[Botany • 2024] Gladiolus oreophilus (Iridaceae: Crocoideae) • A New Species from southern Anatolia, Turkey

 

Gladiolus oreophilus  Eker & Sağıroğlu,

in Sağıroğlu et Eker, 2024. 

Amanos Kılıçotu  ||   facebook.com/IsmailEker946

Gladiolus oreophilus Eker & Sağıroğlu sp. nova (Iridaceae) is described as a new species from the Hatay Province, Turkey. It resembles G. kotschyanus, G. alanyensis and G. adanus, but it clearly differs from these three species by capsule size, flower colour, number and width of leaves, seed shape and ornamentation, and shapes of periclinal cell walls and testa epidermal cells. Herein, we provide the morphological features, distribution, habitat characteristics, conservation assessment, and micromorphological characteristics of seeds of G. oreophilus.

Gladiolus oreophilus Eker & Sağıroğlu

"Amanos Kılıçotu"

Sağıroğlu M. & Eker İ. 2024. Gladiolus oreophilus (Iridaceae, Crocoideae), A New Species from southern Anatolia, Turkey. — Ann. Bot. Fennici. 61: 111–117.

   facebook.com/IsmailEker946/posts/10161553721983817

[Botany • 2024] Impatiens neo-uncinata (Balsaminaceae) • A New Species from southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India

 

Impatiens neo-uncinata V.S.A.Kumar & Sindhu Arya, 

in Sindhu et Kumar, 2024. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.1.1 

 facebook.com: Arya Rajasekhar S 

 Abstract

A new species, Impatiens neo-uncinata, belonging to section Scorpioidae is described and illustrated from Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in the southern Western Ghats. It is morphologically similar to Impatiens unicinata, but can easily be distinguished in having milky white distal lobe of keel petal, deltoid shape of standard petals and 1–2 seeded capsules. Furthermore, the SEM analysis of pollen and seed also delineate the taxa. Impatiens neo-uncinatais assessed here as Endangered based on the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List.

Eudicots, Agasthyamala biosphere reserve, Impatiens, Scorpioidae, taxonomy

   

Impatiens neo-uncinata V.S.A.Kumar & Sindhu Arya

Arya Sindhu and Venugopalan Nair Saradhamma Anil Kumar. 2024. Impatiens neo-uncinata (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India.  Phytotaxa. 644(1); 1-9. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.1.1

  facebook.com/AryaSindu33/posts/7271537509632189

   

[Botany • 2024] Thaigardenia (Rubiaceae: Gardenieae) • A New Genus distributed from Thailand to South China

T. similis (Craib) K.M.Wong & L.Neo comb. nov., 
T. collinsiae (Craib) K.M.Wong, Teerawat. & Sungkaew comb. nov.,

Thaigardenia Sungkaew, Teerawat., Chamch. & K.M.Wong, gen. nov.

 

in Sungkaew, Arthan, Teerawatananon, Chamchumroon, Neo et Wong, 2024. 

DOI:10.20531/tfb.2024.52.1.04

Photos: D. Prathumthong, A. Teerawatananon and K.M. Wong.

Abstract

Identified as Gardenia over a century ago, three known species from Thailand to south China differ considerably from typical members of that genus, from which growth habits, aspects of branch architecture and corolla shape set them apart. They form a new genus, here named Thaigardenia, the species of which are scrambling to thicket-forming shrubs to sometimes treelets or small trees. They have typically unequal (asymmetric) development of each internode that offsets what began as opposite pairs of axillary buds (and potential axillary branches) from subtending leaf axils at the same level, and small infundibular corollas with insignificant tubular bases. In contrast, typical Gardenia are non-scrambling shrubs or trees, often have extra-axillary buds or branches that consistently continue to develop at the same level (i.e., remaining opposite); and showy hypocrateriform (salverform) corollas with elongate tubular bases. The unequal development of different sides of an internode that brings an initially opposite pair of axillary buds (branches) to different levels, so that they do not appear paired subsequently, is, as far as is known, unique and unknown in other Rubiaceae or opposite-leaved plants; this shared feature is a key synapomorphic character for species of the newly recognised genus.

