Zero, Null Individuals, and Nominal Semantics in Cantonese

It has been convincingly argued that English zero provides evidence for introducing null individuals into the ontology of natural language (Bylinina & Nouwen 2018). We examine ‘zero’ in Cantonese, where it provides evidence that such null individuals are a matter of crosslinguistic variation. Cantonese zero has a more restricted distribution. It occurs widely in a number of contexts, but it is systematically ruled out with ordinary classifiers. These facts, coupled with assumptions about the nature of measurement and nominal semantics, demonstrate despite its extensive use in the language, zero is impossible in precisely the uses that require null individuals. Cantonese seems to be telling us that such null individuals are simply absent from its ontology, implying an interesting difference in natural language metaphysics between the languages—and perhaps a different perspective on what theoretical shape crosslinguistic variation can take.

LIST OF LAND SNAILS IN JAVA AND SEVERAL ADJACENT ISLANDS

The malacofauna of Java has been most studied among the Indonesian islands, but the list of land snails in the area remains outdated. This study presents an updated check list of land snails in Java and its adjacent islands. This list is a compilation data from field work in Java conducted in 2013-2016, records from various museums in Europe and Indonesia, collections from private collectors, data from citizen sciences, and literatures. In total, 263 land snail species were recorded in Java and its adjacent islands. The number comprises of 36 families i.e. Subclass Neritimorpha (2 families), Caenogastropoda (6 families), and Heterobranchia (28 families). About 40% are species endemic to Java and among them have restricted distribution to certain areas. In addition, 5% or 13 introduced species were recorded in Java.

Petrocodon anoectochilus, a Remarkable New Species of Gesneriaceae from Guangxi and Guizhou, Southwest China

Petrocodon anoectochilus F. Wen & B. Pan, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guangxi and Guizhou in southwestern China, is described and illustrated. Although the leaf morphology of this new species looks similar to that of P. coriaceifolius (Y. G. Wei) Y. G. Wei & Mich. Möller and P. pseudocoriaceifolius Yan Liu & W. B. Xu, this remarkable new species can be easily distinguished from all other species of Petrocodon s.l. (the two above-mentioned species included) by the shape and color of its memorable corolla. Because of its restricted distribution and threatened environment, the current conservation status of this species should be assessed temporarily as “Endangered.”

Eumops floridanus (Chiroptera: Molossidae)

Eumops floridanus (Allen, 1932) is a molossid commonly called the Florida bonneted bat or the Florida mastiff bat. Eumops floridanus is the largest species of bat in Florida and is one of 16 species in the genus Eumops. With one of the smallest distributions of any bat in the United States, it is endemic to southern peninsular Florida where it roosts in cavities of live and dead trees and man-made structures. Eumops floridanus was formerly classified as a subspecies of E. glaucinus but has been elevated to species level based on morphology. Due primarily to its restricted distribution, small population size, and the continued loss of habitat, E. floridanus is federally listed as “Endangered” (EN) by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Case-sensitive plural suppletion in Barguzin Buryat: On case containment, suppletion typology, and competition in morphology

This paper examines plural suppletion in the Barguzin dialect of Buryat (Mongolic, Russia), which occurs only in accusative and genitive noun phrases. The restricted distribution of this process, specifically its absence in oblique cases, is significant for recent research on the typology of suppletion and the feature structure of case. For much work in this vein, this plural suppletion would qualify as having an ‘ABA’ pattern, which is predicted to be unattested. I argue that the suppletive plural morpheme in question is a portmanteau whose morphological requirements cause it to conflict, for independent reasons, with the realization of oblique noun phrases. Consequently, I argue that its distribution does not falsify the theories that normally ban ABA patterns, but rather instantiates a principled exception to them which sharpens our understanding of them.

Progress towards resolution of the Indigofera monophylla complex (Fabaceae: Faboideae)

The application of the name Indigofera monophylla is clarified by reference to the type held in the Geneva herbarium and a revised description provided. The name has been widely applied to plants with rounded, unifoliolate leaves and some workers have suggested that there are multiple species within this broadly defined group. One of these, with restricted distribution within the Pilbara bioregion, has previously been given the phrase name Indigofera sp. Bungaroo Creek (S. van Leeuwen 4301) and is formally named here as Indigofera rivularis Peter G.Wilson. Two additional species in this complex are also described: Indigofera deserticola Peter G.Wilson & Rowe, is a species of sandplains occurring within the Great Sandy Desert and Dampierland Bioregions, and Indigofera rotula Peter G.Wilson, which is a species with smaller leaves and flowers that occurs primarily in areas south of the Pilbara. A key to these species is provided.

Cassava brown streak viruses (cassava brown streak disease).

CBSD was formerly of limited importance in Africa as a whole because of its restricted distribution along lowland coastal areas of Kenya and Tanzania and in parts of Malawi (Legg and Raya, 1998; Hillocks et al., 2001; Gondwe et al., 2003; Shaba et al., 2003). However, the disease was later found to be prevalent in northern Mozambique (Hillocks et al., 2002). Since 2004 it has been causing increasingly severe problems in Uganda and the Lake Victoria zone of Tanzania. It has also been detected recently in Rwanda, Burundi and parts of DRC.

Tigridiopalma exalata, a new and endangered species of Melastomataceae from China

A new species of the genus Tigridiopalma, formerly considered monotypic, is here described as T. exalata and illustrated based on molecular and morphological evidence. It is morphologically similar to T. magnifica in having a short stem, huge basal leaves, scorpioid cymes, and 5-merous flowers, but differs in having ribbed and pale yellow puberulent petioles, purple petals with a small white apical patch, connectives of longer stamens with a distinct dorsal short spur at their base, and wingless capsules. Due to the restricted distribution, small populations and horticultural potential of this new species, it should be categorized as an Endangered species (EN).

TENANTS’ COPIES OF COURT ROLLS IN ENGLAND AND WALES BEFORE 1400

While much has been written about the early development of copyhold, and the presumed origins in the fourteenth century of the practice of making copies of court roll entries for tenants, original copies have not been systematically sought or investigated. This article uses research in 38 repositories to analyse 176 copies of seigneurial court rolls, of which full transcripts are published online elsewhere. It indicates their diverse physical and formal characteristics, the types of court that produced them, their distribution, their chronology and the tenurial aspects of the content. The distribution was far wider at an earlier date than previously believed; by 1400 it included at least three-quarters of English counties, with a more restricted distribution in Wales. Copies before 1400 were made for freeholders as well as customary tenants, but apparently seldom on the death of a tenant. They are found among other deeds in both family and institutional archives.