Kew Bulletin最新文献

This study unveils a novel variety of Mucuna macrocarpa, named M. macrocarpa var. oui, discovered in southern Taiwan. This unique variety is characterised by its sparsely appressed-pubescent leaflet abaxial surface, glabrous style, distinguishing it from M. macrocarpa var. macrocarpa. We also designate a lectotype of M. taiwaniana Y.C.Liu & C.H.Ou, and place the species in synonymy under M. membranacea Hayata, based on study of the lectotype and original description. These taxonomic and nomenclatural additions add to our understanding of the genus Mucuna in Asia.

We describe and illustrate Tragia grandistipularis (Euphorbiaceae), a new species from the Southern Region of Malawi, which is easily distinguished by its large stipules. We amend the key to the genus in Flora Zambesiaca to accommodate the new species. The new species is only known from a single population in a threatened habitat. Based on its limited known distribution and the threats to this habitat, we provisionally assess it as Critically Endangered (CR) with criteria B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) following the IUCN Red List categories and guidelines. We recommend further surveys to better understand the ecology and distribution of this new species.

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.

During the preparation of a taxonomic revision of Theobroma sensu lato (Malvaceae, Byttnerioideae), three new species of T. sect. Herrania were found: Theobroma globosum, T. nervosum and T. schultesii, which are described herein. Theobroma globosum and T. nervosum belong to T. sect. Herrania subsect. Subcymbicalyx, with species mostly found in the Amazon Basin, characterised, among other features, by petal ligules at least ten times longer than the petal claws. Theobroma schultesii is from T. sect. Herrania subsect. Herrania, with species with petal ligules less than ten times longer than the claw and is mainly found in the southern parts of the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, western Colombia, and northern Ecuador. Theobroma globosum is diagnosed by the combination of spherical fruits with smaller leaflets and midrib proportions when compared to other species from the same region. Theobroma nervosum is identified by its toothed, obovate leaflets with secondary veins protruding beyond the leaflet margins, forming elongated projections across the entire leaflet. Theobroma schultesii exhibits a unique set of features in T. sect. Herrania subsect. Herrania, having both petiolulate leaflets and a cupuliform calyx.

In studying different taxonomic aspects of the tribe Echinophoreae Benth., the typification status of all species was reviewed. Among all members of this tribe, two species names had some issues in their type designations. These species names are typified here: Anisosciadium lanatum Boiss. and Pycnocycla ledermannii H.Wolff. In addition, distribution maps are presented for these two accepted names.

Praxelis cleggiae (Compositae: Eupatorieae: Praxeliinae) is described and illustrated from the granite inselbergs (upon which it is most common), and on road crown chippings on old roads, in the Departamento de Santa Cruz, Bolivia; it has a disjunct distribution and is also found on the Serranía San Simón, in the San Ignacio Schist belt, Departamento de Beni. Material of this species was mostly determined as P. insignis (Malme) R.M.King & H.Rob., a Brazilian species, described from the metamorphosed sandstone of what is now the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães in Mato Grosso State. The two species have some superficial resemblance, but differ significantly in plant size, internode length (relative to leaf length), branching, leaf shape and size, phyllaries, achenes and pappus. The total number of species of Praxelis recognised in Bolivia is now seven, and 20 species in the genus worldwide.

Two new names, Prunus kalkmanii and Rubus sanadzeae (Rosaceae) are proposed as replacement names for the illegitimate names Prunus mirabilis Kalkman, and Rubus longipetiolatus Sanadze, respectively.

The flora of limestone karsts is exceptionally rich, due in particular to the wide array of microhabitats that limestone outcrops support. However, in Peninsular Malaysia limestone outcrops are heavily exploited for the quarry industry, cave temples, leisure venues and the development of geoparks, hence the limestone flora is amongst the most threatened biodiversity in the Peninsula. The 95 limestone karsts in Perak are currently known to support 538 species, representing c. 44.2% of the total limestone flora of Peninsular Malaysia. Of these, 13.2% (71 species) are endemic to the Peninsula of which 10 species are hyper-endemic (i.e. restricted to a single karst), 108 (20%) are threatened with extinction and 6 are considered likely to be Extinct. Typical of limestone in Peninsular Malaysia, a single karst harbours only a fraction of the total limestone flora such that a network of karsts is required to capture maximum plant diversity. Through evaluation of data from field surveys, herbarium specimens and the literature, 27 of the Perak karsts were found to trigger Important Plant Area (IPA) status, i.e. they harbour important populations of threatened species, outstanding botanical richness and/or are important examples of threatened habitats that in Perak include the foothills and limestone forest. Fifteen karsts were identified for priority conservation measures based on Conservation Priority Scores (CPS), a quantitative methodology based on endemic and threatened status. With the addition of two species-rich karst sites, 17 karsts are recommended as the first iteration of the network of priority IPA sites for Perak that together conserve 90% (483 species) of the Perak limestone plant diversity, 93% (66) of the endemic species and 94.4% (102) of the threatened species. CPS is found to be more reliable than using total species richness for assessing conservation importance and we also demonstrate that karst size and isolation are not primary indicators of range-restricted plant diversity. Significant knowledge gaps still exist, with 59 karsts in Perak without botanical surveys, and with many rare species having not been recollected for over 30 years, emphasising the need for further botanical research in these important and threatened landscapes.

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.

Deinostigma serratum is transferred here to the recently re-circumscribed genus Metapetrocosmea.