Keywords: Branch architecture, Gardenia, hypocrateriform, infundibular

Open flower (inset) and fruiting twig of Thaigardenia similis (Craib) K.M.Wong & L.Neo, showing narrowly triangular lobes on a short calyx tube.

Photos: D. Prathumthong (flower) and A. Teerawatananon.

Thaigardenia Sungkaew, Teerawat., Chamch. & K.M.Wong, gen. nov.

Thaigardenia is a new genus of the Rubiaceae, allied to Gardenia J.Ellis, differing in the species being shrubs with a scrambling to thicket-forming habit or small trees with crooked sympodial trunks (vs Gardenia s.s. which are mostly trees with monopodial trunks or non-thicket forming bushes), developing extra-axillary buds and branches at different distances from a leaf-pair at the same node on stems and branches (sometimes these extra-axillary buds more than one per leaf axil) (vs with extra-axillary buds and branches always at the same level, and solitary buds in Gardenia), broad-triangular stipules fused along their edges (vs typical Gardenia spp. with stipules fused into a cylindric sheath split slightly on one side), infundibular corolla with insignificant tubular bases much shorter than the inflated upper portion (vs hypocrateriform corollas with relatively long basal tubes with a hardly widened uppermost portion in Gardenia), and pollen issued as tetrads. 

Type: Thaigardenia collinsiae (Craib) K.M.Wong, Teerawat. & Sungkaew.

Etymology.— The name Thaigardenia refers to Thailand, where studies into the taxonomy of this group were initiated, and where the generic type can be abundantly found, as well as Gardenia, the genus in which its species were earlier placed. Thailand has been eponymously included in the nomenclature of two other plant genera: Thaia Seidenf. (Orchidaceae) (Seidenfaden, 1975) and Thailentadopsis Kosterm. (Leguminosae) (Kostermans, 1977), both of which continue to be in use (Lewis & Schrire, 2003; Xiang et al., 2012).

Thaigardenia cambodiana (Pit.) K.M.Wong & Chamch., comb. nov.

Thaigardenia collinsiae (Craib) K.M.Wong, Teerawat. & Sungkaew, comb. nov.

Thaigardenia similis (Craib) K.M.Wong & L.Neo, comb. nov.

Incompletely understood taxon: Thaigardenia ‘Nhatrang’ 

Sarawood Sungkaew, Watchara Arthan, Atchara Teerawatananon, Voradol Chamchumroon, Louise Neo and Khoon Meng Wong. 2024. Thaigardenia (Rubiaceae: Gardenieae), A New Genus distributed from Thailand to South China.  Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 52(1), 25–43. DOI:10.20531/tfb.2024.52.1.04

[Botany • 2024] Gynoxys revolutifolia (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) • A New Species from southern Ecuador

Gynoxys revolutifolia R. Arias, Espinosa-Ortega & Revilla, 

in Arias, Espinosa-Ortega, Revilla, Ansaloni et Tomasello, 2024.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.3.4

 

Abstract

Gynoxys is a very diverse genus of Asteraceae with an Andean distribution from Venezuela to northern Argentina. It comprises about 130 species, 34 of which are recorded in Ecuador. In the present study, we describe Gynoxys revolutifolia, a new species occurring in Ecuador between Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe provinces. The new species is a shrub or treelet characterized by coriaceous leaves with a strongly revolute margin. After an accurate revision of the main Ecuadorian herbaria and field surveys, we provide a comprehensive comparison of G. revolutifolia with the species it was previously misidentified as. We also provide information concerning the chemical composition, distribution range and conservation status of the new species.

Keywords: Andes, Compositae, Loja, Taxonomy, Zamora-Chinchipe

Lankester Composite Dissection Plate of Gynoxys revolutifolia R. Arias, Espinosa-Ortega & Revilla
A. Flowering branch. B. Leaf: abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right). C. Synflorescence. D. Capitulum, front view. E. Capitulum, cross-section. F. Calycle. G. Bracteoles: abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right). H. Outer phyllaries: abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right). I. Inner phyllaries: abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right). J. Ray floret (pappus removed). K. Ray floret style. L. Disc floret (pappus removed). M. Disc floret style. N. Anther. O. Achene (immature). P. Pappus bristles.

