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Summary: The genus Aerangis Schltr. (Orchidaceae, subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Vandeae, subtribe Angraecinae) in Madagascar and adjacent archipelagos is revised. Twenty-seven species have been recorded from the region, all of them endemic. Twenty of these are endemic to Madagascar, three to the Comoros only, three to the Comoros and Madagascar and one to Madagascar and Réunion. A third of all Aerangis in the area were assessed to be immediately endangered with 15% Critically Endangered (CR) and 18.5% Endangered (EN). 37% are considered Vulnerable (VU), 15% Near Threatened (NT) and 11% are of Least Concern (LC). Section Microterangis (Schltr.) Hermans is newly established. All the species are described and their typification, history, identification, pollination, distribution and habitat are discussed. The nomenclature and identity of Aerangis citrata (Thouars) Schltr., A. cryptodon (Rchb.f.) Schltr., A. ellisii (B.S.Williams) Schltr., A. hildebrandtii (Rchb.f.) P.J.Cribb & Carlsward, A. ikopana Schltr., A. modesta (Hook.f.) Schltr., A. monantha Schltr., A. polyura (Sander ex Mast.) Hermans and A. rostellaris (Rchb.f.) H.Perrier, are reassessed. Conservation assessments, illustrations and distribution maps are included for all the species. A checklist of the sections, species and a key to their identification are provided. Aerangis bursiculata Hermans is described from the Comoros for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fieldwork, examination of herbarium specimens and photographic images, supported by molecular sequencing have resulted in the re-interpretation of a number of species of Ipomoea L. found in Ecuador and the recognition of four new species. Ipomoea ophiodes Standl. & Steyerm. is shown to be a distinct species from I. regnellii Meisn. and their contrasting distribution is mapped. An unusual variation in I. setosa Ker Gawl. is discussed and illustrated. It is shown that, whereas I. velardei O'Donell is present in the south of Ecuador, records of I. jujuyensis O'Donell are probably all errors for I. quitensis J.R.I.Wood & Cerón, which is described as a new species endemic to Ecuador. Three other endemic species all known from single locations, I. ceronii J.R.I.Wood & P.Muñoz, I. condorensis J.R.I.Wood & Scotland and I. papyrifera J.R.I.Wood & Scotland are described as new. The full distribution of I. aequatoriensis T.Wells & P.Muñoz is mapped as a result of recent fieldwork and I. amazonica (D.F.Austin & Staples) J.R.I.Wood & Scotland is recorded from Ecuador for the first time. Taxonomic notes, information on habitat and distribution, maps, line drawings and photographs illustrate the species discussed. A key to all 57 species of Ipomoea recorded from Ecuador is provided to facilitate identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ceratozamia is a diverse genus of cycads distributed from Mexico to Honduras. Here, a new species of Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae, Cycadales) from the southeast of Mexico is described and illustrated. It was previously misidentified as C. subroseophylla because of the lack of reproductive structures in the specimens from Tabasco. This work is based on phenological monitoring carried out in a karst limestone locality in Tabasco. The lifespan of pollen and ovulate strobili and their morphological changes throughout development are described. The collections of this new species were compared with specimens of all Ceratozamia species; however, the morphological comparison was focused on the most geographically proximate and morphologically similar species to this new taxon. To evaluate the circumscription of this species, we used geographic, morphological and DNA barcoding criteria. On this basis, we propose a new species of Ceratozamia for Mexico and provide notes on its reproductive phenology. The reproductive structures are the primary resource for its recognition and identification. A taxonomic key for the similar morphological species and all species that occur in Tabasco is presented along with habitat characterisation and a conservation status for C. gigantea. This species, whose distribution is restricted to a small geographic area, increases the diversity of Ceratozamia in Tabasco to three species and affirms the importance of limestone karst as areas for speciation and endemism. During the phenological monitoring, pollinator insects were captured on ovulate strobili at receptivity, observations that have been scarcely documented during this phenophase in Ceratozamia, highlighting the relevance of monitoring reproductive phenological patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new species, Cyclamen brulloi, is described and illustrated from Sicily (Italy). This is an Autumn flowering species belonging