A taxonomic review of the nivicolous species of myxomycetes described by Kowalski. I. Order Stemonitales

Five type specimens of species from the order Stemonitales proposed by Kowalski are re-examined. These are Comatricha fusiforme, Diacheopsis effusa, D. serpula, Lamproderma acanthosporum and L. disseminatum. SEM and LM micrographs of spores, capillitia and sporocarps are provided. Critical study of these type specimens supports Kowalski’s recognition of these taxa as good and valid species.     

Succession in myxomycete communities on dead <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densiflora</Emphasis> wood in a secondary forest in southwestern Japan

Changes in myxomycete communities and species were investigated over an 8-year period in relation to the decay state of dead Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. wood on which myxomycete fruiting bodies occurred. The study was carried out during three different seasons in a pine forest in southwestern Japan. A total of 44 species and seven varieties of myxomycetes were recorded. The species richness and diversity of the annual myxomycete communities did not clearly change in relation to the series of years, but the percent similarity of the myxomycete community from the beginning of the survey through the following years tended to decrease every season. The ordination of the annual communities, analyzed using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), indicated that seasonal factors on the first axis and the decay state of the wood on the second axis were significantly related. Species colonization patterns were arranged using succession indices and the distribution of certain species at particular times of the year: Arcyria ferruginea, A. obvelata, Lamproderma arcyrionema, and Physarum viride early in the year and Stemonitopsis hyperopta, Cribraria intricata, Lindbladia cribrarioides, Lamproderma columbinum, Tubifera ferruginosa, and Trichia verrucosa later on. Changes in the relative abundance of colony sizes of several species showed annual trends. Species using slightly decayed wood at the beginning were replaced by those using more brittle wood as the years progressed. Myxomycete succession on dead wood changed through time as the wood decayed, based on species preferences for particular decay stages.     

Revisión del complejo de <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lonchocarpus cruentus</Emphasis> (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Millettieae), con descripciónes de cinco especies nuevas

The Lonchocarpus cruentus complex, within sect. Lonchocarpus, is described. This complex is characterized by the presence of a keeled vexillary margin on the pod. Five of the six species described and illustrated are new to science: Lonchocarpus aequatorialis, L. alternifoliolatus, L. guianensis, L. septentrionalis and L. trinitensis. A pronounced flower size difference in the north-south distribution of this complex is shown.     

Lixus petiolicola n. sp. from Northeastern Turkey and Lixus furcatus Olivier: Comparative systematic and ecological study (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Lixinae)

Lixus petiolicola n. sp. is described from Northeastern Turkey. Ecological data and morphological characters are presented in comparison with closely related species Lixus furcatus Olivier from the Palaearctic subgenus Callistolixus Reitter. Host plant of the new species is Prangos sp. (Apiaceae). Female lays eggs in the petiole where immature stages then develop; one generation is produced per year. Lectotypes of Lixus sitta Sahlberg 1823; L. parallelus Boheman 1842; L. eversmanni Hochhuth 1847; L. ferulaginis Apfelbeck 1899, and L. furcatus longicollis Petri 1905 are designated. A new synonymy is established: L. furcatus Olivier 1807 [=L. eversmanni Hochhuth 1847, n. syn.]. The name of L. recurvus Olivier 1807 is resurrected, excluded from synonyms of L. furcatus and attributed to the L. iridis group.     

Notes on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepraria</Emphasis> s.l. (Lecanoromycetes,Ascomycota) in North America: New species,new reports,and preliminary keys

Six new species of Lepraria are described from North America: L. barbatica, L. cryophila, L. disjuncta, L. moroziana, L. terricola, and L. xanthonica. Lepraria torii is discussed and its range extended to include boreal eastern North America. Lepraria aurescens is reported as new to North America from Florida. Preliminary keys to the genus in North America are presented.     

Three new species of Lysipomia (Lobeliaceae) endemic to the páramos of southern Ecuador

Three species of Lysipomia, L. caespitosa, L. cylindrocarpa, and L. speciosa, from a tropical alpine ecosystem called páramo, are described, illustrated, and compared to related species. Notes on morphology, especially floral presentation, and general ecology are given where possible. A published key to the species in Ecuador is revised to include the three new species plus L. multiflora McVaugh, a species previously known only from northern Peru.     

Aegilops (Poaceae) in Italy: taxonomy,geographical distribution,ecology, vulnerability and conservation

ABSTRACT

Aegilops L. includes wild species from which, over millennia, man has cultivated forms of Triticum L. Ten species of Aegilops occur in Italy. Three species are allochthonous and eight out of ten species are recorded in the Apulia region. Five out of the ten species have been included in Red Lists. Each taxon is presented and discussed, citing old and new sites of occurrence, by examining specimens from many different herbaria, and describing their ecology and habitats, according to the Directive 92/43 EEC. A new taxonomic key, for the identification of all Aegilops species growing in Italy, is provided. The occurrence of Aegilops caudata L., A. peregrina (Hack. in J. Fraser) Maire & Weiller and A. speltoides Tausch in Italy is doubtful.     

