New genera and species of ericaceae (Vaccinieae) from Costa Rica and Panama

Two new monotypic genera,Didonica andUtleya, are described, withD. pendula from Panama andU. costaricensis from Costa Rica.Disterigma trimera (Panama),D. utleyorum (Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador),Lateropora santafeensis (Panama),Lysiclesia panamensis (Panama),Macleania talamancensis (Costa Rica),Themistoclesia costaricensis (Costa Rica) andT. horquetensis (Panama),Vaccinium costaricense andV. orosiense (both from Costa Rica) and V.jefense (Panama) are all described as new. New combinations are provided for the PanamanianVaccinium floccosum (=Symphysia floccosa) and the West IndianVaccinium racemosum (=Symphysia racemosa). Keys are provided for the Central American species ofDisterigma andThemistoclesia, the species ofLateropora andLysiclesia, and the Costa Rican and Panamanian species ofVaccinium. Six new species are illustrated.     

Notes on melastomataceae of the guianas

New species of Melastomataceae from the Guianas are described in the genera Adelobotrys (Adelobotrys ayangannensis) and Clidemia (Clidemia ayangannensis, C. granvillei). Davya crassiramis Naudin is transferred as Meriania crassiramis, Tschudya pulverulenta DC. is given the new name Miconia aliquantula, and Henriettella venosa Gleason is transferred as Clidemia venosa.     

New species of grasses in Arberella,Cryptochloa, and Raddia (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Olyreae)

Two new species are described inArberella, one from Panama (Arberella lancifolia) and one from Bahia, Brazil (a. bahiensis), the latter representing a considerable extension of the known range of the genus.Cryptochloa decumbens, described from Panama, brings to ten the species recognized in this genus andRaddia angustifolia, from Bahia, increases to five the number of species in that genus. Each new species is fully illustrated and keyed.     

Two new species of Vernonia (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) from Panama

Two new species,Vernonia cocleana andV. chiriquiensis, are described from Panama. These endemic species are distinct from those in Central America and most closely resemble taxa in the West Indies and Argentina, respectively. These taxa are described and illustrated; a key is provided to the Panamanian species ofVernonia.     

Morphologic variation and classification of the North American Aristida purpurea complex (Gramineae)

The morphology of the Purpureae Group of North AmericanAristida is assessed by principal components and statistical analyses. Long considered a complex of about eight species, a mosaic of intergrading phenetic forms is revealed and the complex is reduced to one species with seven varieties. The taxa that are recognized areAristida purpurea var.purpurea, var.nealleyi (comb. nov.), var.curvifolia (comb. nov.), var.parishii (comb. nov.), var.wrightii (comb. nov.), var.fendleriana, and var.longiseta. A key and synopses for the varieties are provided.     

Notes on Neotropical Selaginella (Selaginellaceae), including new species from Panama

Three new species ofSelaginella from Panama are described and illustrated:S. correae, S. salazariae, andS. taylorii. In addition, a new name,S. smithiorum, is proposed forS. velutina A. R. Smith (nonS. velutina Cesati), and eleven new distribution records are reported. The relationships of the species are discussed and keys to some of the species are provided.     

Mycopteris,a new neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae)

Mycopteris, a new genus of grammitid ferns, is described and combinations are made for the species that belong to it. Mycopteris is diagnosed by castaneous rhizome scales with turgid cells, usually pectinate laminae, blackish petioles and rachises, blackish pinna costae and veins, reddish setae, cretaceous hydathodes, glabrous sporangia, and the presence of Acrospermum ascomes. It is entirely neotropical, ranging from Mexico east into the West Indies and south to Bolivia. Mycopteris is one of two genera of grammitid ferns that are consistently associated with Acrospermum, an epibiotic ascomycete that produces black clavate fruiting bodies. Seventeen species of Mycopteris are recognized here, including one new species (M. longipilosa) and one elevated from the rank of variety to species (M. costaricensis). The following additional combinations are made here: M. alsopteris, M. amphidasyon, M. attenuatissima, M. cretata, M. grata, M. leucolepis, M. leucostica, M. longicaulis, M. pirrensis, M. praeceps, M. semihirsuta, M. steyermarkii, M. subtilis, M. taxifolia, and M. zeledoniana. Lectotypes are chosen for Ctenopteris leucosticta, Polypodium amphidasyon, and Polypodium pectinatum var. hispidum. For each accepted species, full synonymy and geographical range are provided. Taxonomic discussion is provided for species not widely recognized in previous treatments.     

Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on west Indian hypnaceae

Taxonomic investigations on the West Indian Hypnaceae have resulted in the following new taxa,Taxiphyllum gallorum, Ectropothecium aquaticum, andIrelandia (forIsopterygium robusticaule). Vesicularia in the West Indies is treated as a single species with four varieties,V. vesicularis var.vesicularis, var.rutilans (Brid.) comb. nov., var.portoricensis (Brid.) comb. nov., and var.crassicaulis (Mitt.) comb. nov.Chryso-hypnum is segregated fromMittenothamnium; the combinationC. diminutivum (Hampe) Buck is made.     

