Genome Size Diversity in Rare, Endangered, and Protected Orchids in Poland

Orchidaceae is one of the largest and the most widespread plant families with many species threatened with extinction. However, only about 1.5% of orchids’ genome sizes have been known so far. The aim of this study was to estimate the genome size of 15 species and one infraspecific taxon of endangered and protected orchids growing wild in Poland to assess their variability and develop additional criterion useful in orchid species identification and characterization. Flow cytometric genome size estimation revealed that investigated orchid species possessed intermediate, large, and very large genomes. The smallest 2C DNA content possessed Liparis loeselii (14.15 pg), while the largest Cypripedium calceolus (82.10 pg). It was confirmed that the genome size is characteristic to the subfamily. Additionally, for four species Epipactis albensis, Ophrys insectifera, Orchis mascula, Orchis militaris and one infraspecific taxon, Epipactis purpurata f. chlorophylla the 2C DNA content has been estimated for the first time. Genome size estimation by flow cytometry proved to be a useful auxiliary method for quick orchid species identification and characterization.

Elucidating the Mystery of Anthurium willdenowii var. pohlii (Araceae)

The infraspecific taxon Anthurium willdenowii Kunth var. pohlii Engl. is elevated to the rank of species and is given the new name Anthurium maxakali Theófilo, Sakur. & Mayo. Comments about its taxonomy, ecology, and geographic distribution are discussed.

New additions to Gomesa from old known names (Orchidaceae)

Five new combinations are made for taxa formerly described or assigned to the genus Oncidium, but currently placed in Gomesa. These all predate formerly widely known and accepted names: Gomesa bicornuta, comb. nov. for Gomesa cruciata; Gomesa florida f. florida, comb. nov. for Gomesa longicornu; Gomesa maculosa f. maculosa, comb. nov. for Gomesa spilotera; Gomesa maculosa f. aurea for Oncidium spilopterum [unranked] aureum; and Gomesa polyodonta, comb. nov. for Gomesa damacenoi. A new infraspecific taxon, Gomesa florida f. concolor, f. nov., is described for an unpublished but already known infraspecies. Two historical names described by J.M.C. Vellozo are herein resolved: Epidendrum floridum and Epidendrum gilvum, respectively as an accepted name for Gomosa longicornu and new synonym of Gomesa pubes. An historical, nomenclatural, and taxonomic review of all related names is presented, as well as 28 nomenclatural types are designated.

Materials for a flora of Serbia from the Herbarium collection PZZP (3)

This article presents the third part of data on selected new and noteworthy taxa ensuing from the revision of Herbarium collection of the Institute for Nature Conservation of the Vojvodina province (PZZP). Selected taxa include 11 species, three subspecies, three varieties, one infraspecific taxon with indetermined status [stat. indet.] and one nothospecies placed within seven genera (Filago L., Ludwigia L., Luzula DC., Lycopus L., Lythrum L., Phlomis L. and Silene L.). Two varieties (Luzula campestris subsp. campestris var. elata, Silene flos-cuculi subsp. floscuculi var. latifolia) and one infraspecific taxon with indetermined status (Luzula multiflora subsp. multiflora [stat. indet.] b. uliginosa) are new for a flora of Serbia. Additionally, one species (Ludwigia palustris) and one nothospecies (Lythrum ×scabrum) are confirmed for Serbia.

Revisiting the taxonomy of Abutilon australiense (Malvaceae), a little known species of peninsular India

A widely distributed infraspecific taxon, Abutilon indicum subsp. albescens var. australiense is collected after lapse of six decades from peninsular India and recognized here as distinct species, Abutilon australiense comb. et stat. nov. The detailed comparative morphology with its associated taxa has been discussed in the present article with updated nomenclature and typification.

Supplemented checklist of lichens and allied fungi of Lithuania

A new checklist of 755 species of lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi occurring in Lithuania is presented. Of these, 620 species are lichenized, 115 lichenicolous and 20 are saprobic fungi that are usually treated in lichenological literature. Frequency of every species and infraspecific taxon in the country is indicated, except for the 12 species known from literature records only. List of synonyms is also presented.

Weeding the nettles V: Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the eastern Asian species Urtica thunbergiana Sieb. & Zucc. (Urticaceae)

Urtica L. (Urticaceae) is a subcosmopolitan genus, which is also common throughout Asia. Taxon differentiation in the Asian Urtica species is difficult due to the limited diversity of taxonomically useful characters combined with a range of phenotypic variation. The present study investigates the species Urtica thunbergiana Sieb. & Zucc. (incl. U. laetevirens) from eastern Asia based on herbarium collections, including most of the type specimens. The delimitation of U. thunbergiana is expanded to include all three currently recognized subspecies of U. laetevirens Maxim. Also, one newly infraspecific taxon is described from Taiwan. Based on our revision, the recognition of a total of four subspecies of Urtica thunbergiana is proposed: subsp. thunbergiana, subsp. dentata (Hand.-Mazz.) K.Becker & Weigend, subsp. silvatica (Hand.-Mazz.) K.Becker & Weigend, and subsp. perserrata, subspec. nov. The systematic re-arrangements are based on morphological analyses and a highly resolved phylogeny based on the molecular markers ITS1–5.8S–ITS2, psbA–trnH, trnL–trnF and trnS–trnG.

Taxonomy of 'Euconnus complex'. Part XIV. Diarthroconnus is removed from synonymy with Psomophus and placed as a junior synonym of Euconnus s. str. (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)

Diarthroconnus Ganglbauer, a subgenus of Euconnus Thomson, was proposed 117 years ago to accommodate one bizarre European species, E. birnbacheri Ganglbauer. Nine-segmented antennae with club composed of two terminal antennomeres was the main diagnostic character of the species and subgenus. Later authors interpreted this feature as a teratological abnormality, and E. birnbacheri as a junior synonym or an infraspecific taxon of E. intrusus Schaum. This led to listing Diarthroconnus as a junior synonym of Psomophus Casey in all existing catalogs, the latter being a subgenus of Euconnus to which E. intrusus belongs. However, since Ganglbauer's publication the type series of E. birnbacheri has not been studied and all taxonomic actions were results of interpreting his original description. Two syntypes of E. birnbacheri were recently rediscovered, and it was possible to clarify the status of Diarthroconnus. Euconnus birnbacheri was identified as identical with Euconnus (s. str.) fimetarius (Chaudoir), and consequently Diarthroconnus is removed from synonymy with Psomophus and placed as a junior synonym of Euconnus s. str. A lectotype is designated for Euconnus birnbacheri.