to Cyclamen subg. Cyclamen and it is currently restricted to some localities of western Sicily, where it grows on carbonatic rocks and in rocky crevices. This taxon shows close relationships both with C. hederifolium and C. africanum. However, several morphological and karyological features are clearly different. Morphology, pollen grain micromorphology, karyology (2n = 4x = 68), ecology, conservation status and taxonomic relationships of the new taxon with the most allied species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A novel species, Dicliptera polymorpha, from the northern Western Ghats of India, has been identified and characterised. Dicliptera polymorpha is taxonomically distinct, due to its unique inflorescence form among Indian species, with inflorescence units (cymules) developing into spicate inflorescences. This species also stands out as the sole Indian representative of this genus with a documented pyrophytic habit and precocious flowering during the summer, following the typical flowering in the post-monsoon season. Comprehensive information on the habitat, geographic distribution and conservation status of the new species, along with illustrations, photographs and distribution maps, is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this article we propose a new Catasetum species which presents affinity to the C. cristatum alliance, more specifically to species belonging to the C. barbatum complex. The new species has been found in the flooded forests of the Nhamundá River which constitutes the interstate limit between the States of Amazonas and Pará in Brazil. Plants were collected in flooded forest on the river's left bank, in the municipality of Faro (Pará State, Brazil). The new species is here described in detail and data on habitat, distribution, phenology, conservation status are presented, along with photographs. The new species is compared to C. garnettianum, C. nhamundaense and C. barbatum, from which it differs mainly in the lip structure. All of these allied species are part of the Catasetum barbatum species complex. We also provide an identification key for Catasetum species from the C. barbatum complex occurring in the Brazilian Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Eriocaulaceae exhibit wide diversity within the Campo Rupestre, with the Serra do Espinhaço as their richest region. However, other mountain ranges featuring Campo Rupestre, like Serra da Canastra, also harbor a significant number of species. The present work consists of the taxonomic treatment of Eriocaulaceae occurring in the Serra da Canastra, as well as an analysis of the species distribution in three main surrounding Campo Rupestre areas: the Espinhaço and Mantiqueira Ranges, and the Chapada dos Veadeiros and neighbor mountains. Thirty-one species were recorded: 19 of Paepalanthus, six of Syngonanthus, four of Comanthera, one of Eriocaulon, and one of Leiothrix. Canastra shares eight species with Espinhaço, Mantiqueira, and Veadeiros; seven with Espinhaço and Mantiqueira; two with Espinhaço and Veadeiros; five exclusively with the Espinhaço and two exclusively with Veadeiros. Seven species are endemic to Canastra: Paepalanthus claussenianus, P. canastrensis, P. polycladus, P. sericiscapus, P. sinuosus, P. uai, and Syngonanthus culcitosus. Photographs, descriptions, identification key and comments on the morphological variations and geographic distribution for each species are presented, in addition to maps of the occurrence and distribution of species in different locations.

Summary: Distributions reported for Poa chaixii in Plants of the World Online (2023) and Euro+Med Plantbase (https://europlusmed.org), based on Mouterde's (1966a) cited collections, apply to P. moabitica. Poa chaixii does not occur in Syria, or anywhere else in the Levant. Poa moabitica is a very rare and distinctive species of sect. Homalopoa, known from only three collections. The Hayne type collection location, suggested to be Moab by Bor (1972), is here considered incorrect. Hayne's Plants of the Holy Land specimens were collected from Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria in 1872. It is likely that P. moabitica, if it is still extant in nature (which is doubtful), only occurs locally in wet habitats of forested mountains of northwest Syria (Pabot collections), and northern Lebanon (type). The species might also be sought in the adjacent province of Hatay, Turkey. The species is Data Deficient but should probably be considered Endangered Globally and Locally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Lomandra reflexa Jian Wang ter (Asparagaceae: Lomandroideae), a new species from central Queensland, Australia, is described, illustrated and compared to the morphologically related species L. filiformis and L. grayi. Notes on its distribution, habitat, phenology