Arctium tomentosum (Asteraceae): A new report of a native genus in the flora of Mongolia

Arctium tomentosum Mill. (Asteraceae), from Ulaanbaatar in the Khentei phytogeographical region of Mongolia, is recognized here as a new genus and species of the flora of Mongolia. Arctium differs from other genera of Asteraceae by the hooked apex of the involucral bracts. While A. tomentosum is most similar to A. lappa, it is easily distinguished by the glandular hairs of the corolla limb and the widened inner involucral bracts. Taxonomic notes, a description of the morphology, detailed photos, habitat information, the phenology and a distribution map of A. tomentosum are provided.

Scutellaria topcuoglui (Lamiaceae), a new serpentinomorph species from south-western Anatolia, Turkey

Scutellaria topcuoglui (Lamiaceae) from Muğla Province (south-western Anatolia) is described as a new species to science. The new species is morphologically similar to S. glaphyrostachys, but differs from it by several morphological characters, such as the presence of glandular hairs in stems, leaves, bracts, calyx and corolla, scutellum length, corolla length, coloration, and indumentum, mericarp length, coloration, and sculpture, pollen shape, and habitat preference. Diagnostic characters, a comprehensive description, photographs, and a distribution map are provided.

Primulina scutellifolia, a new species of Gesneriaceae from southern Vietnam

Primulina scutellifolia is described as a new species from Khanh Hoa Province, southern Central Vietnam. It is distinct in the genus in having scutellate leaves that make it a highly potential ornamental plant. The new species looks like P. annamensis in general shapes, sizes and colours of habit, inflorescence, flower, and leaf but is distinguishable by adaxially glabrous and abaxially strigose leaves with serrate margins, scutellate leaf blade and appressed downwards tomentose petiole, sparsely glandular hairs on apical 1/2 of the gynoecium and trapeziform one-lipped stigma with slightly emarginated apex.

Rumohra ponceana (Polypodiales: Dryopteridaceae): a new species from Pampean biogeographic province in Argentina

The fern Rumohra ponceana sp. nov., a narrow endemic of the Austral Pampean district, Pampean biogeographic province in Argentina, is described and illustrated. The species inhabits the Tandilia and Ventania Systems, where it grows in sunny rock crevices. The new species differs from the widespread R. adiantiformis (sensu lato) by the reduced size of all parts of the sporophyte and conspicuous capitate glandular hairs at the margins of petiole and rhizome scales. Also, there are significant differences in the architecture of the laminae, the colour and size of the spores and the ornamentation of the perispore, which is folded in R. ponceana and projects in irregular tubercles throughout its surface.

A new carnivorous plant lineage (Triantha) with a unique sticky-inflorescence trap

Carnivorous plants consume animals for mineral nutrients that enhance growth and reproduction in nutrient-poor environments. Here, we report that Triantha occidentalis (Tofieldiaceae) represents a previously overlooked carnivorous lineage that captures insects on sticky inflorescences. Field experiments, isotopic data, and mixing models demonstrate significant N transfer from prey to Triantha, with an estimated 64% of leaf N obtained from prey capture in previous years, comparable to levels inferred for the cooccurring round-leaved sundew, a recognized carnivore. N obtained via carnivory is exported from the inflorescence and developing fruits and may ultimately be transferred to next year’s leaves. Glandular hairs on flowering stems secrete phosphatase, as seen in all carnivorous plants that directly digest prey. Triantha is unique among carnivorous plants in capturing prey solely with sticky traps adjacent to its flowers, contrary to theory. However, its glandular hairs capture only small insects, unlike the large bees and butterflies that act as pollinators, which may minimize the conflict between carnivory and pollination.

Stachys semsurensis (Lamiaceae), a new species from Adıyaman province (Turkey) belonging to section Infrarosularis

A new species, Stachys semsurensis (sect. Infrarosularis), is described and illustrated from Adıyaman province, Turkey. From the morphological point of view, it appears to be similar to Stachys cataonica, but it differs in several morphological features including densely covered with short stalked to subsessile glandular hairs in flowering stems, verticillasters congested into ± globose head, calyx teeth lanceolate-subulate, corolla white, tube exserted and nutlets obovoid, greyish-brown, reticulate. A comprehensive description of the new species is provided, including detailed photographs, geographical distribution map, habitat structure and ecology, vernacular name and IUCN conservation status.

On the recognition of the long neglected Vitis adenoclada Hand.-Mazz. (Vitaceae) from southern China

This study reports the recognition of Vitis adenoclada Hand.-Mazz. from southern China. The species was not recognized in the Flora Reipublicae Ropularis Sinicicae and Flora of China treatments. Recent field studies and examination of herbarium collections including the type material suggest that Vitis adenoclada is morphologically similar to V. heyneana, in their densely arachnoid tomentose abaxial leaves, yet it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its red-purple glandular hairs on the young branches (vs. glandular hairs absent in V. heyneana) and inflorescences usually subtended by a tendril at the base (vs. only occasionally with a tendril in V. heyneana). Vitis adenoclada may be a species of hybrid origin, with the highly tomentose Vitis heyneana as one of the parental species, and likely the glandular-hair bearing V. davidii as the other parental species. Vitis adenoclada is recorded from southern China in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang provinces.

A new species of Phyllagathis (Melastomataceae, Sonerileae) from Guangxi, China

Phyllagathis impressinervia (Melastomataceae, Sonerileae), a new species from northwestern Guangxi, China and previously misidentified as P. cavaleriei in Chinese herbaria, is illustrated and described. The new species closely resembles P. cavaleriei in leaf shape, inflorescence type, and morphology of stamens and capsule, but can be easily distinguished by the leaf veins strongly sunken adaxially, hypanthium pubescent with ca. 1 mm long, spreading glandular hairs, creamy white anthers, and conspicuous ovary crown at anthesis.

Geranium aedonianum a new species of Geraniaceae from Ladakh, India

Geranium aedonianum sp. nov. collected from Panikhar village of Kargil district, Ladakh, India belonging to subg. Geranium, is described and illustrated. It differs from other closely allied species: Geranium collinum, G. himalayense and G. strictipes by the obtrullate-obtriangular leaf segments that are narrower at base and with fewer lobes, longer pedicels, staminal filament whitish having broad base tapering smoothly towards apex and glandular hairs along the margins on upper part and its longer fruits.

Silene thymifolia Sibth. et Sm. (Caryophyllaceae) – A vulnerable species in Romania: Anatomical aspects of vegetative organs

Silene thymifolia (Caryophyllaceae) is considered a rare, near-threatened species in Romania, growing only on Black Sea coastal dunes. Anatomical aspects of the root, stem and leaf of this species are presented in this study. Root, stem and leaves were analysed by brightfield microscopy, with specific staining. The root in cross section exhibited a secondary structure, generated by the activity of phellogen, and vascular cambium, with thick cork, continuous secondary xylem rings. no pith rays, but with cortical air lacunes. The stem had a primary structure with a number of collateral vascular bundles arranged on a single circle, with thick cortical schlerenchymal layers and oxalate crystals in pith cells. The epidermis showed stomata and glandular hairs. The leaf was amphystomatic leaf, with a heterogeneous mesophyll (equifacial type) and embedded vascular bundles, with a rounded mid rib surrounded by a parenchyma sheath. The spongy tissue has some large intercellular air spaces with druses. The mechanical tissue is well developed in the root and stem and poorly developed, represented by few collenchyma elements in the mesophyll, being represented by a continuous schlerenchyma fibers band present in root and stem and collenchyma in the leaf. The secretory histological elements were represented by epidermal glandular hairs and oxaliferous cells (druses) present in stem and leaf.