Inflorescence structure and generic delimitation of Triplaris and Ruprechtia (Polygonaceae)

A revision of the generic limits between Triplaris and Ruprechtia (Polygonaceae), which were confused in earlier literature, led to the conclusion that the two genera should be maintained. Triplaris is characterized by 1–flowered pistillate partial inflorescences, absence of a basal pedicel–like extension of the fruiting perianth–tube, which is always as long as or longer than the achene, bracteoles completely fissured on the abaxial side, and sessile or subsessile male flowers with perianth segments always connate for more than half of their length.
Ruprechtia has 2–3–flowered monochasial pistillate part–inflorescences (except the 1–flowered R. triflora) , a basal pedicel–like extension of the fruiting perianth–tube, which is at most 3/4 as long as the achene, more or less tubular bracteoles only exceptionally fissured down on the abaxial side, and pedicellate male flowers with perianth segments never connate for more than one third of their lenght. Preliminary paly–nological studies have shown that the pollen of Triplaris are microreticulate or punc–tate–microreticulate while Ruprechtia pollen have perforate–rugulose surfaces.     

Historical climate change and speciation: neotropical seasonally dry forest plants show patterns of both tertiary and quaternary diversification

Historical climate changes have had a major effect on the distribution and evolution of plant species in the neotropics. What is more controversial is whether relatively recent Pleistocene climatic changes have driven speciation, or whether neotropical species diversity is more ancient. This question is addressed using evolutionary rate analysis of sequence data of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers in diverse taxa occupying neotropical seasonally dry forests, including Ruprechtia (Polygonaceae), robinioid legumes (Fabaceae), Chaetocalyx and Nissolia (Fabaceae), and Loxopterygium (Anacardiaceae). Species diversifications in these taxa occurred both during and before the Pleistocene in Central America, but were primarily pre-Pleistocene in South America. This indicates plausibility both for models that predict tropical species diversity to be recent and that invoke a role for Pleistocene climatic change, and those that consider it ancient and implicate geological factors such as the Andean orogeny and the closure of the Panama Isthmus. Cladistic vicariance analysis was attempted to identify common factors underlying evolution in these groups. In spite of the similar Mid-Miocene to Pliocene ages of the study taxa, and their high degree of endemism in the different fragments of South American dry forests, the analysis yielded equivocal, non-robust patterns of area relationships.     

Small Celastraceae and Polygonaceae twigs from the Upper Cenozoic (Ituzaingó Formation) of the La Plata Basin,Argentina

Two new wood types from the Late Cenozoic of the Ituzaingó Formation, La Plata Basin, Northeast Argentina add to our knowledge of South American Cenozoic plants. The materials were preserved by siliceous cellular permineralization, and they were prepared for microscopic examination by surface polishing and in thin sections. The anatomy of these new species was described. The relationship and comparison with the nearest living relatives (NLRs) are discussed. Maytenoxylon perforatum Franco gen. and sp. nov. is described as the first fossil wood referable to Celastraceae from South America. This new fossil species is related to extant Maytenus Molina. The other fossil twig, Ruprechtioxylon breae Franco sp. nov., has features of the Polygonaceae family and particularly resembles the extant specie Ruprechtia laxiflora Meisn. The occurrence of these fossil woods in south-eastern South America suggests that a relatively warm and dry to seasonally dry climate prevailed over this region of Gondwana during the Upper Cenozoic. It also provides new evidence for the hypothesis of the more wide distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (SDTF) during the Upper Cenozoic.     

Bioindicator capacity of trees towards dryland salinity

To investigate plant–soil reactions towards site salinity we chose Ruprechtia triflora as the dominant tree species in its natural habitat in dry forests of Paraguay. We applied freezing point osmometry to measure tree leaves and soil samples identically on the basis of colligative solute properties. In order to substantiate the first field findings, the relation of tree and soil in terms of salinity was further investigated under controlled conditions in the greenhouse. R. triflora shows extreme osmotic adaptability. In three independent greenhouse experiments with NaCl application, Ruprechtia seedlings and later Eucalyptus dunnii seedlings from E Australia (for inter-species comparison) showed highly significant responses to their soil salinities. We conclude that tree leaves can serve as bioindicator for soil salinity within the tree’s rhizosphere.     

