Studies in African Cyperaceae 30. Hypolytrum subcompositus, sp. nov.

A new species to science, Hypolytrum subcompositus is described from Kodmin in South West Cameroon. The species is distinct from other African species and appears to have no close relatives. It is a fairly large perennial with a short erect rhizome with many crowded leaves at its end, and (below the leaves) 1–3 lateral culms carrying reduced leaves and a terminal cinnamon-whitish rather congested inflorescence.     

Studies in African Cyperaceae 32. Cyperus rheophyticus, sp. nov.

A new species, Cyperus rheophyticus , is described from seasonally submerged habitats in forest streams and rivers in South West Cameroon (500–1350 m). Cyperus rheophyticus is most similar to C. brevifolius ssp. brevifolius (syn. Kyllinga brevifolius ), a less slender species with a stronger rhizome, larger spikeiets and glumes with a spinose keel; also the anther and achene are larger in that species.     

Doassansiopsis caldesiae sp. nov. and Doassansiopsis tomasii: two remarkable smut fungi from Cameroon

Three recent collections of Doassansiopsis from western Cameroon are assessed taxonomically. Doassansiopsis caldesiae M. Piatek & Vánky is described as a new species from infected leaves of Caldesia reniformis (D. Don) Makino. Its diagnostic characters are flat, nonthickened sori with spore balls as blackish, slightly elevated dots, more or less globoid spores, conspicuous cortical sterile cells and parasitism on Caldesia reniformis of family Alismataceae. The species is compared to another Doassansiopsis species on host plants belonging to family Alismataceae. Doassansiopsis tomasii Vánky is described from two localities on Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. var. caerulea (Savigny) Verdc. (Nymphaeaceae), which represents the first report of this smut from Cameroon and western Africa. Similarities between this species and Doassansiopsis nymphaeae (Syd. & P. Syd.) Thirum. and D. ticonis M. Piepenbr. are outlined and the global distribution of the three taxa is mapped. The species concept in the genus Doassansiopsis is discussed, and a key to all known species of the genus is provided.     

Djinga cheekii sp. nov. (Podostemaceae) from Cameroon

A new species is added to the monotypic African genus Djinga. Djinga cheekii Ghogue, Huber & Rutish. (Podostemaceae) is described as a new species from Cameroon (Littoral Province) and its morphological affinities and conservation status are assessed. The main distinguishing characters are: stamens 2 (not 1 as in D. felicis), flower buds inside spathella strongly inclined (not only slightly inclined as in D. felicis), and stems lacking or only up to 6 mm long (not up to > 6 cm as in D. felicis). A molecular analysis revealed that D. cheekii is sister to D. felicis, and both together are sister to Ledermanniella linearifolia and L. pusilla which show completely inverted flower buds inside the spathella, as typical for the large and still artificial genus Ledermanniella.     

Psychotria elephantina sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) an endangered rainforest shrub from Cameroon

Psychotria elephantina Lachenaud & Cheek is described as a new species. It is placed in P. sect. Involucratae (Petit) Verdc., endemic to the South West Region of Cameroon and is assessed as ‘Endangered’ (EN) using the IUCN criteria. The species is distinctive in P. sect. Involucratae due to its long petioles (6.5–12.0 cm), involucres of two pairs of large free bracts and green corollas with included stamens in both longistylous and brevistylous flowers.     

Mussaenda epiphytica sp. nov. (Rubiaceae), an epiphytic shrub from cloud forest of the Bakossi Mts,western Cameroon

Mussaenda epiphytica Cheek is described as a new species, remarkable for being a cloud forest canopy epiphytic shrub in a genus of terrestial climbers and straggling shrubs. Attention is drawn to its adaptations to the epiphytic habit. The species appears to be endemic to the submontane evergreen forests of the Bakossi Mts, including Mt Kupe, in Cameroon. Its conservation status is assessed as ‘Vulnerable’ using IUCN criteria.     

Henneguya mbakaouensis sp. nov., Myxobolus nounensis sp. nov. and M. hydrocyni Kostoingue & Toguebaye, 1994, Myxosporea (Myxozoa) parasites of Centropomidae, Cichlidae and Characidae (Teleosts) of the Sanaga basin in Cameroon (Central Africa)

The study of 102 teleost freshwater fishes of Sanaga basin in Cameroon revealed the presence of three myxosporean species, among which two were new. Host fishes were of three families: Centropomidae, Cichlidae and Characidae. New species were identified as Henneguya mbakaouensis sp. nov., a gill parasite of Lates niloticus and Myxobolus nounensis sp. nov. found in the kidney and spleen of Sarotherodon galilaeus and Tilapia mariae. Myxobolus hydrocyni Kosto?ngue & Toguebaye, 1994, previously described in Chad, was also found in Cameroon; complementary informations were given on that parasite which seemed to be specific to its host.     

Penicillium flavido-stipitatum sp. nov.

An undescribed species of Penicillium was isolated in August 1982 from sand dunes located at the Arches National Monument, Utah, USA. It clearly differs from all species of the genus described so far and is, therefore, described and proposed as a new taxon: Penicillium flavido-stipitatum sp. nov.     

The genus Theissenia: T. pyrenocrata, T. cinerea sp. nov., and T. eurima sp. nov

The diagnosis of Theissenia is emended to include taxa that lack a definite central perithecial columella and taxa that feature ascospores with a germ slit. Theissenia cinerea is described as a new species that lacks a perithecial columella; T. eurima is described as a new species with ascospores having a germ slit. The type species, T. pyrenocrata, is redescribed and compared with the new species. The taxonomic position of Theissenia is discussed.     

