Five new species and three new varieties of Begonia section Casparya endemic to Colombia

Casparya, one of the most species-rich sections of Begonia in the Neotropics with 44 species, is distributed from Costa Rica to Peru, with the highest diversity in the Colombian Andes. The section is morphologically well-differentiated and can be distinguished from other Andean cane-like begonias by the 3-horned fruit and multifid or un-divided styles. Here we describe eight taxonomic novelties for Casparya from Colombia, five species and three varieties, descriptions include illustrations, distribution maps, taxonomic comments, and assessments of conservation status. The five species described here are: Begonia diegoi, Begonia galeanoi, Begonia mamapachensis, Begonia perijaensis, and Begonia vinagrera; and the three new varieties are: Begonia kalbreyerii var. orquidensis, Begonia silverstonei var. brevipetiolata, and Begonia vinagrera var. pomecensis. We also present a taxonomic key for the 32 species of Casparya so far known from Colombia.

Three new endemic species of Lepanthes (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from the highlands of Ecuador

Three new species of Lepanthes from Ecuador are described and illustrated. These additions to the Ecuadorean flora were recorded in evergreen montane forest and páramo as part of three different research projects conducted during the last five years (2016–2021). Lepanthes oro-lojaensis was discovered in the southwest of El Oro province and is similar to L. jimburae, differing mainly in the much smaller plants, inflorescences and floral parts. Lepanthes microprosartima from the western slopes of Pichincha volcano in northern Ecuador resembles L. obandoi but differs in the coloration of the leaves, the inflorescence that are shorter than the leaves and the smaller floral appendix. Lepanthes caranqui, found in eastern Pichincha and Imbabura, is most similar to L. pachychila but differs from it in its much larger plants and different shape of the petals and the floral appendix. Preliminary assessments of the conservation status of the three taxonomic novelties are provided, using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

The genus Callitriche (Plantaginaceae: Callitricheae) in South America

Callitriche is a sub-cosmopolitan plant genus occurring throughout temperate regions of both hemispheres, including the peri-Antarctic islands, with 78 species worldwide. Records of Callitriche include frequent and extensive misidentification due to a combination of factors including a lack of taxonomic and nomenclatural clarification before the mid-20th century. This work aims to contribute to the taxonomic knowledge of the genus Callitriche in South America by presenting taxonomic novelties and a revision of some critical species. More specifically, seven new species are described: C. ciliata, C. concinna, C. dacryoidea, C. ecarinata, C. hegelmaieriana, C. praetermissa and C. schotsmaniana. In addition, C. marginata var. berteroana is here raised to species rank, C. mandonis, C. oblongicarpa and C. turfosa are re-established, and the names C. antarctica, C. deflexa, C. deflexa var. brauniana, C. deflexa var. glaziovii, C. deflexa var. phaeocarpa, C. heterophylla, C. heteropoda, C. terrestris and C. turfosa are typified.

Morpho-Phylo Taxonomy of Novel Dothideomycetous Fungi Associated With Dead Woody Twigs in Yunnan Province, China

Within the field of mycology, macrofungi have been relatively well-studied when compared to microfungi. However, the diversity and distribution of microfungi inhabiting woody material have not received the same degree of research attention, especially in relatively unexplored regions, such as Yunnan Province, China. To help address this knowledge gap, we collected and examined fungal specimens from different plants at various locations across Yunnan Province. Our investigation led to the discovery of four species that are clearly distinct from extant ones. These taxonomic novelties were recognized based on morphological comparisons coupled with phylogenetic analyses of multiple gene sequences (non-translated loci and protein-coding regions). The monotypic genus Neoheleiosa gen. nov. (type: N. lincangensis) is introduced in Monoblastiaceae (Monoblastiales) for a woody-based saprobic ascomycete that possesses globose to subglobose or obpyriform ascomata with centric or eccentric, papillate ostioles, an ascomatal wall with thin-walled cells of textura globulosa, cylindric, pedicellate asci with an ocular chamber, and 1-septate, brown, guttulate, longitudinally striated, bicellular ascospores. Neoheleiosa has a close phylogenetic affinity to Heleiosa, nevertheless, it is morphologically dissimilar by its peridium cells and ornamented ascospores. Acrocalymma hongheense and A. yuxiense are described and illustrated as new species in Acrocalymmaceae. Acrocalymma hongheense is introduced with sexual and asexual (coelomycetous) features. The sexual morph is characterized by globose to subglobose, ostiolate ascomata, a peridium with textura angularis cells, cylindric-clavate asci with a furcate to truncate pedicel and an ocular chamber, hyaline, fusiform, 1-septate ascospores which are surrounded by a thick, distinct sheath, and the asexual morph is featured by pycnidial conidiomata, subcylindrical, hyaline, smooth, annelledic, conidiogenous cells, hyaline, guttulate, subcylindrical, aseptate conidia with mucoid ooze at the apex and with a rounded hilum at the base. Acrocalymma yuxiense is phylogenetically distinct from other extant species of Acrocalymma and differs from other taxa in Acrocalymma in having conidia with three vertical eusepta. Magnibotryascoma kunmingense sp. nov. is accommodated in Teichosporaceae based on its coelomycetous asexual morph which is characterized by pycnidial, globose to subglobose, papillate conidiomata, enteroblastic, annelledic, discrete, cylindrical to oblong, hyaline conidiogenous cells arising from the inner layer of pycnidium wall, subglobose, oval, guttulate, pale brown and unicelled conidia.

