A further evaluation of Echites sect. Yucatanense (Apocynaceae) with additional notes on the genus

The speciesEchites turrigera Woodson has been considered a synonym ofE. yucatanensis Millsp. Evidence presented here shows that the two species are distinct. In addition,Echites parviflora Sessé &; Moç is presented here as a synonym ofE. woodsoniana Monach.     

Plectodiscus discoideus (Rauff): A redescription of a chondrophorine from the early devonian hunsrück Slate,West Germany

Additional specimens of a “by-the-wind sailor” (velellid hydrozoan) from the Hunsrück Slate indicate thatPalaeonectris Rauff is a subjective synonym ofPlectodiscus Ruedemann.Silurovelella Fisher is also judged to be a synonym ofPlectodiscus. The nature of the matrix and the degree of decay and flexing of the pneumatophore disc affect preservation of these fossils. The internal chitinoid gas-filled float structure ofPlectodiscus discoideus is often preserved as a concentrically laminated, oval disc. After death of the organism, it was separated from the soft tissues and before burial in the sediment, it may have been transported by the wind and surface currents. Some new details are added to the anatomy of P.discoideus (Rauff), and a new reconstruction is presented.     

A re-evaluation ofBlayacina Cobbold 1932 andThoralaspis Hupe 1953 (Trilobita: Redlichiida)

The monotypic trilobite generaBlayacina andThoralaspis from the late Early Cambrian of the Montagne Noire, Southern France, are revised. Restudy of the type specimens and of new material from the type locality and stratum as well as morphometric measurements strongly support the assumption that both taxa are identical and that morphologic as well as taxonomic differences resulted from tectonic distortion. Thus,Thoralaspis thorali has to be regarded as a subjective junior synonym ofBlayacina miqueli andThoralaspis as a junior synonym ofBlayacina. Its systematic position as a morphologic group aroundLusatiops within the Ellipsocephalidae-Protoleninae is confirmed.     

Revision ofMesorhyphus Handlirsch,Eoplecia Handlirsch andHeterorhyphus Bode (Diptera: Anisopodomorpha,Bibionomorpha) from the upper liassic of Germany

The holotypes of the Lower Jurassic DipteraMesorhyphus nanus Handlirsch 1920,M. areolatus Handlirsch 1939,M. anomalus Handlirsch 1939,Eoplecia primitiva Handlirsch 1920,Heterorhyphus latus Bode 1953,H. analivarius Bode 1953 andProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis Bode 1953 were re-examined. The holotype ofEoplecia primitiva is the counterpart ofMesorhyphus areolatus. M. areolatus is a junior synonym ofM. nanus. Mesorrhyphoides Rohdendorf 1962 is a synonym ofHeterorhyphus Bode 1953.Heterorhyphus analivarius is a synonym ofProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis, being mistakenly described from the counterpart of the holotype of the latter. The genusHeterorhyphus is valid and comprises onlyH. anomalus (Handlirsch 1939) n. comb.;H. latus is a synonym of the latter species. As the wing venation ofHeterorhyphus is conspicuously different from all fossil and Recent Anisopodomorpha, it is placed into a new family, Heterorhyphidae, within the Bibionomorpha.     

Bryosedgwickia,a new synonym of Platygyriella (Hypnaceae)

Bryosedgwickia is considered a synonym ofPlatygyriella and the following transfers are proposed:P. aurea, P. aureoides, P. densa, P. fragilifolia, P. kirtikarii andP. pringlei. A key is provided to the accepted species ofPlatygyriella. Excluded species are treated asHondaella entodontea (C. Müll.) Buck andIsopterygium jamaicense (Bartr.) Buck.     

Halichoeres bleekeri (steindachner & döderlein), a valid japanese species of labrid fish, distinct fromH. tenuispinis (günther) from china

Halichoeres bleekeri (Steindachner &; Döderlein, 1887), previously regarded as a junior synonym ofH. tenuispinis (Günther), is a valid species. It is distinct fromH. tenuispinis in nearly always having 13 instead of 14 pectoral rays. 11–15 instead of 7–11 suborbital pores, longer dorsal soft rays (1.95–2.3 in head length vs 2.25–2.4 fortenuispinis). and some features of color such as the absence of a dark spot at the upper base of the caudal fin of the female.H. tremebundus Jordan and Snyder, 1902 is a synonym ofH. bleekeri based on the female form, andArtisia festiva de Beaufort is a synonym ofH. tenuispinis, also described from the female phase,H. bleekeri is known from Korea and in Japan from Tokyo to the Izu Islands.H. tenuispinis is recorded from Hong Kong and Xiamen. China, and Taiwan. Records ofH. tenuispinis from the Philippines by Fowler and Bean (1928) represent misidentifications ofH. papilionaceus (Valenciennes).     

Nomenclatural changes in schizachyrium (Poaceae)

Two morphological variants ofSchizachyrium hirtiflorum are reduced to varietal rank underS. sanguineum. Schizachyrium semiberbe is included as a synonym of the typical variety ofS. sanguineum.     

Solgerites Reeside, 1932 (Cretaceous Ammonoidea) a synonym ofForresteria Reeside, 1932, with a revision ofSolgerites brancoi (Solger, 1904) (Cretaceous Ammonoidea) from Cameroon

A revision of the surviving “Barroisiceras” specimens from Cameroon described by SOLGER (1904) suggests thatBarroisiceras brancoi, type species ofSolgerites REESIDE, 1932, including varietiesmitis andarmatus of SOLGER, andBarroisiceras hoberfellneri alstadenensis SOLGER non SCHLüTER are variants of a single species and thatSolgerites is a synonym ofForresteria (Forresteria) REESIDE, 1932, of whichEboroceras BASSE, 1947 also is a synonym.     

