Psephellus turcicus sp. nov. (Asteraceae), a new chasmophyte species from central Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Psephellus turcicus A.Duran & Hamzaoğlu (Asteraceae) in sect. Psephelloidei (Boiss.) Wagenitz & Hellwig is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on limestone crevices in Kazankaya Canyon (A5 Yozgat) in central Anatolia. A neo-endemic confined to Kazankaya Canyon, it is closely related to Psephellus psephelloides (Freny & Sint.) Wagenitz. Diagnostic morphological characters from closely similar taxa are discussed, and arranged in a key of Turkish similar Psephellus Cass. The ecology, biogeography and conservation status of the species are also presented. Achene surface morphology of P. turcicus and P. psephelloides are examined by SEM. The geographical distribution of the new species and other related species is mapped.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 495–500.     

Jurinea tortumensis sp. nov. (Asteraceae) from northeast Anatolia,Turkey

A new species, Jurinea tortumensis A. Duran & B. Dogan (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on serpentine stony places in the Tortum district (Erzurum Province) in northeast Anatolia. It is morphologically similar to J. consanguinea DC. The pollen characteristics and achene surface morphology of J. tortumensis and J. consanguinea are examined by SEM. Diagnostic morphological characters from closely similar taxa are discussed and arranged in a key. Ecology, conservation status and biogeography of the species are also presented. In addition, the geographical distributions of the new species and other related species are mapped.     

Centaurea serpentinica sp. nov. (Asteraceae) from the central and south Anatolia transition zone, Turkey

A new species, Centaurea serpentinica A. Duran & B. Doğan (Asteraceae) in sect. Acrolophus (Cass.) DC., is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on eroded serpentine stony slopes and in open Pinus brutia Ten. forest in the Yahyalı district (C5 Kayseri Province) in the central and south Anatolia transition zone. It is morphologically similar to Centaurea kilaea Boiss. Diagnostic morphological characters from closely similar taxa are discussed and arranged in a key. Ecology, conservation status and biogeography of the species is also presented. In addition, the geographical distribution of the new species and other related species is mapped.     

Onobrychis dushanbensis sp. nov. endemic to Tajikistan

Onobrychis dushanbensis Ranjbar, Vitek & Karamian, a new Fabaceae species endemic to Tajikistan, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to Onobrychis Miller subgen. Sisyrosema (Bunge) Grossheim sect. Hymenobrychis DC. It is closely related to O. chorassanica Bunge and O. seravschanica B. Fedtsch., but is easily distinguished by its purple flowers with darker venation (vs yellowish with purple venation), with wings 9–10 mm long (vs wings 4–5 mm long) and bracts 14–15 mm long (vs bracts 4–5 mm long). The relationships between the new and closely related species are discussed.     

Two new species in the Chaetoceros socialis complex (Bacillariophyta): C. sporotruncatus and C. dichatoensis,and characterization of its relatives,C. radicans and C. cinctus

The diatom genus Chaetoceros is one of the most abundant and diverse phytoplankton in marine and brackish waters worldwide. Within this genus, Chaetoceros socialis has been cited as one of the most common species. However, recent studies from different geographic areas have shown the presence of pseudo‐cryptic diversity within the C. socialis complex. Members of this complex are characterized by curved chains (primary colonies) aggregating into globular clusters, where one of the four setae of each cell curves toward the center of the cluster and the other three orient outwards. New light and electron microscopy observations as well as molecular data on marine planktonic diatoms from the coastal waters off Chile revealed the presence of two new species, Chaetoceros sporotruncatus sp. nov. and C. dichatoensis. sp. nov. belonging to the C. socialis complex. The two new species are similar to other members of the complex (i.e., C. socialis and C. gelidus) in the primary and secondary structure of the colony, the orientation pattern of the setae, and the valve ultrastructure. The only morphological characters that can be used to differentiate the species of this complex are aspects related to resting spore morphology. The two newly described species are closely related to each other and form a sister clade to C. gelidus in molecular phylogenies. We also provide a phylogenetic status along with the morphological characterization of C. radicans and C. cintus, which are genetically related to the C. socialis complex.     

