A reevaluation of the genus Exacum (Gentianaceae) in Ceylon

A taxonomic reevaluation of the Ceylonese species of the paleotropic genus of Gentianaceae, Exacum L. (ca. 40 species), is made. Eight species are recognized. Five of the species are endemic to Ceylon and three are also found in India. One species new to Ceylon is presented, viz. E. pedunculalum L., and one new combination is made, viz. E. pallidum (Trim.) Klack. Typifications, maps and a key to the species are given. The micromorphology of seeds, pollen grains, and cuticular structures as seen by means of SEM is also given and its implications for taxonomy discussed.     

Lijndenia, a re–established paleotropical genus of the Melastomataceae–Memecyleae

The genus Lijndenia Zoll. & Mor. is re–established and emended to include four species, L. laurina Zoll. & Mor. from W Malesia and Java, L. capitellata (Arn.) Bremer from Ceylon, L. gardneri (Thw.) Bremer from Ceylon, and L. barteri (Hook. f.) Bremer from tropical W Africa. The latter three names are new combinations.     

An annotated check-list of the Pteridophyta of Ceylon

The indigenous species of Pteridophyta known to occur in Ceylon number 314. In addition, 18 naturalized species occur as weeds of cultivation or as introduced aliens. Fifty-seven species are endemic to Ceylon and 28 non-endemic species are absent from India. Lists of these and other phytogeographical groupings are given. The full list of species is followed by comments on the taxonomy or nomenclature of 76 taxa. Four new combinations are made: Asplenium polyodon var. bipinnatum (Sledge) Sledge; Deparia polyrhizon (Baker) Sledge; Polystichum harpophyllum (Zenker ex Kunze) Sledge, and Bolbitis appendiculata var. asplenifolia (Bory) Sledge. Athyrium puncticaule (Blume) T. Moore and A. lanceum (Kunze) T. Moore replace A. anisopterum Christ and A. macrocarpum (Blume) Beddome, respectively.     

On a new anoplocephalid cestode Biporouterina psittaculae gen. et sp. nov. from Layard's paroquet Psittacula calthropae (Layard 1849)

A new genus and species of anoplocephalid cestode infesting Layard's paroquet is described from Ceylon.     

The genusFimbristylis (Cyperaceae) in ceylon

Thirty two species ofFimbristylis (Cyperaceae) thus far documented from Ceylon are taxonomically discussed with particular emphasis on the collections of Thwaites and Trimen. In addition to the synonymy and critical citation of specimens, a key is provided to differentiate these species.Fimbristylis tenera is newly added to the Ceylon flora. The new combinations proposed are:F. dichotoma ssp.glauca, F. fusca ssp.fulvescens, F. aestivalis ssp.major, andF. tenera ssp.oxylepis.     

Freshwater triclads (Turbellaria, Tricladida) from the oriental region

Two new freshwater triclad species of the genus Dugesia Girard, 1850 are described from the oriental region. The first is the only species of freshwater triclad described from Ceylon and the second, a cavernicolous form, is the only one known from Malaya. A synopsis, in tabular form, of the oriental Dugesia species is also given and some aspects of their distribution are discussed. It is intended that the tabular synopsis should provide diagnostic characters for the delimitation of the new and previously described species, and act as a basis for a future revision of the oriental representatives of the genus, many of which are poorly described or poorly known. Apreliminary dichotomous key to the valid species is also provided.     

On two new tetrabothriid cestodes from the brown gannet or booby Sula leucogastra plotus (Forster) from the Indian Ocean

Two new tetrabothriid cestodes, Tetrabothrius baeri and T. peregrinatoris, infesting the brown booby are described from Ceylon.     

Bryophytes of Sri Lanka: a review of past exploration and taxonomic research and priorities for the future

This overview presents a historical summary of the past collectors of bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, and some of the researchers who studied and published the results of their explorations. The first British collectors of the early nineteenth century were linked with the development of the Botanic Garden and herbarium in Peradeniya, of which George Gardner and George Thwaites made the greatest contributions, resulting in three publications by William Mitten on both mosses and liverworts. By the mid-nineteenth century, collectors from other countries took the lead, firstly Johannes Nietner from Germany and Odoardo Beccari from Italy. By the early twentieth century, Victor Schiffner from Austria and Max Fleischer from Germany became the leading bryologists throughout SE Asia, and both visited Ceylon. Fleischer’s work was part of a monographic revision of all mosses resulting in many new genera and species. After Fleischer, the most important bryologist was the German Theodor Herzog, who was the first to describe the ecological structure and bryological richness of different forest zones in southern Ceylon, with insight into forest loss from agricultural and population expansion, and a summary of biogeographical links of the bryoflora. The English bryologist H.N. Dixon took over from Mitten in describing many new moss species. Since independence in 1948, bryology in Sri Lanka has had major input from some local bryologists, such as B.A. Abeywickrama, as well as several important visitors, notably H. Inoue from Japan, C.C. Townsend from England, P.P.M. Tixier from France, and Maurice Onraedt from Belgium. Awareness in Sri Lanka of the need to taxonomically revise the extensive and scattered herbarium collections, has led to the running of some bryophyte workshops and training of new Sri Lankan bryologists. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to produce the first comprehensive bryophyte flora of the country, and priorities for future work are outlined.     

