New fossil fruits of Carya (Juglandaceae) from the latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene in Tennessee,eastern United States

Fossil fruits including nuts and associated husk valves of a new species of Carya (Juglandaceae) are described from the latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene in northeastern Tennessee, eastern United States. The husk valves are elliptic, 1.2–4.5 mm thick, with a convex exterior face and a concave interior face; the nuts are globose to ovoid in shape, smooth and longitudinally ribbed on exterior surface, with a short protruding apex and a slightly 4-angled base; inner ribs, lacunae and primary septa are well-developed, while secondary septa are absent or weakly developed. The combination of these carpological characteristics clearly shows a close resemblance to the genus Carya in Juglandaceae. Detailed comparisons of carpological morphology and anatomy indicate that the present fossil taxon is different from both living and most other fossil species of the genus, and therefore warrants the designation of a new fossil species, Carya tennesseensis Huang et al., sp. nov. Carya tennesseensis displays a carpological similarity to C. ventricosa from the late Oligocene to early Pliocene in Europe, suggesting a potential species exchange of the genus between Europe and southeastern North America during the late Neogene. The new fossil species represents one of the few fruit fossil species of Carya from its modern distribution range in southeastern North America. It provides crucial information for better understanding the rapid diversification of the genus from the late Miocene to early Pliocene, and the origin and establishment of today's Carya biodiversity in this region.     

Spooneromyces, a new genus to accommodate Peziza laeticolor and the new species S. helveticus

A new genus Spooneromyces is proposed for Peziza laeticolor (syn. Melastiza asperula ). A second species of the genus is described here as S. helveticus sp. nov. Spooneromyces has the following combination of distinctive generic marks: superficial, stiff, brownish hairs; orange to reddish carotenoid-containing hymenium, and heavily sculptured ascospore walls. It is referred to tribe Scutellinieae of the Pyrone-metaceae.     

Paramphisphaeria costaricensis gen. et sp. nov. and Pachytrype rimosa sp. nov. from Costa Rica

Paramphisphaeria is described as a new genus on the basis of the single species, P. costaricensis. It differs from Amphisphaeria spp. primarily in having bicellular ascospores with a germ slit and in having an ascus apical ring that does not become blue in iodine. It resembles Amphisphaeria in its brown color and lack of constriction at the septum of the ascospore. An anamorph is unknown. It tentatively is placed in the Xylariaceae for reasons discussed. Pachytrype rimosa is described as a new species.     

Redheadia quercus gen. et sp. nov., the teleomorph of Mycopappus quercus, the frosty mildew fungus in Quercus acutissima

The teleomorph of Mycopappus quercus causing frosty mildew in Quercus acutissima is described as a new genus and species, Redheadia quercus, in the Sclerotiniaceae. Apothecia sprout from sclerotia on the fallen infected leaves kept for 10 months at 5°C and subsequent incubation at 15°C under diffused room light. Typical zonate lesions and multicellular propagules of M. quercus are produced on Q. acutissima, by mycelial inoculation using an isolate from a single ascospore, confirming the teleomorph–anamorphic connection. No significant differences are observed between cultured colonies of isolates from the ascospore and those from the propagule. Sclerotia and microconidia of the fungus are produced on culture media.     

Skyttea richardsonii sp. nov. from Maine, with a key to the species known from North America

Skyttea richardsonii sp. nov. is described from a sterile corticolous lichen in Maine. It is closest to S. tavaresae, the only other member of the genus to be reported as having annelations on the excipular hairs, but that species occurs on Loxospora spp. and differs in the K+ reaction of the exciple and ascospore size. Minute Phoma-like conidiomata found in some apothecia may represent an independent fungicolous fungus growing on the new species. This is the 10th species of the genus to have been discovered in North America; a key to these species is provided.     

Additions to the foliicolous lichen flora of the Ivory Coast and Guinea (Tropical West Africa)

Four new foliicolous lichen species are described from the Ivory Coast (Tropical West Africa): Bapalmuia ivoriensis sp. nov., Chroodiscus africanus sp. nov., C. verrucosus sp. nov., and Lasioloma inexspectatum sp. nov. In addition, the new combination Calenia inconspicua comb, nova [Bas.: Heterothecium inconspicuum] is introduced. Lasioloma inexspectatum is the first species in the genus characterized by transversely septate ascospores and provides additional evidence for phylogenetic lines regarding the evolution of ascospore types in the lichen family Ectolechiaceae. In addition, 61 new records for the Ivory Coast and seven for Guinea are presented, increasing the number of species known in these areas to 161 and 124, respectively. Five species are new for tropical Africa, and six new for the Paleotropics. Further taxonomical and ecogeographical notes on the foliicolous lichen flora of tropical West Africa are provided.     

