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Uno de los retos más destacables en materia de innovación universitaria es el Programa de grupos de Alto Rendimiento Académico (ARA) implementado en la Universidad de Alicante (UA). Éste constituye una experiencia novedosa solamente en cuatro titulaciones de dicha universidad, siendo el Grado en Biología pionero en dicho programa. En origen, el grupo ARA se establece no meramente como un grupo de docencia en inglés, sino para reforzar el potencial de los alumnos más destacados desde el inicio de sus estudios universitarios, por lo que el profesorado tiene que adecuar sus enseñanzas a los requerimientos del alumnado. Con la experiencia acumulada tras cuatro años de grupos ARA en las asignaturas Botánica y Biodiversidad vegetal, impartidas íntegramente en inglés en el tercer y cuarto semestres del Grado en Biología, se han revisado los resultados obtenidos para favorecer una renovación curricular, partiendo del porcentaje de alumnos internacionales en programas de movilidad, el número de alumnos por curso, las notas de evaluación continua y las globales respecto al resto de grupos donde se imparten dichas materias, así como la asistencia a las distintas actividades. El análisis estadístico de los resultados permite realizar una valoración crítica de las actividades desarrolladas, discutiéndose las fortalezas y debilidades detectadas en los grupos estudiados.

El Programa de grupos de Alto Rendimiento Académico (ARA) es una experiencia innovadora de la Universidad de Alicante (UA), en la que solamente cuatro titulaciones lo han implantado, siendo el Grado en Biología pionero en dicho programa. Tras cuatro años de experiencia docente en grupos ARA de las asignaturas Botánica y Biodiversidad vegetal, respectivamente del tercer y cuarto semestres de la titulación, se ha realizado una revisión de los resultados obtenidos, sobre la base del porcentaje de alumnos internacionales en programas de movilidad, el número de alumnos por curso, las notas de evaluación continua, las notas globales respecto al resto de grupos donde se imparten dichas materias, así como la asistencia a las actividades no obligatorias, etc. En esta comunicación se hace una valoración crítica de los resultados obtenidos tras el análisis comparativo de las actividades anteriormente descritas, y se discuten los puntos fuertes y debilidades detectados en las asignaturas del área que se imparten íntegramente en inglés, en el marco del Grado de Biología de la Facultad de Ciencias de la UA.

As a part of a taxonomic revision of the Iberian taxa of Ornithogalum, results corresponding to O. subgen. Cathissa are reported. Quantitative and qualitative characters are studied in detail, and they are evaluated for the taxonomic value of morphological characters of the three considered taxa: O. concinnum, O. broteroi, and O. reverchonii. A complete description is presented for all accepted species, and data on their biology, habitat, and distribution are also included. Moreover, a key is provided to facilitate identification.En el marco de una revisión de las especies ibéricas de Ornithogalum, se presentan los resultados correspondientes a los táxones de O. subgen. Cathissa. Se estudian con detalle y se evalúa cualitativamente y cuantitativamente el valor taxonómico de los caracteres morfológicos de los tres táxones considerados: O. concinnum, O. broteroi y O. reverchonii. Para cada especie se presenta una descripción completa, y datos sobre su biología, hábitat y distribución. Además, se aporta una clave para facilitar la identificación de los táxones aceptados.

