Phylogeny, species delimitation and revision of Pleioluma (Sapotaceae) in New Caledonia, a frequently gynodioecious genus

Pleioluma (Baill.) Baehni (Sapotaceae) circumscribes some 40 medium-sized trees and shrubs, many gynodioecious, in Australia, Malesia and New Caledonia. Systematics of the group is unclear and delimitations of species are notoriously difficult. We explore species boundaries in New Caledonia by multiple accessions of ‘species’, molecules and morphology in a Bayesian framework. The molecular phylogenetic signal is weak, but morphology provides enough information to support groups, species and recognition of one cryptic species. Pleioluma is then revised for New Caledonia, a genus distinguished by areolate higher leaf venation, sepals being pubescent on both surfaces, stamens inserted in or below the middle of the corolla tube, presence of staminodes, foliaceous cotyledons and endosperm. Seventeen endemic species are recognised with descriptions, recognition notes, distributions, etymologies and conservation assessments. Six species are described as new, of which four are assigned IUCN preliminary status as Critically Endangered and in urgent need of protection (Pleioluma acutifolia Swenson & Munzinger, P. belepensis Swenson & Munzinger, P. butinii Swenson & Munzinger and P. tchingouensis Swenson & Munzinger). The new species, P. dioica Swenson & Munzinger and P. tenuipedicellata Swenson & Munzinger are respectively assessed as Data Deficient and Vulnerable. The micro-endemic species P. vieillardii (Baill.) Swenson & Munzinger, confined to the Koniambo massif, is also critically endangered and needs urgent conservation management.

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Revision of the giant geckos of New Caledonia (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3404.1.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3404 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

AARON M. BAUER ◽

TODD R. JACKMAN ◽

ROSS A. SADLIER ◽

ANTHONY H. WHITAKER

Keyword(s):

New Caledonia ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Weak Support ◽

Wide Range ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Low Levels ◽

Genetic Substructure ◽

Nd2 Gene

We employed a molecular phylogenetic approach using the mitochondrial ND2 gene and five associated tRNAs(tryptophan, alanine, asparagine, cysteine, tyrosine) and the nuclear RAG1 gene to investigate relationships within thediplodactylid geckos of New Caledonia and particularly among the giant geckos, Rhacodactylus, a charismatic group oflizards that are extremely popular among herpetoculturalists. The current generic allocation of species within NewCaledonian diplodactylids does not adequately reflect their phylogenetic relationships. Bavayia madjo, a high-elevationendemic is not closely related to other Bavayia or to members of any other genus and is placed in a new genus, Paniegekkogen. nov. Rhacodactylus is not monophyletic. The small-bodied and highly autapomorphic genus Eurydactylodes isembedded within Rhacodactylus as sister to R. chahoua. Rhacodactylus ciliatus and R. sarasinorum are sister taxa but arenot part of the same clade as other giant geckos and the generic name Correlophus Guichenot is resurrected for them.Remaining New Caledonian giant geckos (R. leachianus, R. trachrhynchus, R. auriculatus) receive weak support as amonophyletic group. Although the monophyly of Rhacodactylus (including Eurydactylodes) exclusive of Correlophuscannot be rejected, our results support the recognition of a R. chahoua + Eurydactylodes clade separate fromRhacodactylus sensu stricto. Because of the distinctiveness of Eurydactylodes from R. chahoua (and other NewCaledonian ‘giant geckos’), we retain this name for the four species to which it has been consistently applied and erect anew genus, Mniarogekko gen. nov. to accommodate R. chahoua. There is little genetic differentiation within the narrowlydistributed Corrrelophis sarasinorum, but C. ciliatus from southern New Caledonia are both genetically andmorphologically differentiated from a recently discovered Correlophus from the Îles Belep, north of the Grande Terre,which is here described as C. belepensis sp. nov. Although only subtley different morphologically, the populations ofMniarogekko from the far northwest of the Grande Terre and from the Îles Belep are strongly differentiated geneticallyfrom M. chahoua populations in the central part of the Grande Terre and are described as M. jalu sp. nov. Rhacodactylusauriculatus exhibits some genetic substructure across its nearly island-wide range in New Caledonia, but overalldivergence is minimal. Rhacodactylus leachianus exhibits low levels of divergence across its range and southern insularforms previously assigned to R. l. henkeli are not divergent from southern Grande Terre populations. The few populationsof R. trachyrhynchus sampled are strongly divergent from one another and a specimen from Îlot Môrô near the Île des Pinsis especially distinctive. This specimen and others examined from Îlot Môrô are morphologically assignable to the speciesdescribed by Boulenger in 1878 as Chameleonurus trachycephalus and is recognized here as a full species. New diagnosesare provided for each of the eight genera of endemic New Caledonian diplodactylid geckos now recognized. The resultsof our study necessitate determinations of the conservation status of the new species described or recognized.Mniarogekko jalu sp. nov. is considered Endangered, but is locally abundant. Correlophus belepensis sp. nov. isconsidered Critically Endangered and is restricted to the ultramafic plateaux of Île Art. Although described from the Îledes Pins, we have only been able to confirm the existence of Rhacodactylus trachycephalus on the tiny satellite island ÎlotMôrô and consider it to be Critically Endangered. If indeed restricted to this islet, R. trachycephalus may well have the smallest range and perhaps the smallest population of any gecko in the world.

