Vicia mingyueshanensis (Fabeae, Papilionoideae, Fabaceae), a new species from western Jiangxi, China

Vicia mingyueshanensis, a new species from the Mingyue Mountain Region of western Jiangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It is a perennial climbing liana that always links to riparian woods. A morphological comparison indicated that the new species is closely similar to Vicia taipaica K. T. Fu and Vicia dichroantha Diels; however, it differs from the other two species by several salient characters, such as plant indumentum, stipule shape, corolla colour, bractlet shape and calyx shape. Photographs, a preliminary conservation assessment, table of morphological characters and distribution map comparing this new species to two morphologically-similar species are also provided.

Hoya buntokensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), a new myrmecophytic species and Hoya wallichii subsp. tenebrosa, a new subspecies from Borneo (Kalimantan, Indonesia)

We describe a new Hoya species from Central Kalimantan, H. buntokensis, and a new subspecies of H. wallichii from West Kalimantan, Hoya wallichii subsp. tenebrosa. Hoya buntokensis is part of a group of four species that form specialised leaf structures harbouring ants (here defined as megadomatia), and it is most similar to H. undulata. Hoya buntokensis differs from H. undulata in lamina margin (flat vs undulate); shape of corona lobes outer processes (fan shaped vs elliptic), and in the pollinarium morphology (corpusculum larger than pollinia vs corpusculum smaller than pollinia). Both H. wallichii subsp. wallichii and H. wallichii subsp. tenebrosa are slender plants with ovate to oblong, thinly coriaceous glabrous leaves, slender peduncles with 1 or 2 flowers open at a time, and broadly campanulate corollas. Hoya wallichii subsp. tenebrosa differs from H. wallichii subsp. wallichii in corolla colour (dark purple with a paler edge vs white-cream), corona lobe shape and surface (broadly elliptic, spreading and with a minute inner process, almost black with a velvety surface vs kidney-shaped, erect and with a well-developed acuminate inner process, purple with a shiny surface).

MORPHOTAXONOMIC RE-CLASSIFICATION OF C. ANNUUM VAR. ACCUMINATUM FINGERH AS C. FRUTESCENS VAR. ACCUMINATUM

The taxonomic identities of some Capsicum varieties are somewhat controversial. This study is aimed at using morphological characters to ascertain the Capsicum species to which variety accuminatum belongs. The study was conducted at the Experimental Plot of the Department of Pure and Applied Botany, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Latitude: 7.214952; Longitude: 3.437090) using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in 10 replicates. Quantitative and qualitative characters were evaluated through measurements and visual observation respectively. Data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis Systems version 9.2 and Duncan's Multiple Range Test was used to separate means at p ˂ 0.05. The reults revealed erect growth habit, lanceolate leaf shape, pendant flower position, white corolla colour, obtuse fruit shape at pedicel, elongated fruit shape, and pointed fruit shape at blossom end on variety accuminatum as characteristic features of C. frutescens. Plant canopy width 103.41±(4.30) cm, number of branches per plant 24.70±(0.15), days to flowering 73±(0.21), fruit length 11.69±(0.07) cm and fruit width 5.78±(0.05) cm in variety accuminatum are closer to mean values in C. frutescens. This study showed that variety accuminatum is morphologically and evolutionary related to C. frutescens. Therefore, re-naming of C. annuum var. accuminatum is hereby suggested and proposed to be C. frutescens var. accuminatum.

From the butterfly’s point of view: learned colour association determines differential pollination of two co-occurring mock verbains by Agraulis vanillae (Nymphalidae)

Learning plays an important role in the location and utilization of nectar sources for pollinators. In this work we focus on the plant-pollinator interaction between the butterfly Agraulis vanillae (Nymphalidae) and two Glandularia plant species (Verbenaceae) that grow in sympatry. Bioassays using arrays of artificial flowers (red vs. lilac-purple) showed that naïve A. vanillae butterflies do not have innate colour preferences for any of the tested colours. Trained butterflies were able to learn to associate both floral colours with the presence of nectar rewards. Wild A. vanillae butterflies visited the red flowers of Glandularia peruviana much more frequently than the lilac-purple flowers of Glandularia venturii. Standing nectar crop measurements showed that G. peruviana flowers offered three times more sucrose than the flowers of G. venturii. Analyses confirmed that corolla colour of G. peruviana (red flowers) and G. venturii (lilac-purple flowers) were discriminable in the butterfly’s colour space. These findings may indicate flexibility in A. vanillae preferences due to a learned association between red coloration and higher nectar rewards.

