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Background and aims: Dioscorea is the most morphologically diverse, species-rich and widely distributed genus of the family Dioscoreaceae. Dioscorea trifurcata is a poorly known species with two specimens collected in 1910 and 1916 in Catamarca province, Argentina. But recently, the species was cited for Brazil, and populations were located near the type locality. With new collections available, the purpose of the article is to update aspects of the morphology, habitat and distribution of D. trifurcata. M&M: Specimens newly collected in Catamarca province were analyzed and identified to species using specific bibliography and by comparison with the original material of Dioscorea trifurcata and from other specimens of Dioscorea at different herbaria. Results: A detailed morphological description of Dioscorea trifurcata is provided along with illustrations, photographs and a geographic distribution map. The presence of the species in Brazil is questioned. Conclusions: The rediscovery of Dioscorea trifurcata opens the possibility of conducting new studies based on multiple lines of evidence to corroborate the delimitation and distribution of the species. The importance of regional herbaria and of having recent and complete collections of poorly-known species for the inventory and conservation of biodiversity is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Laportea aestuans (Urticaceae) is an herb possibly native to Madagascar (Africa) and widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of the world. In the Americas, it have been reported as a weed from southern United States of America and throughout Central America to South America in Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. The aim of this paper was to report the presence of L. aestuans in Argentina for the first time. M&M: For the morphological description and illustrations, live plants from our collections were studied in addition to other herbarium specimens. Our specimens were deposited in the Herbarium LIL. Type and non-type specimens preserved in BR, COL, K, LINN and the original description were analyzed. Results: A morphological description of the species is provided together with illustrations, photographs and a key to differentiate Laportea from the other genera of Urticaceae present in Argentina. Conclusions: The presence of L. aestuans in Argentina is recorded for the first time. According to previous research, it is a species that exhibits a potentially invasive behavior, so there is the possibility that it may establish itself as a weed in natural environments and cause detrimental impacts on biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caiophora vallegrandensis, a new species endemic to a small area of the Sierras de Calilegua (Jujuy, Argentina) and closely related to the informal group Caiophora lateritia, is described and illustrated. The new taxon is characterized by its broadly triangular, pinnatisect to bipinnatisect sepals and green dorsal appendages of nectar scales. A key to differentiate Argentine, Bolivian, and Peruvian related species is provided, as well as information on geographic distribution, habitat and conservation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tillandsia mollis H. Hrom. & W. Till is a rare species from the mountains of southern Bolivia. This paper reports T. mollis var. reptans, an entity that inhabits the high level of the Sierras of Calilegua (Jujuy, Argentina). The new variety differs from the typical for its smaller size, creeping habit and brown-reddish flowers. A detailed description of the novelty, a key to differentiate the two varieties, drawings, photographs and a map, are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Berberis (Berberidaceae) from the mountains of northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia. In this paper, Berberis calilehua, which inhabits the humid mountains, above 3,000 m asl, is described. This species has morphological similarities with Andean species of Peru and Bolivia but differs from those by combination of characters such as solitary flowers, fruit with conspicuous style, leaf margin toothed spinose, open dichotome venation. A detailed description of the proposed entity, a key differentiating related species, illustrations and photographs are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed pollen morphology of Tropaeolum argentinum, T. atrocapillare, T. capillare, T. incisum, T. meyeri, T. patagonicum, T. pentaphyllum, T. polyphyllum, T. porifolium, T. trialata, T. tubero- sum subsp. silvestre, T. warmingianum subesp. warmingianum and T. willinkii to provide supplementary data for the delimitation of these species. Observations, counting and measuring of pollen grains were carried out under optical and scanning electron microscopes. This study points out that Tropaeolum is a stenopalynous genus. Grains are isopolar or isopolar bilateral, radiosymmetric or bisymmetric, small to medium-sized, triangular to subcircular, anguloaperturate, dicolporate, tricolporate or tetracolporate. The exine is tectate, perforate with reticulum supratectate, heterobrochate, angustimurate. Differences among the taxa are discussed, and a palynological key for the Argentinean species of Tropaeolum is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commelinafascieulata subsp, chacoensis, from the Tucumán and Salta provinces (Argentina), is described and illustrated. It differs from the type subspecies by its habitat, tuberose roots, and the color of petals, filaments, staminodia and style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lippia integrifolia and L. boliviana are related species that share the presence of appendices in anthers, apparently glandular. Several authors distinguished this species by leaf shape and margin. Collections coming from northern Salta (Argentina) display intermediate characters among both species. To evaluate whether there is a morphological basis to distinguish L. integrifolia from L. boliviana, phenetic relationships among 40 specimens including both species and their varieties were studied. A matrix of 46 morphologic characters was analyzed by cluster and ordination methods. Both the dendrogram and the distribution of the specimens in the principal components (PCA) analysis suggest that a precise limit between both species does not exist, and no characters to differentiate them were found. Consequently, L. boliviana is placed under the synonymy of L. integrifolia. A description of the species, the synonym list, a figure and map of distribution are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]