Massonia amoena Mart. -Azorín, M.Pinter & Wetschnig, sp. nov. (Figs. 2–9) Species notabilis combinatione unica characterum ab omnibus speciebus Massoniae differt foliis glauco-viridulis, supra numerosas pustulas viridulas, purpurascentes atque rubescentes obsitis, quae valde heterogeneis sunt (aliquas minutas et circulares, ceteras oblongas et longitudinaliter dispositas); segmentis perigonii per anthesin valde reflexis a basi vix sigmoideis; filamentis in tubi breve 1−2.5 mm supra perigonium connatis; antheris et polline omnibus cyanellis; atque ovario in stylo gradualiter desinente. Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape: Northern slopes Andriesberg, Alt. 5500 ft. [approx. 1680 m], May 1899, Fl. White, E. E. Galpin 2612 (holotype GRA!, Fig. 2). Herbaceous perennial bulbous geophyte. Roots branched, usually present for about two vegetation periods. Bulb ovoid, ca. 15−20 × 10−15 mm, inner scales fleshy and white, outer tunics papery and brownish. Leaves 2, deciduous, leaf blades opposite, spreading and appressed to the ground, 2−8 × 1−5 cm, synanthous, ovate with acute apex, with a short apicule ca. 1 mm long, with minutely papillose or shortly ciliate margin, narrowed into a subterraneous petiole 1−3 cm long that clasp the inflorescence and the peduncle; adaxial side glaucous green with numerous (50−150 per cm 2), dark green, purplish or reddish emergences, being heterogeneous in morphology, from circular (0.3−0.8 mm diameter) to elongated and disposed longitudinally (1−3 × 0.4−0.8 mm), 0.2−0.4 mm high with several short papillae on top; abaxial side green, smooth. Inflorescence a dense, subcapitate raceme, up to 1−2 cm long, with 8−32 flowers, shortly overtopping ground level, but flowers usually long exerted. Bracts membranous, green, sometimes with a purplish flush in the upper half and white below, glabrous with entire margins; lower bracts ovate 14−21 × 10−13 mm; upper bracts narrowly ovate, 12−16 × 5–8 mm. Pedicels 4−8 mm long. Flowers proterandrous, tubular, actinomorphic, with a strong pleasant smell. Perigone white or rarely pinkish, free segments deltoid or narrowly triangular, 4–7 × 1.5–3 mm, white, first straight and erect, later spreading and finally strongly reflexed at anthesis with a very slight curve at the base. Perigone-filaments tube 15−24 × 2.5−3.5 mm at anthesis, cylindrical, white or pinkish. Filaments white or tinged with pink, free portions narrowly triangular, 1–4 mm long, rather fleshy and thickened, straight, erect, connate at the base for ca. 1−2.5 mm above the perigone to form a cylindrical, filaments tube. Anthers ca. 2 mm long when closed, oblong, with dark blue anther wall, dorsifixed. Pollen dark blue. Gynoecium cenocarpous-syncarpous, narrowly obclavate, with septal nectaries; nectar colourless, sometimes yellow when aged. Ovary oblong, green, 3.8– 4.8 × 1.8–2.2 mm, with 10–14 ovules/locule; style white, 9–17 × 1–1.4 mm, thick, narrowly triangular, erect, gradually tapering to the punctiform stigma, shorter or as long as the perigone-filaments tube. Capsule loculicidal, 10–14 × 5–8 mm, valves splitting down to the base, ovate-oblong in lateral view and trigonous in apical view. Seeds black, with a greyish overlay (epicuticular wax), somewhat glossy, 2–2.4 × 1.6–2 mm, ellipsoidal, flattened at the chalazal region, with an inclined, conical apex at the micropylar region. (Figs. 3–9). Taxonomic relationships: — Massonia amoena can be easily distinguished from all other species in the genus by the glaucous green adaxial side of the leaves with numerous, dark green, purplish or reddish, morphologically heterogeneous emergences, these being from small and circular to elongated and disposed longitudinally; the strongly reflexed perigone segments at anthesis with a slight sigmoid curve at the base; the filaments connate for 1−2.5 mm above the perigone; the blue anthers with blue pollen; and the style gradually tapering from the ovary (Figs. 3–9). Its closest known relative appears to be Massonia jasminiflora, which shares the long perigone-filaments tube, the connate filaments, the blue anthers and pollen and the pleasant sweet smell. However, M. jasminiflora differs in the smooth leaves, commonly ciliate, the patent free portions of the perigone segments at anthesis, and its allopatric distribution (Fig. 1, 10; Table 2). Massonia wittebergensis and M. saniensis share with M. amoena the leaves bearing emergences, the reflexed perigone segments, the connate filaments and blue anthers, but both species differ by the shorter perigonefilaments tube, the yellow pollen, the very different morphology of leaf emergences and their allopatric distribution (Table 2, Fig. 10). Etymology:—Species named after the striking and beautiful leaves and flowers (amoenus,– a,– um: pleasant, delightful). Biology: — Massonia amoena starts to emerge from dormancy during late summer in its natural habitat. Plants grow mostly from late February to early April and by the end of April (autumn in the southern hemisphere) leaves have reached their maximum development. Flower buds begin to form as early as February but they do not start to develop properly until April (Craib & Knoll 2000). Massonia amoena flowers mainly in May and June in the wild. In cultivation in Europe they flower from late October to December. Craib & Knoll (2000) commented