Philodendron bernardopazii and P. ricardoi spp. nov. (Araceae) from Espírito Santo State,Brazil

Two new species of Philodendron– Araceae (Philodendron bernardopazii E. G. Gonç. and Philodendron ricardoi E. G. Gonç.), so far known to be endemic to the Espirito Santo State, Brazil, are here described and illustrated for the first time. Philodendron bernardopazii has been traded as an ornamental plant for more than 30 years, as one of several species popularly called Philodendron“Santa Leopoldina”, because of the Brazilian county where it has been collected. This new species is so far known from two cultivated stocks, both supposedly collected at the same location (around the village of Santa Leopoldina) and if it still exists in nature, it is probably threatened. Philodendron ricardoi has only been observed on rocks around the village of Estrela do Norte where huge populations can be seen growing in rocky outcrops in open areas.     

Stromanthe bahiensis sp. nov. (Marantaceae), endemic to southern Bahia State,Brazil

Stromanthe bahiensis Yoshida‐Arns, Mayo & J. M. A. Braga sp. nov. (Marantaceae) is described as an endemic to the Atlantic Forest coast of southern Bahia State in Brazil. It is similar to S. hjalmarssonii (Körn.) Petersen, which is restricted to Central America, but differs from it by the following characteristics: petiole 14–70 cm long, leaf blade oblong‐ovate to ovate‐lanceolate, fertile bracts 18–30×2–4 mm, narrowly lanceolate to ovate‐lanceolate, sepals 4–6 mm long, corolla lobes 3.0–3.5 mm long, outer staminodes 2.0–3.5×1–2 mm, pale bluish or purplish, callose staminode 2–3×1–2 mm, cucullate staminode 2–3 mm long and ovary hirsute. The new species is described and illustrated with diagnostic characters, taxonomic comments and remarks on its conservation status.     

Murdannia nampyana (Commelinaceae) sp. nov. from Kerala,India

Murdannia nampyana sp. nov. (Commelinaceae), collected from a marshy riparian area by the Kadambrayar River, near Bhramapuram Diesel Power Project, Kakkanad, Ernakulam district, Kerala is described. The new species can be distinguished from the similar species M. spirata G.Brückn. by its creeping habit, up to 1.5 m long with no definite base (vs erect, ascending, decumbent habit, with or without definite base), 1.1–2.2 cm wide flower diameter (vs 0.65–0.80 cm), petals 1.1 × 0.5–0.7 cm (vs 0.35–0.40 × 0.25–0.35 cm), 0.6–0.5–0.9 cm long stamen filaments (vs 0.06–0.15 cm), 0.20–0.25 cm long staminode filaments, (vs 0.06–0.15 cm), 2–3 smooth seeds per locule, with ridges and furrows and 1–2 small ventral depression on both side of the linear hilum and dorsal embryotega (vs 3–4 verrucose seeds per locule, with ridges and warts, 1–3 deep ventral pits on both side of elliptic hilum, edges of pits surrounded by warts, brownish powdery material in the testa and semidorsal embryotega).     

Clinical,Epidemiological, and Epizootic Features of Sporothrix brasiliensis in Espírito Santo,Brazil

EcoHealth - We verified the clinical–epidemiological, microbiological, and molecular aspects of feline sporotrichosis in Espírito Santo, Brazil, as well as demonstrated the degree of...     

Crocus ilvensis sp. nov. (sect. Crocus,Iridaceae), endemic to Elba Island (Tuscan Archipelago,Italy)

A new species of Crocus sect. Crocus is described as an endemic of Elba Island (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy): C. ilvensis Peruzzi & Carta sp. nov. (2n=8). The new species was wrongly referred to C. corsicus Vanucchi (2n=18), C. etruscus Parl. (2n=8) or C. vernus Hill. subsp. vernus (2n=8, 16) by previous authors. Its karyotype structure, asymmetry and chromosome dimensions show affinity with C. etruscus, and no clear relations with other related taxa. From a morphological point of view, C. ilvensis appears intermediate between C. etruscus and C. vernus subsp. vernus, showing however a peculiar combination of character‐states. The new species is completely allopatric with other Crocus sect. Crocus taxa and its possible role in the origin of tetraploid races of C. vernus is discussed.     

Elsholtzia litangensis sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) endemic to China

A new species of Elsholtzia, E. litangensis C. X. Pu & W. Y. Chen, is described and illustrated from Sichuan, Tibet and Qinghai. The diagnostic features of the new species are compared with E. fruticosa (D. Don) Rehd. Elsholtzia litangensis is characterized by a secund spike and a scaly buds in the leaf axils.     

Mixoscyphus antarcticus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Sertulariidae), the first truly endemic genus of Antarctic benthic hydroids

A genus and species of Antarctic benthic hydroids new to science, Mixoscyphus antarcticus gen. nov., sp. nov., is described and figured. Its systematic position amongst allied genera of the family Sertulariidae is discussed. The studied material originates from the South Shetland Islands area (West Antarctica), which was collected by several Spanish and US Antarctic expeditions. Mixoscyphus gen. nov. currently represents the only complete endemic genus of Antarctic benthic hydrozoans. A discussion of other genera of benthic hydroids that are largely endemic to the Antarctic is also provided.     

Distribution of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) at different altitudes in an endemic region of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil.