Photos and preparation by N. Espinosa-Ortega based on the isotype (QCA249764).

 Gynoxys revolutifolia.
A. Habit, shrub in shrubby páramo, Cerro Toledo-Loja/Zamora Chinchipe border. (R. Ansaloni & N. Espinosa-Ortega 310).
B. Habit, treelet in elfin forest, Yangana-Cerro Toledo road, Loja (R. Ansaloni & N. Espinosa-Ortega 311).

Photos by N. Espinosa-Ortega

Gynoxys revolutifolia R. Arias, Espinosa-Ortega & Revilla, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis:—The new species differs from all other congeners by having coriaceous leaves with strongly revolute margins (giving it a concave shape) and conspicuous primary and secondary veins (8–12 pairs) on both leaf surfaces, simple and T-shaped trichomes covering the abaxial side of the leaves, involucre with 8 phyllaries with ferruginous unicellular trichomes, 4–5 ray florets with limbs 10–11 mm long and 8–9(–12) disc florets. 

Etymology:—The specific epithet of the new species refers to the strong revolute leaf margins.

Ruth Arias, Nelson Espinosa-Ortega, Italo Revilla, Raffaella Ansaloni and Salvatore Tomasello. 2024. Gynoxys revolutifolia (Senecioneae, Asteraceae): A New Species from southern Ecuador.  Phytotaxa. 644(3); 211-219. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.3.4

[PaleoIchthyology • 2024] Macroprosopon hiltoni • A Long-snouted marine Bonytongue (Teleostei: Osteoglossidae) from the early Eocene of Morocco and the Phylogenetic Affinities of Marine osteoglossids

Macroprosopon hiltoni

 Capobianco, Zouhri & Friedman, 2024

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae015

 twitter.com/acapomorphic

 life reconstruction by Sky Jung

 

Abstract

Osteoglossid bonytongues (arapaimas, arowanas, and relatives) are extant tropical freshwater fishes with a relatively abundant and diverse fossil record. Most osteoglossid fossils come from a 25-million-year interval in the early Palaeogene, when these fishes were distributed worldwide in both freshwater and marine environments. Despite their biogeographic and palaeoecological relevance, and a relative abundance of well-preserved material, the evolutionary relationships between these Palaeogene forms and extant bonytongues remain unclear. Here we describe a new genus of bonytongue from early Eocene marine deposits of Morocco, represented by an articulated, three-dimensionally preserved skull with associated pectoral girdle. This taxon is characterized by an elongated snout, contrasting with the short jaws usually found in marine representatives of the clade. A revision of morphological characters in bonytongues allows us to place this new genus, together with other marine and freshwater Eocene taxa, within crown osteoglossids and closely related to extant arapaimines. The discovery of the new Moroccan taxon hints at a previously underestimated eco-morphological diversity of marine bonytongues, highlighting the diverse trophic niches that these fishes occupied in early Palaeogene seas.

computed tomography, fish, fossil evidence, Palaeogene, phylogeny, Osteoglossoidei

Macroprosopon hiltoni

Alessio Capobianco, Samir Zouhri and Matt Friedman. 2024. A Long-snouted marine Bonytongue (Teleostei: Osteoglossidae) from the early Eocene of Morocco and the Phylogenetic Affinities of Marine osteoglossids. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlae015. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae015

 twitter.com/acapomorphic/status/1780939719259357327

  

[Diplopoda • 2024] Scolopocryptops longisetosus • Taxonomic Re-appraisal of Scolopocryptops quadristriatus (Verhoeff, 1934) (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopocryptopidae) and A Description of A New Species from Japan and Taiwan