that honey bees and a variety of flies were observed visiting flowers of cultivated plants, suggesting that there may be more than one pollinating agent in wild populations. The very intense pleasant smell, the long perigone-filaments tube and the white flower colour would suggest pollination by moths. A more detailed study based on wild populations is necessary to evaluate these statements. Habitat: —The new species occurs at elevations from approximately 1300 to 2300 m, mainly in seasonally moist seepage areas facing south, west or east. It is usually found on rocky slopes at the base of large sheets of exposed dolerites, basalt or sandstone, but also in flat open grassveld with rocky patches. These habitats experience cold weather with severe frost in May and June at the peak of Massonia amoena flowering season. Temperatures are often well below freezing and snow may fall on the mountains (Craib & Knoll 2000). All known populations of Massonia amoena are confined to the Grassland Biome sensu Mucina & Rutherford=2006(). The northern populations from the Witteberge and the Stormberg areas are included in the Drakensberg Grassland vegetation unit. The populations from the Witteberge are located in the Southern Drakensberg Highland Grassland (Gd4) and Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland (Gd8), whilst the Stormberg population occurs in the Stormberg Plateau Grassland (Gd3). The central populations from the Toorberg, Andriesberg and Bowker’s Kop are included in the Sub-Escarpment Grassland vegetation unit, and the Queenstown Thornveld (Gs16) and the Tarkastad Montane Shrubland (Gs17) sensu Mucina & Rutherford=2006(). The populations from the Great Winterberg are located in the Dry Highveld Grassland vegetation unit, and the Karoo Escarpment Grassland (Gh1). Finally, the southernmost population in the Amathole Mountains occurs in the Drakensberg Grassland vegetation unit and the Amatole Mistbelt Grassland (Gd2). These regions show bimodal spring-autumn or summer rainfall, usually with very dry winters, with precipitation ranging from 500–1300 mm, and an approximate mean of 50 days with frost per year (cf. Mucina & Rutherford 2006, Clark et al. 2014). Distribution: —Known from several localities restricted to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, from the Witteberge in the Southern Drakensberg near Lady Grey and Motkop in the north to the Great Winterberg–Amathole Ranges in the south around Cathcart and Tarkastad areas, being apparently restricted between the meridians 26− 28º E (Fig. 10). Therefore, the distribution of the new species can be included in the Drakensberg Alpine Centre of Endemism as redefined by Mucina & Rutherford=2006(). The close related Massonia jasminiflora shows an allopatric distribution (Fig. 10), not known to us to occur in the Eastern Cape province, although some of their populations are located near the border to the latter province. The main distribution of M. jasminiflora is located in central and southern Free State province, with some populations extending to the adjacent areas in the North West province and Northern Cape province. It is worth mentioning that one apparently disjunct population of M. jasminiflora occurs in Mpumalanga (Fig. 10), near the golf course in Middelburg (Nieuwoudt 273 PRE), although the quarter degree given in the herbarium label (3125AC) seems to be mistaken with Middelburg from the Eastern Cape province. On this respect, Retief & Herman (1997) already cited M. jasminiflora (van Wyk coll. nº 928) from an area between Middelburg and the Waterberg in northeastern South Africa. Morphological variation: —A certain variation on leaf morphology in Massonia amoena (under the name M. jasminiflora) has been reported by Craib & Knoll (2000), especially regarding pustule size, colour and morphology. Craib & Knoll (2000) described the population at the type locality (Andriesberg) having always pustulate leaves, however some leaves were described as tinged with mauve or reddish brown and the pustules being ruby red, brown or mauvish brown. On the contrary, Craib & Knoll (2000) described the population from the Toorberg near Tarkastad as having nearly all plants pustulate leaves, but a few were plain with the surface merely tinged with various shades of mauve and sienna brown. Among the pustulate-leaved plants, specimens existed with big, evenly spread, mauvish pustules, some of them with congested ruby red pustules as well as other plants so densely pustulate that the leaf surfaces resembled coarse gravel sandpaper. It is also worth mentioning that the collection Galpin 1817 (K000257151!) from Bowker’s Kop, Queenstown, which is mounted together with the type of M. jasminiflora, includes four flowering plants that agree in flower morphology with M. amoena, but some of the pressed leaves apparently do not show evident pustules. However, a closer investigation of this collection reveals that the specimen situated at the bottom was mounted with the leaves showing the abaxial side and at least the plant placed on the left side show several small pustules on the leaves. Furthermore, a duplicate of Galpin 1817 (PRE0050981-0) includes 12 plants with strongly reflexed perianth segments and leaves showing evident remnants of pustules. In this regard, pressed leaves of Massonia amoena sometimes do