Kew Bulletin最新文献

A summary of the species of Pyrostria from continental Africa is presented, including full descriptions of three new species, P. makovui, P. namacubiensis and P. rovumensis from the coastal forests of the Tanzania-Mozambique border region, and one new subspecies, P. lobulata subsp. bridsoniae from Zambia. Pyrostria makovui is the first species with plurilocular (3-lobed) fruits and the second hermaphrodite species for the study area, characters that are otherwise found mainly in taxa of Pyrostria from Madagascar and surrounding islands. Five of the 16 species treated in this synopsis remain undescribed because they are known only from incomplete material. A key to the species of Pyrostria occurring in continental Africa is presented and notes on the distribution, habitat and relevant taxonomic considerations are provided, along with an assessment of the conservation status (extinction risk) for each species. The Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa Biodiversity Hotspot is found to be a centre of diversity for Pyrostria, with the Rovuma Centre of Plant Endemism in Mozambique and Tanzania being particularly rich in endemic species.

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.

The seed morphologies of forty-five Eriocaulon species and infraspecies in Thailand are described in detail. Characteristics of the seed were carefully investigated via LM and SEM, including shape, size, shapes of both ends and colour. Details of the seed coat, testa cell shape, axis of elongation, alignment, ridges formed where adjacent cells are in contact, surface ornamentation and the presence and morphology of appendages arising from the cell walls, were all recorded. Combinations of these characters are effective for species delimitation and identification. Similarities in seed coat characters and the relationships of floral structure between closely related taxa are discussed. Hygroscopic seed coat appendages are recorded and described for Eriocaulon for the first time.

Piriqueta velutina is described as a new species, illustrated, geographically mapped and its diagnostic characteristics and taxonomic affinities are described. The new species can be recognised mainly by the presence of serial branches (branches from serial buds predominantly in the apical portion of the plant), the short internodes and oblique or erect leaves which partially overlap in dried specimens; the ovate to elliptic leaf blade with a golden brown velutinous indumentum, and the conical or bulbous bases of the glandular setiform trichomes, frequently darkened on young leaf margins and on the abaxial surface. Its conservation status is preliminarily assessed as Endangered, it occurs in Brazilian Cerrado (savanna vegetation), in the Jalapão region, state of Tocantins, North region of Brazil.

Clusia reginae (Clusiaceae) is described using an integrative taxonomy approach. Field observations, discriminant analyses of morphological characters and phylogenetic inference based on molecular data led to the recognition of a new species of tree. This new taxon is distinct for having broadly obovate leaves, white petals, bright yellow flower resin and relatively large fruits. Clusia reginae is known from the foothills and valleys of the Venezuelan Andes and is here assessed using IUCN criteria as Vulnerable.

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.

Summary

We show that the two continental African species previously ascribed to the genus Anacolosa, differ in so many architectural, floral and vegetative characters from the remaining species of the genus (which occur from Madagascar to the western Pacific, including the type) that they clearly represent a separate genus. The African genus represented by these two species is unique within the Olacaceae s.l. (excluding Erythropalaceae) in being a climber (vs shrubs or trees in Anacolosa sensu stricto). Climbing in the two African species is achieved by perennial hook-like structures formed by a combination of five separate traits each of which is unknown elsewhere in the Olacaceae s.l. We formally delimit, describe and name this new African genus as Keita. Placement is tentatively in Aptandraceae but confirmation by molecular studies is required. We describe a new species from Guinea as Keita deniseae sp. nov. and transfer the Central African (Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo & Gabon) species from Anacolosa to the new genus as Keita uncifera comb. nov. Keita deniseae is assessed using the IUCN (2012) criteria as Endangered due to the threat of clearance or degradation of forest habitat for mining and agriculture, while K. uncifera is assessed as Least Concern in view of its large range, number of locations and low levels of threat. We review the discovery of Keita deniseae in the light of other recent discoveries of new taxa in both Simandou and the Republic of Guinea.

A new combination Gymnosporia listeri (Prain) A.T.Bhat, K.M.P.Kumar & Rana is proposed for the name Celastrus listeri Prain. Additionally, a suitable lectotype is designated for the name.

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.

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.