and affinities are provided. A conservation status of Least Concern is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Between 1959 and 1988, three populations of purple-flowered terrestrial orchids attributable to Dactylorhiza subgenus Dactylorhiza were discovered in Canada. The populations at Timmins, Ontario, and St John's, Newfoundland were strongly marked on both flowers and leaves, in contrast with the anthocyanin-deficient population at Tilt Cove, Newfoundland. All three populations have since experienced a wide range of taxonomic assignments; debates are also ongoing regarding their origin and most appropriate conservation status. Here, we address these questions by combining detailed in situ morphometric analyses based on 52 characters with allozyme profiles and data from nrITS, 15 plastid microsatellites and seven nuclear microsatellites. The allozyme data alone are sufficient to both confirm allopolyploidy and categorically refute past assignments of these populations to D. incarnata, D. maculata, D. fuchsii, D. majalis or D. purpurella. Several morphometric characters, nuclear microsatellites and nrITS all reliably distinguish each of the three study populations, whereas the two sampled subpopulations from St John's proved near-identical morphologically. In contrast, morphological variation within each of the three populations is strikingly low, particularly in characters other than those influenced by plant vigour. Similarly, compared with 14 European populations, the three Canadian populations proved genetically impoverished (two were near-invariant) and likely experienced recent, extreme genetic bottlenecks during establishment. The three populations differ substantially, both morphologically and molecularly, therefore probably representing independent immigration events. Although clearly attributable to D. praetermissa, all three populations deviate significantly in morphology and DNA data from comparable populations sampled across Europe, preventing identification of their precise geographic origins. Any attempt to determine their mode or origin — through natural long-distance transport, or accidental or deliberate introduction by humans – is challenged to explain why three lineages of a single European Marsh-orchid species, each in different ways atypical of that species, arrived independently in North America whereas no other European dactylorchid species has become established there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The genus Hyperacanthus comprises 11 species, nine in Madagascar and two in Africa, although many Madagascan species remain undescribed. All Madagascan species of Hyperacanthus are evergreen trees occurring in humid and semi-humid forest. Four deciduous species occur in the dry forests of northern, western, and southern Madagascar but are unknown to science. These four species, collectively and informally referred to as the sofikomba alliance, are described here: H. decaryi, H. piliformis, H. septentrionale and H. sofikomba. Three of the four species are illustrated and all four are mapped. A key to species, species descriptions, other key taxonomic information, and preliminary conservation assessments are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new rank and combination, Berberis setifolia (Ahrendt) Bharali, B.Hajong & Harber is proposed for B. macrosepala var. setifolia Ahrendt, based on a morphological examination of herbarium specimens from Me La, NE Bhutan and Se La, Arunachal Pradesh, India and living plants from Se La. The treatment of B. macrosepala Hook.f. & Thomson by Ahrendt in his two monographic treatments of Berberis (i.e. Ahrendt 1941, 1961), is shown to not fully reflect the protologue, which describes the taxon as not just one-flowered, but also fascicled. Some specimens that Ahrendt cites, including those of the three varieties of B. macrosepala he proposed, are determined to belong to other species, some of which are unrecognised. Herbarium specimens of Ahrendt's B. macrosepala var. setifolia from Bhutan are shown to be the same as those of a hitherto unidentified species from Arunachal Pradesh. A detailed taxonomic description, notes on habitat and ecology, and colour photographs are provided for B. setifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We describe, discuss and illustrate Alstroemeria maranhensis, a new species from the Cerrado domain in south-central Maranhão State, Brazil. We also provide a distribution map, a photographic plate and taxonomic comments. The new species is morphologically similar to A. viridiflora, though differs by having predominantly white flowers (vs. reddish or yellowish in A. viridiflora), falcate lower outer tepals (vs. not falcate) and obovate-spatulate lower inner tepal with attenuate and flat base (vs. spatulate without attenuate and/or flat base).

