Impatiens bijieensis (Balsaminaceae), a new species from karst plateau in Guizhou, China

Impatiens bijieensis X.X. Bai & L.Y. Ren, a new species from Northwest Guizhou, China, is here described and illustrated. This new species is distributed discontiguously in Jiulongshan of Dafang County and Dajiucaiping of Hezhang County, both of which belong to Wumeng mountains area, a karst plateau landform. It is morphologically similar to I. lasiophyton J.D. Hooker and I. leptocaulon J.D. Hooker in height, leaf blade shape and flower form, especially resembles I. lasiophyton in pilose plant. However, it differs in its deep purplish-red to rose-red flower, 2-lobed lower sepal apex and cylindrical capsule. A detailed description, color photographs, and a provisional IUCN red list assessment are provided, and its geographical distribution, ecology, and morphological relationship with relevant similar species are discussed.

Impatiens wutaishanensis (Balsaminaceae), a new species from Southeast Yunnan, China

Impatiens wutaishanensis R.L. Liao & Lei Cai, a new species from Southeast Yunnan, China, is here described and illustrated. This new species is most similar to Impatiens parvisepala S.X. Yu & Y.T. Hou in its racemose inflorescences, its four lateral sepals, the leaf arrangement, and in having yellow flowers. However, it differs in the height of the plants, the length of the petiole, the size and shape of the leaf blade, the shape of the spur, and the number of flowers in each inflorescence. A detailed description, color photographs, and a provisional IUCN red list assessment are provided, and its geographical distribution, ecology, and morphological relationship with relevant similar species are discussed.

NATIVE VASCULAR FLORA OF BEHALI RESERVE FOREST (ASSAM, INDIA) WITH GLOBAL IUCN RED LIST ASSESSMENT OF TWO ENDEMIC SPECIES

The investigations of flora and fauna in Protected Areas provide important contributions to the knowledge on the status of unmanaged natural ecosystems. In 2017–2019, we studied the vascular plant flora of Behali Reserve Forest (Assam, India). The reserve forest covers 140.16 km2 area of semi-evergreen forest. We investigated the taxonomic composition of the flora and diversity of growth forms of species and habitats. In addition, we conducted global IUCN Red List assessment of two endemic species, Aristolochia assamica and Chlorophytum assamicum. We found that the vascular plant flora of Behali Reserve Forest consists of 281 taxa, including 272 species, one subspecies and eight varieties. They belong to 206 genera and 79 families. Among them, Pandanus unguifer was recorded for the first time for the flora of Assam. In growth form spectrum of vascular plants, trees, vines and shrubs predominated, followed by epiphytes, forbs or herbs, geophytes, annuals and parasites. The largest number of vascular plants was found in dense forests, while open habitats were characterized by the smallest species richness. Chlorophytum assamicum is assessed as CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); D, and Aristolochia assamica as EN B2ab(iii). At the same time, there is a threat of reduction or disappearance of their populations. This is especially crucial for C. assamicum, represented by a single world population. Undoubtedly, further investigations of flora could result in an increase in number of the vascular plant flora of Behali Reserve Forest, as well as providing essential insights into population trends of several other species as per IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

Begonia erythrobracteata (Begoniaceae) a new species from the Atlantic Coastal Forest in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Begonia erythrobracteata (Begoniaceae) is a new, narrow endemic from the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil. This species is closely related to Begonia olsoniae and B. fimbritepala and shares their rupicolous habit and transversely ovate leaf blades with a cordate base. It differs to B. fimbritepala in its petioles, which are densely squamulose along their entire length (vs. with simple trichomes) and B. olsoniae by its glabrous (vs. pilose) adaxial leaf surface. B. erythrobracteata is described and illustrated with detailed field photographs, and a provisional IUCN Red List Assessment is provided.

A description of the tadpole of Megophrys "Brachytarsophrys" intermedia (Smith, 1921)

Megophrys Kuhl and Van Hasselt are an Asian radiation of terrestrial frogs which are usually associated with montane forest (Mahony et al. 2017). The Annam horned frog (Megophrys intermedia) is reported from montane evergreen forest in Vietnam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Stuart 2005; Hendrix et al. 2008; Nguyen et al. 2009; Tran 2013; Orlov et al. 2015; IUCN 2017; Mahony et al. 2017). The IUCN Red List assessment for the species reports an elevational range of 782–1500 m asl (IUCN 2017) although the type locality was reported to be above 1500 m asl (Smith 1921), and Tran (2013) collected a specimen at 1515 m asl. Megophrys intermedia is assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2017) and little is known about the reproductive behaviour and life history of the species. In Lam Dong Province (Vietnam), male M. intermedia call in March (Tran 2013); on the Langbian Plateau (Vietnam), male specimens are reported to call by day and by night from March to May and specimens called from within deep crevices between boulders in streams (Smith 1921); in Xe Kong Province (Laos), males call or guard egg clutches that are laid in water in July (Stuart 2005).