Scolopocryptops longisetosus 

Jonishi & Nakano, 2024

DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.119297

Abstract

Centipedes of the genus Scolopocryptops Newport, 1844 are blind species mostly described from the New World and East Asia. In this study, a Japanese species, S. quadristriatus (Verhoeff, 1934), which is characterised by four longitudinal keels on the tergites, is re-described, based on the likely holotype preserved in the Zoologische Staatssammlung München and specimens newly collected from near the type locality. In addition, S. longisetosus sp. nov., a new species that bears tergal keels like S. quadristriatus, is described from the Ryukyu Islands in Japan and Taiwan. Although the presence of four keels on tergites is unique to these two species, phylogenetic analyses using nuclear and mitochondrial markers showed that S. longisetosus sp. nov. is not sister to S. quadristriatus. The obtained phylogeny indicates that the tergal longitudinal keels evolved in parallel within Scolopocryptops or that the presence of keels represents a plesiomorphic character of the clade containing these species.

Key Words: molecular phylogeny, nomenclature, plesiomorphic character, Ryukyu Islands, tergal keels

Scolopocryptops longisetosus sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (KUZ Z5107: A, C–E) and non-type specimen from Yonaguni Island, ♂ (KUZ Z5124: B).
A, B. Cephalic plate and tergite 1, dorsal view; C. Distal part of article 2, article 3 and pretarsus of left second maxilla, medial view; D. Article 3 and pretarsus of left second maxilla, lateral view; E. Head, ventral view. Abbreviations: am — anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite; bs — basal suture on forcipular trochanteroprefemoral process; db — dorsal brush on article 3 of second maxilla; ds — dorsal spur on article 2 of second maxilla; pt — pretarsus of second maxilla; ptr — process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, E); 0.2 mm (C, D).

Scolopocryptops longisetosus sp. nov., paratype, ♂ (KUZ Z5119: B), non-type specimen from Yonaguni Island, ♂ (KUZ Z5124: C) and habitat near the type locality. 
 A. Habitat (laurel tree forest) on Okinawa Island; B, C. Live specimen, dorsal view. Scale bars: 10 mm.

 Scolopocryptops longisetosus sp. nov.

 Suggested Japanese name: Kuromadara-akamukade

Diagnosis: Antenna with sparse hairs and setae of various lengths dorsally on two basal articles, subsequent articles densely covered with long setae and minute setae. Cephalic plate with complete lateral marginal sulci. Tergites lacking paramedian sutures, tergites 5–20 with four longitudinal keels and median depression bordered by paramedian keels.

 

Etymology: The specific name is derived from the Latin compound adjective, “longus” (long) and “setosus” (hairy), referring to the long antennal setae of this new species.

 Taro Jonishi and Takafumi Nakano. 2024. Taxonomic Re-appraisal of Scolopocryptops quadristriatus (Verhoeff, 1934) and A Description of A New Species from Japan and Taiwan (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha, Scolopocryptopidae). Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(2): 405-423. DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.119297

[Arachnida • 2024] Troglotayosicus akaido • Phylogeny of the Troglomorphic Scorpion Genus Troglotayosicus (Scorpiones: Troglotayosicidae) with Description of A New Species from Colombia

Troglotayosicus akaido 

 Moreno-González, Luna-Sarmiento & Prendini, 2024

DOI: 10.1206/4011.1 

 Researchgate.net/publication/379777194

Abstract  

The troglomorphic scorpion genus Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981, occurs in hypogean and epigean habitats in the Andean and Amazonian rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador. The phylogenetic relationships among the species of Troglotayosicus are currently unknown. In the present contribution, a new species, Troglotayosicus akaido, sp. nov., is described from specimens collected in the leaf litter of a primary rainforest in the Colombian Amazon, near the border with Peru, raising the number of species in the genus to seven. The new species represents the easternmost record of the genus and further extends its distribution into the Amazon. Its phylogenetic position was tested in an analysis of all species of the genus and two outgroup taxa, scored for 131 morphological characters (16 new and 115 legacy; 104 binary and 27 multistate) analyzed with maximum likelihood under the MK model. Troglotayosicus was recovered as monophyletic and composed of two main clades. The morphological survey revealed that the ventral macrosetae of the leg telotarsi of the type species, Troglotayosicus vachoni Lourenço, 1981, are simple, subspiniform macrosetae, irregularly distributed, but not arranged into clusters nor forming elongated clusters of setae/spinules, as previously suggested. A distribution map and key to the identification of the species of Troglotayosicus are provided. Further research, incorporating molecular data, is needed to understand the evolution and biogeographical history of this enigmatic scorpion genus.