Helicteres pegueroi (Malvaceae: Helicteroideae): A new species from the dry forests of the Dominican Republic

A new species of Helicteres from the Dominican Republic is described and illustrated; increasing the number of species occurring in the Caribbean to five. The new species, H. pegueroi, can be distinguished from H. jamaicensis and H. semitriloba by its habit and calyx and corolla colour, i.e. it is a shrub with red calyces and corollas; its pseudoactinomorphic flower due to a slight curvature at the base of the androgynophore; and its densely woolly, globose fruit. An artificial, dichotomous key is provided to distinguish the new species from the other species of the Caribbean region and Mexico.

Morphological characterization of sympatric and allopatric populations of Petunia axillaris and P. exserta (Solanaceae)

Floral morphological traits are frequently used to identify species, including those that are closely related and show low genetic diversity, and floral shape and colour are known to play an important role in diversification and species isolation. Floral morphology in Petunia (Solanaceae) is considered a driver of diversification because of its association with pollinators. Here, flower morphology was characterized through morphometric analyses and floral pigments. Our main aim was to determine corolla shape in populations of Petunia axillaris and P. exserta and their natural hybrids and how floral display, size and colour are involved in pollinator attraction. In addition, we investigated floral pigments in P. exserta and different hybrid classes. The results from morphometric analyses revealed that each species has a specific floral shape, independent of the collection site. By contrast, in two contact zones, a mosaic of floral phenotypes was observed with some hybrid classes based on corolla colour being placed close to P. exserta. The results suggest that several generations of hybrids or backcrossing could have given rise to this floral diversity in contact zones.

A revision of the Crepidorhopalon whytei complex (Linderniaceae) in eastern Africa

The Crepidorhopalon whytei (Linderniaceae) species complex is revised using morphological analyses. Based primarily on variations in indumentum, floral morphology, corolla colour and seed morphology, four species are formally recognised within this group in eastern Africa. Crepidorhopalon whytei s.str. is widespread in the highlands of eastern Africa, extending from South Sudan and Ethiopia in the north through to western Tanzania in the south. A new combination in Crepidorhopalon is made for Lindernia flava (= C. flavus), which is confined to the Manica Highlands of the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border. Two new species are described, C. namuliensis which is known only from Mt Namuli in northern Mozambique and C. kwaleensis which is known only from the coastal lowlands of southeast Kenya. A fifth, imperfectly known species is documented from the Nguru Mountains of Tanzania where it is so far known from a single collection. Three names are lectotypified. The habitat requirements and distribution are documented and the extinction risk is assessed for each species. Crepidorhopalon flavus is assessed as globally Vulnerable and C. kwaleensis as globally Endangered, while C. namuliensis and C. whytei are currently considered to be of Least Concern, although the latter is declining markedly in parts of its range. The botanical importance of the key sites for the newly recognised taxa is discussed.

A new species of Onobrychis sect. Onobrychis (Fabaceae) from Iran

Onobrychis farimanensis is described as a new species and an identification key, illustrations and distribution map provided. The new species is restricted to the north Zharf Mountains between Fariman and Torbat-e Heydarieh, in the Khorasan Razavi Province of Iran. It is a perennial herb, becoming woody at the base and has long wing petals, standard as long as the keel, and pods loosely covered by appressed hairs. The new species differs from morphologically similar taxa, O. alamutensis and O. major, in several morphological characters such as plant height, stem indumentum, leaflet length and indumentum, bract length, calyx length, corolla colour, and pod size and shape.

Salvia hasankeyfense (Lamiaceae), a new species from Hasankeyf (Batman, South-eastern Turkey)

The new species Salvia hasankeyfense (Lamiaceae) is here described and illustrated. It is confined to Hasankeyf ancient city, Batman, in South-eastern Turkey where it grows in rocky cracks. It is distinguished from the morphologically similar Salvia verbenaca by chiefly basal and stem leaf shape, size and indumentum, stem indumentum, and corolla colour. IUCN red list category, distribution map, notes on biogeography and ecology of the new species are also given.