not retain the morphology of the raised pustules, but remnants of them remain and the short papillae on top of each are visible. Craib & Knoll (2000) proposed that “the pustulate-leaved form, which is particularly cryptic, has probably evolved to mimic gritty dolerite soil. Evidence of this was found in the Toorberg plants, where very few had plain leaves and these were also either tinged with mauve or brown, causing them to blend better with the colours of the microhabitat”. As a summary, all living specimens of M. amoena examined in this study showed evident pustules, being constantly heterogeneous in morphology from small and circular to elongated longitudinally, where a slight variation on pustule and leaf colour was detected (Fig. 3). However, in general terms, the leaf morphology of M. amoena can be considered as constant, especially regarding the diagnostic character differing from M. jasminiflora (Fig. 1, 3). We were not able to study living specimens of Massonia amoena with smooth leaves, as cited by Craib & Knoll (2000), but we suggest that these forms could be the outcome of possible hybridization processes with other species of Massonia bearing smooth leaves, such as for instance Massonia huttoni Baker (1870: 390), M. versicolor Baker (1876: 184) and M. modesta Fourcade (1932: 79), which also occur in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, and which are sympatric at least with some of the southernmost populations of M. amoena. However, a detailed study on this aggregate of taxa is necessary to evaluate this. Additional specimens studied (paratypes): — SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape. Lady Grey (3027 CB): Lady Grey, Joubert’s Pass, Alt. 2237 m, 20 February 2011, WW04486 (GZU!); Lady Grey (3027 CD): Motkop, Alt. 2044 m, 20 February 2011, WW04485 (GZU!); Lady Grey (3027): Majuba Nek, Herschel Distr., January 1916, Hepburn 271 (GRA!); Queenstown (3126 BA): Stormberg area (between Molteno and Dordrecht), Farm Streep Fontein 237, Alt. 1961 m, open rocky area on summit of ridge, growing among basalt boulders, rare, E. L . Gaisford & V. R. Clark 333 (GRA!); Queenstown (3126 CD): in the foothills of the Toorberg, near Tarkastad, C. Craib & C. Knoll (Photo!); Queenstown (3126 DA): Andriesberg, Alt. 1777 m, 19 February 2011, WW04484 (GZU!); Queenstown (3126 DA): Northern slopes Andriesberg, Alt. 5500 feet, May 1899, Fl. white, E. E . Galpin 2612 (GRA!); Queenstown (3126 DB): Sterkstroom, Stapelbergskloof, Halseton, SW solpes of doleritic range, in cracks of rock, Alt. 6400 feet, 28 April 1963, C. R . Callaghan 32 (PRE0050982 -0!); Queenstown (3126 DD): Bowker’s Kop, Queenstown, Alt. 4000 feet, May 1894, Fl. white, E. E . Galpin 1817 (K000257151!, PRE0050981!); Lady Frere (3127 AC): Tafelberg, Dordrecht Distr., on farm Blacks Siding, 25 May 1964, R . D. Bayliss 2237 (PRE0050983 -0!); Lady Frere (3127 BC): Top of Cala Pass, 09 March 1987, Glen 1720 (PRE0727264 -0!); Fort Beaufort (3226 AB): Great Winterberg (Tarkastad District), Farm Newtondale 228, cliffs and plateau edge, aspect NE, loamy clay, stony soil/rocky, grassland, dolerite, on cliffs, Alt. 1733 m, 18 March 2011, V. R . Clark & G. Neef 79 (GRA!); Fort Beaufort (3226 AC): Along De Beers Pass, Great Winterberg (Tarkastad District), aspect S, hill slope, loam, stony soil/rocky, sandstone, rare, along the road cutting on pass, Alt. 1605 m, 17 March 2011, V. R . Clark & G. Neef 10 (GRA!); Fort Beaufort (3226 AD): Great Winterberg Mountain, flat shelf on SW-facing slope, Alt. 1885 m, 24 May 2014, T . van Niekerk s.n. (GRA!); Fort Beaufort (3226 BD); Amathole Mountains, ex. Simply Indigenous, WW 02266 (GZU!)., Published as part of Martínez-Azorín, Mario, Pinter, Michael, Deutsch, Gerfried, Brudermann, Andreas, Dold, Anthony P., Crespo, Manuel B., Pfosser, Martin & Wetschnig, Wolfgang, 2014, Massonia amoena (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a striking new species from the Eastern Cape, South Africa, pp. 121-137 in Phytotaxa 181 (3) on pages 126-134, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.181.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5145939, {"references":["Craib, C. & Knoll, C. (2000) Massonia jasminiflora: A beautiful species from the climatically severe interior of South Africa. Herbertia 55: 140 - 143.","Mucina, L. & Rutherford, M. C. (Eds.) (2006) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. 807 pp.","Clark, V. R., Dold, A. P., McMaster, C., McGregor, G., Bredenkamp, C. & Barker, N. P. (2014) Rich sister, poor cousin: Plant diversity and endemism in the Great Winterberg - Amatholes (Great Escarpment, Eastern Cape, South Africa). South African Journal of Botany 92: 159 - 174.","Retief, E. & Herman, P. P. J. (1997) Plants of the northern provinces of South Africa: keys and diagnostic characters. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, pp 681.","Baker, J. G. (1870) A revision of the genera and species of herbaceous capsular gamophyllous Liliaceae. Journal of the Linnean Society Botany 11: 349 - 436.","Baker, J. G. (1876) On new bulbous plants from the eastern provinces of Cape Colony. Journal of Botany, British and Foreign 14: 181 - 184.","Fourcade, H. G. (1932) Contributions to the flora of the Knysna and neighbouring divisions. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 21: 75 - 102."]}