Troglotayosicus akaido, sp. nov., live habitus, holotype ♂ (ICN).
A. Anterior aspect. B. Lateral aspect.

 Troglotayosicus akaido, sp. nov., habitus, dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) aspects.
A, B. Holotype ♂ (ICN). C, D. Paratype ♀ (ICN). Scale bars: 10 mm.

Jairo A. Moreno-González, David A. Luna-Sarmiento and Lorenzo Prendini. 2024. Phylogeny of the Troglomorphic Scorpion Genus Troglotayosicus (Scorpiones: Troglotayosicidae) with Description of a New Species from Colombia. American Museum Novitates. (4011), 1-39. DOI: 10.1206/4011.1 

 Researchgate.net/publication/379777194_Phylogeny_of_Troglotayosicus

[Entomology • 2024] Exanimus somniator, Fijixistra drobnaki, Gammonotus draudrau, Salomonotettix vincekae, etc. • Atlas of Fijian Pygmy Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) with New Taxa Descriptions and an Identification Key

Gammonotus draudrau,
Exanimus somniator, E. torviscriba,
Fijixistra tvrtkovici, F. drobnaki, F. teo,
 Salomonotettix vincekae

 Kasalo, Tumbrinck, Pavlović & Skejo, 2024

DOI: 10.3161/00034541ANZ2024.74.1.003 

 twitter.com/KasaloNiko

  Researchgate.net/publication/379430416

 

Abstract

Fiji is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean from which only four species in four genera of Tetrigidae had previously been reported. We report the results of our examination of the Fijian Tetrigidae from the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, and additionally the Nederlands Centrum voor Biodiversiteit (Naturalis Biodiversity Center, formerly Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis), Leiden. The Fijian fauna is found to be similar to, and therefore likely derived from, the New Guinean fauna. The validity of Asian Metrodorinae is called into question. The following new taxa are described: tribe Exanimini trib. nov. including genera Exanimus gen. nov. (including E. somniator sp. nov. and E. torviscriba sp. nov.) and Fijixistra gen. nov. (including F. abbreviata (Bolívar, 1887) comb. nov. of Amphinotus abbreviatus, F. drobnaki sp. nov., F. teo sp. nov., and F. tvrtkovici sp. nov.); tribe Fijitettigini trib. nov. including genera Fijitettix gen. nov. (including F. godeffroyi (Günther, 1939), comb. nov. of Salomonotettix godeffroyi) and Salomonotettix Günther, 1939 (including S. vincekae sp. nov.); genus Gammonotus gen. nov. including Gammonotus draudrau sp. nov. Exanimini trib. nov. and Fijitettigini trib. nov. are of uncertain taxonomic placement, Gammonotus gen. nov. is assigned to Cladonotini Bolívar, 1887, and Thyrsus tiaratus Bolívar, 1887 is transferred from Cleostratini Bolívar, 1887 to Clinophaestini Storozhenko, 2013.

KEYWORDS: Orthoptera, Melanesia, Cladonotinae, Metrodorinae, New Guinea, island biogeography

 

 The following new taxa are described: 

tribe Exanimini trib. nov. 

Exanimus gen. nov. (including E. somniator sp. nov. and E. torviscriba sp. nov.) 

Fijixistra gen. nov. (including F. abbreviata (Bolívar, 1887) comb. nov., F. drobnaki sp. nov., F. teo sp. nov., and F. tvrtkovici sp. nov.); 

tribe Fijitettigini trib. nov.

Fijitettix gen. nov. (including F. godeffroyi (Günther, 1939), comb. nov. of Salomonotettix godeffroyi) and Salomonotettix Günther, 1939 (including S. vincekae sp. nov.); 

Cladonotini Bolívar, 1887

Gammonotus gen. nov. including Gammonotus draudrau sp. nov. 

