Aspidistra obtusata sp. nov. (Asparagaceae) from Vietnam

Aspidistra obtusata is described and illustrated as a new species from southern Vietnam. The new species resembles A. truongii, but differs in smaller diameter of perigone (12.6–14.9 mm vs 25–35 mm), shape of tepals (elliptic, obtuse vs triangular‐ovate) and pistil (widely obconic vs mushroom‐shaped). A molecular characterization of the new species (based on data of plastid psbA‐trnH and nuclear 5S‐NTS regions) is also given, and compared with the most similar congeners.     

Alchemilla schmakovii sp. nov. from eastern Europe

A morphological study of specimens collected by the author and a critical revision of the key herbarium collections revealed a new rather peculiar taxon of Alchemilla occurring in almost every region of the Middle Volga basin, Russia. This novelity is here described as A. schmakovii and images of the principal morphological features of this species are provided. The new species is compared with related species in A. sect. Alchemilla (e.g. A. micans) and sect. Plicatae (e.g. A. breviloba) based on morphological characteristics.     

Amomum dampuianum and A. mizoramense spp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from Mizoram,northeast India

Two new species of Amomum (Zingiberaceae) from Mizoram are described and illustrated: A. dampuianum and A. mizoramense. Photographs, a comparison with the allied species A. corynostachyum and A. hypoleucum, and a key to the species of Amomum known in Mizoram is also provided.     

Armeria saviana sp. nov. (Plumbaginaceae) from central Italy

The new species Armeria saviana, endemic to an isolated mountain chain of the Tyrrhenian Antiappennine system in south Tuscany, central Italy, is described and illustrated. The plant is diploid with 2n=18. It can be distinguished from the related species A. denticulata (Bertol.) DC and A. canescens (Host) Ebel, mainly by leaf characters, capitula, bracts and flowers. The systematic position of the controversial taxon A. majellensis Boiss. subsp. ausonia F. Bianchini, to which the new species has formerly been assigned by some authors, is discussed. A lectotype for A. denticulata is designated.     

Testudodinium gen. nov. (Dinophyceae), a new genus of sand‐dwelling dinoflagellates formerly classified in the genus Amphidinium

A new genus of sand‐dwelling photosynthetic dinoflagellate, Testudodinium Horiguchi, Tamura, Katsumata et A. Yamaguchi is proposed based on Testudodinium testudo (Herdman) Horiguchi, Tamura, Katsumata, et A. Yamaguchi comb. nov. (Basionym: Amphidinium testudo Herdman) and a new species in this new genus, Testudodinium maedaense Katsumata et Horiguchi sp. nov. is described. Amphidinium corrugatum is also transferred to this genus, making a new combination T. corrugatum (Larsen et Patterson) Horiguchi, Tamura et A. Yamaguchi. These three species are similar to the members of the genus Amphidinium in having an extremely small episome and a dorsoventrally flattened cell body. They are, however, distinguished from the genus Amphidinium seusu stricto by the possession of a distinct longitudinal furrow in the middle of ventral side of the episome. Phylogenetic trees based on small subunit (SSU) rDNA revealed that all three of these Testudodinium species formed a robust clade and, although statistical support is not high, the tree suggests Testudodinium clade is not closely related to Amphidinium seusu stricto clade. The morphological differences together with molecular data support the establishment of a new genus for A. testudo and its related species.     

Lomatogonium cherukurianum sp. nov. (Gentianaceae) from Sikkim Himalaya

Populations of an unknown taxon of Lomatogonium A. Braun have been found during floristic surveys in the alpine pasture of north Sikkim, India. Comparison with morphologically similar taxa (Lomatogonium stapfii (Burkill) Harry Smith and L. longifolium Harry Smith) revealed that the new populations represent a species new to science, which is described as L. cherukurianum. Data on phenology, ecology and distribution of the new species is provided together with illustrations.     

Mallomonas jejuensis sp. nov. (Synurophyceae) from Jeju Island,South Korea

A new species of Mallomonas (Synurophyceae), Mallomonas jejuensis sp. nov., has been found in Jeju Island, South Korea. This species is placed in the series Mangoferae (section Torquatae) because it has a collar of elongated domed scales, domeless body scales, rear scales with spines and all scales ornamented with papillae. The morphological characteristics of the scales and bristle of the new species are described by EM and compared with those reported for the other species of the series Mangoferae.     

