Long-lost Ceropegia rudatisii (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae)—Rediscovered and redescribed after 100 years

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 498 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-130
Author(s):  
ANNEMARIE HEIDUK ◽  
DAVID G.A. STYLES ◽  
ULRICH MEVE

Ceropegia rudatisii Schlechter was first collected in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 1903 but described in 1905 based on a second independent collection. This Ceropegia species was not seen again for a century and believed to be extinct. In 2020, however, two very small populations were discovered not far from the type locality. The subsequent examination of living flowering plants allowed an updated morphological description and, for the first time, illustration of C. rudatisii with photographs of living flowering plants and details thereof. We provide a comprehensive species description including novel aspects and details, i.e. bracts, inner corolla colouration, pollinarium and pollinia, as well as posture of corolla lobe tips of fresh flowers in situ—being not suberect-spreading, as given in earlier treatments, but flaccid-pendulous. The conservation status of C. rudatisii according to IUCN Red List criteria is furthermore discussed. Conservation measures are indispensable and urgent to avoid the extinction of C. rudatisii.

PhytoKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Songzhi Xu ◽  
Qiliang Gan ◽  
Lianzhong Fu ◽  
Mingxi Jiang ◽  
Zhenyu Li

Flueggea acicularis (Phyllanthaceae) is endemic to the karst region of central China. Male specimens of this species were first collected in 1908. In 1989, female plants of F. acicularis were found for the first time, but misidentified as a new species. Throughout this period the male plants of F. acicularis were mismatched with female plants of other species, and male plants had not been collected since 1908. Then, in March, 2009, the authors rediscovered a wild population of F. acicularis consisting of both male and female plants in Wuxi county, Chongqing municipality, China. Based on field investigation and examination of specimens, we matched the correct female and male plants of this species for the first time since its initial publication a century ago. A complete and accurate morphological description, distribution, habitat and phenology of this species are also provided. Furthermore, the conservation status of F. acicularis is assessed as “Near Threatened” (NT) according to the IUCN Red List criteria.


PhytoKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Lorence ◽  
Thomas R. Van Devender ◽  
George M. Ferguson

The new species Chiococcagrandiflora Lorence & T.Van Devender from Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico differs from its congeners by its larger, showy white flowers in compact cymes of 3–9, and infundibuliform corollas 16–20 mm long with tubes 13–17 mm long and lobes 3–3.5 mm long. Its distribution, habitat, and relationships are outlined. The conservation status for this species is estimated to be Endangered (EN) based on IUCN Red List Criteria.


Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Antonio de la Torre ◽  
José F. González-Maya ◽  
Heliot Zarza ◽  
Gerardo Ceballos ◽  
Rodrigo A. Medellín

AbstractThe IUCN Red List is widely used to guide conservation policy and practice. However, in most cases the evaluation of a species using IUCN Red List criteria takes into account only the global status of the species. Although subpopulations may be assessed using the IUCN categories and criteria, this rarely occurs, either because it is difficult to identify subpopulations or because of the effort involved. Using the jaguar Panthera onca as a model we illustrate that wide-ranging species that are assigned a particular category of threat based on the IUCN Red List criteria may display considerable heterogeneity within individual taxa in terms of the level of risk they face. Using the information available on the conservation status of the species, we evaluated the jaguar's current geographical range and its subpopulations. We identified the most threatened subpopulations, using the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, population size and the level of threat to each subpopulation. The main outcome of this analysis was that although a large subpopulation persists in Amazonia, virtually all others are threatened because of their small size, isolation, deficient protection and the high human population density. Based on this approach, future conservation efforts can be prioritized for the most threatened subpopulations. Based on our findings we recommend that for future Red List assessments assessors consider the value of undertaking assessments at the subpopulation level. For the jaguar, sub-global assessments should be included on the Red List as a matter of urgency.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 205 (4) ◽  
pp. 268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Mathieu ◽  
Daniela Vergara-Rodriguez ◽  
Thorsten Krömer ◽  
Dirk Nikolaus Karger

The preparation of a taxonomic treatment of the genus Peperomia (Piperaceae) for the ‘Flora of Veracruz’, revealed that three species remained without being described. This finding is a result of the review and study of botanical collections in several Mexican and foreign herbaria, as well as of field work in order to collect living and fertile material, which allowed us to describe and illustrate the species as new to science. Two of these, P. chazaroi and P. vazquezii, appear to be endemic to Veracruz, whereas P. parastriata was also found in the neighboring states Chiapas and Oaxaca. The treatment includes assessments of conservation status considering IUCN Red List criteria.


Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elton John de Lírio ◽  
Joelcio Freitas ◽  
Raquel Negrão ◽  
Gustavo Martinelli ◽  
Ariane Luna Peixoto

AbstractThe plant Mollinedia stenophylla Perkins (Monimiaceae) is endemic to southern Brazil and, until 2015, had not been seen for 122 years. We located a single population of the species on the margin of a watercourse in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state. We describe the location of the species, comment on its morphology, ecology and conservation, assess its conservation status, propose conservation measures, and discuss the potential value of local action plans for this and other narrow endemic plant species. Mollinedia stenophylla has whorled leaves, clonal reproduction and a low height, unusual traits in the genus Mollinedia. Using the IUCN Red List criteria we assess the species as Critically Endangered. This example highlights the importance of investing time in plant surveys and taxonomy, especially in megadiverse countries such as Brazil.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 12056
Author(s):  
Kersley Bruno Pynee ◽  
David Harold Lorence ◽  
Poojanraj Khurun

Aerva congesta Balf.f. ex Baker (Amaranthaceae), an endemic of Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues) is assessed for its conservation status. Considering its local extinction in Rodrigues and very small population in Mauritius, in Round Island and at Gris Gris, south of Mauritius its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated at 8km².  Due to its small AOO and threats by increasing native vegetation and alien species, A. congesta is evaluated as Critically Endangered following the latest IUCN Red List criteria.  The species needs an urgent well-defined restoration program and ecological studies to prevent its extinction.  


PhytoKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 117 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wu ◽  
Xiong Li ◽  
Wen-Jian Liu ◽  
Quan-Ru Liu

Spiradicliskarstana, a new species of Spiradiclis (Rubiaceae) collected from Yunnan, China, is described for the first time. It is morphologically close to S.jingxiensis, but differs from the latter mainly by its inflorescences with 5–9 flowers, its 1.5–2.4 mm long peduncles, its stipules shorter than 1 mm and the 5–12 pairs of secondary veins. The conservation status is assessed as “Vulnerable” (VU) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 303 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
DONG CHAN SON ◽  
HYUN-JUN KIM ◽  
KAE SUN CHANG ◽  
DONG-HYUK LEE ◽  
KANG-HYUP LEE

Dianthus koreanus sp. nov., from Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea, is described and illustrated. It is a chasmophyte growing on the rocks on the seashore in the eastern coast of Korea. The new species is similar to D. chinensis by its vegetative and floral morphology. Differential characters refer to the leaves (oblanceolate to oblong and greenish-gray coriaceous), and the bracts (3 pairs, each bract being elliptic to obovate with apex acute). The conservation status of D. koreanus was assessed according to the IUCN Red List criteria.


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