Notes on mosses from Ceylon and India, 7. Some species of Trichostomum

Abstract

Trichostomum bombayense C.M. is typified and T. cylindrotheca Mitt. reduced to synonymy under it. The records of Trichostomum species from Ceylon are critically examined and T. tenuirostre (Hook. & Tayl.) Lindb. removed from the Ceylon moss flora. Records of T. orthodontum (C.M.) Broth. and T. cuspidatum (D. & M.) D. & M. hitherto published are based on misidentifications, but new records are given of both. Differences between T. cuspidatum and T. stenophyllum (Mitt.) Broth., which latter binomial is not a homonym as Index Muscorum states, are dealt with and illustrated by S.E.M. photographs. T. stenophyllum is a good species which has been relegated to extraordinary synonymy in the past.     

Studies in Malesian Pandanaceae XVII on the taxonomy of ‘Pandan Wangi’ A Pandanus cultivar with scented leaves

Economic Botany - A cultivated, usually sterile species ofPandanus, found rather widely in Malesia (especially in W. Indonesia, Malaya, and the Philippines, but also known in Ceylon), commonly used...     

The Cytology of some Athyrium species from Northern India

The present investigation deals with the cytology of genus Athyriumfrom Northern India. Eleven species have been studied and comparisonswith the previous records are made. All the North Indian speciesare sexual and there is a lower percentage of polyploidy comparedwith the species in Ceylon. Their occurrence at high altitudessuggests that the temperate climate may be significant in thisconnexion. Polyploidy is noticed only up to the tetraploid leveland only in two cases.     

Plasmodium japonicum,P. juxtanucleare and P. nucleophilum in the Far East*

SYNOPSIS. Plasmodium japonicum and P. juxtanucleare are two very similar species of avian malaria parasites. The former was discovered in domestic fowl in Japan, and the latter in the same host species in Brazil; it has since been found in chickens in Uruguay, Mexico, and Ceylon. The present study, based on a Ceylon strain of P. juxtanucleare and slides from the Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola thoracica sonorivox) of Taiwan indicates that the latter host is a natural reservoir of P. juxtanucleare, since this species appears to differ in no significant way from P. japonicum. Infection is common in the Bamboo Partridge (5 of 26 birds showed it), but it has not so far been found in any other avian species, although a total of 973 birds, belonging to 17 orders, 45 families, 110 genera, and 183 species, have been examined from this area. Since the younger stages of Plasmodium nucleophilum look very much like similar stages of P. juxtanucleare, they are compared. The older stages however are usually easily distinguishable, and the former species is so far known only from non-gallinaceous birds whereas the latter appears to be limited to gallinaceous ones.     

Eimeria diminuta sp. n. from the Ceylon Jungle Fowl,Callus lafayettei*

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria diminuta sp. n. is described from the Ceylon jungle fowl Gallus lafayettei. Its sporulated oocysts are 16.5 (16–17.5) × 14.5 (13.5 × 15.5) μm. The species produces patent infections in domestic fowl.     

The Small Ribosomal Subunit RNA Isoforms in Plasmodium Cynomolgi

We report the isolation, characterization and analysis of the small subunit rRNA genes in Plasmodium cynomolgi (Ceylon). As in other Plasmodium species, these genes are present in low copy number, are unlinked and form two types that are distinct in sequence and are expressed stage specifically. The asexually expressed (type A) genes are present in four copies in the Ceylon(-) and in five copies in the Berok(-) strain. Surprisingly, the sexually expressed (type B) gene is present in a single copy. The vast majority of the differences between gene types is confined to the variable regions. The pattern of divergence is different from that observed in Plasmodium berghei or in Plasmodium falciparum. Analysis of the small subunit rRNA sequences of P. cynomolgi, P. berghei and P. falciparum, indicates that the two gene types do not evolve independently but rather interact (through gene conversion or some form of recombination) to such an extent as to erase whatever stage-specific sequence signatures they may have had in the last common ancestor.     

A revision of Moonia (Compositae,Heliantheae, Coreopsidinae)

The genusMoonia of India and Ceylon, traditionally placed in the subtribe Melampodiinae, is shown to have closer affinities withDahlia andHidalgoa of the subtribe Coreopsidinae. Several morphologically heterogeneous taxa are excluded fromMoonia, and the remaining species,M. heterophylla, is described and illustrated.     

Notes on mosses from Ceylon and India, 8. Another moss with three names in three continents

Abstract

Entodon dregeanus (Hornsch.) C.M., from Africa arid E. plicatus C.M., from southern India and Ceylon, are reduced to the synonymy of E. macropodus (Hedw.) C.M., an American species.     

The potential value of the seaweed Ceylon moss (Gelidium amansii) as an alternative bioenergy resource

Sea weed (Ceylon moss) possesses comparable bioenergy production potential to that of land plants. Ceylon moss has high content of carbohydrates, typically galactose (23%) and glucose (20%). We have explored the possibility of sodium chlorite in Ceylon moss pretreatment that can ultimately increase the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification. In an acidic medium, chlorite generates ClO₂ molecules that transform lignin into soluble compounds without any significant loss of carbohydrate content and this procedure is widely used as an analytical method for holocellulose determination. Sodium chlorite-pretreated samples resulted in glucose yield up to 70% with contrast of only 5% was obtained from non-pretreated samples.The efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis is significantly improved by sodium chlorite pretreatment, and thus sodium chlorite pretreatment is potentially a very useful tool in the utilisation of Ceylon moss biomass for ethanol production or bioenergy purposes.