Resurrection of the genus Dactyladenia (Chrysobalanaceae)

Dactyladenia, which has been universally regarded as a synonym ofAcioa for more than 100 years, is restored to generic rank, and 26 new combinations are made in an enumeration of the 27 species accepted by the authors.     

Parabittacus analis Handlirsch 1939 undParabittacus lingula (Bode 1953), Neorthophlebiiden (Insecta: Mecoptera) aus dem Oberen Lias von Deutschland

The holotype ofParabittacus analis Handlirsch 1939 from the Upper Liassic of Dobbertin is redescribed after preparation and considered a representative of the Neorthophlebiidae. The genusPolydicrobittacus Bode 1953 from Hondelage is a junior synonym ofParabittacus.     

Convolvulus grandiflorus Jacq. (Convolvulaceae) re-examined

Convolvulus grandiflorus Jacq. has been treated as a synonym ofOperculina ventricosa andStictocardia tiliifolia. It is here accepted as identifiable withIpomoea (sect.Calonyction)macrantha which is the correct name for Jacquin’s taxon. Full synonymies ofIpomoea macrantha andOperculina ventricosa are given, along with a comment about a variant occurring in Micronesia.     

The status of the gobioid genusParoxyurichthys

Examination of the holotype and only known specimen ofParoxyurichthys typus Bleeker, 1876, from Indonesia revealed it to have distinctions of the cephalic lateralis, post-cranial axial osteology and pigmentation diagnostic ofGobionellus oceanicus (Pallas, 1770) of the western Atlantic.Paroxyurichthys Bleeker, 1876, is a junior synonym ofGobionellus Girard, 1859. The only other species commonly referred toParoxyurichthys, Oxyurichthys laterisquamatus Weber, 1908, from New Guinea, has anterior nares medial to the oculoscapular canals of the snout. This feature is a synapomorphy of the genusStenogobius Bleeker, 1874. The new combination,Stenogobius laterisquamatus is proposed.     

Changes in the West Indian operculina (Convolvulaceae)

Two West Indian names inOperculina are briefly discussed and compared with the Old WorldO. turpethum (L.) S. Manso. The conclusions are made thatO. triquetra (Vahl) H. Hallier is a taxonomic synonym ofO. turpethum and thatO. ventricosa (Bertero) Peter may best be considered a variety ofO. turpethum. Typification ofOperculina is discussed, and it is found that, although S. Manso had a mixed concept ofO. turpethum, this species must be the type of the genus.     

Taxonomic status of barbe's leaf-monkey,Presbytis barbei Blyth

The taxonomic status ofPresbytis barbei Blyth has been discussed in the light of fresh collections obtained from its type localityviz Tripura, India. The study reveals thatPresbytis barbei Blyth (1847) is nothing but a synonym ofPresbytis phayrei phayrei Blyth and the so called type specimens ofbarbei present in the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, appear to be wrongly labelled specimens ofPresbytis cristatus atrior Pocock.     

Studies on the genus Fontinalis (Musci: Fontinalaceae)

Fontinalis welchiana, a new species in the concave-leaved group ofFontinalis restricted to Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois, differs fromF. novaeangliae by its slender size, dimorphic leaves, erect and strongly concave branch leaves, and lightly papillose exostome with ventral lamellae that are strongly rounded at the corners.Fontinalis allenii is a synonym ofF. antipyretica var.oreganensis.     

Zur systematischen Position vonSchesslitziella haupti Kuhn 1952 (Insecta: Phasmatodea) aus dem Oberen Lias von Nordfranken (Deutschland)

The holotype ofSchesslitziella haupti Kuhn 1952 from the Upper Liassic of northern Franconia is redescribed. The species is considered a representative of the Chresmodellinae (Phasmatodea: Aerophasmatidae).Chresmodella Bode 1953 is a younger synonym ofSchesslitziella Kuhn 1952.     

Misapplication of the name stachys nuttallii (Lamiaceae) to a new southeastern species

A recent study of Southeastern species ofStachys points out a problem involving the identity ofS. nuttallii Shuttlew. ex Bentham. Type material ofS. nuttallii is clearly representative of what is commonly known asS. riddellii House.S. riddellii of current authors must now be calledS. nuttallii, S. riddellii becoming a taxonomic synonym. However, no valid names have been uncovered in the literature that can be correctly applied to the species, primarily from the Blue Ridge Mountains, previously known to most botanists as “S. nuttallii.” These plants are described as a new species,Stachys eplingii.     

Redescription ofApogon (Ostorhinchus) fleurieu (Lacepède, 1802) with notes on its synonymy

The speciesOstorhinchus fleurieu Lacepède, 1802 is recognized as a senior synonym ofApogon aureus (Lacepède, 1802) on the basis of diagnostic colour features of Lacepède’s illustration of the species (after Commerson). The species is redescribed and a neotype designated. The synonymy of the species is discussed in the light of the history of Commerson’s and Lacepède’s work.Nectamia is replaced byOstorhinchus as a subgenus ofApogon.     

Notes on Oenocarpus (Palmae) in the Colombian Amazon

Five species ofOenocarpus from the Río Caquetá, in the Colombian Amazon, are discussed. Two of themOenocarpus simplex andOenocarpus makeru are described as new.Oenocarpus bacaba var.parvus is shown to be a synonym ofO. balickii; this species andO. minor are recorded for the first time in Colombia. Some comments on the poorly knownO. circumtextus are also given. The new findings support the inclusion ofJessenia inOenocarpus.