Vegetative keys to the 16 genera and 46 species of woody climbers of Apocynaceae recorded from the Sangha Trinational, Central Africa, are presented. These are accompanied by genus and species descriptions and illustrations of key diagnostic characters.
Gaultheria rostrata, a new species of wintergreen endemic to Mindanao Island, Philippines, is here described and illustrated. It resembles Gaultheria bartolomei, endemic to Luzon Island, but differs by having a terrestrial habit, shorter petioles, longer pedicels, white or pale-pink corollas, coiled corolla lobes, longer anther tubules, and a longer style. The flowers of Gaultheria rostrata are unique among Asian species of Gaultheria on account of their coiled corolla lobes exposing the anthers and style at anthesis. This discovery raises the number of Gaultheria species in the Philippines to 16.
Gentiana macneilliana (Gentianaceae), a new species from North Sikkim, in the Eastern Himalayan region of India, is described, illustrated and discussed. It is morphologically similar to Gentiana lacinulata T.N.Ho of Gentiana sect. Chondrophyllae Bunge but differs markedly in having acute and usually mucronate leaf apex, ovate corolla lobes with acuminate apex, much longer plicae (1.5–2.6 mm), which are more than half as long as corolla lobes, and longer pedicel (up to 8 mm). This new species also resembles Gentiana muscicola C.Marquand (Gentiana sect. Chondrophyllae) but can easily be differentiated by its unique corolla lobe, shorter petiole, narrowly based leaf lamina, longer pedicel and shorter style. The affinity of the new species with Gentiana grata Harry Sm., a member of the same section, is also highlighted. A taxonomic description, images and illustrations of the new taxon are provided, along with a discussion of closely related taxa.
A new species of Entoloma, E. aldinophilum, is described from the central Guiana Shield region. The species’ combination of features – including medium-sized, tricholomatoid, yellow basidiomata with intrinsically bright yellow trama, isodiametric, 6-angled basidiospores, and occurrence with the endemic ectomycorrhizal tree Aldina insignis (Benth.) Endl. (Fabaceae subfam. Papilionoideae) – is unique among Entoloma species worldwide.
Two new species in the genus Lagotis Gaertn. (Plantaginaceae) are described from Nepal. Specimens of Lagotis annupurnensis and L. geniculiflora were formerly identified as belonging to the polymorphic species L. kunawurensis. They are distinguished from this species by their geniculate or bent corollas. Lagotis annapurnensis and L. geniculiflora are distinguished from each other by the size and shape of their bracts. A key to the species in Nepal is provided. Two combinations are made in Nanorrhinum (Plantaginaceae), and two combinations in Scrophularia (Scrophulariaceae), to reflect changes in the taxonomy of Kickxia Blume and Oreosolen Hook.f.
Two new species in the monospecific genus Duparquetia (Leguminosae–Duparquetioideae) are described: Duparquetia alba and Duparquetia minima. The new species are diagnosed by flower characters such as the presence or absence of glands on the edge of sepals and petals, and the colour, shape and position of the sepals, petals and stamens. Photographs of the new species are provided, as is a key to all species and a map showing their distribution.
Multiple fruits are rare in Rubiaceae, occurring in only 14 genera. They have evolved in different ways in phylogenetically distant clades. We present a survey of all known occurrences of multiple fruits in the family. Leaving aside the poorly known genus Pagameopsis, we distinguish four types: (i) double or multiple drupes resulting from fusion of neighbouring ovaries Prismatomerideae, Mitchelleae and Morindeae), (ii) dry fruits resulting from partial fusion of a flower pair (Calanda in Knoxieae), (iii) dry multiple fruits dehiscing by an operculum (Anthospermeae – Operculariinae), and (iv) massive fleshy, woody or fibrous globose multiple fruits formed by expansion of the inflorescence tissue embedding numerous ovaries (Naucleeae). Based on this framework, we evaluated the systematic position of the Taiwanese genus Conjugatovarium, characterised by paired flowers with connate ovaries. Comparison of the characters excludes affinity with most lineages possessing multiple fruits due to major differences in habit, floral and fruit morphology, and biogeography. However, Conjugatovarium lalashanianum matches Mitchella undulata in all morphological characters, and both taxa co-occur in northern Taiwan. We formally place Conjugatovarium in synonymy with Mitchella and treat C. lalashanianum as M. undulata.
