Kew Bulletin最新文献

During a review of the genus Securidaca (Polygalaceae) in all pantropical regions, a new Amazonian species was found and is described here as S. aurea. The new species is compared to S. revoluta, mainly for the absence of the crest on the keel and strongly revolute leaves. However, S. aurea is easily recognised by its much longer samaras and the golden indumentum covering its leaves and branches. The new species is illustrated by photographic plates and taxonomic notes, a preliminary conservation status and a geographic distribution map are provided.

Peperomia is known for its remarkable diversity, the Atlantic Forest in Brazil being particularly noteworthy for its high levels of richness and endemism. Floristic research in the Atlantic Forest karst ecosystems has revealed new discoveries in the genus, based on fieldwork and thorough study of herbaria collections. Peperomia dryadica Marcusso is here described and characterised as entirely glabrous except for the distal third of the leaf margins which is ciliolate, light green stems when fresh, alate distal internodes, leaves decussate, opposite or alternate basally and opposite or 3-whorled distally, lamina oblanceolate, obovate or rarely elliptic and nerves sunken adaxially and raised abaxially. Peperomia dryadica is found solely in the Vale do Ribeira region of São Paulo state, in Southeast Brazil, which holds the largest limestone outcrops in the Atlantic Forest.

The fully mycotrophic (or mycoheterophic) Afrothismia ugandensis Cheek nom. nov. (Afrothismiaceae), formerly described as A. winkleri (Engl.) Schltr. var. budongensis Cowley from the Budongo Forest in Western Uganda, is renamed, redescribed and illustrated. This change in status is supported by eight newly elucidated, qualitative, morphological, diagnostic characters despite the overall similarity with A. winkleri, a species restricted to Cameroon and Gabon. Afrothismia ugandensis is remarkable in the genus for occurring in semi-deciduous (not evergreen) forest and for having ellipsoid or ovoid (vs globose) root bulbils. It has only been recorded twice, first in August 1940, and most recently in June 1998, despite targeted searches in recent years. In both 1940 and 1998, only single individuals appear to have been detected. A single site for the species is known with certainty. It is here assessed as Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii); D1] using the IUCN categories and criteria. A. ugandensis is threatened by forest degradation and clearance due to illegal, selective, small-holder logging for firewood and charcoal, timber and limited agriculture.

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.

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.

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.

A systematic monograph is presented for Hydnora (Hydnoraceae), a poorly known genus of holoparasitic plants distributed across Africa, Madagascar and southern Arabia. Species of Hydnora are characterised by their underground habit, unusual fleshy flowers and complete absence of leaves or photosynthetic tissue. This is the first detailed monograph of the genus Hydnora since 1935 and is informed by a comprehensive survey of herbarium specimens and literature. Detailed descriptions, full synonymy, distribution maps and discussion concerning confusable taxa are provided for each species, along with notes on ethnobotany, ecology and conservation. We place particular emphasis on the taxonomic value of osmophore geometry and positioning in living and dried material, which are highly consistent within species. We also provide the first detailed assessment of host range across the genus. Hydnora hanningtonii Rendle and H. solmsiana Dinter are reinstated from synonymy, and H. bolinii S.Hatt is newly described here. The infrageneric classification is reviewed and a key is provided for both living and dried material. Species are accompanied by both illustrations and photographs of living and dried material where possible.

Microlicia campostriniae Versiane & R.Romero and M. subtilis R.Romero & Versiane are two new species from the campo rupestre in Rio Preto State Park, Diamantina Plateau, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Here, we provide descriptions, illustrations, an occurrence map, preliminary conservation assessments, and comparisons with related morphological congeners for both species. M. campostriniae has the central vein of the adaxial surfaces covered with glandular trichomes, hypanthia and sepals densely covered with spherical glands mixed with long reddish glandular trichomes, triangular sepals, and flowers with pink petals and dimorphic stamens. M. subtilis has membranaceous leaf blades with dentate margins, hypanthia and sepals densely covered with spherical glands mixed with glandular trichomes and flowers with pink petals and dimorphic stamens. M. campostriniae is compared to M. amplexicaulis Cogn., M. ciliatoglandulosa R.Romero, M. obtusifolia Cogn. ex R.Romero and M. pumila R.B.Pacifico & Almeda, and M. subtilis with M. membranacea R.Romero & Versiane and M. schwackeana Glaz. ex Versiane & R.Romero. Additionally, we provide a checklist of the Lavoisiereae species in the Rio Preto State Park.

Asyneuma yildizianum Yıldırım & Özdöl (Campanulaceae) is described as a new species from the Babadağ mountain range near the counties of Tavas and Babadağ in the province of Denizli in southwestern Türkiye. Diagnostic characteristics, a full description, and comprehensive photographs and micromorphology of the pollen and seeds are provided. It is morphologically related to A. virgatum subsp. cichoriiforme and A. ilgazense. The new species differs from related taxa mainly by its caespitose habit, perennial monocarpic life form, (6 –) 8 – 20-stemmed at base, 5 – 22 cm long stem and sky blue to pale violet flowers. A preliminary IUCN Red List assessment of the new species is supplied.

We describe and illustrate Lychnodiscus bali Cheek (Sapindaceae), a new species to science, from the Bali Ngemba Forest Reserve of NW Region Cameroon, the last major remnant of cloud forest in the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon, recently evidenced as a Tropical Important Plant Area (TIPA or IPA). Confined on current evidence to upper submontane forest, the new species is threatened by expanding habitat clearance for farms and is assessed as Critically Endangered. A small tree, attaining 3 – 4 m height, it is the first new species to be added to this Guineo-Congolian tree genus in 50 years, the third recorded from Cameroon and takes the number of species in the genus to eight. It has the highest known altitudinal range (1700 – 1950 m alt.) of any species of the genus. We discuss its discovery in the context of other recently discovered and highly threatened or even extinct plant species in the Cameroon Highlands, and the importance of their conservation. The new species was previously identified as Lychnodiscus grandifolius Radlk., but differs in the shorter length of the distal leaflets (12 – 18 cm vs 22 – 39 cm long); in the abaxial leaf surface lacking glands (vs glands flat and conspicuous); in being sparsely hairy all over (vs glabrous except the main veins) and in its larger flowers, 8 – 11 mm long at anthesis (vs 5 – 7 mm long). We present an identification key of the species of Lychnodiscus and discuss their classification in the context of recent molecular phylogenetic and phylogenomic studies. The authors contend that Lychnodiscus Radlk., previously placed in Cupanieae by Radlkofer, should now be placed in the reconstituted Nephelieae in the revised 2021 intrafamilial classification of Buerki et al., probably close to the genera Aporrhiza Radlk. and Laccodiscus Radlk. However, until the genus is included in molecular studies this cannot be confirmed and a sister relationship remains speculative.