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A new coastal species of Pseuderanthemum (Acanthaceae) from Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia) and Vanuatu with notes on P. carruthersii

PhytoKeys ◽

10.3897/phytokeys.128.36325 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 128 ◽

pp. 73-84

Author(s):

Gildas Gâteblé ◽

Laurence Ramon ◽

Jean-François Butaud

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Pacific Islands ◽

New Caledonia ◽

Corolla Tube ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Glandular Hairs ◽

Coastal Species ◽

Cultivated Species ◽

Ornamental Species

When dealing with the taxonomy of Pacific coastal species within the region of New Caledonia and Vanuatu, one should examine all names published in Australasia and other Pacific islands. When the putative new species is also closely related to a highly praised ornamental species with many cultigens and with many old horticultural names, the task becomes more arduous. This is the case for the new species we describe as Pseuderanthemummelanesicum Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud, which is closely related to the now pantropical cultivated species P.carruthersii (Seem.) Guillaumin s.l. Compared to P.carruthersii, P.melanesicum has carnose and shiny leaves, pedicels and sepals covered with glandular hairs, a short and enlarged corolla tube and can produce fertile capsules. The new species is a coastal taxon occurring naturally in the Melanesian archipelagos of New Caledonia and Vanuatu. This species seems uncommon in the Loyalty Islands but more common in the archipelago of Vanuatu and we propose it as Critically Endangered in New Caledonia, Vulnerable in Vanuatu and Least Concern when the IUCN evaluation is done globally.

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An unorthodox, new endemic species in New Caledonian Marsdenia (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Marsdenieae)

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.405.3.3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 405 (3) ◽

pp. 121 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

GILDAS GÂTEBLÉ ◽

DOMINIQUE FLEUROT ◽

ULRICH MEVE ◽

SIGRID LIEDE-SCHUMANN

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Endemic Species ◽

New Caledonia ◽

Field Work ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Mining Site ◽

Anthropogenic Fire ◽

Fire Threat

In the course of the writing of the Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie treatment for Asclepiadoideae, Periplocoideae and Secamonoideae, several new species have already arisen partly due to more intensive field work and to a renewed interest in this group of plants. In December 2018, another striking and unorthodox new species was spotted and collected on the flanks of the Kopéto massif mining site. Because this new species has morphological characters from three genera (Dischidia, Gymnema and Marsdenia), further studies, especially molecular, were needed to assess its relationships. These studies show it as a member of one of the New Caledonian Marsdenia subclades. We herein propose to describe it as Marsdenia goromotoorum Gâteblé, Fleurot, Meve & Liede, the only species of Marsdenia in New Caledonia lacking both corolline and gynostegial coronas. It is a micro-endemic species with pinkish-red tubular flowers, growing on serpentines and known from only eight plants. Due to the anthropogenic fire threat, we propose to consider it as Critically Endangered.

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A revision of Mezoneuron (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) in New Caledonia, with perspectives on vegetation, geology, and conservation

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.207.1.3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 207 (1) ◽

pp. 68 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ruth Clark ◽

EDELINE GAGNON

Keyword(s):

New Caledonia ◽

Identification Key ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

New Combinations ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Island Group ◽

Conservation Assessments

Mezoneuron is a genus segregated from Caesalpinia s.l. There are five species of Mezoneuron in New Caledonia, all of which are endemic to this island group. Full descriptions of the species are provided here, together with an identification key, a composite illustration, and distribution maps. Preliminary conservation assessments have been produced using distribution data from herbarium specimens in combination with knowledge of habitats and threats. These reveal a level of threat to each species ranging from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. Three new combinations are proposed.

