (N.) ovata (Smith), TV.(N.) robusta (Etallon) andN. (N.) paphia (d?Orbigny) have been recorded previously from various parts of Europe, whileNeocrassina (N.) pandeyi Maithani is an endemic faunal element as areNeocrassina (N.) sp. A andNeocrassina (N.) sp. B. The generic and sub-generic characters ofNeocrassina are reviewed as are affinities of the taxa with closely related forms from India and other parts of the world.     

Annotated chromosome counts of Czechoslovak plants (16–30) (Materials for “Flóra ČSSR”—2)

Chromosome counts of the following 15 taxa are given:Eupatorium cannabinum, Gypsophila fastigiata, Helianthemum grandiflorum subsp.obscurum, Helictotrichon desertorum subsp.basalticum, Impatiens parviflora, Inula hirta, Jurinea mollis, Kernera saxatilis, Lembotropis nigricans subsp.nigricans, Malva alcea subsp.excisa, Myosotis nemorosa, Otites pseudotites subsp.cuneifolia, Plantago atrata subsp.carpatica, P. atrata subsp.sudetica, Poa badensis. The chromosome numbers ofHelictotrichon desertorum (as subsp.basalticum) andPlantago atrata subsp.sudetica are given for the first time. Chromosome numbers differing from those previously known were found inJurinea mollis (2n=34 as compared to 2n=30) andKernera saxatilis (2n=14 as compared to 2n=16).Rhodax Spach (=Helianthemum L. p. p.) andOtites Adans. (=Silene L. p. p.) are considered as separate genera. Remarks on taxonomy, nomenclature and chorology are given for most of the taxa.     

Two new species of Vernonia (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) from Panama

Two new species,Vernonia cocleana andV. chiriquiensis, are described from Panama. These endemic species are distinct from those in Central America and most closely resemble taxa in the West Indies and Argentina, respectively. These taxa are described and illustrated; a key is provided to the Panamanian species ofVernonia.     

Earliest Devonian phacopide trilobites from central Bolivia

An early Lochkovian trilobite faunule from the Catavi Formation, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia, includesPaciphacops waisfeldae n. sp. andKazachstania gerardoi n. sp. The latter species also occurs in the upper part of the Los Espejos Formation in the Precordillera of San Juan, Argentina, and the former is sister species toP. argentinus (Thomas 1905) from the Los Espejos Formation. South AmericanPaciphacops species are allied to North American, rather than Australian, congenerics.Kazachstania Maksimova 1972 appears to include some species previously assigned toReussiana ?najdr 1987. Records ofPaciphacops andKazachstania provide evidence that earliest Devonian trilobites of Andean South America are largely geographically widespread taxa.     

Five new species of Heteropterys (Malpighiaceae) from Central and South America

Five-new taxa ofHeteropterys H. B. K. subsect.Aptychia Nied. are described, illustrated, and mapped:H. andina from Peru;H. minutiflora from Costa Rica; andH. bullata, H. capixaba, andH. oberdanii, from the Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil. The affinities and diagnostic characters of each species are discussed.     

Two new species and new records for Pteris (Pteridaceae) from Colombia

A systematic review of the Colombian species of the tribe Pterideae (Pteridaceae) resulted in the discovery of two new species ofPteris:P. muricatopedata andP. albertiae, both in the Deflexa group. Two species are reported for the first time from Colombia:P. bakeri C. Chr. andP. lechleri Mett.     

Three new species ofPenicillium isolated from soil

Three new species ofPenicillium Linkex Gray nom. cons. prop. are described and illustrated. These species have been recovered from samples of sandy soil under pine trees. They differ from all species of theGenus described so far and are, therefore, considered and proposed as new taxa:Penicillium rubefaciens sp. nov.,Penicillium vaccaeorum sp. nov. andPenicillium michaelis sp. nov.     

Reduction of pseudotaenidia to taenidia (Apiaceae)

Two previously monotypic genera,Taenidia andPseudotaenidia, are combined to form a single genusTaenidia, with two species. The difference in the fruits that has caused these otherwise very similar taxa to be referred to different tribes of the Apiaceae is considered to be of only specific importance in this instance.