Summary: A new species of the Marlierea group of Myrcia sect. Aulomyrcia (Myrtaceae) is described and illustrated. Myrcia bahiensis Gaem & Mazine can be distinguished from all its congeners by large leaf blades bearing longitudinal, curved marks that indicate a plicate ptyxis, in combination with glabrous inflorescences, inconspicuous bracts, large flower buds, and a 'hyper-hypanthium' floral developmental pathway. Within the Marlierea group, vegetative morphological traits of Myrcia bahiensis most resemble those of Myrcia sucrei, whereas its reproductive organ morphology recalls M. neoregeliana. However, M. sucrei has densely tomentose inflorescences and showy bracts while M. neoregeliana has smaller leaves without longitudinal marks, indicating a planate ptyxis. Myrcia bahiensis is known from only one collection made in the cacao region of southern Bahia, Brazil. Due to a lack of reliable geographical distribution information, the new taxon is provisionally assessed as Data Deficient according to the IUCN criteria. An identification key for all species of the Marlierea group occurring in the Atlantic Forest of Bahia state is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new species of Thonningia is described. T. alba is the third species to be recognised in the genus, and the fourth in the family Balanophoraceae from Madagascar. It is apparently endemic to rainforests of the west coast of the Masoala Peninsula. A description, detailed illustrations, taxonomic notes, an identification key to the genus Thonningia, a distribution map and a preliminary assessment of risk extinction for this new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Five new species of Vaccinium from New Guinea are described and illustrated, V. lamii, V. veldkampii, V. argentii, V. superum and V. staufferianum. A detailed diagnosis, morphological comparison to closely related species, ecological data, a preliminary IUCN threat assessment and a distribution map are provided for each new species. Their sectional affiliations in the current subgeneric treatment of Vaccinium are considered and amendments to relevant sections suggested, to accommodate some unusual, for the genus, morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A revision of Clinopodium L. s.l., including species of Acinos Mill., Calamintha Mill. and Micromeria Benth. sect. Pseudomelissa Benth. which occur Iraq, recognises five species, one of which, C. dokanicum Dirmenci, is newly described and endemic to northern Iraq. An identification key and distribution map are provided, as well as updated nomenclature, descriptions, conservation assessments and taxonomic notes for each species; taking into account recent changes to the circumscription of Clinopodium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new species of Duguetia from Reserva Natural Vale, in the Atlantic Forest of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, is described and illustrated, and an updated key to the Duguetia species from this state is presented. Duguetia rolimii is known only from two large trees, restricted to the municipality of Linhares. It resembles D. sooretamae in having young twigs densely covered with stellate scales, narrow and shiny leaves with similar dimensions, and fruits with more than 200 fertile monocarps. Nevertheless, these two species can be distinguished from each other mainly by the type of vegetation where they occur, plant size, the density of stellate scales at the lower side of the leaves, the angle between the primary and secondary leaf veins, the shape of the flower buds, length of the upper bract, the shape of the fertile monocarps and indument of the areoles. Comments on distribution, conservation status and field photos of the new species, and comparisons with other related species are provided.

Abstract A total of 340 specimens of hermit crabs belonging to 34 species, included in four families and 10 genera were collected from the northern coast of Halmahera, in North Maluku, Indonesia. Two species are reported for the first time from Indonesia: Coenobita pseudorugosus Nakasone, 1988, and Trichopagurus macrochela Komai and Osawa, 2005. The color in life for Diogenes spinicarpus Rahayu and Forest, 1995, Diogenes foresti Rahayu and Hortle, 2002, and Clibanarius bistriatus Rahayu and Forest, 1993 is also reported for the first time. A list of hermit crabs found in northern Halmahera, including its habitat and distribution is presented here.

Members of the Loranthaceae family are considered parasitic, and mistletoe negatively affects the growth and productivity of host trees. Loranthaceae has several complicated taxonomic issues. Six species of Loranthaceae grow naturally in Saudi Arabia, but these species have not been well studied. The aim of this work was to evaluate the importance of morpho-palynological characters as a taxonomic tool in the identification of Loranthaceae species growing in Saudi Arabia. The discriminatory power of these characteristics was evaluated using different statistical analysis methods. The descriptive characteristics of pollen polar and equatorial views and colpus type are useful for describing the species, and the presence of three colpus patterns was detected among the study samples: syn-(3)-, demisyn-(3)-, and zono-(3)-colpate. The quantitative characteristics, specifically, the equatorial diameter and P/E ratio, are the most useful and can be used to classify species within clusters based on their affiliation with genera, species, and subtribes Emelianthinae and Tapinanthinae. This study confirmed that pollen grain characteristics can be used as a taxonomical tool to identify Loranthaceae species. This information will aid in determining parasitic species that infect trees and could be useful for strengthening efforts in weed management.