Annulatascus aquatorba sp. nov., a lignicolous freshwater ascomycete from Sirindhorn Peat Swamp Forest, Narathiwat, Thailand

As part of a long term study of fungi colonizing submerged wood in freshwater streams a new Annulatascus species, A. aquatorba, is described and illustrated from Erythrophleum teysmannii test blocks from Sirindhorn Peat Swamp Forest, southern Thailand. It differs from other species in the genus in ascospore measurements, thickness of the cell wall, 1-3-septate, fusoid to lunate shape, with central brown cells and subhyaline end cells and without a mucilaginous sheath. Asci are cylindrical, pedicellate, with a distinct, wedge-shaped and non-amyloid apical ring. Phylogenetic relationships of this species, based on the combined partial 18S and 28S rDNA, place it in the same clade as A. velatisporus (type species), A. hongkongensis and A. nilensis.     

Orbilia tianmushanensis sp. nov., a new member of the O. luteorubella group with an unusual asexual morph

A new species of Orbilia related to O. luteorubella is described mainly based on morphological characters of its asexual morph and molecular data. The sexual morph does not significantly differ from O. luteorubella, whereas the asexual morph obtained from its ascospore isolate resembles members of the non-predacious genus Dactylella, because it has fusiform phragmoconidia borne singly at the apex of conidiophores. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this strain clustered with a clade that included available strains of the O. luteorubella aggregate and was distant from all analysed Dactylella species. Within this clade, the new strain fell between species with filiform conidia and those of a Pseudotripoconidium anamorph. By combining morphological and phylogenetic analyses, we conclude that our isolate belongs to a new taxon. Pleomorphism of the new taxon is described and discussed.     

Microfungi on the Pandanaceae: Linocarpon lammiae sp. nov., L. siamensis sp. nov. and L. suthepensis sp. nov. are described with a key to Linocarpon species from the Pandanaceae

Linocarpon species are reported from Pandanaceae in Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Seychelles, Thailand and Vanuatu. Linocarpon lammiae sp. nov. were collected on decaying leaves of Pandanus tectorius in Hong Kong. Linocarpon siamensis sp. nov. and L. suthepensis sp. nov. were collected from decaying leaves of P. penetrans in Thailand. These taxa are described, illustrated and compared with Linocarpon species with similar ascospore morphology and dimensions. Included are a synoptic table, which compares the new species to similar known species, and a dichotomous key to species of Linocarpon known from members of the Pandanaceae.     

VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY IN RETICULOCAULIS GEN. NOV. AND NACCARIA HAWAIIANA SP. NOV. (RHODOPHYTA,NACCARIACEAE)1

A secondarily formed reticulum of cells that encloses axial strands and a carposporophyte that is almost entirely converted to sporangia are the diagnostic features of a new genus, Reticulocaulis (Naccariaceae, Nemaliales), with R. mucosissimus as the type species. A new species of Naccaria, N. hawaiiana permits close comparison with the new genus and other previously described species of Naccaria. Until now, no Naccariaceae were known in the Pacific, and these new taxa are part of the sketchily known subtidal marine flora of Hawaii.     

The genus Thecotheus (Pezizales) in Australia: T. urinamans sp. nov. from urea-treated jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest

The genus Thecotheus is reported in Australia for the first time. A new species, Thecotheus urinamans is described and illustrated and included in a key to all known species of the genus. Critical macro- and micromorphological comparisons are presented to distinguish the new species from several closely related species, particularly the widespread fungus Thecotheus crustaceus. Thecotheus urinamans was growing on rotting, moist, plant litter from an experimental plot treated with urea (ammonia) in the indigenous jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of Western Australia.     

A new karyological variant of Oecomys (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) and its phylogenetic relationship based on molecular data.

A new karyological variant of the Sigmodontinae genus Oecomys was detected in specimens from Brazilian Pantanal. Karyologic analyses showed 2n = 72 and FN = 90, which differs from all known chromosomal complements of the genus. This new karyomorph showed distinctive morphological attributes and could not be attributed to any described Oecomys species. Molecular analysis using cytochrome-b sequence data suggested the monophyly of Oecomys. Maximum-likelihood analyses placed the Oecomys sp. haplotype clade as the sister branch to Oecomys bicolor, whereas maximum-parsimony analyses did not resolve its relationship with the other Oecomys species. Kimura's two parameters distance estimates between this and other Oecomys species are high, and active gene flow has been found not to coexist with these divergence estimates.     

