Kuepferia kanchii sp. nov. (Gentianaceae) from Sikkim Himalaya

Kuepferia kanchii D. Maity, Sentu K. Dey & Adr. Favre, a new species from Sikkim Himalaya, is described and illustrated. It differs from its close relative K. infelix (C. B. Clarke) Adr. Favre ( = Gentiana infelix C. B. Clarke) by having sessile and smaller flowers, and smaller floral parts. Kuepferia kanchii is further characterized by a white corolla with bluish green patches on the outside at the base of each corolla lobe, and a corolla tube flushed with light green inside towards the base, blue filaments, sessile stigma, smaller capsule, and trigonous–elongated, ca 0.8 mm long and curved seeds.     

Musa nagalandiana sp. nov. (Musaceae) from Nagaland,northeast India

Musa nagalandiana S. Dey & Gogoi, a new species of Musa sect. Musa, is described and illustrated from Zunheboto district, Nagaland, India based on morphological characteristics observed in the field. The new species is rare in the wild and found in tropical semi‐evergreen forest on the bank of the river Doyang, in Zunheboto district of Nagaland. A key to M. nagalandiana and related taxa is provided.     

Cremanthodium latilobum sp. nov. and C. medogense sp. nov. (Asteraceae) from Chinese eastern Himalaya

Cremanthodium latilobum Y. S. Chen and C. medogense Y. S. Chen, two new species from Chinese eastern Himalaya are described and illustrated. A diagnostic key to the species of Cremanthodium section Pinnatinervia Y. Ling & S. W. Liu series Cuneata Y. Ling & S. W. Liu is provided.     

New taxa and new records in Aspidistra (Convallariaceae s.s.) of Laos and Vietnam

This paper continues the publication of newly obtained results from a continuing taxonomic investigation of the genus Aspidistra in Laos and Vietnam. It includes illustrated diagnoses of two new species, A. melanaster Aver., K.S. Nguyen & Tillich, A. obliqua K.S. Nguyen & Aver., two new varieties, A. semiaperta Aver. & Tillich var. globulifera Aver., K.S. Nguyen & Tillich, A. lutea Tillich var. luteo-rubra K.S. Nguyen, Aver. & Tillich, and notes on two species, A. austroyunnanensis G.W. Hu, Lei Cai & Q.F. Wang and A. hekouensis H. Li, C.L. Long & Bogner newly recorded in the flora of Vietnam. Color illustrations, new or updated data on morphology, ecology, phenology, tentative relationships, distribution and conservation status are provided for all the mentioned taxa.     

Systematic analysis of Dendrobium Swartz section Dendrocoryne in the Australian region

Dendrobium sect. Dendrocoryne is a difficult taxonomic group of allied species and species complexes, occurring on the eastern Australian coastline, Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia. Significant morphological characters were assessed from all key areas of the distribution range. Patterns of variation between species, varieties and hybrids were investigated by principal coordinate analysis. The analyses affirm 12 species in the sect. Dendrocoryne described by Schlechter (1912, 1982) and Dockrill (1969, 1992), including a cluster of small statured D. gracilicaule, D. adae, D. fleckeri, and D. finniganense, and three variable species complexes – D. speciosum, D. kingianum and D. tetragonum. Recently described D. finniganense and D. callitrophilum are interpreted as members of the section. Phylogenetic relationships are presented based on parsimony analysis of 31 morphological characters. Analyses do not support proposals to recognize new genera for D. tetragonum, D. callitrophilum and D. aemulum, or to create new species within D. tetragonum, D. jonesii, D. speciosum and D. kingianum. The phylogeny indicates that rainforest taxa are earlier lineages and xerophytic taxa are more derived.     

A new fungicolous <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scolecobasidium</Emphasis> (hyphomycetes) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caducirostrum</Emphasis> gen. nov. (coelomycetes) from leaf litter in the UK and Italy

Two new microfungi, a fungicolous Scolecobasidium, S. rostricola sp. nov., colonising the ostiolar necks of a new coelomycete, Caducirostrum foliicola gen. & sp. nov., on leaf litter of Viburnum tinus, Arbutus unedo, Prunus laurocerasus and P. lusitanica from the U.K. and Italy, are described, illustrated and compared with other relevant taxa. Rhabdostromina, with new combinations for Dendroseptoria arrhenatheri and D. oryzopsidis, is resurrected.     

