Zingiber calcicola (Zingiberaceae), a new species from a limestone area in south Yunnan, China

Zingiber calcicola Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding, sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from a limestone area in south Yunnan, China is described and illustrated here. It belongs to Zingiber sect. Dymczewiczia due to the terminal inflorescence on the leafy shoot. The description, photographs, habitat, distribution, phenology and a comparison with the allied species are also provided.

Begonia tinuyopensis (sect. Petermannia, Begoniaceae), a new species from Zamboanga Del Norte, Philippines

Begonia tinuyopensis is described and illustrated as a new species from Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. This new species resembles B. mearnsii by having a decumbent stem, scattered hairs over the entire plant, terminal inflorescence bearing 2 staminate tepals and 5 pistillate tepals. However, Begonia tinuyopensis is distinct by having sparse pilose (vs. matted with long brown hairs) stems, ovate (vs. suborbicular to subreniform) leaves and glabrous (vs. densely pubescent) ovary. We assign B. tinuyopensis as Endangered (EN) following IUCN Red List Criteria.

Morphology and molecules support the new monotypic genus Parainvolucrella (Rubiaceae) from Asia

Parainvolucrella R.J. Wang, a new monotypic genus for P. scabra (Wall. ex Kurz) M.D.Yuan & R.J.Wang, new combination, is segregated from the Hedyotis-Oldenlandia complex, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Phylogenetically, the new genus is sister to Scleromitrion, from which it differs by a combination of morphological characters: herbaceous habit, terminal inflorescence with subtended leaves, heterostylous flowers, indehiscent fruits and pollen with double microreticulate tectum. A key to the genera of the Hedyotis-Oldenlandia complex in China is provided for further identification.

Morphology and molecules support the new monotypic genus Parainvolucrella (Rubiaceae) from Asia

Parainvolucrella R.J. Wang, a new monotypic genus is segregated from Hedyotis-Oldenlandia complex based on the morphological and molecular evidences, along with the new combination of P. scabra (Wall. ex Kurz) M.D.Yuan & R.J.Wang. The new genus is phylogenetically sister to Scleromitrion and has ever been mistaken as a member of Scleromitrion, but its perennial woody herbaceous habit, terminal inflorescence, heterostylous flowers, indehiscent capsules, and microreticulate with smooth muri pollen surface ornamentation make it different from the latter. A key for all the genera of this complex in China is provided as well.

The identity of Stemodia lanceolata (Plantaginaceae) and its occurrence in Brazil

In this contribution, we reassess the identity of Stemodia lanceolata (Plantaginaceae) and confirm its occurrence in Brazilian territory. We present a detailed and updated description, a fine illustration, and photographs of this species, along with comments on its distribution, habitat and phenology, and notes on taxonomic affinities. Stemodia lanceolata is characterized by its stiffy erect terminal inflorescence with filamentous aspect due to the long, linear-triangular, frequently out-curved floral bracts. Finally, we propose second-step lectotypifications for three names subordinated to S. lanceolata.

A new species of Zingiber (Sect. Dymczewiczia: Zingiberaceae) from northwestern Myanmar

In the course of study on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in Myanmar revealed two species assignable to section Dymczewiczia by its terminal inflorescence. Based on the herbarium studies, Z. capitatum is newly recorded from Myanmar and the other species is easily distinguished from any other taxa in the section by yellow to orange inflorescence bracts, very small inconspicuous lateral staminodes, and pale yellow labellum with pale yellow streaks, purple-red to dark maroon tinge and numerous pale yellow blotches. It is described as new to science, namely as Z. flavofusifome. The photographic data for new species and key to species in section Dymczewiczia occurring in Myanmar are also provided.