TAXONOMY OF THE LENORMANDIA - LENORMANDIOPSIS COMPLEX (RHODOMELACEAE, RHODOPHYTA)

The genus Lenormandia is composed of nine species from Australia and New Zealand. Some of the these are well known, but others are rare, obscure and ill-defined. We have examined material of all described species and found that they fall into two discrete groups that differ in apex morphology and position of reproductive structures. Plants of the first group, containing the type species L. spectabilis , have a cleft apex and reproductive structures produced directly on the blade surface, whereas those of the second group have a strongly inrolled apex and produce reproductive structures dorsally on small branchlets which arise either from the margins or the midrib. The groups were also found to form discrete clades on analysis of 18S rRNA sequences. All the members of the first group are endemic to Australia, whereas the second group, designated by the new genus name Adamsiella , contains two previously described New Zealand species and a single Australian representative. In addition, two new species are described in this group from New Zealand. Members of the closely related genus Lenormandiopsis were also examined and the type species, L. latifolia , was found to conform in apex morphology and position of reproductive structures to the genus Lenormandia. Accordingly Lenormandiopsis has been subsumed within Lenormandia. The remaining three members of the former genus Lenormandiopsis , however, were found to differ from both the type species and the genus Lenormandia and consequently have been transferred to the separate genus Geraldia , along with a new species from Geraldton, Western Australia which is designated as the type.     

Fungi on grasses: new species of Ascotaiwania,Diaporthe and Oxydothis (Ascomycetes)

Four new species of ascomycetes, Ascotaiwania pennisetarum sp. nov., Diaporthe appendiculata sp. now., Diaporthe minutis sp. nov., and Oxydothis miscanthiecola sp. nov., are described from senescent culms of grasses in Hong Kong. Ascotaiwania pennisetarum is distinctive from other species in the genus as ascospores are narrower. Diaporthe minutis differs from the most similar Diaporthe species in having ascospores with bipolar mucilaginous pads, while Diaporthe appendiculata differs from other species in having ascospores with both a mucilaginous pad and appendages at both ends. Oxydothis miscanthicola differs from other species in the genus in having long fusiform ascospores, which taper to rounded apices or otherwise differ in shape and size. These new species are compared with existing species and illustrated with interference light micrographs. The Diaporthe species known to posses mucilaginous ascospore appendages are listed.     

中国阳蝇属古阳蝇种团记述(双翅目蝇科)(英文)

阳蝇属是蝇科中第二大属,迄今全世界已知400余种,中国已知近200种。本文综述了该属分亚属、种团研究简史,首次提出了古阳蝇种团Helina annosaspecies-group的概念及其区别特征,报告了中国产该种团19种名录和分布,编制了该种团分亚种团、分种检索表,对其中一个新种鬃胫阳蝇Helina setipostitibia sp.nov.予以描述。新种与分布于我国四川省的羽胫阳蝇Helina plumipostitibia Feng et Xue,2002近缘,但新种额宽为前单眼横径2倍宽,间额在最狭处约为一侧额宽的1.5倍,下眶鬃几乎达于单眼三角处;侧颜约为触角第三节宽的2倍,颊高约为眼高的1／2;翅前鬃体毛状;前胫无中位后鬃,中胫具7-9根发达的后鬃,长短不一,略呈2列,后胫不弯曲等即可区别。模式标本保存于沈阳师范大学昆虫研究所。     

Crassophyllum thessalonicae sp.n. (Octocorallia, Pennatulacea), from the Aegean Sea

A new pennatulacean species, Crassophyllum thessalonicae sp.n. is described from the Mediterranean (North Aegean Sea). This is the first record of a Crassophyllum Tixier-Duri vault, 1961 species from the Mediterranean Sea. The differences between the new species and C. cristatum Tixier-Durivault, 1961, the other known species of the genus, are discussed, and the genus Crassophyllum is critically compared with the other two related genera Pteroeides Herklots, 1858 and Sarcoptilus Gray, 1848.     

NOTES ON ANNOSA SPECIES-GROUP OF HELINA R.-D. (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE) IN CHINA

Abstract The genus Helina R.-D., 1830 is the second largest genus in Muscidae. By now, more than 400 species are known in the world and about 200 species have been described in China. This paper outlines earlier studies on the subgenus and species-group of Helina. Helina annosa species-group is erected. A key to the known Chinese subgroups and species is given. The 19 known Chinese species is listed, including one new species, i.e. Helina setipostitibia sp. nov. Type specimen of the holotype of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Shenyang Normal University.     

Charipinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) from Australia: revision of the genus Thoreauana Girault, 1930 and description of Dilapothor n. gen.

Abstract  The Australian genus Thoreauana Girault is revised: the three known species are redescribed and Thoreauana giraulti sp. n. is described. A new genus of Charipinae from Australia, Dilapothor n. gen., is described. The diagnostic characters for the tribe Charipini are discussed and a key to the Charipini genera is provided.     

Two new species ofNeosartorya from Brazilian soil

Among the isolates from soil of corn and sugar cane plantations in São Paulo State, Brazil, two new species ofNeosartorya, N. botucatensis andN. paulistensis, are described and illustrated.Neosartorya botucatensis differs from the other known species of the genus in having ascospores with long spines on the convex walls.Neosartorya paulistensis is characterized by its ascospore walls with spinose and verruculose ornamentation. The former is compared with the closely related speciesN. spinosa, and the latter is closely related toN. glabra, N. pseudofischeri and N. stramenia.