Chrysophyllum lancisepalum (Sapotaceae, Chrysophylloideae): a new endemic species from the Brazilian Atlantic forest

Chrysophyllum lancisepalum is here in described and illustrated as a new endemic species from the Atlantic forest in Brazil. Chrysophyllum lancisepalum is morphologically similar to C. januariense and C. sierpense, but distinguished by its chartaceous leaves, short petiole, attenuated leaf apex, rounded to obtuse leaf base, lanceolate sepals, fusiform fruit, and a seed with a basi-ventral seed scar. The new species is restricted to the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo, where it preferably grows in the Mussununga ecosystem, which is characterized by a coastal tableland geomorphology. Considering the vulnerability of C. lancisepalum and its very restricted occupation area, we suggest a preliminary conservation status in the Endangered (EN) category, according to the IUCN criteria.

Capparis kbangensis (Capparaceae), a new species from central Vietnam

Capparis kbangensis Sy & D.V. Hai, a new species from Kbang District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to Capparis versicolor but differs by several characters such as emarginate leaf apex, hairy margin of sepals, smaller fruits, and fewer seeds per fruit. Its ecology and conservation status are provided along with a taxonomic key to the closely allied species.

New and endemic species of Brachymenium (Bryaceae, Bryophyta) in the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil

The present study describes and illustrates two newly identified moss species of Brachymenium, endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest of the South and Southeastern regions of Brazil. The first is Brachymenium elimbatum, a medium-sized plant with leaf apex ending in a short to long arista, margins not bordered, plane, entire, costa tapering above and sub-percurrent. The second is Brachymenium sublineare, a medium-sized plant with leaves often asymmetrically curved in the distal half, margins bordered by 1–3 rows of narrow rectangular cells and serrate at distal half, costa short-excurrent, flagelliform branches occasionally present and exostome teeth sub-linear. A key is presented with the most similar Brazilian Brachymenium species.

STUDI PERBANDINGAN KARAKTER MAKROSKOPIS DAN MIKROSKOPIS TIGA JENIS PHYLLANTHUS L.

Anshary Maruzy, Dewi Athikah Fatkhul Jannah, Ari Pitoyo, Dyah Subositi. 2020. Comparison Study of Macroscopic and Microscopic Characters in Three Species Phyllanthus L. Floribunda 6(4): 154–166. — Many members of the genus Phyllanthus are widely used as raw materials for medicine. Three species of Phyllanthus that are P. amarus Schumach. & Thonn., P. urinaria L., and P. debilis Klein ex Willd. have a lot of similarity. The aims of this study were to compare macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of this three species. Method of microscopic study by embedding paraffin technique. The observed of macroscopic characters are branching types, leaf shape, color of leaf margin, leaf apex type, color & shape of petal, amount of male petal, color & structure of ripe fruit, color of seed. The results of this study showed the specific characteristics of every species. Keywords: characterization, macroscopic, microscopic, P. amarus, P. debilis, P. urinaria.Anshary Maruzy, Dewi Athikah Fatkhul Jannah, Ari Pitoyo, Dyah Subositi. 2020. Studi Perbandingan Karakter Makroskopis dan Mikroskopis Tiga Jenis Phyllanthus L. Floribunda 6(4): 154–166. — Beberapa anggota genus Phyllanthus banyak dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan baku obat. Tiga spesies Phyllanthus yaitu P. amarus Schumach. & Thonn., P. urinaria L., dan P. debilis Klein ex Willd. memiliki morfologi yang hampir sama. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui perbandingan karakter makroskopis dan mikroskopis dari ketiga spesies tersebut. Penelitian mikroskopis menggunakan metode embedding paraffin. Karakter makroskopis yang diamati adalah tipe percabangan, bentuk daun, warna tepi daun, tipe ujung daun, warna & bentuk mahkota bunga, jumlah mahkota bunga jantan, warna & struktur buah masak, warna biji. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan karakteristik spesifik setiap spesies.