Typification of Massonia calvata The original description of Massonia calvata (Baker 1878) includes the following information: “Leaves 2, […] face when young tuberculato-hispid, when older smooth and glabrous” an uncommon behavior reflected in the specific epithet. Furthermore, the flowers were described as “Perianth white, 1/ 3 in. long; segments lanceolate, equaling the tube. Filaments as long as the perianth-segments; anthers minute, oblong.” A single herbarium specimen was cited in the protologue, Bolus 749! collected in the “ Cape Colony, eastern district”. Baker (1897) added further data as follows: “leaves […] glabrous when mature, slightly tuberculato-hispid when young, […] perianth white, ½ in. long […] Central Region: mountains near Graaff Reinet, 4400-5500 ft., Bolus, 749!”. The study of the type collection Bolus 749 (K 000257142!, K 000257143!) provides further information. The label of the herbarium sheet K 000257142! shows: “Rec. 12/70; H. Bolus Austro-Africanae; Nº 749, Flor Junio, Alt. 4400 ped; Massonia between echinata v sanguinea; In montibus prope Graaff Reinet; Foliis junioribus tuberculato-hispidis; M. calvata Baker in Journ. Bot. 1878/321”. Moreover, a hand written annotation in pencil reads “ 4400 ft; large specimens on Sneeuberg (sic.) 5500 ft ”. Furthermore, a solid line in pencil separates the much larger plants in the upper part of the sheet from the lower much smaller plants, this agreeing with the information given in pencil about two different collections. A second herbarium sheet exists under the number Bolus 749 (K 000257143!). The label of this collection says: “ Massonia cf. versicolor; near Graaff Reinet; nº 749 Bolus 7/76; M. calvata, Baker ”. It is evident therefore that the collection Bolus 749 includes plants collected from at least two different localities and elevations and most probably collected at different times. According to Art. 40.2 of the ICN (Melbourne Code; McNeill & al., 2012), typification of one taxon is achieved “by reference to an entire gathering, or a part thereof, even if it consists of two or more specimens”, and assuming that a specimen is “a gathering, or part of a gathering, of a single species or infraspecific taxon made at one time, disregarding admixtures” (Art. 8.2). Therefore we select below a lectotype among the original material of the species (K 000257142!, K 000257143!). Our selection confirms that this name applies to a previously overlooked species endemic to the Sneeuberg Centre of Floristic Endemism (Clark et al. 2009). Massonia calvata Baker (1878: 321). Type (designated here):— South Africa. Eastern Cape: In montibus prope Graaff Reinet, June, alt. 4400 ped, Bolus 749 (lectotype, K 000257142!, only the small specimens placed in the lower portion of the sheet separated by a solid pencil line and corresponding to “alt. 4400 ped”)., Published as part of Martínez-Azorín, Mario, Clark, Vincent Ralph, Pinter, Michael, Dold, Anthony P., Crespo, Manuel B., Barker, Nigel P., Pfosser, Martin & Wetschnig, Wolfgang, 2014, Massonia dentata (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from the Nuweveldberge, and typification of the Sneeuberg endemic M. calvata (southern Great Escarpment, South Africa), pp. 201-215 in Phytotaxa 175 (4) on page 212, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.175.4.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5143893, {"references":["Baker, J. G. (1878) Descriptions of new and little known Liliaceae. Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. London 16: 321 - 326.","Baker, J. G. (1897) Liliaceae. In: Thiselton-Dyer, W. T. (Ed.) Flora Capensis 6. Reeve and Co., London, pp. 253 - 525.","McNeill, J., Barrie, F. R., Buck, W. R., Demoulin, V., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Marhold, K., Prado, J., Prud'homme van Reine, W. F., Smith, G. F., Wiersema, J. H. & Turland, N. J. (Eds.) (2012) International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code). Adopted by the Eighteenth International Botanical Congress Melbourne, Australia, July 2011. [Regnum Vegetabile 154]. A. R. G. Gantner, Ruggell, 240 pp.","Clark, V. R., Barker, N. P. & Mucina, L. (2009) The Sneeuberg: a new centre of endemism on the Great Escarpment, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 75: 196 - 238. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1016 / j. sajb. 2008.10.010"]}

