Grias caucana is described and illustrated as a new tree species restricted to the premontane cloud forests of the Cauca River basin, in the departments of Quindío and Risaralda in Colombia. The species is recognised by the presence of (4 –) 5 (– 6) irregularly sinuous, white petals. Its morphological affinities with related species are discussed and, based on a preliminary assessment of its conservation status, it is proposed to be categorised as Endangered.
We describe a new species, Polycarpaea malranica, from a global biodiversity darkspot in tropical India. Polycarpaea malranica can be distinguished from its allied species P. corymbosa by the presence of trifid stipules, bifid ovate bracts, smaller flowers, dimorphic sepals, oval-elliptic petals and shorter filaments, and can be distinguished from a recently described species, P. borae, by the presence of bracteoles, petals with translucent margins, longer filaments and ovoid-spherical ovary. In this article, we provide detailed notes on its habitat, ecology, distribution, threats and conservation status. Our findings suggest that the widespread P. corymbosa in India should be recognised as a species complex in need of further systematic investigation. Finally, our discovery highlights the time-sensitive need to recognise and address biodiversity knowledge shortfalls in the Indian savannahs.
Dalechampia parvopseudantha (Euphorbiaceae), a new species with the smallest pseudanthium (2 – 2.5 cm long) within Dalechampia sect. Tiliifoliae, is described from the Atlantic Forest of Espírito Santo state in southeastern Brazil. The species is further distinguished by a combination of a 5 – 6 mm long peduncle; involucral bracts 1 – 1.5 × 0.7 – 0.8 cm, slightly 3-lobed, oblanceolate, yellowish-green, with a tomentose surface; staminate flowers with three broadly lanceolate sepals; sepals of pistillate flowers bearing conspicuous glandular trichomes and a stylar column with a slightly lobed apex. This unique set of morphological features readily distinguishes D. parvopseudantha from all other species of Dalechampia sect. Tiliifoliae, which is widely known to bear relatively large, up to 6.5 cm long pseudanthium. A full description, illustrations, field photographs, distribution map, phenology, habitat and a preliminary conservation status assessment are provided, as well as a table comparing the new species with its morphologically related, congeneric species. The striking size reduction of the pseudanthium discovered in a genus long used as a model for pollination biology, suggests that key ecologically informative variation may remain undocumented even in comparatively well-studied lineages.
Campylospermum zanaganum Cranham I.M.Turner (Ochnaceae), from mid-elevation evergreen forest near Zanaga, in the Lékoumou Department of the Republic of the Congo, is described and illustrated. Specimens of this species were previously identified as C. descoingsii Farron, with which it shares some morphological similarities, most notably the slender leaves with impressed lateral venation resulting in a distinctly bullate adaxial surface, but it differs from C. descoingsii in embryology, stature, leaf size and inflorescence form. Notes on the ecology and extinction risk of C. zanaganum are provided: it is considered to be Endangered under IUCN criterion B1 and B2 because of its extremely limited range. Although there are limited current threats, the proposed iron ore mining project in the area could pose a plausible and more severe threat in the future.
Typification errors of Jasminum adenophyllum, J. decussatum, J. listeri, J. scandens and J. trangense from section Unifoliolata are addressed here. Ambiguities of five wild jasmine species have been clarified through the selection of appropriate lectotypification for J. adenophyllum together with its synonym J. trangense, as well as J. decussatum, J. scandens, and for J. listeri with justification in accordance with ICN. The complex lectotypification of J. scandens has been re-designated by revoking the ambiguous holotype. This article aims to provide robust lectotypification for five old names of the genus Jasminum, that resolves nomenclatural uncertainties and enhances clarity in nomenclatural types.