Three new species and a new combination in Arracacia Bancroft (Umbelliferae/Apiaceae)

Three species ofArracacia—A. hintonii, A. colombiana, andA. tillettii—from Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, respectively, are described as new, andCoulterophytum brevipes Coulter & Rose is transferred toArracacia asA. quadrifida, nom. nov. and comb. nov.     

New species of Gustavia (Lecythidaceae) from Panama,Colombia, and Venezuela

Gustavia monocaulis from east-central Panama,G. sessilis from the Chocó of Colombia, andG. flagellata, including two varieties (var.flagellata and var.costata) from the north-central coast of Venezuela, are described and their relationships with otherGustavia species discussed.     

Nomenclatural changes in Polygonum section Echinocaulon (Polygonaceae)

As a result of comprehensive systematic study onPolygonum sectionEchinocaulon, three new nomenclatural changes are made:P. clarkei stat. et nom. nov.,P. subsagittatum stat. nov., andP. senticosum var.sagittifolium stat. nov.     

Barnebya,A new genus of Malpighiaceae from Brazil

The new genusBarnebya is described and illustrated and its systematic position in the Malpighiaceae is discussed, especially its similarity in some respects to the primitive subfamily Byrsonimoideae and in other respects to the Old World genusAcridocarpus. Two species are recognized,B. dispar comb. nov. andB. harleyi sp. nov.; these are described and illustrated and a key is provided for their distinction.     

Four new species of genus Cordia (Cordiaceae, Boraginales) from Brazil

We describe four new species of Cordia (Cordiaceae) from Brazil: Cordia fusca, C. glabrifolia, C. restingae, and C. tarodae. These are illustrated, and data on habitat, phenology, and distribution are provided.     

Revision of Plerandra (Araliaceae). I. A synopsis of the genus with an expanded circumscription and a new infrageneric classification

Phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Schefflera, the largest genus of Araliaceae, is grossly polyphyletic, comprising five distinct clades within the family. In an effort to establish monophyletic genera among the elements that currently comprise Schefflera, the genus Plerandra is expanded to encompass all of the members of one of these clades. In this synoptical revision, a new infrageneric classification is presented (along with a key) in which six subgenera are recognized. Four of these subgenera are newly described (Plerandra subgenera Canacoschefflera, Costatae, Gabriellarum, and Veilloniorum) and a fifth represents a new combination (Plerandra subg. Dizygotheca). A total of 33 species (one with two subspecies) are accepted, one of which is newly described (P. veilloniorum), and 22 new combinations are made (P. actinostigma, P. baillonii, P. cabalionii, P. costata, P. crassipes, P. elegantissima, P. elongata, P. emiliana, P. gabriellae, P. leptophylla, P. nono, P. osyana, P. osyana subsp. toto, P. pachyphylla, P. pancheri, P. plerandroides, P. polydactylis, P. reginae, P. seemanniana, P. tannae, P. vanuatua, P. veitchii). Neotypes are provided for six accepted names and one heterotypic synonym, and lectotypes are designated for 13 accepted names and 16 heterotypic synonyms. For each accepted species, full synonymy is provided along with geographic range and notes.     

Dos especies nuevas de Borreria (Rubiaceae) y sinopsis de las especies de Bolivia

Two new species are described, Borreria cerradoana and B. velascoana, from Bolivia and Brazil, and a new combination is made, B. spinosa var. minima. Through an identification key, all 28 species of Borreria for Bolivia are recorded, and comments on geographical distribution and habitat are provided. Borreria brachystemonoides, B. poaya, and B. tenera are confirmed as new records for the country.     

Thymocarpus cannoides (Marantaceae), a new genus and species from Venezuela and Brazil

Thymocarpus, apparently most closely related to Calathea, is described and illustrated. Its sole species, T. cannoides, has been collected in lowlands of eastern Venezuela and western Brazil.     

A revision of the genus Oxytheca Nutt. (Polygonaceae)

The genusOxytheca of western North America and temperate South America consists of seven species which are keyed, described, discussed, illustrated, and mapped. They are divided among sect.Oxytheca, sect.Acanthoscyphus stat. & comb. nov., and sect.Neoxytheca sect. nov.Oxytheca dendroidea subsp.chilensis is given as a new combination, whileO. parishii var.cienegensis andO. parishii var.goodmaniana are described as new. The history and relationships of the genus are discussed. It is retained as distinct fromEriogonum and is thought to have arisen from the larger genus nearE. spergulinum, E. parishii, andE. apiculatum in subgenusGanysma. Cytological data indicatedn= 20.     

New Panamanian species of gesneriaceae

Eight new species are described from Panama, Besleria calycina, B. rara, Cremosperma maculatum, Drymonia folsomii, Moussonia ampla, Oerstedina suffrutescens, Paradrymonia ommata, and P. pedunculata. One of the new species is illustrated.