The involvement of different sand fly species in the transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) at different altitudes was evaluated in the municipality of Afonso Cláudio in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, from November 1995 to February 1997. CDC light traps and Shannon traps baited with human volunteers were hung simultaneously at three altitudes of a river valley: (a) 650-750 m in an area of active ACL transmission; (b) 750-850 m in a transitional area; and (c) 850-950 m in an area where no ACL transmission occurred. A total of 13,363 specimens belonging to 28 species was collected. The five most abundant man-biting species were Lutzomyia intermedia, which constituted 24.3% of the total, Lu. migonei (22.3%), Lu. whitmani (15.4%), Lu. fischeri (14.9%) and Lu. monticola (5.8%). Analysis of the distribution of these species at the three altitudes provided evidence that Lu. fischeri and Lu. monticola were not involved in ACL transmission, whereas Lu. migonei and Lu. whitmani might act as secondary vectors of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Lu. intermedia was probably the principal vector of the parasite. These results reinforce those published in the existing literature, which indicate that Lu. intermedia is the main vector of Le. (V.) braziliensis in Southeast Brazil, while Lu. migonei and Lu. whitmani are of secondary importance.     

Aloe nugalensis sp. nov. (Asphodelaceae), a new gypsum endemic from northeastern Somalia

The new species Aloe nugalensis Thulin, a shrubby plant with long, drooping leaves and a drooping, branched inflorescence with long‐pedicellate orange red flowers, is described from a gypsum hill in the Nugaal valley of northeastern Somalia. The only known material is an individual grown in the Botanical Garden of Uppsala University from seeds collected in Nov 1985 that first flowered in Feb 2011.     

Abelmoschus enbeepeegearense sp. nov. (Malvaceae), an endemic species of okra from Western Ghats,India

Abelmoschus enbeepeegearense J. John et al. is a new species occurring at low elevations in the Western Ghats of India, comprising Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The taxon is morphologically allied to A. moschatus subsp. moschatus, A. moschatus subsp. tuberosus and A. crinitus, but easily distinguishable by virtue of its orthotropic branching, 3–5‐angled leaves, glandular hairy plant body with whitish waxy secretions, glandular non‐setose epiclayx segmens which is more than eight in number and ovate hirsute fruits with a short mucro at the apex. It can be crossed with all three taxa with varying degree of success, but the hybrids are sterile. The material belonging to it was earlier identified as and placed under A. moschatus Medik. The taxon is described and illustrated with notes on its phenology, ecology and distribution. In additions, a key to all Abelmoschus taxa occurring in India is provided.     

Momordica sahyadrica sp. nov. (Cucurbitaceae), an endemic species of Western Ghats of India

Momordica sahyadrica is a new species occurring in a very narrow habitat range in Western Ghats of India. Formerly, material of it was placed under Momordica dioica , but it appeared distinct from that species in various morphological and ecological features. It is described and illustrated with a note on its distribution and ecology.     

Two species of Strobilomyces (Boletaceae, Boletales), S. seminudus and S. hongoi sp. nov. from Japan

We describe and illustrate two Strobilomyces species, S. seminudus and S. hongoi sp. nov. These two species have been confused and treated as a single species (i.e. S. seminudus). However recent studies based on population genetics have implied that they are reproductively isolated. In the present study we found that they are phylogenetically and morphologically distinct. The molecular phylogenetic trees inferred from the partial sequences of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) and the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) support the differentiation of these two species as well as their differentiation from other related species. Strobilomyces seminudus is characterized by a stipe with an annular zone, becoming distinctly thickened near the apex and mottled with appressed-tomentose scales near the base. In contrast S. hongoi is characterized by a stipe with a remarkable reticulum at the upper and middle part and with minutely warty scales downward. Stipe characteristics also are useful for distinguishing these two species from other related species. In addition the incompletely reticulated basidiospores of these two species are also distinct from those of related species (i.e. S. foveatus).     

Triatoma juazeirensis sp. nov. from the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Triatoma juazeirensis, a new triatomine species from the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, is described. The new species is found among rocks in sylvatic environment and in the peridomicile. Type specimens were deposited in the Entomological Collection of Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Museum of Zoology of University of S?o Paulo, and Florida Museum of Natural History. T. juazeirensis can be distinguished from the other members of the T. brasiliensis species complex mainly by the overall color of the pronotum, which is dark, and by the entirely dark femora.     

Schiedeella jean-mulleri sp. nov. and S. esquintlensis sp. nov. (Orchidaceae, Stenorrhynchidinae) from Guatemala

Two new species of the genus Schiedeella Schltr. (Orchidaceae), S. jean-mulleri Szlach., Rutk. & Mytnik and S. esquintlensis Szlach., Rutk. & Mytnik, are described and illustrated. Their taxonomic position is briefly discussed.     

Pradosia restingae sp. nov. from the Atlantic forest,Brazil

Pradosia restingae Terra‐Araujo, a new species of Sapotaceae (Chrysophylloideae) from the Brazilian Atlantic forest is described and illustrated. It is only known from the southern coast of the State Rio Grande do Norte and is likely restricted to the coastal sand dune ecosystem, locally known as the restinga forest, from which the epithet is derived. The species is naturally common, but due the low number of known subpopulations we assign P. restingae a preliminary conservation status of ‘Endangered’ (EN).     

Jacquemontia diamantinensis sp. nov. (Convolvulaceae) from the Chapada Diamantina,Brazil

Jacquemontia diamantinensis Buril (Convolvulaceae) described here as a new species, is endemic to the Chapada Diamantina, in Bahia, Brazil. Illustrations and a table for comparing characters with related species are provided.     

Sageretia santapaui sp. nov. and S. devendrae sp. nov. (Rhamnaceae) from western Himalaya, India

Two new species of Sageretia Brongn. (Rhamnaceae), S. santapaui Pusalkar & D. K. Singh and S. devendrae Pusalkar, are described and illustrated. Both species are allied to S. thea (Osbeck) M. C. Johnst., but differs in the pubescence of young branches, leaf shape, leaf margins, stipule shape, inflorescence type, length of the inflorescence, number and arrangement of flowers, bracteole number and shape.