Summary: Lectotypes are designated for three names in Primula: Primula deuteronana Craib, P. gracilipes Craib and P. wattii King ex Watt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Thailand is situated in the region of high Bambusa biodiversity which extends from southern China to the Indochinese Peninsula. However, our understanding of Bambusa diversity and biogeography in this region remains incomplete, due to the lack of both local expertise and diagnostic characters on specimens, especially reproductive parts, which are relatively rare occurrences in the wild. Ongoing botanical surveys and flora projects in this region have led to the discovery of new Bambusa species in recent years. Here, a new species, B. lituiformis, and the first record from Thailand of B. nghiana, a Vietnamese species, are reported. The new species and record are described and illustrated from complete collections, using both vegetative and reproductive parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new species of Wrightia (Apocynaceae) from Vietnam, Wrightia vietnamensis Hazell & D.J.Middleton, is described and illustrated. Seed was collected on a Vietnamese led international collaborative expedition and grown on in the Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. When it matured and flowered, it was found to be an undescribed species. The species is currently only known from one karst limestone locality. This restricted distribution conforms to regional patterns of speciation and endemism in the genus whereby species restricted to karst limestone have very restricted distributions and those found on other soil types have wider distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Petrocosmea getuheensis X.X.Bai, Y.L.Zhou & Xing Chen Li, a new species of Gesneriaceae from a karst cave in Guizhou Province, China, is described and illustrated here, with colour photographs and a preliminary assessment for the IUCN Red List. It morphologically resembles P. minor Hemsl., but this new species can be easily distinguished from that taxon and all other species of Petrocosmea Oliv. by the comprehensive characteristics of its leaf blade thinly papery, lateral veins inconspicuous, abaxial lip lobes narrowly-triangular, apex acute, filaments transparent glandular hairs around the protuberant side, anthers round at apex, pistil apex barely protruding or obvious. One population with about 10,000 mature individuals was found at the type locality. This new taxon was assessed as "Data Deficient" (DD) according to the IUCN standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Neea bahiensis D.S.Costa and Neea manaosensis D.S.Costa & C.A.S.Bat. are described. The former species occurs in southern Bahia State in northeastern Brazil, and the latter species is known from central Amazonas State in northern Brazil. Images of the holotypes and morphological structures, a distribution map and conservation status assessments of the new species, as well as taxonomic notes on morphologically similar species, are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Begonia locbaosangii from Lang Son Province is described and illustrated. In its variegated leaves with palmate venation, 4-tepalled staminate flowers and 3-tepalled pistillate flowers, B. locbaosangii somewhat resembles B. yizhouensis, a species endemic to the subtropical limestone area of Guangxi, China, but it is distinct from B. yizhouensis by its stipule margin entire (vs densely white ciliate), lamina upper surface very sparsely minutely scabrescent (vs glabrous), anthers apex rounded (vs retuse) and axile placentation (vs parietal placentation). Among Vietnamese begonias, it is most similar to B. jubar in its rhizomatous habit, patterns of variegated leaves and the number of both staminate and pistillate tepals, but it is different from the latter in its glabrous (vs densely hirsute) rhizome, leaves sparsely minutely scabrescent (vs glabrous) adaxially, ovary wings crescent-shaped (vs triangular) and undivided placentae lamellae (vs bilamellate). According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (Version 15), B. locbaosangii is assessed to be Data Deficient (DD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sedum danxiacola S.Y.Meng & B.Chen, a new species of Sedum, is found on the Danxia landform near Wuyi Mountain, China. Sedum danxiacola belongs to sect. Filipes and is similar to S. drymarioides Hance and S. stellariifolium Franch. A principal component analysis (PCA) based on five leaf traits, an examination of seeds and leaves by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a morphological analysis showed that S. danxiacola can easily be separated from S. drymarioides and S. stellariifolium. The conservation status of this species was assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Isoglossa pareensis I.Darbysh. & Hemp (Acanthaceae), from submontane moist forest at Mwala in the South Pare Mountains of northeastern Tanzania, is described and illustrated. This species is considered to be related to I. gregorii (S.Moore) Lindau and I. punctata (Vahl) Brummitt & J.R.I.Wood, which are widespread in the montane forests of eastern Africa, but it clearly differs from these species in inflorescence structure and indumentum and in anther morphology. Notes on the habitat requirements and extinction risk of this new species are provided; it is considered to be Vulnerable under IUCN criterion D2 because of its extremely limited range and a plausible future threat from wildfires. The recent discovery of the Critically Endangered acanthaceous herb Asystasia masaiensis Lindau at lower, drier elevations at the same site is also reported and the first known photograph