 Clinophaestini Storozhenko, 2013

 Thyrsus tiaratus Bolívar, 1887

 

Niko Kasalo, Josef Tumbrinck, Marko Pavlović, and Josip Skejo. 2024. Atlas of Fijian Pygmy Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) with New Taxa Descriptions and an Identification Key. Annales Zoologici. 74(1); 43-70. DOI: 10.3161/00034541ANZ2024.74.1.003

  twitter.com/KasaloNiko/status/1774389565379191177

  Researchgate.net/publication/379430416_Atlas_of_Fijian_Tetrigidae 

[Mollusca • 2023] Meretrix taiwanica (Bivalvia: Veneridae) • a previously misidentified New Species in Taiwan

Meretrix taiwanica 

Hsiao & Chuang, 2023

DOI: 10.1080/13235818.2023.2189428  

twitter.com/SocStudMollDiv

ABSTRACT

This paper describes a new Asian hard clam, Meretrix taiwanica sp. n., found in the Tamsui River estuary in northern Taiwan. This species was formerly identified as M. lusoria, and was considered to be a descendant of a clam that originated in Japan. A molecular phylogenetic analysis, however, demonstrated that Meretrix taiwanica sp. n. is closely related to M. petechialis and M. lusoria. Meretrix taiwanica is distinguished by its smaller socket width and shorter posterior dorsal margin. This species is distributed throughout the coast of Taiwan on the southern coast of China.

KEYWORDS: Asian hard clams, COI-DNA barcoding, Meretrix lusoria, Meretrix petechialis, Tamsui River

  Colour patterns of Meretrix taiwanica sp. n., FRIM10031.

  Shells of hard clams A, Meretrix taiwanica sp. n.; B, M. petechialis; C, M. lusoria; D, Cytheraea formosa (unavailable name-bearing types, syntype, digital image cited from BMNH HP collection, 20120227).

Systematics

Superfamily Veneroidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family Veneridae Rafinesque, 1815

Genus Meretrix Lamarck, 1799

Meretrix taiwanica Hsiao & Chuang, sp. n.

Diagnosis: Shell surface of M. lyrata has commarginal ribs; ventral margins of M. taiwanica sp. n., M. lamarckii and M. lusoria smooth, flat and round, respectively. Meretrix taiwanica sp. n. similar in shape to M. lusoria and M. petechialis (Figure 6A–C) but differs in several morphological features. Posterior dorsal margin of M. lusoria relatively straight, causing rear shell angle to be sharper, socket narrower. Shell-shaped posterior margin of M. petechialis rounded,with wider socket. Posterior margin of M. taiwanica sp. n. rounded with narrower socket than M. petechialis.

Etymology: We name this species ‘taiwanica’ in reference to the collection locality in Taiwan. Additionally, this species is the most abundant and widely distributed hard clam in Taiwan.

 

Sheng-Tai Hsiao and Shih-Chang Chuang. 2023. Meretrix taiwanica (Bivalvia: Veneridae), a previously misidentified New Species in Taiwan. Molluscan Research. DOI: 10.1080/13235818.2023.2189428

  twitter.com/SocStudMollDiv/status/1641628947409686531

[Botany • 2024] Rediscovery of Rare Steno-endemic Impatiens violoides Edgew. ex Hook.f. (Balsaminaceae) from Western Himalaya, after 179 years of type collection

 

Impatiens violoides Edgew. ex Hook.f.,

in Sharma, Adamowski, Naithani et Begum. 2024. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.1.6 

 twitter.com/Ashutosh_05sn

 

Abstract

Impatiens violoides Edgew. ex Hook.f. (Balsaminaceae) is a little known steno-endemic spurless balsam species that was known only from a single type collection by Edgeworth in 1844. It is rediscovered after a gap of 179 years from its type locality in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya. Augmented and detailed morphological description based on observations of living material is given along with global distribution; information on habitat and associated species, floral morphology photographs and IUCN red list assessment are also provided for the first time.