Se discuten algunos aspectos corológicos o taxonómicos sobre plantas novedosas para alguna de las tres provincias de la Comunidad Valenciana, en concreto: Achillea filipendulina, Cardamine flexuosa subsp. debilis, Gaura lindheimeri, Ornithogalum divergens y Panicum maximum. Some chorological and taxonomical features are commented on Achillea filipendulina, Cardamine flexuosa subsp. debilis, Gaura lindheimeri, Ornithogalum divergens y Panicum maximum. They are new or little known for the regional floras of the three provinces which form the Valencian Community.

Disjunct distribution patterns in plant lineages are usually explained according to three hypotheses: vicariance, geodispersal, and long-distance dispersal. The role of these hypotheses is tested in Urgineoideae (Hyacinthaceae), a subfamily disjunctly distributed in Africa, Madagascar, India, and the Mediterranean region. The potential ancestral range, dispersal routes, and factors responsible for the current distribution in Urgineoideae are investigated using divergence time estimations. Urgineoideae originated in Southern Africa approximately 48.9 Mya. Two independent dispersal events in the Western Mediterranean region possibly occurred during Early Oligocene and Miocene (29.9–8.5 Mya) via Eastern and Northwestern Africa. A dispersal from Northwestern Africa to India could have occurred between 16.3 and 7.6 Mya. Vicariance and extinction events occurred approximately 21.6 Mya. Colonization of Madagascar occurred between 30.6 and 16.6 Mya, after a single transoceanic dispersal event from Southern Africa. The current disjunct distributions of Urgineoideae are not satisfactorily explained by Gondwana fragmentation or dispersal via boreotropical forests, due to the younger divergence time estimates. The flattened winged seeds of Urgineoideae could have played an important role in long-distance dispersal by strong winds and big storms, whereas geodispersal could have also occurred from Southern Africa to Asia and the Mediterranean region via the so-called arid and high-altitude corridors. Higher Education Commission of Pakistan