Aristolochia bhamoensis sp. nov. (Aristolochiaceae) and a diagnostic key to all known A. subgen. Siphisia species from Myanmar

Aristolochia bhamoensis from Myanmar is here described and illustrated. This new species is morphologically similar to A. faviogonzalezii (confined to northern Vietnam) and A. cathcartii (growing in the Himalayan region) but is distinguished from the latter two species by having a cream‐white upper part of the perianth tube, with visible purple ridges, a trumpet‐shaped limb, 5.0–5.5 cm diameter, inner surface of limb lobes densely covered with dark‐purple bristles, a nearly circular mouth, 3.2–3.5 cm wide, upper half of throat being dark‐purple to blackish, without striations or dots, and lower half purple, with conspicuous white striation. Morphological characters such as a 3‐lobed gynostemium and a 3‐lobed limb support a placement of the new species in the subgenus Siphisia. A diagnostic key is provided to the seven Siphisia species known from Myanmar.     

Hypericum scruglii sp. nov. (Guttiferae) from Sardinia

A new species of Hypericum (Guttiferae) from Sardinia, H. scruglii, is described and illustrated. It occurs on damp soil, near springs or streams with freshwater, where it grows with numerous hygrophytes. This diploid species (2n=16) belongs to the sect. Adenosepalum and is closely related to H. tomentosum, a species widespread in the west Mediterranean region.     

VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY IN RETICULOCAULIS GEN. NOV. AND NACCARIA HAWAIIANA SP. NOV. (RHODOPHYTA,NACCARIACEAE)1

A secondarily formed reticulum of cells that encloses axial strands and a carposporophyte that is almost entirely converted to sporangia are the diagnostic features of a new genus, Reticulocaulis (Naccariaceae, Nemaliales), with R. mucosissimus as the type species. A new species of Naccaria, N. hawaiiana permits close comparison with the new genus and other previously described species of Naccaria. Until now, no Naccariaceae were known in the Pacific, and these new taxa are part of the sketchily known subtidal marine flora of Hawaii.     

Agapetes yingjiangensis (Ericaceae), a new epiphytic species of A. ser. Longifiles from Yunnan,China

Agapetes yingjiangensis (Ericaceae), a new species from Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China is described and illustrated. This new species is somewhat similar to A. mannii Hemsl., but differs in having brown‐hirsute young branches, acute mucronate apex of the leaf blade and sparsely hirsute pedicel, calyx tube and corolla. A key to Chinese species with small (less than 2.5 cm) entire leaves in Agapetes sect. Agapetes ser. Longifiles is included.     

Protospirura siamensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Spiruridae) from rodents in Thailand

A large number (828) of rodents belonging to nine genera (Bandicota, Berylmys, Chiropodomys, Hapalomys, Leopoldamys, Maxomys, Mus, Niviventer and Rattus) were trapped in four Thai provinces between 2008 and 2010. A new species of Protospirura (Nematoda: Spiruridae) was identified and described. Protospirura siamensis n. sp. was found in 10 rodent species from the four Thai provinces surveyed. The new species can be distinguished from known species of the genus by the arrangement of the papillae on the male and the morphology and length of the spicules. This is the first species of Protospirura to be described from South-East Asia.     

Elsholtzia litangensis sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) endemic to China

A new species of Elsholtzia, E. litangensis C. X. Pu & W. Y. Chen, is described and illustrated from Sichuan, Tibet and Qinghai. The diagnostic features of the new species are compared with E. fruticosa (D. Don) Rehd. Elsholtzia litangensis is characterized by a secund spike and a scaly buds in the leaf axils.     

Bufonia yildirimhanii sp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey

Bufonia yildirimhanii?lçim & Behçet sp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae) is described and illustrated from Turkey. This new species is confined to C7 Sanl?urfa‐Birecik where it grows on calcarous slopes. The species is compared with the closely related Bufonia calyculata and B. kotschyana subsp. kotschyana. Notes on its ecology and conservation status are provided. A distribution map of the new and related species is also included.     

Hoya hanhiae sp. nov. (Apocynaceae,Asclepiadoideae) from central Vietnam

A new species, Hoya hanhiae V. T. Pham et Aver. discovered in central Vietnam is described, illustrated and compared with the related species H. macrophylla Bl. and H. verticillata (Vahl) G. Don.     

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.