Rediscovery of the enigmatic Andean frog Telmatobius halli Noble (Anura: Telmatobiidae), re-description of the tadpole and comments on new adult’s characters, type locality and conservation status

We report the rediscovery of Telmatobius halli (Hall’s water frog), which had not been found since its description (over 80 years) since its type locality was not clearly established. “Aguas Calientes” near Ollagüe is hypothesized as the original type locality where Frank Gregory Hall collected the type material in 1935. The tadpole is re-described, and new data on the external and internal morphology of adults is provided. These new morphological data are compared with Telmatobius spp. inhabiting geographically close to T. halli in Chile and Bolivia. In addition, comments on its ecology, conservation, and taxonomic status in relation with other Telmatobius spp. inhabiting nearby areas in Ascotán and Carcote salt pans are provided. No evidence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Ranavirus infection was found in T. halli and a sympatric amphibian species. Our work supports the validity of T. halli and suggests this species should be considered as Data Deficient in the IUCN Red List assessment until taxonomic issues are resolved.

Pacifigeron indivisus (Asteraceae: Astereae), a new species endemic to Rapa, Austral Islands, and a new delimitation of the Celmisia group

This study reports, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and a morphological assessment, the second species of Pacifigeron, an endemic genus of Rapa Island in French Polynesia. Detailed morphological and ecological descriptions, illustrations, IUCN Red List assessment, and a distributional map are provided. Our results support the exclusion of Pacifigeron from the Celmisia group and also allow the re-circumscription of the Celmisia group. The new species Pacifigeron indivisus can be differentiated from P. rapensis, among other characters, by its larger leaves, larger number of capitula per capitulescence, corollas lacking long uniseriate multicellular trichomes, style of the disc florets undivided, and absence of twin trichomes on the cypsela epidermis. Molecular data indicates that Pacifigeron is related to South American Andean genera rather than to the Celmisia group as was previously proposed. The Celmisia group is here re-circumscribed to include ca. 159 species distributed in Australasia within the following genera: Celmisia, Damnamenia, Olearia pro parte, Pachystegia, and Pleurophyllum. Given the taxonomic complexity and polyphyletic nature of Olearia, its taxonomy is briefly reviewed based on history, morphology, and phylogenetic evidence, which in turn allows delineation of its species composition within the Celmisia group. None of the Olearia species in the Celmisia group can be retained in Olearia since the type species, O. tomentosa, does not belong to the Celmisia group.

A new bellflower, Campanula phitosiana sp. nov. (Campanulaceae) from Western Anatolia, Turkey

Campanula phitosiana Yıldırım & Şentürk (Campanulaceae) is described as a new species from the Aydın Mountains range in western Turkey. Diagnostic characteristics, a full description, and comprehensive illustrations and microphotographs of the pollens and seeds are provided. Campanula phitosiana is a stenoendemic species distributed along the Aydın Mountain range near the county of Tire in the province of İzmir in Turkey. It is morphologically related to C. andrewsii, C. celsii, and C. topaliana, which all are distributed on rock crevices in Greece. Differences among the related species are given in detail. A preliminary IUCN Red List assessment of the new species is supplied.