In the course of a taxonomic revision of the genus Massonia Houtt., Massonia citrina M.Pinter, Deutsch, U.Müll.- Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies, a new species of this genus from the Western Cape Province (South Africa), is here described. This species is similar to members of the M. depressa group, but it can be easily distinguished by its yellow filaments and style and the longer perigone-filament tube. A complete morphological description of the new species is presented.

Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of the genus Albuca we here present new data on Albuca crispa, a species described as having undulate-crispulate leaves and white-green nodding flowers, it being included in A. subgen. Falconera section Trianthera (as series Trianthera). After studying both herbarium specimens and living plants from the type locality and other locations, it is clear that the protologue of A. crispa includes remarkable inaccuracies that make the understanding of that species very difficult, and that therefore are in need of correction. Furthermore, the new data would support the transfer of Albuca crispa to A. subgen. Mitrotepalum, a group characterized by the erect flowers and strongly hooded inner tepals. A complete description is presented for this species, and data on morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported. Affinities and divergences with other close allies are also discussed, and evidence is shown to propose amendment of author citation. This work was partly supported by the Fundación Ramón Areces (Spain) and Universidad de Alicante (Spain).

Key to the species of Sagittanthera 1. Leaves 10−30 × 0.3−0.8 cm, glabrous, with entire margins; abaxial leaf surface strongly keeled; pedicels 7−8 mm; bracts 3.5−5 mm long, the lowermost with a spur of ca. 6 mm long; filaments free, short, flattened at base, 1.5 × 0.5 mm; anthers 5−6 mm long..................................................................................................................... S. cyanelloides − Leaves 47−50 × 0.15–0.3 cm, subterete, minutely ciliate with short translucent hairs on angles; abaxial leaf surface 12−14 grooved; pedicels 15−18 mm; bracts ca. 8 mm long, the lowermost with a spur ca. 10 mm long; filaments connate into a staminal column ca. 2.5 × 2 mm, with free apices; anthers ca. 3 mm long............. S. mzimvubuensis

The genus Trimelopter has been recently reinstated to include Ornithogalum unifolium and other closely related species from Southern Africa, comprising up to 10 species. Within the context of a revision of Trimelopter, a new species, T. craibii, is here formally described to name plants discovered by the late Charles Craib in the North West Province of South Africa. This taxon is closely related to T. dyeri and T. unifolium, but it can be clearly differentiated by floral and vegetative characters. Data on morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported for this new species, and affinities and divergences with other closely related taxa are also discussed. The new combination T. unifolium var. vestitum is also proposed. This work was partly supported by the Fundación Ramón Areces (Spain) and Universidad de Alicante (Spain).

Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of the genus Stellarioides we here describe a new species from the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. Stellarioides chartacea sp. nov. is at first sight related to S. arida and S. tenuifolia, but it can be clearly differentiated by a number of characters. A complete description is presented for this species, and data on morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported. Affinities and divergences with other close allies are also discussed. This work was partly supported by the Fundación Ramón Areces (Spain) and Universidad de Alicante (Spain).

Se discuten algunos aspectos corológicos o taxonómicos sobre plantas novedosas para alguna de las tres provincias de la Comunidad Valenciana, en concreto: Achillea filipendulina, Cardamine flexuosa subsp. debilis, Gaura lindheimeri, Ornithogalum divergens y Panicum maximum.

As a part of a taxonomic revision of Ethesia Raf., a new species, E. tanquana Mart.-Azorín & M.B.Crespo, is described from the Tanqua Karoo in South Africa. This new species is at first sight similar to E. haalenbergensis (U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & Juan and also E. xanthochlora (Baker) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & Juan, but it differs in floral and vegetative characters as well as in its ecology and isolated distribution. A complete description, data on biology, habitat, and distribution of the new species are presented. An identification key for Ethesia and new data on the rare Namibian E. haalenbergensis are also given. En el marco de la revisión taxonómica de Ethesia Raf., se describe una nueva especie, E. tanquana Mart.-Azorín & M.B.Crespo, del Tanqua Karoo en Sudáfrica. Esta nueva especie se asemeja a primera vista a E. haalenbergensis (U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & Juan y E. xanthochlora (Baker) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & Juan, pero difiere por sus caracteres florales y vegetativos así como por su peculiar ecología y distribución aislada. Además, se presenta una descripción completa para la nueva especie, junto a información sobre su biología, hábitat, y distribución. Finalmente, se presenta una clave de identificación para Ethesia y nuevos datos sobre el raro endemismo namibiano E. haalenbergensis. This paper was partly supported by Fundación Ramón Areces (Spain) and Universidad de Alicante (Spain).