Adenosciadium omanensis, a species new to science, is described from the foothills of the northern mountains of Oman. It is closely related to Adenosciadium arabicum but differs in having a reniform leaflet with finely serrate margin, a compact inflorescence, lanceolate bracts and bracteoles with acute tip, a cylindrical fruit (schizocarp) with narrow commissure, oblong-oval terete mericarps with an exocarp covered with long forked hairs, and an emarginate endocarp on the commissural side. Adenosciadium omanensis is illustrated by photographs in its natural habitat. In addition, a comparative morphological analysis is presented that distinguishes it from Adenosciadium arabicum, the single species known in the genus, from southern Oman and Yemen. A distribution map for the two species in Oman is provided.
A new species of Elaeocarpus is described from the Kodaikanal region of Pulney Hills, India; it is morphologically allied to E. variabilis in having anther tips without setae or tuft of hairs and 3-locular pyrenes. It differs from the latter in having ovate, light-green sepals, and ellipsoid fruits enclosing ellipsoid pyrenes. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and trnL–F regions revealed that Elaeocarpus pulneyensis is distinct from E. variabilis and support the novelty of the taxon.
A new species, Begonia matillanoae, is here described and illustrated from Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape, Palawan Island, Philippines. It closely resembles Begonia cabanillasii but is distinct in having an ovate leaf with irregularly lobed margin, an acute leaf apex, and a 5-tepalled pistillate flower with the larger wing flat to shallowly cucullate. Begonia matillanoae is the latest addition to the Palawan begonias bearing a conspicuously 5-winged ovary. Based on IUCN guidelines, we here propose a Critically Endangered (CR) conservation designation for this species. A revised key to Palawan Begonia sect. Baryandra bearing five or six conspicuous ovary wings is also provided.
We review the 22 names in the genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) from J. M. da C. Vellozo’s Flora Fluminensis, taking advantage of recent advances in the understanding of Vellozo’s collecting itinerary and the Begonia flora of southern Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. We unambiguously match 18 of Vellozo’s names to current species concepts in the genus Begonia, resulting in 10 new synonyms. We provide lectotypifications and epitypifications and accepted names for all taxa. The widespread and common species currently known as Begonia radicans Vell. is shown to be a misapplication of the name, and we reinstate the name B. limmingheiana É.Morren for this taxon. We report the rediscovery of Begonia acetosa Vell., which was last collected approximately 250 years ago by Vellozo, and provide an emended description and IUCN conservation assessment for this species. We are unable to match four of Vellozo’s names to current species concepts and propose that they are rejected.
A new species of Heteropolygonatum, H. farreri, is described from the easternmost part of Myanmar and western Yunnan in a limestone region of the Gaoligongshan. It is morphologically similar to Heteropolygonatum marmoratum but differs by its shortly scabrous stem, narrowly cylindrical perianth with lanceolate tepals, red-orange fruit, and diploid chromosome count. An illustration of the new species is provided, as is a map of its distribution and that of its closest relative, Heteropolygonatum marmoratum, showing their disjunction. Chromosome counts for Heteropolygonatum farreri (2n = 32) and a second count for H. marmoratum (2n = 4x = 64) are given.
A list is presented of more than 300 names of vascular plants that are typified by illustrations published in Herbarium Amboinense, the botanical magnum opus of Rumphius. The list includes the currently accepted name for each entry and its typification, where available. Merrill effectively designated lectotypes for some two-thirds of the names linked to Herbarium Amboinense; the rest were dealt with by various authors. In total, 85 new typifications are presented, including both lectotypes and epitypes. A new combination in Ochrosia (Apocynaceae) is proposed. Some nomenclatural issues relating to names published by Loureiro in Flora Cochinchinensis, for which no extant specimens are available but which could be typified by Rumphius illustrations, are also highlighted.