of that species is reproduced [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pseudoscorpion family Garypinidae is globally distributed with 79 species in 21 genera and several species represented by Mesozoic and Eocene fossils. This was recently included with the family Larcidae in a unique superfamily, Garypinoidea but there are no phylogenetic hypotheses for the group. Sequence data were obtained for 14 species in 8 genera and numerous outgroup taxa that formed the basis for a preliminary molecular phylogeny. A new subfamily classification is proposed with Protogarypininae, subfamily nov. comprising five genera mostly found in the southern hemisphere, Amblyolpiinae subfamily nov. comprising two genera and Garypininae for the remaining genera. Several new taxa are described including the first Australian species of Aldabrinus , A. rixi sp. nov., a new genus from South-East Asia, Nobilipinus , comprising Nobilipinus nobilis (With, 1906), N. vachoni (Redikorzev, 1938) (that is removed from the synonymy of G. nobilis) and five new species, N. affinis , N. galeatus , N. karenae , N. kohi and N. tricosus , and Solinus pingrup sp. nov. from south-western Australia. Paraldabrinus Beier, 1966 is newly synonymised with Aldabrinus , and Indogarypinus Murthy and Ananthakrishan, 1977 is newly synonymised with Solinus. The holotype of Garypinus mirabilis With, 1907 from Hawaii is redescribed but found to be a tritonymph, rendering the generic identity uncertain. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E15E4705-0697-4208-9338-A778343996CA The globally distributed pseudoscorpion family Garypinidae is included with the family Larcidae in a unique superfamily, Garypinoidea but there are no phylogenetic hypotheses for the group. Sequence data were obtained for 14 species in 8 genera, and numerous outgroup taxa that allowed for a preliminary molecular phylogeny. A new subfamily classification is proposed within Garypininae and includes two new subfamilies, Protogarypininae and Amblyolpiinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ten specific names plus those of three varieties, which refer to the four currently recognised species of Parkia in Africa and Madagascar (P. bicolor A.Chev., P. biglobosa (Jacq.) R.Br. ex G.Don, P. filicoidea Welw. ex Oliv., P. madagascariensis R.Vig.), are listed. Their types are enumerated with lectotypes indicated where necessary and in a few cases, a second-step lectotypification is made. Two further names are invalid and illegitimate respectively. Two tables summarise the synonymy of these names according to major flora treatments and revisions of the genus. Connections between the botanist Robert Brown, who established the genus Parkia, and the explorer Mungo Park, after whom Brown named it, are described briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new species of Camellia sect. Piquetia (Theaceae), C. hiepii sp. nov. from the Chu Mu Mountains, M'Drak District, Daklak Province, Vietnam, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to C. longii Orel & Luu, but differs in having young branches sparsely pubescent, larger leaf blades, more secondary veins, flowers 8 ‒ 9 cm in diameter with more petals, longer stamens, and shorter styles. Photographs, an illustration, vernacular names, and a preliminary conservation assessment are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The species and subspecies of section Brevivalvula of Cenchrus have been studied and reconsidered. Their number is reduced to two species and two subspecies. The correct name for the well-known species Pennisetum polystachion is Cenchrus setosus. Formerly recognised subspecies are synonymised under C. setosus and C. pedicellatus. Cenchrus hordeoides is considered to be a subspecies of C. setosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: During the most recent floristic surveys in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an interesting species of Rubiaceae was collected with features allied to representatives of the tribe Octotropideae. Initial identification showed that our material is characterised by having an inflorescence that is subtended by large boat-shaped floral bracts, a character that is unique to the genus Morindopsis. Interestingly, the genus is currently represented only by M. capillaris and after meticulous observation of our material and careful comparison with available herbarium sheets and the protologue, we found that our taxon showed a great disparity in various vegetative and reproductive features with M. capillaris. Thus we describe and illustrate a new species here — Morindopsis ashihoi, the second known species for the genus and a new record for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Field and herbarium-based studies have revealed that Musa nepalense Wall. should be recognised as a species distinct from Musa glauca Roxb. (=Ensete glaucum (Roxb.) Cheesman), rather than a synonym as it has usually been assumed since the 1890s. Musa nepalense is lectotypified, and a new combination Ensete nepalense (Wall.) G.Parmar & Trias-Blasi is made. Diagnostic characters, distribution, a key to related species, habitat and phenological data are provided for E. nepalense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helotidae is a small and morphologically uniform family in Nitiduloidea. In this study, we report an unusual form of helotids, represented by Lobatihelota lescheni Li, Liu & Cai gen. nov., sp. nov. and L. iridescens Li, Liu & Cai sp. nov. from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Lobatihelota is unique within the family in having a leg morphology typical of some Nitidulidae and Kateretidae (tibia widened distally, tarsomeres 1–3 bilobed, tarsomere 4 shortened). Additionally, new diagnostic characters are suggested for Trihelota from the same deposit (prosternum and mesoventrite with paired carinae, metanepisterna short, metacoxae meeting elytra laterally), and the morphological divergence of representative genera of the superfamilies Erotyloidea, Nitiduloidea and Cucujoidea is visualised using a phylomorphospace approach. