Rumex acetosella (sheep's sorrel).

R. acetosella is perennial, reproducing by both creeping roots and seed. It has relatively shallow, extensive slender roots. Early growth is as basal rosettes of leaves. Leaves are 1-8 cm long, smooth, variable in shape but primarily consisting of three lobes, primary lobe is linear to egg-shaped terminating in a point; two secondary lobes appear at the base of the primary lobe and point outwards giving an arrowhead-shape appearance to the leaves which are sour in taste. It has long basal leaf stalks and short-stalked to sessile leaves on the upper stem; a membranous sheath (modified stipules) surrounds the stem above the leaf base. Multiple stems can appear from a single crown growing upright, 15-40 cm in height, slender, branching near the top to form a loose leafless panicle. Flowers are unisexual with male and female appearing on separate plants (dioecious). Males have six stamens on short filaments, females have three styles with branched stellate stigma. Flowers consist of three inner and three outer tepals, appearing red to yellowish, borne on raceme near the top of the stem. Flower stalks are jointed close to the flower. Seeds are three sided (achenes), ca. 1.5 mm in length, shiny reddish brown in colour. A reddish brown hull often adheres to the seed and is rough in texture (Buchholtz et al., 1954; Hitchcock and Cronquist, 1981; Gleason and Cronquist, 1991; Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994; Douglas et al., 1999).

Rheum telianum (Polygonaceae), a new species from Southeastern Anatolia (Turkey)

Rheum telianum is described as a new species from Kayatepe village (south-eastern Anatolia, Turkey). It is morphologically related to the west-central Asiatic R. ribes and R. rhizostachyum from which can be easily distinguish by its stem surface (slightly verrucose), leaf number, shape, and size (usually 1-basal leaf or rarely with a small one at base, reniform-rotate, 6.5–100 × 4.5–56 cm), achene shape and size (cordate-triangular, 8–15 × 8–16 mm). The distribution, notes on ecology, and conservation status of the new species are also provided.

The Impact of Early Basal Leaf Removal at Different Sides of the Canopy on Aglianico Grape Quality

It is known that early removal of basal leaves improves the exposure of cluster to direct sunlight and UV radiation, which positively influence the phenolic compounds and anthocyanin concentration of berries. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of leaf removal applied before flowering to the basal zone of the canopy at different sides (fruit-zone north canopy side, south canopy side and north–south canopy side, respectively) of Aglianico vines trained to vertical shoot position system and row oriented to east–west (EW). The study was conducted in the controlled and guaranteed designation of origin (CGDO) Castel del Monte area (Apulia region, Italy). The treatment did not affect yield per vine, and nor sugar, pH, and total acidity of grapes. When it was applied to the basal south canopy side, the concentration of proanthocyanidins and total polyphenols of grapes increased, as well as antioxidant activity. In particular, anthocyanins content, determined by HPLC, increased by 20% with respect to control when treatment was applied to south and north–south canopy sides. Interaction between season period and treatment was found for all anthocyanins except for petunidin-3-coumaroyl-glucoside. Basal leaf removal applied to the north canopy side caused an increase in malvidin-3-O-glucoside content in grapes in 2016 and 2018, but not in 2017. Our results indicate that basal leaf removal (six basal leaves removed from the base of the shoots) before flowering (BBCH 57) can be used as an effective strategy to improve grape total polyphenols, anthocyanins concentration and antioxidant activity in vineyards cultivated under warm climate conditions. The treatment could represent a sustainable alternative to manual cluster thinning since it does not reduce yield per vine and can be performed mechanically.

Leaf angle distribution in Johnsongrass, leaf thickness in sorghum and Johnsongrass, and association with response to Colletotrichum sublineola

Basal leaf angle distribution was surveyed in twenty-one Johnsongrass cultivars near the end of the vegetative stage. The angles increased from the top to the bottom leaves, and compared to cultivated grain sorghums, the average angle was larger in Johnsongrass. When basal leaf angle distribution data were correlated with pathogenicity test data from excised-leaf assays for three isolates of Colletotrichum sublineola, the results showed a weak positive correlation between basal leaf angle and pathogenicity level in Johnsongrass. In order to investigate a protective role of leaf thickness to C. sublineola, leaf thickness was measured in three sorghum cultivars and one Johnsongrass cultivar at the 8-leaf-stage. Leaf thickness near the apex, near the base, and half-way between the two points were measured in the top four leaves of each plant. Thickness of leaf blade and midrib were recorded separately. Using an excised-leaf-assay, the three points were inoculated with C. sublineola, and pathogenicity level was recorded 4-days-post-inoculation. Results showed strong negative correlations between leaf midrib thickness and pathogenicity level in sorghum and Johnsongrass but not in leaf blades.