Fissidens viridulus Wahlenb. and F. minutulus Sull.

Abstract

A new species of Pseudocrossidium R.S.Williams, P. exiguum M.J.Cano &; J.A.Jiménez, is described from South America (Argentina, Brazil and Peru). The species is distinguished morphologically by its lingulate to oblong-ovate leaves, leaf marginal cells not or scarcely differentiated from inner, costa ending below apex or percurrent, and semicircular to elliptical in cross-section with two guide cells, scarcely differentiated perichaetial leaves and peristome of short and straight teeth. Drawings and light microscope photographs of the new species are provided. The principal distinctive characters that separate it from the nearest species of Pseudocrossidium and related genera are discussed.     

New data and new species of Microcoryphia and Zygentoma (Insecta) from Israel

The presented contribution concerns the study of several samples of Microcoryphia and of Zygentoma obtained in Israel; an up to date of the species of these insect Orders reported from Palestine is also presented. Genus Hyperlepisma (Lepismatidae: Ctenolepismatinae) is reported for the first time from the country and one new species H. palaestinensis n. sp., is described from the northern Negev. Another new species this one of the genus Lepidospora s. s. (Nicoletiidae: Coletiniinae), L. (L.) ayyalonica n. sp., is described from the Ayyalon Cave in Western Central Israel, from where several other terrestrial and aquatic endemic arthropods were already known.     

Two new species of Larinus Dejean from North Africa (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with a key to the striped Larinus (s.str.)

Two new sibling species, Larinus synthesys n. sp. from Algeria, and Larinus boroveci n. sp. from Algeria and Morocco, are described. Both species are tentatively assigned to the subgenus Larinus based on resemblance to species having longitudinal stripes on the elytra and rostrum. L. synthesys n. sp. is the smallest species in Larinus (s. str.) and is closely related to L. boroveci n. sp. The lectotype of Larinus cardopatii Lucas, 1847 is designated and redescribed. An illustrated key to the striped Larinus (s. str.) is given.     

18S rDNA phylogeny of lamproderma and allied genera (Stemonitales, Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa)

The phylogenetic position of the slime-mould genus Lamproderma (Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa) challenges traditional taxonomy: although it displays the typical characters of the order Stemonitales, it appears to be sister to Physarales. This study provides a small subunit (18S or SSU) ribosomal RNA gene-based phylogeny of Lamproderma and its allies, with new sequences from 49 specimens in 12 genera. We found that the order Stemonitales and Lamproderma were both ancestral to Physarales and that Lamproderma constitutes several clades intermingled with species of Diacheopsis, Colloderma and Elaeomyxa. We suggest that these genera may have evolved from Lamproderma by multiple losses of fruiting body stalks and that many taxonomic revisions are needed. We found such high genetic diversity within three Lamproderma species that they probably consist of clusters of sibling species. We discuss the contrasts between genetic and morphological divergence and implications for the morphospecies concept, highlighting the phylogenetically most reliable morphological characters and pointing to others that have been overestimated. In addition, we showed that the first part (~600 bases) of the SSU rDNA gene is a valuable tool for phylogeny in Myxomycetes, since it displayed sufficient variability to distinguish closely related taxa and never failed to cluster together specimens considered of the same species.     

Macromitrium maolanense Zeyou Zhang,D.D.Li,Jing Yu & S.L.Guo,a new species from China based on molecular and morphological evidence

Introduction. During a field excursion in Guizhou Province, China, we collected some interesting moss specimens with branch leaves subulate in the upper part, partially and variably bistratose laminae, and a Macromitrium-like epiphytic growth habit on tree trunks. We present morphological and phylogenetic arguments for recognising these plants as a new moss species in the genus Macromitrium Brid. (Orthotrichaceae).

Methods. We compared the morphology of the potential new species with closely related species of Macromitrium, and constructed a phylogenetic tree based on ITS2, trnL and trnG including sampling from 14 other morphologically similar species of Macromitrium.

Key results. The proposed new species belongs to the genus Macromitrium (Orthotrichaceae, Musci). It is closely related to M. gymnostomum Sull. & Lesq. in the phylogenetic tree and according to gametophytic morphological features, represents a hitherto undescribed species.

Conclusions. A new moss species, Macromitrium maolanense Zeyou Zhang, D.D.Li, Jing Yu & S.L.Guo, is described and illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the following features of the branch leaves: (1) oblong-lanceolate, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to an easily broken subula; (2) rather obscure upper and medial cells, often with blackish stains among cells, densely pluripapillose; (3) variably and partially bistratose laminae in the upper 1/3 portion; (4) basal cells clear, hyaline and smooth, those near costae forming a ‘cancellina region’; and (5) with numerous brownish, clavate gemmae on upper portion. We also discuss the principal distinctive characters separating the new species from its nearest congeners.     

A new species of Lathyrus L. (Fabaceae) from Central Apennine (Italy)

Abstract

Lathyrus apenninus, from beech woods margins and scrub in the Central Apennine (Italy), is described as a species new to science. The relationship of L. apenninus with L. linifolius, which it had been confused with, is briefly discussed.     