Eudicots, Balsaminaceae, endemic, Flora of India, rediscovery, taxonomy

Impatiens violoides 

Ashutosh Sharma, Wojciech Adamowski, Harsh Bardhan Naithani, S. Noorunnisa Begum. 2024. Rediscovery of Rare Steno-endemic Impatiens violoides Edgew. ex Hook.f. (Balsaminaceae) from Western Himalaya, after 179 years of type collection. Phytotaxa. 644(1); 42-48. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.1.6

  twitter.com/Ashutosh_05sn/status/1778792584892359141

[Botany • 2023] Gesneria clasei (Gesneriaceae) • A New lithophilous Species from the Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic

 

 Gesneria clasei  J.L.Clark, 

in Clark, 2023. 

DOI: 10.1007/s12228-023-09766-8 

 facebook.com/JardinBotanicoRafaelMoscoso

Abstract

A new lithophytic species of Gesneria was discovered during a recent research expedition to the Dominican Republic. Gesneria clasei J.L.Clark is a locally endemic species known from a single population in the Sierra de Bahoruco in the southwestern province of Barahona in the Dominican Republic. Images and a discussion are provided to differentiate Gesneria clasei from congeners that share tubular red corollas. Based on IUCN guidelines, a preliminary conservation status of Critically Endangered (CR) is assigned to G. clasei.

 

Keywords: Biodiversity, Gesneria, lithophyte, Sierra de Bahoruco, taxonomy

Gesneria clasei.
A. Lateral view of mature flower. B. Ventral view of mature flower. C. Shoot with foliage and calyx. D. Lateral view of immature fruit. E. Habit (lithophyte). F. Teodoro Clase adjacent to the monument of Erik L. Ekman in the central park in San José de Ocoa (Dominican Republic).

 [A–E field images from J.L. Clark & T. Clase 17372].

Gesneria clasei J.L.Clark, sp. nov.

Diagnosis.—Differs from all other Gesneria taxa by the presence of uniformly red tubular corollas, ribbed floral tubes, narrow calyx lobes that are nearly as long as the corolla tube, and a lithophytic subshrub habit.

Etymology.—The specific epithet clasei honors Teodoro Clase (Fig. 1F), a Dominican botanist from the Jardín Botánico Nacional “Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso” (JBSD) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Clase’s heroic efforts have facilitated and promoted plant biodiversity studies in the Dominican Republic, including the discovery of the species here. Clase is also an active plant collector, currently one of the most extensive for Hispaniola (more than 14,000 field collections throughout Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

John L. Clark. 2023. Gesneria clasei (Gesneriaceae), A New lithophilous Species from the Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic. Brittonia. DOI: 10.1007/s12228-023-09766-8

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[Botany • 2024] Chlorohiptage vietnamensis (Malpighiaceae, Tetrapteroids) • A distinct New Genus endemic to Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data

Chlorohiptage vietnamensis T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, 

in Do, Lu, Le, Lam, Trinh, Deguine, Hoang et Almeida, 2024.

DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.115623

Abstract

Background and aims – Vietnam is one of the leading diversity centres for Asian Malpighiaceae, comprising 24 accepted species and three native genera (i.e. Aspidopterys, Hiptage, and Tristellateia). During recent fieldwork towards completing the taxonomic revision of Malpighiaceae for the Flora of Vietnam, we have collected specimens from two populations that could not be placed in any of the three native genera of this family. We performed morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies to test the generic placement of those specimens.

Material and methods – We sampled 27 genera (including the Asian Acridocarpus, Aspidopterys, Brachylophon, Hiptage, Stigmaphyllon, and Tristellateia, out of a total of 75) of Malpighiaceae representing all phylogenetic clades comprising paleotropical lineages (i.e. acridocarpoids, bunchosioids, tetrapteroids, malpighioids, and stigmaphylloids), the unusual specimen recently collected in Vietnam, and the two genera of Elatinaceae as outgroups. Maximum Likelihood analysis was carried out based on a molecular matrix alignment of the internal transcribed spacer marker (ITS). Comprehensive morphological analyses were also carried out based on the collected specimens and additional herbarium specimens.