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A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar

Blumea - Biodiversity Evolution and Biogeography of Plants ◽

10.3767/blumea.2019.64.03.01 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 195-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Galán Diaz ◽

K. Bauters ◽

L. Rabarivola ◽

M. Xanthos ◽

P. Goetghebeur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endemic Species ◽

Habitat Preference ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Species Level ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Conservation Assessments ◽

Data Deficient ◽

Rare Endemic ◽

First Time

A taxonomic revision of the genus Scleria (Cyperoideae, Cyperaceae) in Madagascar is presented. Herbarium specimens have been examined and 422 identified to species level. Our results recognise 25 species of Scleria from Madagascar, plus an additional heterotypic variety. Eight species are endemic to Madagascar, two are near endemic, eight taxa are also found on mainland Africa, and eight are widespread tropical taxa. Scleria achtenii is reported from Madagascar for the first time, and S. rosea is accepted at species level instead of being considered as a synonym of S. trialata. Distribution maps, conservation assessments, and notes on synonymy, ecology and ethnobotany are provided. Fourty-seven names are typified. Three rare endemic species: S. andringitrensis, S. madagascariensis and S. perpusilla, are assessed as threatened; and a recently described species, S. ankaratrensis, is indicated as Data Deficient. The most species-rich infrageneric taxa, sections Hypoporum, Abortivae and Foveolidia include 18 taxa in total, and showed strong differences in habitat preference.

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A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF CYRTANDRA (GESNERIACEAE) IN SULAWESI, INDONESIA

Edinburgh Journal of Botany ◽

10.24823/ejb.2021.364 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 78 ◽

pp. 1-122

Author(s):

H. J. Atkins ◽

A. Kartonegoro

Keyword(s):

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Conservation Assessments ◽

Data Deficient ◽

Taxonomic Evaluation

Taxonomic evaluation of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from Sulawesi has resulted in the recognition of 39 species. Of these, four species are described as new here: Cyrtandra balgooyi H.J.Atkins & Karton., C. flavomaculata H.J.Atkins & Karton., C. longistamina H.J.Atkins & Karton. and C. parvicalyx H.J.Atkins & Karton. Eleven names are lectotypified and three names are placed in synonymy. Provisional conservation assessments suggest that seven of these species are Critically Endangered, six are Endangered, three are Vulnerable, two are Data Deficient and 21 are of Least Concern. Illustrations, distribution maps, and a key to the Cyrtandra species of Sulawesi are presented. Evaluasi taksonomi Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) dari Sulawesi menghasilkan pengenalan 39 jenis. Diantara jenis-jenis tersebut, empat jenis dideskripsikan sebagai jenis yang baru disini: Cyrtandra balgooyi H.J.Atkins & Karton., C. flavomaculata H.J.Atkins & Karton., C. longistamina H.J.Atkins & Karton. and C. parvicalyx H.J.Atkins & Karton. Sebelas nama telah dilektotipifikasikan dan tiga nama ditempatkan dalam sinonim. Penilaian konservasi sementara menyarankan bahwa tujuh dari jenisjenis ini dinyatakan Critically Endangered, enam dinyatakan Endangered, tiga dinyatakan Vulnerable, dua dinyatakan Data Deficient dan 21 sisanya dinyatakan Least Concern. Ilustrasi, peta distribusi dan kunci identifikasi untuk jenis-jenis Cyrtandra dari Sulawesi disajikan.

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A fossil record of land plant origins from charophyte algae

Science ◽

10.1126/science.abj2927 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 373 (6556) ◽

pp. 792-796 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paul K. Strother ◽

Clinton Foster

Keyword(s):

Fossil Record ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Phylogenetic Signal ◽

Land Plant ◽

Fossil Plants ◽

Fossil Plant ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

History Of ◽

Time Gap ◽

Evolutionary Continuity

Molecular time trees indicating that embryophytes originated around 500 million years ago (Ma) during the Cambrian are at odds with the record of fossil plants, which first appear in the mid-Silurian almost 80 million years later. This time gap has been attributed to a missing fossil plant record, but that attribution belies the case for fossil spores. Here, we describe a Tremadocian (Early Ordovician, about 480 Ma) assemblage with elements of both Cambrian and younger embryophyte spores that provides a new level of evolutionary continuity between embryophytes and their algal ancestors. This finding suggests that the molecular phylogenetic signal retains a latent evolutionary history of the acquisition of the embryophytic developmental genome, a history that perhaps began during Ediacaran-Cambrian time but was not completed until the mid-Silurian (about 430 Ma).