Serratia ficaria sp. nov., a bacterial species associated with Smyrna figs and the fig waspBlastophaga psenes

Fourteen strains isolated from figs, caprifigs, and fig wasps collected in California and Tunisia, and from a small black ant in France, constitute a new DNA hybridization group that is 25–56% related toSerratia species, and 6–17% related to other species of Enterobacteriaceae. This homogeneous group (90% relatedness within the group) constitutes a new species that is namedSerratia ficaria sp. nov. (type strain, ICPB 4050, ATCC 33105). Strains of this species have a characteristic odor, similar to that ofS: odorifera andPseudomonas perolens. No strain ofS. ficaria has yet been recovered from clinical specimens.     

Sutarostrongylus Johnsoni sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea) from the pademelon, Thylogale stigmatica (Marsupialia) from Queensland, Australia

A new species of heligmosomoid nematode Sutarostrongylus johnsoni sp. n., belonging to the sub-family Herpetostrongylinae Skrjabin & Schultz, is described from the small intestine (duodenum) of the red-legged pademelon, Thylogale stigmatica (Gould, 1860) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae), from north-eastern Queensland, Australia. The only other species of the genus S. kirkpatricki Beveridge & Durelte-Desset, 1986 occurs in the related host, the red-necked pademelon, T. thetis (Lesson, 1827) in south-eastern Queensland. The new species differs in having longer spicules and asymmetrical spicule tips as well as the presence of a comarete which develops on the right ventral aspect of the mid-region of the body. The synlophe of the new species is unusual in that the inclination of the axis of orientation changes from being oblique in the anterior part of the body to being frontal in the posterior part. The same change may occur in some species of Austrostrongylus Chandler, 1924. Current data suggest that species of Sutarostrongylus are limited to a single genus of host, Thylogale Gray, 1837 and support the suggestion that both nematode species exhibit morphological features which are intermediate between those occurring in Herpetotostrongylinae in dasyurid marsupials and those occurring in macropodid marsupials.     

Prolagus italicus n. sp. (Ochotonidae, Lagomorpha), a new Pliocene species of peninsular Italy

Prolagus italicus n. sp., a new endemic Pliocene species of peninsular Italy, is described here, adding new details to the knowledge of this widespread and long-lasting ochotonid genus. Several dental morphodimensional characters suggest a close relationship between P. italicus and P. sorbinii (evaporitic and postevaporitic Messinian, central Italy). On the other hand, P. italicus shares with other Plio-Pleistocene Prolagus species of continental Europe a large size and some peculiar characters of dental occlusal surface. Actually, an evolutionary trend can be detected in Plio-Pleistocene species of the genus Prolagus. The value of P. italicus in biochronology is quite consistent, as this species seems to mark MN17 in central Italy. Moreover, some morphodimensional differences between P. italicus populations have been identified: this can help to infer relative chronological positions to the fossil sites in which P. italicus is present. Some morphological characters present in one of the two available P. italicus populations are apparently related to ecological more than to evolutionary factors: this may be a starting point for in-depth palaeoecological studies related to the genus Prolagus. The presence of P. italicus in the Italian peninsula may have prevented the entrance of other species of western European affinity.     

Schulzia chiribita n. sp. (Nematoda, Trichostrongylina, Molineoidea) parasite of Leptodactylus rhodonotus (Amphibian) from Peru

A third species of the genus Schulzia Travassos, 1937 a parasite of Leptodactylus rhodonotus (Amphibian, Leptodactylidae) originating from Peru is described. By the pattern of the caudal bursa, the specimens are closely related to the two other species. They are distinguished from Schulzia uzu Lent & Santos, 1989, parasite from Atelopus oxyrhynchus in Venezuela, by the shape of the ovejector and from Schulzia travassosi Durette-Desset, Baker & Vaucher, 1985, parasite from Bufo crucifer in Brasil, Bufo granulosus and Leptodactylus bufonius in Paraguay, by the shape of the spicules. The presence of a new species in Peru points out the wide geographic distribution of the genus in the Neotropical region.     

Muscari vuralii sp. nov. (Liliaceae/Hyacinthaceae) from south Anatolia, Turkey

Muscari vuralii Y. Bağcı & Doğu sp. nov. (Liliaceae/Hyacinthaceae) from the Karaman (C4 Karaman–Turkey) is described and illustrated. It is closely related to M. coeleste Fomin and M. macbeathianum Kit Tan. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed and a key to related Muscari species in Turkey is given. The geographical distribution of the new species is mapped. Notes are also presented on its ecology, biogeography and conservation status.     