Orthomnion javense (Mniaceae, Bryophyta), new to India and Nepal

During studies on family Mniaceae in India, plants of Orthomnion javense Koponen have been recognized which is a new record for India and East Nepal, earlier it was known from China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Vietnam. O. javense is characterized by its fragile leaves, costa ending below the leaf apex, 1–3 cells wide border extending near leaf apex. Morpho–taxonomic details of Indian plants of O. javense and paratype (NICH 2130; E. Nepal) of O. noguchii Koponen (identified as O. javense) are provided.

Apex structures enhance water drainage on leaves

The rapid removal of rain droplets at the leaf apex is critical for leaves to avoid damage under rainfall conditions, but the general water drainage principle remains unclear. We demonstrate that the apex structure enhances water drainage on the leaf by employing a curvature-controlled mechanism that is based on shaping a balance between reduced capillarity and enhanced gravity components. The leaf apex shape changes from round to triangle to acuminate, and the leaf surface changes from flat to bent, resulting in the increase of the water drainage rate, high-dripping frequencies, and the reduction of retention volumes. For wet tropical plants, such as Alocasia macrorrhiza, Gaussian curvature reconfiguration at the drip tip leads to the capillarity transition from resistance to actuation, further enhancing water drainage to the largest degree possible. The phenomenon is distinct from the widely researched liquid motion control mechanisms, and it offers a specific parametric approach that can be applied to achieve the desired fluidic behavior in a well-controlled way.

A new species of Eriocaulon and an annotated checklist of Eriocaulaceae from the Coastal Plain grasslands of Southern Brazil

Eriocaulon itapevense, a new species from the Coastal Plain grasslands of Southern Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to E. magnificum, from which it differs mainly by the pubescent and opaque-green to greyish leaves, spathes and scapes, the strongly cucullate and pungent leaf apex, the longer lateral slit of the spathe, the longer and wider involucral bracts, and the rhombic-spathulate median petals of the pistillate flowers. The description of the new species is accompanied by photos and line drawings, information on geographical distribution, habitat and a conservation status assessments. Additionally, we provide an annotated checklist and an identification key for the Eriocaulaceae from the Coastal Plain grasslands of Southern Brazil. Our checklist comprises five genera and nine species, including Eriocaulon arechavaletae and Paepalanthus planifolius, which are new records for this region.

Didymodon obtusus (Bryophyta, Pottiaceae), a new species from Tibet, China

A new moss species, Didymodon obtusus J. Kou, X.-M. Shao & C. Feng, is described and illustrated from Tibet, China. It differs most saliently from congeners by the combination of ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate and appressed leaves when dry, bistratose leaf lamina, obtuse leaf apex, 2–3-stratose leaf margins, percurrent costa, cross-section of the costa with 2–3 layers of guide cells and without ventral stereids, and smooth laminal cells. This species is compared with similar species and its ecology is discussed.

Encalypta altunense S. Mamtimin & E. Sabiram sp. nov. (Encalyptaceae, Musci), a new moss species from Xinjiang, northwestern China

Encalypta altunense S. Mamtimin & E. Sabiram (Encalyptaceae), a new moss species from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China, is described and illustrated. Particularly distinctive features of the new species are: (1) 3–4 teeth formed by single cell at the leaf apex, (2) dorsiventral with dense five-pointed star or irregularly forked papillae of leaf cells, (3) peristome single, linearly lanceolate, usually joint at base pair-wise, with dense and large papillae, and (4) spores yellowish brown, with large papillae on distal surface. Comparisons with morphologically similar Encalypta species are also presented.

Lejeunea streimannii (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta), a remarkable new species with robust stems and 5(or 6)-keeled perianths from Papua New Guinea

Lejeunea streimannii, a new species from Papua New Guinea, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by the dioicous plants, robust stem with 18‒21 rows of cortical cells and a ventral merophyte 4‒6 cells wide, ovate leaves with a rounded, strongly incurved leaf apex, small lobules with unicelluar first tooth and blunt second tooth, large underleaves with a cordate base, inflated perianths with 5(or 6) crenate, slightly winged keels.