Dracaena mokoko sp. nov. (Dracaenaceae–Ruscaceae/Asparagaceae) a critically endangered forest species from Mokoko,Cameroon

Dracaena mokoko Mwachala & Cheek sp. nov. is described from the Mokoko forest in the western foothills of Mt Cameroon, in Cameroon, west Africa. Using the IUCN standard it is assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) due to its small population size (less than 50 individuals are known), its small extent of occurrence, and threats from oil exploration and logging in the Mokoko forest. The new species is considered allied to D. aubryana Brongn. ex C. J. Morren of west–central Africa but differs in having spiralled leaves with the blade gradually narrowing into the petiole rather than distichous leaves in which there is an abrupt transition from the well‐developed blade to the petiole.     

Pichia sorbitophila sp nov.

A new species of the genus Pichia has been described. The species was isolated from a 70 percent solution of d-sorbitol and is distinctly osmotophilic.     

Four new species and new records of Symplocos (Symplocaceae) from Peru and Bolivia, and a key to all species of Symplocos known to occur in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia

Four new species of Symplocos (Symplocaceae) are described from montane forests in Peru. Symplocos cuscoënsis Ståhl (from Dept Cusco) is distinguished inter alia by enlarged floral bracts and anthers that are longer than wide, S. excoriata Ståhl (Dept Amazonas and Cajamarca) by the exfoliating bark on young shoots, S. serratifolia Ståhl (Dept Cajamarca and Cusco) by tomentulose young shoots and lower leaf surfaces as well as long petioles, and S. trichocarpa Ståhl (Dept Cajamarca) by its tuberculate young shoots and pilose fruits. Symplocos guianensis (Aubl.) Gürke is reported as new to Bolivia and S. nitens (Pohl) Benth. is reported as new to Bolivia and Peru. A key to all 67 species of Symplocos known from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia is provided.     

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.     

Mycobacterium rhodesiae sp. nov.

A number of rapid-growing scotochromogenic mycobacteria were isolated from the sputum specimen of Rhodesian patients with pulmonary disease and recognized as a new species. This was given the name Mycobacterium rhodesiae sp. nov. A comparison between M. rhodesiae, M. parafortuitum, M. aurum and M. vaccae was done, and distinguishing characters serving for differentiation between these 4 species of rapid-growing scotochromogenic mycobacteria were described.     

Mycobacterium alvei sp. nov.

A new species of rapidly growing, nonphotochromogenic mycobacteria, Mycobacterium alvei, is described. The inclusion of this organism in the genus Mycobacterium is based on its acid fastness, its mycolate pattern, and its G + C content. A study of six strains showed that they form a homogeneous group with an internal phenotypic similarity value of 97 +/- 2.22%. DNA relatedness studies showed that the six M. alvei strains which we studied form a single DNA hybridization group which is less than 49% related to 14 other species of the genus Mycobacterium; the deltaTm values determined for the strains which exhibited higher levels of DNA homology were all greater than 7.9 degrees C. A lipid analysis showed that tuberculostearic acid was present. Docosanoic and tetracosanoic acid methyl esters were detected as mycolic acid cleavage products. All six isolates which we tested contained alpha-mycolic acids and relatively large amounts of a new kind of mycolic acid containing a methoxy group of omega-1 position, a characteristic that has not been described previously in mycobacteria. Strain CR-21 is the type strain; a culture of this strain has been deposited in the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes de l'Institut Pasteur, Paris, France, as strain CIP 103464.     

Metschnikowia noctiluminum sp. nov., Metschnikowia corniflorae sp. nov., and Candida chrysomelidarum sp. nov., isolated from green lacewings and beetles

Fourteen yeast isolates belonging to the Metschnikowia clade were isolated from the digestive tracts of lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), soldier beetles and leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae and Chrysomelidae), and a caddisfly (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae). The insect hosts were associated with sugary substances of plants, a typical habitat for yeasts in this clade. Based on DNA sequence comparisons and phenetic characters, the yeasts were identified as Candida picachoensis, Candida pimensis, and four undescribed taxa. Among the undescribed taxa, three yeasts were distinguished from one another and from other described taxa by nucleotide differences in the ribosomal DNA repeat, which were sufficient to consider them as new species. Two of the novel yeast species are described as Metschnikowia noctiluminum (NRRL Y-27753^T) and M. corniflorae spp. nov. (NRRL Y-27750^T) based in part on production of needle-shaped ascospores, which are found in most Metschnikowia species. Sexual reproduction was not observed in the third new yeast, Candida chrysomelidarum sp. nov. (NRRL Y-27749^T). A fourth isolate, NRRL Y-27752, was not significantly distinct from Metschnikowia viticola and Candida kofuensis to be described as a new species. Phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 loop sequences placed M. noctiluminum within the M. viticola clade, while C. chrysomelidarum was a sister taxon of Candida rancensis. Metschnikowia corniflorae was phylogenetically distinct from other new species and fell outside of the large-spored Metschnikowia group.     

Eupenicillium osmophilum sp. nov.

A new species of the genus Eupenicillium: E. osmophilum is described and illustrated. It is characterized by single asci, lenticular ascospores with 2 closely appressed equatorial ridges and divaricate penicilli.     

Pichia norvegensis sp. nov.

A new yeast species Pichia norvegensis Leask et Yarrow is described as the perfect state of Candida norvegensis (Dietrichson) van Uden et Farinha ex van Uden et Buckley. Strains of this species were isolated on 3 occasions from human vaginas. This species differs from other Pichia species that assimilate glucose but not galactose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, D-mannitol and D-glucitol by assimilating cellobiose.