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FE0E4D6A-8157-4E14-9240-7B87F285AEA5 Helotidae is a small family in Nitiduloidea. We report an unusual form of helotids, represented by Lobatihelota lescheni gen. nov., sp. nov. and L. iridescens sp. nov., from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Lobatihelota is unique within the family in having a leg morphology typical of some Nitidulidae and Kateretidae. Additionally, new diagnostic characters are suggested for Trihelota from the same deposit, and the morphological divergence of representative genera of Erotyloidea, Nitiduloidea and Cucujoidea is visualised using a phylomorphospace approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Euconulidae is a globally distributed land snail family but there is no record of this family from Thailand. In this study, we describe a new genus, Siamoconus gen. nov., based on comparative studies of the shell characteristics, external morphology of animals, radula, genital and spermatophore structures, and molecular phylogeny. We performed phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial gene fragment (cytochrome c oxidase I, COI; and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear (28S rRNA) gene fragment to clarify the relationships with other euconulid genera and its position in the superfamily Trochomorphoidea. We also analysed shell morphometrics, male genitalia and mantle pigmentation of Siamoconus gen. nov., confirming the status of three new species with keeled shells (S. boreas sp. nov., S. coleus sp. nov. and S. geotrochoides sp. nov.) and one new species with a rounded shell (S. destitutus sp. nov.). These new species are restricted to limestone areas in northern and north-eastern Thailand. We also re-examined the status of other genera in the superfamily Trochomorphoidea based on shell features, body pigmentation, radula, genital anatomy, spermatophore morphology, and a phylogenetic analysis of all available trochomorphoidean DNA sequences. Our analysis suggests that the family Geotrochidae, previously synonymised with the Trochomorphidae, should be resurrected to represent the genus Geotrochus from Borneo, and this family is retrieved as the sister clade of the Dyakiidae. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C5205F4E-5DDE-42E6-A532-761CAFE099C3 Euconulidae is one of the most diverse families in the superfamily Trochomorphoidea with a distribution that is almost world-wide but there is no record of this family from Thailand. We describe four new species of Siamoconus gen. nov., a new euconulid genus and also perform phylogenetic analyses of one nuclear and two mitochondrial gene fragments to clarify the systematic position of this new genus and the relationships to other genera in the superfamily Trochomorphoidea. In addition, the family Geotrochidae, previously synonymised with the Trochomorphidae, is resurrected as sister clade of the Dyakiidae within the superfamily Trochmorphoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of Antarctic invertebrate taxa have been revealed as cryptic species complexes following DNA-based assessments. This ultimately necessitates a morphological reassessment to find traits that will help identify these cryptic or pseudocryptic species without the need for sequencing every individual. This work concerns comatulid crinoid echinoderms long considered to represent a single, circum-Antarctic species, Promachocrinus kerguelensis. The first molecular studies sought to distinguish the diversity in the complex and understand the constituent species distributions but stopped short of formal taxonomic assessment. Here, we continued to increase sample representation around the Southern Ocean and sequenced the mitochondrial COI gene for all new specimens, and additional genes for a few representatives. We also elucidated previously unappreciated features, particularly body pigmentation and morphology of the centrodorsal ossicle in an attempt to diagnose some species morphologically and based on DNA data. The species complex within Promachocrinus is here resolved into P. kerguelensis Carpenter, 1879, P. vanhoeffenianus Minckert, 1905, P. joubini Vaney, 1910, P. mawsoni (Clark, 1937) comb. nov. (transferred from Florometra) and four previously unnamed species, P. fragarius sp. nov., P. unruhi sp. nov., P. uskglassi sp. nov. and P. wattsorum sp. nov. Although most species can be distinguished morphologically, several cannot be reliably separated without DNA data. All sequenced species are essentially circum-Antarctic, with the notable exception of P. wattsorum sp. nov. that is restricted to the Prince Edward Islands in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean and P. vanhoeffenianus that is only known from the type locality in the Davis Sea. The vast nature of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystem dictates large scale sampling to understand the full extent of the biodiversity. