Nectar Uptake of a Long-Proboscid Prosoeca Fly (Nemestrinidae)—Proboscis Morphology and Flower Shape

Several Prosoeca (Nemestinidae) species use a greatly elongated proboscis to drink nectar from long-tubed flowers. We studied morphological adaptations for nectar uptake of Prosoecamarinusi that were endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa. Our study site was a small isolated area of semi-natural habitat, where the long-tubed flowers of Babiana vanzijliae (Iridaceae) were the only nectar source of P. marinusi, and these flies were the only insects with matching proboscis. On average, the proboscis measured 32.63 ± 2.93 mm in length and less than 0.5 mm in diameter. The short labella at the tip are equipped with pseudotracheae that open at the apical margin, indicating that nectar is extracted out of the floral tube with closed labella. To quantify the available nectar resources, measurements of the nectar volume were taken before the flies were active and after observed flower visits. On average, an individual fly took up approximately 1 µl of nectar per flower visit. The measured nectar quantities and the flower geometry allowed estimations of the nectar heights and predictions of necessary proboscis lengths to access nectar in a range of flower tube lengths.

Thismia clavigeroides (Thismiaceae), A New Mycoheterotrophic Species from Thailand

Abstract—Thismia clavigeroides is described and illustrated as a new species from southern Thailand. The new species is characterized by coralliform roots, whitish-gray flowers, reflexed outer perianth lobes, inner perianth lobes forming a mitre with three slender claviform appendages, inner surface of floral tube possessing transverse bars, and the apex of stamen bearing three triangular lobes. A taxonomic description, illustrations of the new species, and a comparison with the related species are presented.

Thismia belumensis (Thismiaceae), a remarkable new species from The Royal Belum State Park, Gerik, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia

This report describes Thismia belumensis Siti-Munirah & Suhaimi-Miloko, a novel species of achlorophyllous herb discovered in the Royal Belum State Park, Peninsular Malaysia. This new species is unlike any previously described species of Thismia. In particular, T. belumensis possesses a unique annulus, which has been expanded and modified into a cucullate (hood-like) structure. This structure covers the apical floral tube and has an opening on one side facing a thickened part of the annulus, and the off-centre floral aperture confers a zygomorphic symmetry to the flower, indicating T. belumensis is more similar to Thismia labiata J.J.Sm. This morphological detail makes this new species distinct from all other described species of Thismia. In this report, we provide descriptions, illustrations, colour plates, and the provisional conservation status of Thismia belumensis.

Oreocharis jasminina (Gesneriaceae), a new species from mountain tops of Hainan Island, South China

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Oreocharis jasminina S.J.Ling, F.Wen & M.X. Ren from Hainan Island, south China, is highlighted and described. The new species is distinguished by its actinomorphic corolla, narrow floral tube and ovate anthers hidden in the floral tube. The new species also showed clear geographic and altitudinal isolation from the three currently-recognised Oreocharis species on the Island. Molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on nuclear ITS1/2 and plastid trnL-trnF sequences, supported the delimitation of the new species, which forms a single lineage with all the other Oreocharis species from Hainan Island. The roles of geographic and floral isolation in the evolution of the new species and its affinities are discussed.

Gymnosiphon syceorosensis (Burmanniaceae), the second new species for the Philippines

A new holomycoheterotrophic member of Burmanniaceae, Gymnosiphon syceorosensis, is described from Mt. Hamiguitan located on the island of Mindanao, Philippines. This species differs from the recently named G. philippinensis from Cebu in a number of quantitative and qualitative characters. Phenetic (neighbor-joining) and phylogenetic (maximum parsimony) analyses of characters from Asian and Australian Gymnosiphon species were conducted and diagnostic taxonomic features were discussed. This new species appears to be most closely related to G. affinis J.J. Sm. from New Guinea but differs in a number of floral features including inner perianth lobe shape, stamen position in floral tube, and anther connective shape.

A new species of Clinanthus (Amaryllidaceae: Amaryllidoideae: Clinantheae) from Cordillera de los Tarros, Northwest Peru, and notes on related species

Clinanthus longissimus B. Esquerre & Meerow sp. nov. is described from the Department of Cajamarca in northwest Peru. This new species has affinity with C. coccineus (Ruiz. & Pav.) Meerow, C. incarnatus (Kunth) Meerow and C. variegatus (Ruiz & Pav.) Meerow, from which it can be distinguished mainly by the length of the flower, the continuous floral tube without protuberances, the size of the staminal cup and the color of the tepals. C. longissimus is so far known only from the Province of Cutervo.

Xochiquetzallia (Asparagaceae, Brodiaeoideae), a new genus segregated from the paraphyletic Dandya

A new genus, Xochiquetzallia, for the Brodiaeoideae, Asparagaceae family is here proposed. A taxonomic analysis based on morphology highlights its synapomorphies. The characters that distinguish Xochiquetzallia are the absence of a pith in the gynophore and the presence of an entire stigma. The recognition of Dandya purpusii as a monotypic genus is supported by the development of a short floral tube (< 2 mm) and a pith in the gynophore, as well as a divided stigma shared with the other genera of the Milla clade, Bessera, Jaimehintonia, Petronymphe and Milla. A key to its taxonomic determination is given for both the Xochiquetzallia species and the Milla clade genera.

Taxonomic studies on Amomum Roxburgh s.l. (Zingiberaceae) in MyanmarⅠ: Two new species and two new records for the flora of Myanmar

Two taxa of Amomum (Zingiberaceae), Amomum erythranthum and Amomum ampliflorum, from Putao, Kachin State of Northern Myanmar are described and illustrated as new to science. Amomum erythranthum is morphologically similar to A. subulatum and A. nimkeyense in having similar yellow flowers, but can be distinguished by its reddish floral tube, red anther connective, red and pubescent fruit. Amomum ampliflorum is similar to A. maximum, A. dealbatum and A. odontocarpum in white flower, but differs in its longer inflorescence and much larger flower. Two species, Amomum pauciflorum and Wurfbainia microcarpum are recorded for the flora of Myanmar for the first time. Data on ecology, phenology, distribution, conservation status, similarities to the related taxa, as well as colour photographs and line drawings of the type, and voucher specimens are provided for all reported taxa.