细基格孢属一新种和两个中国新记录种

A new species and two new Chinese records in the genus Ulocladium from soil are reported. New species is Ulocladium leve, and the new records are U. alternariae and U. consortiale. Latin diagnosis of the new species is presented. Holotype specimen (dried culture) of the new species and dried cultures of two new records are deposited in the Herbarium of Shandong Agricultural University: Plant Pathology (HSAUP).     

Four new dinoflagellates

Fragilidium fissile is a new species of this rare genus. It somewhat resemblesF. subglobosum. It differs from the latter in having a slot and a pore in the first apical plate 1′ (the nomenclature of dinoflagellate plate designation follows the Kofoid system). Both species are also distinguishable by noticeable differences in Po, 1″″ and 1‴.Peridinium tyrrhenicum is a small species differing from all the other known species ofPeridinium in its shape, apical channel and several plates, especially some of the sulcal components.Alexandrium foedum somewhat resemblesA. balechii, but it differs from the latter in that its width is greater than its length, and in the characters of all the main sulcal plates. The above listed species were found in a sample from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The fourth species,Alexandrium andersoni, is a small dinoflagellate obtained in coastal waters off Cape Cod. It differs from all the other species of the minutum group in the very typical shapes of both the 6″ and the S. s.Pentapharsodinium daleii Indelicato and Loeblich is transferred toPeridinium.     

Phenolic derivatives from Ruprechtia polystachya and their inhibitory activities on the glucose-6-phosphatase system

Two new compounds, 5-methyl-2-(2-methylbutanoyl)phloroglucinol 1-O-(6-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and trans-2,3-dihydrokaempferol 3-O-(4-O-sulfo)-α-L-arabinopyranoside (2), together with 14 known flavonoids, trans-dihydrokaempferol 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (3), trans-taxifolin 3-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside (4), quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), quercetin 3'-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside (6), catechin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (7), trans-taxifolin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (8), cis-dihydrokaempferol 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (9), catechin (10), myricetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (11), quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (12), quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside (13), quercetin 3-O-(3″-galloyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (14), quercetin 3-O-(2″-galloyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (15), and epicatechin 3-O-gallate (16), were isolated from the leaves of Ruprechtia polystachya Griseb. (Polygonaceae). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments as well as MS analyses. All compounds, except 1, showed inhibition of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase in intact microsomes.     

A new species and new records of Cercophora from Argentina

Three species of Cercophora were found during a survey of the biodiversity of microfungi in northwest Argentina. Cercophora argentina possesses a unique combination of morphological characters and is described as a new species, while C. costaricensis and C. solaris are reported as new records for Argentina. Other species of Cercophora known from this region include C. natalita and C. coprogena, which is fully illustrated for the first time and determined herein to be a synonym of C. californica. All other species are described and illustrated.     

A new genus and three new species of decapodiform cephalopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)

We describe here two new species of oegopsid squids. The first is an Asperoteuthis (Chiroteuthidae), and it is based on 18 specimens. This new species has sucker dentition and a funnel–mantle locking apparatus that are unique within the genus. The second new species is a Promachoteuthis (Promachoteuthidae), and is based on a unique specimen. This new species has tentacle ornamentation which is unique within the genus. We also describe a new genus and a new species of sepioid squid in the subfamily Heteroteuthinae (Sepiolidae) and it is based on four specimens. This new genus and species exhibits unique modifications of the arms in males.     

