Notes on capitate Venezuelan Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae)

Two new combinations, Rhynchospora imeriensis (Kükenthal) W. Thomas and R. planifolia (T. Koyama) W. Thomas, and a new name, R. capillifolia W. Thomas, are provided for capitate species of Rhynchospora occurring in Venezuela. A new section of capitate species with white spikelets, sect. Rigidifolia W. Thomas, is described, and its six included species are listed, discussed, and keyed. Lectotypes are designated for R. duckei R. Gross and R. longibracteata Boeckeler. Two species are illustrated.     

A taxonomic revision of the Antennaria rosea (Asteraceae: Inuleae: Gnaphaliinae) polyploid complex

TheAntennaria rosea species complex is circumscribed to contain four subspecific taxa. A complete synonymy and key to the subspecies ofA. rosea is presented. The following new combinations are proposed:Antennaria rosea subsp.arida (E. Nels.) R. Bayer,A. rosea subsp. confinis (Greene) R. Bayer, andA. rosea subsp. pulvinata (Greene) R. Bayer. The affinities ofA. rosea to other species ofAntennaria are discussed and a key to separateA. rosea from related polyploid complexes is provided.     

The taxonomy of eriodon and notes on other South American genera of brachytheciaceae with erect capsules

Eriodon is reduced from five species to two.Eriodon radicalis is recognized asEntodontopsis radicalis;Eriodon longipes asPorotrichodendron longipes; andE. brevisetus as synonymous withLindigia debilis. Mandoniella, Stenocarpidiopsis andLepyrodontopsis are discussed and illustrated.Lepyrodontopsis is transferred to the new familyLe pyrodontopsidaceae, near the Meteoriaceae. The following nomenclatural trans fers are proposed for Rozea:R. andrieuxii f.chrysea andR. andrieuxii var.bour gaeana. Sciuroleskea is transferred to an alliance withStereophyllum,Juratzkaea, Entodontopsis, Stenocarpidium andJuratzkaeella. The following transfers are proposed:Sciuroleskea roseorum (Williams asRozea) Buck andJuratzkaea argentinica (Thér. asJ. seminervis var.argentinica) Buck. A key to the erect-capsuled South American genera retained in the Brachytheciaceae is provided.     

New and noteworthy plants from Great Barrier Reef sand cays,Australia

Observations are presented on new and critical plants from the northern sand cays on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, based mainly on recent collections made by David R. Stoddart and Ralf Buckley. New species and varieties are described:Lepturus stoddartii (Poaceae),Boerhavia fistulosa var.fistulosa and var.puberuliflora (Nyctaginaceae),Boerhavia albiflora var.heronensis, Spermacoce everistiana (Rubiaceae), andSpermacoce buckleyi; a new combination is made:Diospyros ferrea var.compacta (R. Br.) (Ebenaceae); and additional taxonomic notes are given onBoerhavia, Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), andAbutilon (Malvaceae).     

Mycopteris,a new neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae)

Mycopteris, a new genus of grammitid ferns, is described and combinations are made for the species that belong to it. Mycopteris is diagnosed by castaneous rhizome scales with turgid cells, usually pectinate laminae, blackish petioles and rachises, blackish pinna costae and veins, reddish setae, cretaceous hydathodes, glabrous sporangia, and the presence of Acrospermum ascomes. It is entirely neotropical, ranging from Mexico east into the West Indies and south to Bolivia. Mycopteris is one of two genera of grammitid ferns that are consistently associated with Acrospermum, an epibiotic ascomycete that produces black clavate fruiting bodies. Seventeen species of Mycopteris are recognized here, including one new species (M. longipilosa) and one elevated from the rank of variety to species (M. costaricensis). The following additional combinations are made here: M. alsopteris, M. amphidasyon, M. attenuatissima, M. cretata, M. grata, M. leucolepis, M. leucostica, M. longicaulis, M. pirrensis, M. praeceps, M. semihirsuta, M. steyermarkii, M. subtilis, M. taxifolia, and M. zeledoniana. Lectotypes are chosen for Ctenopteris leucosticta, Polypodium amphidasyon, and Polypodium pectinatum var. hispidum. For each accepted species, full synonymy and geographical range are provided. Taxonomic discussion is provided for species not widely recognized in previous treatments.     

New genera and species of ericaceae (Vaccinieae) from Costa Rica and Panama

Two new monotypic genera,Didonica andUtleya, are described, withD. pendula from Panama andU. costaricensis from Costa Rica.Disterigma trimera (Panama),D. utleyorum (Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador),Lateropora santafeensis (Panama),Lysiclesia panamensis (Panama),Macleania talamancensis (Costa Rica),Themistoclesia costaricensis (Costa Rica) andT. horquetensis (Panama),Vaccinium costaricense andV. orosiense (both from Costa Rica) and V.jefense (Panama) are all described as new. New combinations are provided for the PanamanianVaccinium floccosum (=Symphysia floccosa) and the West IndianVaccinium racemosum (=Symphysia racemosa). Keys are provided for the Central American species ofDisterigma andThemistoclesia, the species ofLateropora andLysiclesia, and the Costa Rican and Panamanian species ofVaccinium. Six new species are illustrated.     