A new subfamily, two new genera and three new species of Aclerdidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) from southern Africa, with a phylogenetic analysis of relationships

Abstract A new aclerdid genus, Lecanaclerda Hodgson & Millar, closely related to Aclerda but with fully developed legs and antennae, is introduced for a new new species, L. macropoda Hodgson & Millar, for which the male and female are described. In addition, genus Rhodesaclerda McConnell is revised and all known stages of existing species, R. combreticola McConnell and R. halli McConnell, are redescribed. The crawler, second-instar female, pupa and the adult male and female of a new species, R. insleyae Hodgson & Millar, from South Africa are also described. Another new genus, Kwazulaclerda Hodgson & Millar, close to Rhodesaclerda , is introduced and the crawler, second-instar female, second-instar male, pupa and adult male and female of the new species K. loranthi Hodgson & Millar from Kwazulu-Natal are described. A phylogenetic analysis based on adult macropterous male characters was undertaken to look at the relationships of these species with other Coccoidea. It is concluded that Lecanaclerda is closely related to Aclerda , Kwazulaclerda is closely related to Rhodesaclerda , Kwazulaclerda and Rhodesaclerda belong to Aclerdidae, and Aclerdidae should be split into two subfamilies, Rhodesaclerdinae Hodgson & Millar (to include Rhodesaclerda and Kwazulaclerda ) and Aclerdinae Cockerell (to include Aclerda , Lecanaclerda and Nipponaclerda ). These two subfamilies are diagnosed and a key is given for the separation of the genera now included in Aclerdidae. The relationships of Aclerdidae and Coccidae are discussed.     

Albuca annulata sp. nov. (Hyacinthaceae) from the Albany Centre of Endemism,South Africa

Within the context of a revision of Albuca, a new species, here described as Albuca annulata Mart.‐Azorín & M. B. Crespo sp. nov., was found in three populations in the Albany Centre of Endemism, Eastern Cape, South Africa. This new species is closely related to Albuca bakeri Mart.‐Azorín & M. B. Crespo and A. caudata Jacq., but it can be clearly differentiated by floral and vegetative characters. Data on morphology, ecology and distribution are reported for this new species. Affinities and divergences with other close allies are also discussed.     

Scrophularia attariae and S. maharluica spp. nov. (Scrophulariaceae) from south Iran

Two new species of Scrophularia L. sect. Tomiophyllum Benth., S. attariae Ranjbar & Rahchamani and S. maharluica Ranjbar & Rahchamani, are described and illustrated from Fars Province, south Iran. The diagnostic morphological characters of these species and closely related taxa are discussed. The distribution, ecology and conservation status of the new species are also described. The value and utility of stem indumentum and leaf stomata is evaluated as an additional source of information for their taxonomy. Finally, an identification key and distribution map for the new taxa and related species are presented.     

A new species of Viola L. (Violaceae) from Sichuan, China

Viola muliensis Y.S. Chen & Q.E. Yang, a new species of Viola L. (Violaceae) from Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated. Viola muliensis is endemic to Muli County, south-western Sichuan. This new species has yellow flowers with very short spurs and belongs to subsection Brevicalcaratae W. Beck., section Dischidium Ging. It is distinguished from other related species by having pedatipartite leaves.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 365–368.     

Globularia anatolica sp. nov. (Globulariaceae) from the Honaz Mountain National Park, southwest Turkey

A new species, Globularia anatolica A. Duran, Ö. Çetin & M. Öztürk (Globulariaceae) is described and illustrated from southwest Turkey. The species grows on eroded gypsum slopes and in open Pinus brutia Ten. forest in the Honaz Mountain National Park (C2 Denizli province). It is closely related to G. sintenisii Hausskn. & Wettst., an endemic species confined to southwest Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters of Globularia anatolica are discussed and presented as a key to Turkish Globularia . It is suggested that the new species should be regarded as 'Critically Endangered' (CR) according to the IUCN criteria. In addition, the biogeography of the Honaz Mountain is briefly outlined.