斑痣盘菌科一新种及一中国新记录种

报道斑痣盘菌科的2个分类单元,其中生于八角Illiciumverum上的八角生散斑壳Lophodermiumilliciicolasp.nov.是新种,寄生于柳属植物Salixspp.上的脐突斑痣盘菌Rhytismaumbonatum为中国新记录种。对此二种进行了汉文描述、图解和讨论,新种附有拉丁文特征简介。供研究标本保藏于安徽农业大学森林保护教研室(AAUFP)。     

New archaeogastropod limpets from hydrothermal vents: new family Peltospiridae, new superfamily Peltospiracea

Seven new species of limpets from hydrothermal vents are described in five new genera in the new family Peltospiridae (new superfamily Peltospiracea). Limpets in this family are known only from the hydrothermal vent community at two sites, near 21°N and 13°N, on the East Pacific Rise. New genera and species are: Peltospira , type species P. operculuta from both sites, and P. delicata from 13°N; Nodopelta , type species N. heminoda from both sites, and N. subnoda from 13°N; Rhynchopelta , type species R. concentrica from both sites; Echinopelta , type species E. fistulosa from 21°N; Hirtopelta , type specics H. hirta from 13°N. These limpets are associated with the Pompei worm Alvinella , except for Rhynchopelta, which is associated with the vestimentifcran worm Riftia .     

A new family,new genus,and new species allied to the Microsporida

A new and unusual microsporidian species was found in the intestinal epithelium of dipteran larvae of genus Sciara. Merogony is by binary and multiple fission. Sporogonial plasmodia become enclosed in ornate, thick-walled cysts. The cyst contents become cut up by temporary cytoplasmic partitions to make numerous binucleate cells (sporonts) Each divides to produce one normal and one abortive sporoblast. Because this species has a number of unusual features, a new family and a new genus are proposed to contain it.     

Stigmatomyces from New Zealand and New Caledonia: new records, new species and two new host families

Seven new records and three new species of Stigmatomyces (S. australis, S. baeopteri and S. clasiopellae), a genus of Laboulbeniales associated only with Diptera, are described from New Zealand and New Caledonia. Two new host families for Laboulbeniales are recorded, and a dichotomous key to Stigmatomyces species in New Zealand and New Caledonia is presented.     

Three Endogonaceae new to Poland

Morphological features of three species of the Endogonaceae new to Poland are described and illustrated, their occurrences and distributions in Poland are characterized and mapped. Glomus mosseae is probably the most common species having been found in 81 of the 152 soil samples examined. Its frequency of occurrence and spore densities were about twice as high among cultivated than among wild plants. Glomus pansihalos was isolated from 8 samples taken only under wild plants. This species is probably new to Europe. Scutellospora calospora was found in the rhizosphere of 12 cultivated and 17 wild plants. Spore densities of this species were similar in cultivated and uncultivated soils.     

Three new species and one new combination in Boesenbergia (Zingiberaceae) from Thailand

Three new species, Boesenbergia acuminata, B. basispicata and B. petiolata are described and illustrated. Boesenbergia siamensis comb, nov. is illustrated. A key to the species in Thailand is also presented.     

A new species and a new record of Helicomyces from Taiwan

Helicomyces geniculatus sp. nov. from decaying wood submerged in a freshwater stream at Juchi Town of Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan, is described and illustrated. It differs from other Helicomyces species in having geniculate conidiophores arising from repent hyphae and also borne on erect setae. Abundant stalked sclerotia were also found in this species. Helicomyces torquatus is described in this paper as a new record for Taiwan, with new observation. The phylogenetic relationship of H. geniculatus, H. torquatus, and related taxa were sought by comparing the sequences of their ITS barcode of the nuc rDNA. A synopsis of the 13 accepted Helicomyces species is given.     

A new name and a new species in MexicanRuellia (Acanthaceae)

Based on pollen and floral morphology,Blechum grandiflorum is transferred toRuellia, and the nameR. mirandana is proposed for this species. A new species,Ruellia tuxtlensis, is described which is distinguishable fromR. mirandana by its longer spike and elliptic bracts. It is presently known only from the lowlands of Veracruz, Mexico.