New species of Ruellia (Acanthaceae) from southern South America

Two new species ofRuellia,R. epallocaulos from northeastern Argentina, southern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay, andR. kleinii from southern Brazil, are described, illustrated and compared to related species.     

Notes on Neotropical Selaginella (Selaginellaceae), including new species from Panama

Three new species ofSelaginella from Panama are described and illustrated:S. correae, S. salazariae, andS. taylorii. In addition, a new name,S. smithiorum, is proposed forS. velutina A. R. Smith (nonS. velutina Cesati), and eleven new distribution records are reported. The relationships of the species are discussed and keys to some of the species are provided.     

New species in Adiantum and Pteris (Pteridaceae) from the Andes

We describe, discuss, and illustrate four new species, one inAdiantum (A. capillatum A. R. Sm. &; Prado, from Ecuador) and three species inPteris (P. lellingeri A. R. Sm. &; Prado, from Bolivia;P. venezuelensis A. R. Sm. &; Prado, from Venezuela; andP. websteri A. R. Sm. &; Prado, from Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia).     

Raritebe,an overlooked genus of the rubiaceae

Raritebe contains one species with two subspecies, the latter differing significantly in floral biology.Raritebe palicoureoides subsp.palicoureoides is heterostylous and is known from the Cordilleras Central and Oriental in Colombia and from east of the Andes in Ecuador and northeastern Peru;R. palicoureoides subsp.dwyeranum is homostylous and known only from west of the Andes in Colombia and from Panama and Costa Rica. The most probable hypothesis is that the selfincompatible subsp.palicoureoides gave rise to subsp.dwyeranum through genetic crossing over followed by long distance dispersal of the resulting self-compatible progeny. Coherent anthers with an unusual method of pollen release are characteristic of subsp.dwyeranum. Raritebe palicoureoides subsp.dwyeranum andR. palicoureoides subsp.palicoureoides var.antioquianum are described as new.     

New taxa and combinations in Malvastrum A. Gray (Malvaceae: Malveae)

The genusMalvastrum A. Gray is interpreted to include 22 taxa in 14 species. Seven taxa are here described as new, namely:M. americanum var.stellatum,M. tomentosum subsp.pautense,M. bicuspidatum subsp.campanulatum,M. bicuspidatum subsp.oaxacanum, M. bicuspidatum subsp.tumidum var.tumidum, M. bicuspidatum subsp.tumidum var.glabrum, andM. coromandelianum subsp.fryxellii. In addition, two new combinations are proposed, namely:M. tomentosum andM. coromandelianum subsp.capitato-spicatum.     

Revision of Plerandra (Araliaceae). I. A synopsis of the genus with an expanded circumscription and a new infrageneric classification

Phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Schefflera, the largest genus of Araliaceae, is grossly polyphyletic, comprising five distinct clades within the family. In an effort to establish monophyletic genera among the elements that currently comprise Schefflera, the genus Plerandra is expanded to encompass all of the members of one of these clades. In this synoptical revision, a new infrageneric classification is presented (along with a key) in which six subgenera are recognized. Four of these subgenera are newly described (Plerandra subgenera Canacoschefflera, Costatae, Gabriellarum, and Veilloniorum) and a fifth represents a new combination (Plerandra subg. Dizygotheca). A total of 33 species (one with two subspecies) are accepted, one of which is newly described (P. veilloniorum), and 22 new combinations are made (P. actinostigma, P. baillonii, P. cabalionii, P. costata, P. crassipes, P. elegantissima, P. elongata, P. emiliana, P. gabriellae, P. leptophylla, P. nono, P. osyana, P. osyana subsp. toto, P. pachyphylla, P. pancheri, P. plerandroides, P. polydactylis, P. reginae, P. seemanniana, P. tannae, P. vanuatua, P. veitchii). Neotypes are provided for six accepted names and one heterotypic synonym, and lectotypes are designated for 13 accepted names and 16 heterotypic synonyms. For each accepted species, full synonymy is provided along with geographic range and notes.     

Rubiacearum Americanarum Magna Hama Pars XXXII. New Species and a New Combination in Coussarea (Coussareeae) from Western South America

The Neotropical genus Coussarea is species-rich and widely distributed but not well known. Seven new species are described here, documented mainly by recent botanical exploration: C. acrensis is found in western Brazil, C. boliviensis and C. mexiae in the mountains of northwestern Bolivia, and C. camposiana, C. maranonensis, C. pseudopilosula, and C. vasqueziana in Peru. The new combination C. insolita is based on Rudgea insolita from Colombia.     

Neotropical Segregates from Sida L. (Malvaceae)

Three genera are segregated out ofSida as natural units,viz. Sidastrum E. G. Baker, enlarged from one species to seven,Krapovickasia nom. nov. including four species, andRhynchosida gen. nov. including two species, one described as new from Bolivia,R. kearneyi. Mericarp and calyx morphology are emphasized in delimiting these genera and in defining the residual genusSida, which now assumes a more natural character.