Pouzolzia saxophila sp. nov. (Urticaceae tribe Boehmerieae) from Bahia,Brazil

The paper supplements a taxonomic revision of the New World species of Pouzolzia by Wilmot‐Dear and Friis in 1996 and a supplement in 2011 with an additional new species. Here another new species of Pouzolzia, P. saxophila Friis, Wilmot‐Dear & A. K. Monro, is described from a restricted area of xerophytic scrub vegetation on rocky outcrops in the Boa Nova National Park, Bahia, Brazil. The new species is somewhat similar to P. pringlei, a Mexican endemic, and to P. amambaiensis from the Brazil–Paraguay border, but also to the widespread Asiatic P. zeylanica. However, the similarities with these species are probably due to adaptation to similar dry habitats on rocky outcrops.     

Smoothing Splines: Methods and Applications by WANG,Y.

EDITOR: GUILHERME J. M. ROSA Smoothing Splines: Methods and Applications (Y. Wang) Pang Du Statistics for Spatio‐Temporal Data (N. Cressie and C. K. Wikle) Ole F. Christensen Bayesian Modeling in Bioinformatics (D. K. Dey, S. Ghosh, and B. K. Mallick, eds.) Hisashi Noma Randomized Response and Indirect Questioning Techniques in Surveys (A. Chaudhuri) Mariano R. Espejo Designs and Analysis of Experiments, Volume 3: Special Designs and Applications (K. Hinkelmann, ed.) Luzia Trinca     

Microula pentagona sp. nov. and M. galactantha sp. nov. (Boraginaceae) from the eastern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

Microula pentagona W. T. Yu, S. T. Chen & Z. K. Zhou sp. nov. and M. galactantha W. T. Yu, S. T. Chen & Z. K. Zhou sp. nov. (Boraginaceae) from the eastern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau are described and illustrated. Microula pentagona is characterized by the pentagonal dark purple pubescent corolla throat, whereas M. galactantha is distinct by its white flowers and a nutlet attachment near the apex. The diagnostic features of the two new species are compared with other species of the genus.     

The vicarious differentiation of the alpineGalium serpylloides group (Rubiaceae), endemic to the W. Himalaya

Galium serpylloides agg. comprises a group of locally endemic, disjunct and vicarious taxa in the (sub)alpine zone of the W. Himalaya, from W to E:G. gymnopetalum, G. lahulense, G. serpylloides s. str.,G. saipalense, andG. nepalense. Four of these are new to science;G. serpylloides is newly typified. The main characters of the five species are compared and illustrated, their affinities and evolution are discussed, and a map of distribution is presented.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

The phylogeny of the genus Lasioserica inferred from adult morphology – implications on the evolution of montane fauna of the south Asian orogenic belt (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

The species of Lasioserica are highly diversified within the south Asian orogenic belt, such as the Himalaya, south‐eastern Tibet and the mountains of northern Indochina. The study presents a preliminary phylogeny of Lasioserica based on adult morphology. Sixty‐one species were examined for the cladistic analysis based on parsimony using successive approximations weighting and including 84 characters. As a result of the phylogenetic hypothesis on Lasioserica elaborated here, the taxonomic definition of Lasioserica and the validity of Amiserica are questionable and need to be revised. Taxonomic conclusions are here limited so far to the genus assignment of Amiserica antennalis ( Nomura 1974 ) comb. n. The cladistic analysis revealed a large monophyletic clade of Lasioserica containing almost all species assigned to this group so far. Among this monophylum the following pattern have become evident: (1) a number of ancestral lineages from the eastern Himalaya and Indochina, (2) a large clade with almost exclusively Himalayan species and (3) one clade with only Chinese and Indochinese taxa. Based on this topology we may suggest that the more recent evolution of Lasioserica was more independent in these two major regions (Himalaya/Indochina). There is comparatively good evidence from range positions of closely related species for allopatric geographical speciation in Lasioserica with the majority of closely related central Himalayan species occurring allopatrically or parapatrically. The tree topology does not permit conclusions whether speciation progressed more often from east to west or vice versa. More easterly distributed lineages in the Himalaya seem to contrast this pattern with a greater part of closely related species occurring sympatrically. Since cumulative ranges of the major lineages of the Himalayan clade overlap in all respects, diversification of the almost strictly Himalayan clade of Lasioserica should be attributed to a rather long and persistent evolution within the Himalaya.     