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F871CDC8-973B-48CE-8A61-33658D4EB4B1 The Antarctic feather star Promachocrinus kerguelensis arguably comprises several species but taxonomic revision has not been attempted. Here we use DNA data and morphological characters to differentiate the species and formally described those that are new. The species complex was resolved into eight species, four of which are newly described, though not all can be reliably distinguished based on morphology. One of the new species has a restricted distribution, but the remainder appear to be circum-Antarctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new species, Lepidagathis gandhii (Barlerieae: Acanthaceae), is described based on fresh collections from several localities of the Tiruppur district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is morphologically similar to another endemic species, L. spinosa, which has a restricted distribution in Tamil Nadu. A detailed description, illustrations, colour photographs, micrographs of floral parts taken through light and scanning electron microscopes, its taxonomic affinities, a distribution map and IUCN conservation status of the species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Asemeia (Polygalaceae) is a neotropical genus recently re-segregated from Polygala that comprises 32 species. This study is part of an ongoing project to revise the genus Asemeia. We conducted morphological analyses on newly collected herbarium specimens from field expeditions to Minas Gerais and Goiás states, Brazil. Our results reveal three new species: Asemeia coracoralinae, A. minensis and A. nana, all occurring in cerrado vegetation. We provide a detailed morphological description for each species, including a comparative analysis of floral morphology, photographic plates and a distribution map. This study increases knowledge of Asemeia and of the biodiversity of the cerrado. Two of the three new species described have very restricted distributional ranges, here treated as endangered, following the IUCN criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The intensively studied Eurasian orchid genus Dactylorhiza has become a model system for exploring allopolyploid evolution, yet determining the optimal circumscriptions of, and most appropriate ranks for, its constituent taxa remain highly controversial topics. Here, novel allozyme data and detailed morphometric data for 16 Scottish marsh-orchid populations are interpreted in the context of recent DNA sequencing studies. Despite being derived from the same pair of parental species, the two allopolyploid species that currently occur in Scotland can reliably be distinguished using allozymes, haplotypes, ribotypes or sequences of nuclear genes. A modest range of diverse morphological characters are shown to distinguish the two molecularly-circumscribed species, but they have in the past been obscured by equivalent levels of infraspecific variation in characters rooted in anthocyanin pigments; these characters are better employed for distinguishing infraspecific taxa. Dactylorhiza francis-drucei (formerly D. traunsteinerioides) is confirmed as being distinct from the continental D. traunsteineri/lapponica, probably originating through allopatric isolation once the continental lineage reached Britain. All Scottish populations are attributed to the comparatively small-flowered, anthocyanin-rich subsp. francis-drucei, which includes as a variety the former D. 'ebudensis'; the less anthocyanin-rich subsp. traunsteinerioides is confined to Ireland, North Wales and northern England. In contrast with D. francis-drucei, only a minority of Scottish populations of D. purpurella are attributed to the anthocyanin-rich race, var. cambrensis. This species most likely originated through an allopolyploidy event that occurred comparatively recently within the British Isles, as it contains allozyme alleles distinctive of British rather than continental D. incarnata (its diploid pollen-parent). In contrast, the rare Scottish population of D. incarnata subsp. cruenta shares with its Irish counterparts a continental genotype, and is most likely a recent arrival in Scotland through long-distance dispersal. Among all European allotetraploid dactylorchids, D. purpurella is the species that most closely resembles D. incarnata, both molecularly and morphologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The genus Mitranthes (Myrteae, Myrtaceae) was described with five species, but no indication of a generic type. These five species are now known to belong to the independent generic lineages Psidium and Myrcia of the tribe Myrteae. This paper traces the taxonomic and nomenclatural history of Mitranthes, showing that the most appropriate type species is currently accepted in Psidium. As a result, Mitranthes should correctly be treated as a synonym of Psidium and its recent synonymisation in Myrcia must be discounted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new species, Garcinia phuongmaiensis V.S.Dang, H.Toyama & D.L.A.Tuan (Clusiaceae), discovered from Phuong Mai Peninsula, Nhon Hoi Commune, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, central Vietnam, is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to G. prainiana King, but is distinguished by smaller habit, leaves and flowers with white petals. A description, preliminary conservation assessment, illustration, photographs and vernacular name of the new species are provided, as well as an updated key to the species of Garcinia sect. Xanthochymus in Indo-China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new species, Lomandra hispidula Jian Wang ter (Asparagaceae), from south-eastern Queensland, Australia is described, illustrated and compared to the putatively related species L. brevis and L. brittanii. Notes on its distribution including a map, habitat, phenology and affinities are provided. A conservation status of Least Concern is recommended based on IUCN criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]