Recent Changes and Corrections in the Taxonomy of Indian Pteridophytes: Part 2

Taxonomic novelties and corrections to Indian Pteridophytes are given briefly here in taxonomic order according to the forthcoming Annotated Checklist of Indian Pteridophytes vol. 3, nearing completion for January 2021. We have divided it into two parts, the present second part is from the Appendix re corrections and additions to Families treated in vols. 1-2, especially concerning relevant publications that appeared subsequently to the two volumes. Further details of the taxa and references are given in vol. 3.

Asian cave-adapted diplurans, with the description of two new genera and four new species (Arthropoda, Hexapoda, Entognatha)

Twenty-nine specimens of Diplura collected from eight caves in China and Myanmar contain two new genera, Hubeicampa Sendra & Lips gen. nov. and Mueggejapyx Sendra & Komerički gen. nov., as well as four new species, Anisuracampa ywangana Sendra & Komerički sp. nov., Hubeicampa melissa Sendra & Lips gen. et sp. nov., Pacificampa wudonghuii Sendra sp. nov. and Mueggejapyx brehieri Sendra & Komerički gen. et sp. nov. These cave-adapted taxa showcase an impressive diversity in morphological adaptation (troglomorphy) to cave ecosystems. Their sensorial equipment, setae and receptors in the cupuliform organ have unique forms (H. melissa gen. et sp. nov.), as well as the pretarsus sticky surface (A. ywangana sp. nov. and H. melissa gen. et sp. nov.). Recent contributions on Asian diplurans, together with the taxonomic novelties shown in the present study, highlight the biogeographical importance of the Asian biodiversity. Asia is revealed as a continent with vast karst regions still waiting to be explored and new dipluran species waiting to be discovered.

Four flowering plant species described from Katanga (Democratic Republic of the Congo) are based on specimens collected in Guangxi, China

The original set of botanical collections of the agronomist H.A. Homblé is conserved in the herbarium BR. Homblé was one of the first collectors (1911–1913) for the flora of Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many Homblé specimens were described as taxonomic novelties; 107 tropical African plant species are named after him. Before his colonial career in Katanga, Homblé stayed about two years (1909–1911) in Guangxi, China. His incompletely labelled Chinese collections were erroneously considered as collected in Katanga. This supposed African origin has led to confusion with regard to the identification, and even resulted in the description of four species believed to be new for science. This paper presents and discusses Homblé’s collection made in Guangxi, and the assumed novelties in it. Drosera insolita is a synonym of the Asian Drosera lunata, widespread from India to Australia. Three other species are new synonyms. Caesalpinia homblei is a synonym of the pantropical Caesalpinia bonduc. Digitaria polybotryoides is a synonym of Digitaria abludens, a widespread species in tropical Asia. Grewia katangensis is the only species that proved to be synonymous with an endemic species, Grewia cuspidatoserrata, only known from S Yunnan, and here reported as a new record for Guangxi. Lysimachia candida and Impatiens chinensis should be deleted from the list of the Congo Flora. The importance of careful specimen labelling and label interpretation is discussed.

Taxonomic novelties in Pentaphylacaceae: Four new species of Ternstroemia from Brazil

Pentaphylacaceae (Ericales) comprise 14 genera and ca. 510 species distributed in subtropical and tropical regions worldwide. In Brazil, the family is represented by two genera (i.e., Freziera and Ternstroemia) with 21 species, after the inclusion of the four new species described here. Ternstroemia bahiensis is endemic to the Caatinga domain, T. rupestris is endemic to the Atlantic Forest-Cerrado transition, while T. megaphylla and T. longipetiolata are endemic to the Amazon Forest domain. Morphological descriptions and comments on habitat, distribution, conservation, phenology, and taxonomy affinities are presented for all the new species, plus line drawings, distribution map, and an identification key to all Ternstroemia species from Brazil.