Pleosporales in Japan (1): the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lophiostoma</Emphasis>

 Seven species of the genus Lophiostoma were the subject of this study. Among these, Lophiostoma mucosum is described and illustrated as a new species. All other species, L. macrostomum, L. semiliberum, L. arundinis, L. caulium, L. caudatum, and L. winteri, are reported for the first time in Japan. A key to the species of Lophiostoma in Japan is given. Received: August 5, 2002 / Accepted: November 28, 2002 Acknowledgments We are grateful to Dr. Hideki Takahashi (curator of SAPA) for the loan of fungal material. Correspondence to:Y. Harada     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptolobium</Emphasis> (Leguminosae,Papilionoideae) from Brazil

Two new species of Leptolobium from Brazil are described and illustrated. Leptolobium araguaiense, restricted to northern Brazil, is similar to L. panamense, but differs in raceme length, ovary pubescence, flower and bract length, hilum shape, habit, geographical distribution, and preferential habitat. Leptolobium multijugum, from midwestern Brazil, is perhaps most closely related to L. glaziovianum, but it has more numerous leaflets and smaller bracts and bracteoles than any other species in the genus.     

Essential Oils in Mexican Bays (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Litsea</Emphasis> spp<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>, Lauraceae): Taxonomic Assortment and Ethnobotanical Implications<Superscript>1</Superscript>

Essential Oils in Mexican Bays ( Litsea spp . , Lauraceae): Taxonomic Assortment and Ethnobotanical Implications. The seven species of Litsea found in Mexico, all of them popularly known as “laurel,” were surveyed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for their foliar essential oils composition and related ethnobotanical applications. Litsea glaucescens is in high demand as a condiment, and is sold in rural and urban markets all over Mexico. However, four other species are also locally used for food seasoning. Litsea guatemalensis is the species most used in traditional medicine, especially to treat fever, chills, infectious diseases of the digestive system, and arthritis. No reports of culinary, medicinal, or other applications were located for L. muelleri, and L. pringlei. This is the first report on the essential oils for L. neesiana, L. muelleri, L. parvifolia, L. pringlei, and L. schaffneri. The terpenoids commonly found in all the Litsea species studied were 1,8-cineole, linalool, α-pinene, β-pinene, m-cymene, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, caryophyllene, and caryophyllene oxide. Nevertheless, each species can be distinguished by its characteristic assortment of terpenoids. According to hierarchical cluster analysis, three groups of species were recognized: (1) 1,8-cineole group (C-10 terpenes), consisting of L. glaucescens, L. schaffnerii, L. pringlei, and L. muelleri; (2) limonene-rich group (C-10 oxygenated terpenes), including L. guatemalensis, and L. neesiana, and (3) oxygenated sesquiterpenes-rich group (C-15 oxygenated terpenes), comprising L. parvifolia. The chemical profiles of L. glaucescens and L. guatemalensis suggest a correlation with the culinary and medicinal uses of these species due to the known properties of their main constituents.     

A new species of Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) from Soqotra (Yemen)

Abstract

Limonium guigliae, from the island of Soqotra (Yemen) is described. This new species, close to L. paulayanum differs from it by its size, flower morphology and ecology.     

Plesiochorus irwinorum n. sp. (Trematoda: Gorgoderidae) from the urinary bladder of the hawksbill turtle,Eretmochelys imbricata (Testudines: Cheloniidae), off the east coast of Australia

Plesiochorus Looss, 1901 is a genus of Gorgoderidae infecting the urinary bladders of marine turtles globally. Currently, just two morphologically similar species are recognised, Plesiochorus cymbiformis (Rudolphi, 1819) Looss, 1901 and Plesiochorus elongatus Pigulevsky, 1953, which have been distinguished by molecular data and subtle morphological differences. Here we describe a new species, Plesiochorus irwinorum n. sp., infecting hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata (L.)), which is primarily distinguished from the other two species of Plesiochorus on the basis of ITS2, cox1 and 28S sequence data. Morphometric data for specimens examined during this study overlap between P. cymbiformis and P. irwinorum n. sp. for every measured feature, rendering them functionally cryptic. However, principal components analysis clearly distinguishes the two species. Additionally, we report new specimens of P. cymbiformis, and provide new sequence data for specimens from Australian loggerhead (Caretta caretta (L.)) and hawksbill turtles. There is little understanding of the host-specificity or geographical distribution of the three species of Plesiochorus, and it remains possible that some of the previously reported sequences have been attributed to the wrong species.

     

The identity of Leucaspis gigas (Homoptera: Diaspididae), with descriptions of four similar species in New Zealand

Leucaspis gigas (Maskell, 1879) and 3 other endemic species which have been confused with it— L. ohakunensis Brittin, L. morrisi (Brittin), and Salicicola maskelli (Brittin)—are redescribed; L. mixta de Boer, also endemic, is described as new. All species are illustrated. Lectotypes are designated where appropriate.