Notes on the genus Inocybe of Japan: III

Six Inocybes are described and illustrated as new taxa or new records from Japan. A new species, Inocybe magnicarpa, is a member of section Marginatae. Two new varieties, I. malenconii var. cylindrata, a member of section Dulcamarae, and I. brunneorufa var. angusta, a representative of section Marginatae. Inocybe reisneri (section Rimosae) and I. fuscidula (section Tardae), are recorded as new to Japan. Inocybe pseudodestricta (section Tardae) is redescribed from a new locality (Chiba Prefecture). They are compared with similar taxa.     

Three new species of Dactylicapnos (Fumariaceae) and a synopsis of the D. macrocapnos complex

The Dactylicapnos macrocapnos complex is revised, and D. platycarpa Lidén, D. odontocarpa Lidén and D. macrocapnos subsp. echinosperma Lidén are recognised as new taxa. The complex consists of a chain of 4 vicariant taxa from northwestern India (Garhwal) to western Bhutan (Thimphu). Dactylicapnos cordata Lidén (eastern Nepal, Darjeeling) is described and contrasted with its close relative, the geographically disjunct D. burmanica (western Yunnan, Burma).     

Distribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of Central Himalaya,India

Patterns of tree species distribution and their structural-functional features were studied along an altitudinal gradient in the Indian Central Himalaya. The forest vegetation falls within three formation types: low to mid-montane sclerophyllous, broad-leaved forests; mid-montane deciduous forests; and high-montane mixed stunted forests. Deciduous tree species formed a considerable (49%) portion of the high altitude forests between 1500–3300 m. The upper limit of forests ranges from 3000 to 3300 m, and three taxa are commonly found at tree line: an evergreen, needle-leaved gymnosperm (Abies pindrow Spach.), an evergreen, broad-leaved sclerophyllous oak (Quercus semecarpifolia Sm.), and a deciduous, broad-leaved birch (Betula utilis Don).The high altitude forests differed from the low altitude forests of Central Himalaya in their greater proportion of microphanerophytes. Vernal flowering is common at this elevation in Central Himalaya. In general, in their elevational distribution and structural-functional attributes, these high altitude forests are similar to other forests of cool temperate zones in Himalaya.     

Nervilia pangteyana sp. nov., a terrestrial orchid from western Himalaya,India

Nervilia pangteyana J. S. Jalal, Kumar & G. S. Rawat (Orchidaceae), a new species from western Himalaya (Uttarakhand), India is described, illustrated and compared with its closest relative. In addition, a key is given to distinguish between species of Nervilia in the western Himalayas.     

紫萼藓科植物一新种--曹氏紫萼藓北大核心CSCD

描述了新疆天山山脉紫萼藓科(Grimmiaceae)紫萼藓属(Grimmia)一新种——曹氏紫萼藓(Grimmia caotongiana D.P.Zhao,S.Mamtimin&S.He)。该新种与无齿紫萼藓(Grimmia anodon Bruch&Schimp.)最为相似,不同之处在于新种茎叶和雌苞叶均无白色毛尖,叶中部边缘背卷;近中肋细胞通常无色透明,且细胞壁比边缘细胞明显加厚。该研究对新种——曹氏紫萼藓进行了详细的特征描述,并提供了植物体形态显微解剖彩色照片以及相近种的分类学讨论。     

Two new species of Russula subgenus Compactae from Indian Himalaya based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic inferences

The identity of blackening Russula (R. subg. Compactae) from Indian Himalaya has since long remained a mystery and they are often called after their European look-alikes. Here, a combined approach including morphology and ITS phylogenetic inference resolved the identification of some of these taxa and revealed the discovery of two novel species. Thus, Russula ashihoi sp. nov., found under Abies in subalpine Himalaya, and R. indonigra sp. nov. occurring under Quercus in subtropical to temperate Himalaya are proposed herein with their morphological details, illustrations and ITS-based phylogeny. Similarities with allied taxa are also discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stemonurus corrugatus</Emphasis> (Stemonuraceae,Icacinaceae s.l.) a new species from Sarawak

Summary   Stemonurus corrugatus Utteridge & Schori is described and illustrated as a new species from Sarawak, Malaysia. The new species is similar to S. grandifolius, S. scorpioides, and S. umbellatus, and morphological differences among the taxa are discussed. A distribution map and notes on the new species’ conservation status are provided.