Synflorescence morphology of grasses with reduced terminal inflorescences: a case study of Jouvea (Cynodonteae, Chloridoideae, Poaceae)

Jouvea is a dioecious genus of grasses with two species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses place it in tribe Cynodonteae, closely related to subtribes Hilariinae and Scleropogoninae, and the genera Allolepis and Sohnsia. The staminate inflorescence in Jouvea is an ordinary grass spike of spikelets, but the pistillate inflorescence is represented by a single spikelet which lacks glumes, has a thick and cylindrical rachilla, lemmas forming a tube that enclose the palea and pistil, stigmas protruding from an apical pore of this tube, and does not have lodicules. Within Cynodonteae, inflorescences reduced to a single spikelet also occur in subtribe Monanthochloinae, in which the small number of flowers of the terminal inflorescence is compensated by an increase in the number of lateral floriferous shoots. We here describe the floriferous shoot system (synflorescence) of Jouvea and compare it to other cynodonteae grasses with reduced inflorescences. Jouvea species display a high number of lateral shoots (trophotagma enrichment axes) growing from the medial and distal zones of the synflorescences. These shoots have prophyllar origins and form clusters of lateral inflorescences. The elevated number of trophotagma enrichment axes of Jouvea may be associated with the extreme reduction in the pistillate terminal inflorescence. In addition, the increase in number of spikelets by the development of prophyllar branches is a unique strategy within tribe Cynodonteae.

Four new species of Salvia (Lamiaceae) from central Mexico

Four new species of Salvia are described and illustrated. These come from central Mexico in the region studied in the project Flora del Bajío y de Regiones Adyacentes. The four species belong to the subgenus Calosphace. Salvia carranzae is placed in the section Fulgentes and is distinguished by the stem ascending at first and then pendulous, leaves that present an irregularly dentate margin, inflorescence supine, corolla tube without papillae inside, narrow lower lip of the corolla with three very short lobules on the apex, and the upper branch of the style shorter than the lower. Salvia calderoniae has affinity with the species of section Angulatae and is distinguished by being a perennial herbaceous plant, erect, with short, lax inflorescences (3.5–10 cm) With few verticillasters 12(–19) and few flowers per verticillaster (2–8), and corolla tube arched upwards of 6–13 mm long. Salvia xolocotzii is morphologically similar to the species of section Uliginosae; it is characterized by being a herbaceous perennial plant, stoloniferous, decumbent, 15–45 cm tall, terminal inflorescence, rachis and calyx with glandular pubescence, upper lip of the calyx entire, with 5 veins, blue corolla with ventricose tube and connectives with a short acute tooth. Salvia zamoranensis coincides with the species of section Brandegeia; it is characterized by abundant long trichomes, extended on stems and calyces, calyx with 5 veins, blue corolla and ventricose, invaginated and epapillate tube, and a lower lip with two lines of white marks. The four species are distributed in forests of temperate climates and are endemic to the northeast of Guanajuato and Querétaro and southeast of San Luis Potosí.

Photoperiod and Temperature Influence Flowering Responses and Morphology of Tecoma stans

Tecoma stans (L. Juss. Kunth) ‘Mayan Gold’ is a tropical flowering plant that was selected as a potential new greenhouse crop for its physical appearance and drought and heat tolerance. The objective of this study was to quantify how temperature during the finishing stage and photoperiod during propagation and finishing stages influence growth, flowering, and quality. In Expt. 1, plants were propagated from seed under four photoperiods (9, 12, 14, or 16 h) for 35 days. Under long-day (LD) photoperiods (14 h or greater), seedlings were 3.0 to 3.7 cm taller than those propagated under 9-h photoperiods. During the finishing stage, days to first open flower, shoot dry mass, and number of nodes below the terminal inflorescence were reduced when plants were grown under LD photoperiods. In addition, number of open flowers and branches increased under LD photoperiods. Few plants developed visible buds when grown under short-day (SD) photoperiods (12 h or less). In Expt. 2, plants were forced at average daily temperatures of 19, 20, or 22 °C after transplant. Time to first open flower was reduced by 7 days as temperature increased. Inversely, number of visible buds increased by 57 as temperature increased from 19 to 22 °C. Under the experimental conditions tested, the most rapid, complete, and uniform flowering of Tecoma occurred when plants were propagated and finished under LD photoperiods and forced at 22 °C.