A synopsis of the Southeast Asian genus Sarcotheca (Oxalidaceae) is presented. The number of species recognised has increased from 11 in the last revision of the genus to 15, primarily due to the elevation of Sarcotheca laxa varieties to species rank. The first validation of the basionyms for three species has been changed, as the generic name Connaropsis was not validly published in the generally cited source. A lectotype is designated for Connaropsis, and seven species names are lectotypified, two of them at the second step. Additionally, Sarcotheca laxa is confirmed as part of Thailand’s native flora.
This year marks 125 years of the Edinburgh Journal of Botany and its forerunner, Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. To mark the event all content published under both journal names is now free to access online.
An updated taxonomic checklist of all the accepted species and infraspecific taxa of the family Putranjivaceae (Malpighiales) worldwide is presented. We currently accept 223 species in two genera, Putranjiva (four species) and Drypetes (219 species). A morphological description of the family and a nomenclatural checklist of its infrageneric taxa and species are provided, and for each species the correct name, synonyms and type information, as well as available information on distribution, habitat, published iconography and infrageneric classification are given. To stabilise the nomenclature of the Putranjivaceae, a total of 133 lectotypes and five neotypes are designated, as well as a new combination, Putranjiva sect. Matsumuranae (Hurus.) Quintanar, Barberá & D.J.Harris comb. nov. Type species for four sectional names (Drypetes sect. Oligandrae, Drypetes sect. Roxburghianae, Drypetes sect. Stemonodiscus and Drypetes sect. Stipulares) have been designated, as well as two new species synonyms. The checklist is preceded by an introduction to the family and the taxonomic history of the main taxa. The International Plant Names Index Life Sciences Identifier (LSID) and the World Flora Online Unique Identifier are added to each name, thereby providing direct links to these nomenclatural resources.
Aulandra H.J.Lam (Sapotaceae) has hitherto been treated as a genus of tropical forest trees native to Borneo. To test whether the genus is distinct from Palaquium Blanco, phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood was performed on target capture of nuclear data, including all species currently recognised as belonging in Aulandra. The results confirm that Aulandra is nested within Palaquium and should be synonymised with it. One new combination, Palaquium longifolium (H.J.Lam) A.Phang, is made, and the application of the name P. beccarii discussed, resulting in the description of a new species, Palaquium aulandrum A.Phang.
Species richness patterns are essential for understanding how species diversity has evolved. The filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) are one of the largest families of epiphytic ferns; however, a comprehensive global overview of their species diversity and distribution is lacking. In the present study, we identified the regions of greatest species diversity as Central America, South America and Southeast Asia (including Taiwan Island), followed by the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Madagascar. North America and Europe are low in species richness. Global species richness data based on 100 × 100 km grid cells were analysed to investigate the correlation between species richness and ecological factors. Our results show that filmy ferns have a strong preference for moist and warm habitats, and that current species richness patterns are codetermined by topography, climate and forest cover. Our results also indicate that, as expected, the relationship between soil and epiphytic ferns is minimal, and that there is weak support for the use of solar radiation levels to predict global patterns of diversity for filmy ferns, which primarily occur in deep shade. We highlight potential ecological differences between the two lineages of the Hymenophyllaceae: hymenophylloids and trichomanoids. The unusually low species diversity of filmy ferns in some areas (e.g. the Pan-Himalayan region) is potentially explained by historical ecological adaptation and lack of suitable habitats.
Memecylon coorgensis sp. nov., a small shrubby species from the Kodagu district of Karnataka, India, is described and illustrated. The species is similar to Memecylon gracile with respect to its axillary, peduncled inflorescence but differs in having up to six flowers per inflorescence, in addition to the conical shape of its buds, its acute sepals and its acuminate petals. The species is so far known only from the Kodagu district of the state of Karnataka.
The genus Bournea Oliv., established in 1893 and comprising two morphologically very similar species with actinomorphic flowers, was included in Oreocharis Benth. in 2011, essentially based on molecular data. However, a recent publication has suggested that Bournea should be maintained as a genus distinct from Oreocharis, based on morphological, palynological and DNA sequence data. By contrast, in another recent publication also based on DNA sequences, Bournea is placed within Oreocharis. The morphological, palynological and published molecular phylogenetic data are discussed here. The conclusion is that the overall evidence available is insufficient to support an independent genus, Bournea.