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Revision of Pycnandra subgenus Achradotypus (Sapotaceae), with five new species from New Caledonia

Australian Systematic Botany ◽

10.1071/sb09049 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 185 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Ulf Swenson ◽

Jérôme Munzinger

Keyword(s):

New Caledonia ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Corolla Lobe ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

New Members ◽

Infrageneric Classification ◽

Humid Forest ◽

Leaf Venation ◽

Wide Range

Pycnandra is a genus of Sapotaceae (Chrysophylloideae), restricted to New Caledonia, and includes ~60 species. The genus is a member of the monophyletic Niemeyera complex of Australia and New Caledonia and it is characterised by the lack of staminodes and a fruit containing a single seed, plano-convex cotyledons and absence of endosperm. In New Caledonia, several segregate genera have been recognised, but weak cladistic support for these groups and homoplasious morphology renders a narrow generic concept untenable. Instead, a broad generic circumscription of Pycnandra with an infrageneric classification recognising the subgenera Achradotypus, Leptostylis, Pycnandra, Sebertia and Trouettia results in a stable nomenclature. Here we revise Pycnandra subg. Achradotypus that includes 14 species, of which five (P. belepensis, P. blaffartii, P. bracteolata, P. glabella, and P. ouaiemensis) are described as new. Members of subg. Achradotypus are distinguished from other subgenera on the basis of a character combination of two stamens opposite each corolla lobe (except P. litseiflora), glabrous leaves (except P. belepensis and P. decandra), a distinctive reticulate tertiary leaf venation (except P. comptonii), and sepal-like bracts that often are borne along the pedicel. All species are restricted to Grande Terre except for P. decandra, whose distribution also extends to nearby Art Island (Belep Islands), and P. belepensis, which is endemic to that same island. The members grow in a wide range of vegetation types from dry maquis to humid forest, from sea level to the highest mountain massif, and on ultramafic soils to schist and greywacke (not limestone). Because of past and present threats such as mining, logging and fire, preliminary IUCN Red List assessments are provided for all species. Five taxa (P. chartacea, P. decandra subsp. decandra, P. glabella, P. litseiflora, and P. neocaledonica) are proposed the IUCN status Endangered, and P. belepensis and P. ouaiemensis are proposed to be Critically Endangered. We suggest that some locations where these species occur should be given protection in the form of nature reserves.

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The endemic plant species of Mt Kupe, Cameroon with a new Critically Endangered cloud-forest tree species, Vepris zapfackii (Rutaceae)

Kew Bulletin ◽

10.1007/s12225-021-09984-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Cheek ◽

Jean Michel Onana

Keyword(s):

Endemic Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Taxonomic Changes ◽

Mt Kupe ◽

Endemic Plant Species

SummaryWe revise and update the records of strict and near-endemic species of Mt Kupe, Cameroon respectively from 31 strict endemics in 2004, to 25 today, and with near-endemic species 30, unchanged in number but with turnover. The changes result from new collections, discoveries and taxonomic changes in the last 16 years. While 15 of the provisionally named putative endemic species have now been formally published, a further 18 have not. The majority of the 30 near-endemic species (18) are shared with the adjacent Bakossi Mts, far exceeding the numbers shared with the more distant Mt Etinde-Mt Cameroon, Rumpi Hills and Ebo forest areas (sharing three near-endemic species each with Mt Kupe). We test the hypothesis that a further one of the provisionally named putative Mt Kupe species, Vepris sp. 1 from submontane forest near the summit, is indeed new to science. We compare it morphologically with the two other bicarpellate high altitude Cameroon Highland tree species V. montisbambutensis Onana and V. bali Cheek, concluding that it is a new undescribed species here named as Vepris zapfackii. The new species is illustrated and its conservation status assessed as Critically Endangered using the 2012 IUCN standard, due to habitat clearance from agricultural pressures at its sole location which is unprotected. Vepris zapfackii and V. bali appear unique in African trifoliolate species of the genus in having opposite leaves. Vepris zapfackii differs in having hairy petiolules and midribs and petiolules with the blade decurrent distally, narrowing towards a winged-canaliculate base (vs glabrous and petiolule long, terete), and sparsely golden hairy pistillodes and a glabrous calyx (vs densely black hairy pistillodes, and sepals hairy).

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A NEW SPECIES OF BEGONIA (BEGONIACEAE) FROM SOUTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA, AND AN AUGMENTED DESCRIPTION OF BEGONIA BONTHAINENSIS

REINWARDTIA ◽

10.14203/reinwardtia.v18i1.3691 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Wisnu Handoyo Ardi ◽

Daniel C. Thomas

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

South Sulawesi ◽

Conservation Assessments ◽

A New Species

ARDI, W. H . & THOMAS, D. C. 2018. A new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and an augmented description of Begonia bonthainensis. Reinwardtia 18(1): 19−26. — Based on collections from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, an amended description of B. bonthainensis Hemsl. is provided, B. grandipetala Irmsch is placed in synonymy of B. bonthainensis, and the new species Begonia mattampensis Ardi & D.C.Thomas is described and illustrated. Provisional conservation assessments indicate an Endangered (EN) status for B. bonthainensis, an endemic of Mt. Lompobatang and several adjacent mountains at the tip of the Southwestern arm of Sulawesi, and a Critically Endangered (CR) status for Begonia mattampensis, a limestone endemic only known from the Pangkadjene Karst.

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