Conservation concern’ bryophytes find refuge on cave entrances in the Azores

Bryophytes, including mosses, liverworts and hornworts, are terrestrial plants, with a particular life cycle where the gametophyte is dominant over the sporophyte; many species are pokilohydric, meaning that they achieve a quick equilibrium between the cell water content and that of the environment, suspending their life, but not dying, in the absence of water. Due to their light spores, these plants have a great dispersal ability and may be found from the poles to the equator. In the Azores, there are almost 500 species (Gabriel et al. 2010), colonizing a large number of habitats and substrata, but forming particularly luxuriant communities inside native forests. Nevertheless, these forests are presently restricted to medium-high elevations (above 500 m) and below this altitude, adequate habitats for many bryophyte species are scarce (Henriques et al. 2016). Cave entrances, at different elevations, serve as surrogate habitats for bryophyte species, since they present an adequate relative humidity, fewer competitor species and are usually not disturbed by chemical products such as herbicides or pesticides. The aims of this work are twofold: present the results of the first IUCN red-list assessment of the conservation status of Azorean conservation concern bryophytes; and present an overview of the major threats involving the conservation of those species. present the results of the first IUCN red-list assessment of the conservation status of Azorean conservation concern bryophytes; and present an overview of the major threats involving the conservation of those species. The assessments of extinction risk were based on the most updated categories and criteria. Seven liverworts (Calypogeia azorica, Cheilolejeunea cedercreutzii, Fuscocephaloziopsis crassifolia, Leptoscyphus porphyrius subsp. azoricus, Lophocolea fragrans Plagiochila longispina and Radula holtii,) and seven mosses (Andoa berthelotiana, Echinodium renauldii, Heterocladium flaccidum, Hookeria lucens, Microcampylopus laevigatus, Rhynchostegiella trichophylla and Thamnobryum rudolphianum) benefit from populations at cave entrances, mostly the Azorean and Macaronesian endemic species. The three most common threats harming “cave” bryophytes include: climate change & severe weather, habitat change and degradation and invasive plant species of native forest. These threats are also documented in the literature (e.g. Patiño et al. 2016; Ferreira et al. 2016; Triantis et al. 2010 and Silva et al. 2008). Cave habitats are thus an important part of bryophyte conservation in the Azores, and should be both legally protected and monitored to the mutual benefit of species and habitat conservation.

Red List of Azorean endemic cave adapted arthropods: an ecological and conservation overview

The Azorean endemic arthropod fauna includes seventeen species and subspecies adapted to the subterranean environment. Most of these species are known from single lava-tubes or volcanic pits (seven out of the 17 species) and only a few are widespread (namely Trechus terceiranus and Trechus picoensis). Moreover, many of the caves are under severe impact of the main economic activity on Azores, dairy–cattle production. Consequently, it is urgent to assess the conservation status of the Azorean endemic cave arthropod fauna. The aims of this contribution are twofold: present the results of the first IUCN red-list assessment of the conservation status of Azorean endemic cave adapted arthropods (e.g. Borges et al. 2016, Borges and Amorim 2017a, Borges and Amorim 2017b, Borges and Amorim 2017c, Boieiro et al. 2018, Borges and Amorim 2018a, Borges and Amorim 2018b, Borges and Amorim 2018c, Borges and Amorim 2018d, Borges and Amorim 2018e, Rego et al. 2018) and present an overview of the major threats involving the conservation of those species. The assessments of extinction risk were based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria and the most updated guidelines. Overall, 15 out of the 16 assessed species are threatened (CR+ EN + VU). The most diverse group, the ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) include half of the assessed species and have five species considered as Critically Endangered (CR) (Thalassophilus azoricus, Trechus jorgensis, Trechus montanheirorum, Trechus oromii, Trechus pereirai). present the results of the first IUCN red-list assessment of the conservation status of Azorean endemic cave adapted arthropods (e.g. Borges et al. 2016, Borges and Amorim 2017a, Borges and Amorim 2017b, Borges and Amorim 2017c, Boieiro et al. 2018, Borges and Amorim 2018a, Borges and Amorim 2018b, Borges and Amorim 2018c, Borges and Amorim 2018d, Borges and Amorim 2018e, Rego et al. 2018) and present an overview of the major threats involving the conservation of those species. The assessments of extinction risk were based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria and the most updated guidelines. Overall, 15 out of the 16 assessed species are threatened (CR+ EN + VU). The most diverse group, the ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) include half of the assessed species and have five species considered as Critically Endangered (CR) (Thalassophilus azoricus, Trechus jorgensis, Trechus montanheirorum, Trechus oromii, Trechus pereirai). Most of the species have small extent of occurrence (EOO less than 12 km²) and reduced area of occupancy (AOO less than 12 km²). The main current threat to the species is the impact of agriculture activities. We suggest as future measures of conservation the regular monitoring of the species (every ten years) and fencing the entrances of the caves where human intrusion and disturbance has been occurring. The Azorean Government will publish legislation for the protection of the most important Azorean caves in 2018.