A new species of Chrysosplenium (Saxifragaceae) from Shaanxi, north-western China

Chrysosplenium zhouzhiense Hong Liu, a new species from Shaanxi, north-western China, is described and photographed. The new species belongs to Subgen. Gamosplenium Sect. Nephrophylloides Ser. Macrophylla and is most similar to C. macrophyllum and C. zhangjiajieense from which it differs by having a shorter stem, rhizome absent, basal leaf absent, sterile branch arising from the flowering stem and a light yellow flower with longer stamen. A global conservation assessment is performed and classifies C. zhouzhiense as Endangered (EN).

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON EFFECTS OF REFLECTIVE MULCH AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SOME OTHER PREHARVEST APPLICATIONS TO IMPROVE PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS PROFILE AND ANTHOCYANIN ACCUMULATION OF CV. SYRAH WINE GRAPE (V. vinifera L.)

In today’s modern viticulture, reflective mulches and summer pruning practices are remarkable tools thatmay facilitate grape growers to increase yield and improve the grape quality. This study aimed to assess howreflective mulch application (RM) affects components of phenolic compounds and anthocyanin of cv. Syrahthe compared to other preharvest applications such as basal leaf removal application (BLR), foliar prolineapplication (PRO) and their various combinations, including applications of basal leaf removal + proline(BLR+PRO), basal leaf removal + reflective mulch (BLR+RM), proline + reflective mulch (PRO+RM) andbasal leaf removal + proline + reflective mulch (BLR+PRO+RM). The study findings demonstrated that reflectivemulch application (RM) may considerably enhance light distribution in the canopy of grapevine byincreasing reflected light from the ground. In the current study, it was observed that combined applicationshad significant roles on improving yield and quality characteristics. In terms of total phenolic compoundscontent, the highest values were obtained from applications of BLR+RM and PRO+RM. Moreover, all applicationshad a rise to crucial increases in total anthocyanin content of cv. Syrah wine grape when the comparedwith C application.

Bredia malipoensis (Melastomataceae), a new species from Yunnan, China

A new species, Bredia malipoensis D. H. Peng, S. Jin Zeng & Z. Y. Wen, from China, is described and illustrated here. Bredia malipoensis is morphologically similar to B. longiradiosa C. Chen in having cordate leaf blades, umbellate inflorescence and undulate petals with unguiculate bases and retuse apices. It is characterized by its terete stem and petioles, green calyx lobes, purple anthers, yellow connective appendages and white filaments. It is also morphologically similar to B. velutina Diels in having a woody stem, unequal and cordate leaf blades, but it is differentiated by having no reddish trichomes, larger and semiorbicular calyx lobes, and unguiculate petal bases. Bredia malipoensis differs markedly from the former relatives by its densely tomentose indumentum (with uniseriate non-glandular and sparse glandular trichomes) both on vegetative and floral parts, basal leaf venation and purplish-red petals. Our phylogenetic analyses using nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast trnV-trnM regions strongly support the generic placement of B. malipoensis and its relatives B. longiradiosa and B. velutina within Bredia.

Sedum lipingense (Crassulaceae) identifying a new stonecrop species in SE Guizhou, China, based on morphological and molecular evidence

We describe and illustrate Sedum lipingense (Crassulaceae), a new species of stonecrop found in the limestone areas of SE Guizhou, China. Based on the presence of adaxially gibbous carpels and follicles, this taxon belongs to sect. Sedum S.H. Fu. The new species superficially resembles S. subtile Miquel and S. bulbiferum Makino but differs from these two taxa in its development of a basal leaf rosette during florescence. The nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences also support the claim that this plant is a new species in the Sedum genus.

Saxifraga shennongii, a new species of Saxifragaceae from Hunan Province, China

Saxifraga shennongii L. Wang, W.B. Liao et J. J. Zhang, a new species of Saxifragaceae from Hunan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to genus Saxifraga sect. Irregulares and can be distinguished from other species by stolons absent, basal leaf blade subrounded and abaxially spotted, absence of foliar embryos in the sinus, petiole sparsely short glandular pilose or glabrous and inflorescence branches up to 10 cm long. Phylogenetic analysis based on four chloroplast DNA regions (rbcL, psbA-trnH, matK and psaJ-rpl33) confirmed that the new species differed from those similar species of Saxifraga sect. Irregulares. The new species is similar to S. daqiaoensis and S. mengtzeana, but differs in indumentum and the shape of leaf.