Key results – Our molecular phylogeny strongly supported the unusual specimen from Vietnam placed as sister to Hiptage in the tetrapteroid clade. Key morphological traits differing these Vietnamese specimens from Hiptage were identified related to the floral bud imbrication, shape, colour, posture of sepals and petals, length of stamen filaments, number of styles, and shape of mericarps, allowing the proposition of a new monospecific genus.

Conclusions – Chlorohiptage vietnamensis is proposed as a new monospecific genus closely related to Hiptage but differing in several key morphological traits. A complete morphological description is provided alongside photographic illustrations and notes on its conservation, distribution, ecology, etymology, and taxonomy. Additionally, an updated identification key to the genera of the tetrapteroid clade is provided.

Keywords: Asia, Hiptage, Malpighiales, systematics, taxonomy, tetrapteroid

Comparison of morphological traits of Chlorohiptage T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, gen. nov. with Hiptage and Aspidopterys.
A–D. Chlorohiptage. A. Leaves with two basal glands. B. Close up of a thyrse. C. A flower without petals showing the androecium and gynoecium structure and eglandular calyx. D. Close up of a mericarp.
E–H. Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz. E. Leaves with two basal glands and marginal glands. F. Close up of a thyrse showing glandular calyces. G. Flower showing the androecium and gynoecium structure and petal with fimbriate margins. H. Close up of mericarp.
I–K Aspidopterys tomentosa (Blume) A.Juss. I. Leaves eglandular. J. Floral bud showing eglandular calyx. K. Flower showing the androecium and gynoecium structure and petals with margin entire. L. Shape of mericarp.

 Photographed and designed by Truong Van Do, Anh Tuan Le, and Rafael Felipe de Almeida.

Photographic plate of Chlorohiptage vietnamensis T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, sp. nov.
A. Leaves with two basal glands (indicated by red arrows). B. Close up of a thyrse. C. Open flower. D. Shape of petals. E. Flower without petals showing the androecium and gynoecium structure and the eglandular calyx. F. Close up of a 3-styled gynoecium. G–I. Close up of the androecium structure. J. Immature mericarp. K. Shape of the mature mericarp.

Photographed and designed by Truong Van Do, Anh Tuan Le, and Rafael Felipe de Almeida

 (scale bars 1 mm).

Photos of Chlorohiptage vietnamensis T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, sp. nov. from the original population in the natural habitat. A. Habitat. B. Habit. C. Branch bearing thyrses. D. Close up of a thyrse. E. Branch bearing mature mericarps.

Photographed and designed by Truong Van Do and Anh Tuan Le.

Chlorohiptage T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, gen. nov.

 

Chlorohiptage vietnamensis T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from Hiptage by its floral buds valvate (vs imbricate), petals pale-green to yellowish-green (vs white to yellow) with margins erose and velutine (vs dentate to fimbriate and glabrous), stamens 9 long + 1 short (vs 9 short + 1 long), styles 3 (vs 1-2), shorter than filaments of the stamens (vs longer than filaments of the stamens), mericarps with 1 lateral wing, 3-lobed (vs 3 free lateral wings).

Etymology: The name Chlorohiptage is the combination of the Greek words “chlorós” (= green) and “hiptamai” (= to fly), referring to the unique green flowers of this Hiptage look-alike new genus.

Notes: Chlorohiptage is endemic to open subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forests and limestone-steeped mountains in Central Vietnam at ca 100–250 m.

Chlorohiptage vietnamensis T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, sp. nov.

 

 Truong Van Do, Ngan Thi Lu, Anh Tuan Le, Mai Xuan Thi Lam, Xuan Thi Trinh, Jean-Philippe Deguine, Thao Thi Hoang and Rafael Felipe de Almeida. 2024. Chlorohiptage (Tetrapteroids, Malpighiaceae), A distinct New Genus endemic to Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data. Plant Ecology and Evolution. 157(2): 125-136. DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.115623