Thilachium madagascariense (Capparaceae), a new species from eastern Madagascar with a key to the species of the genus

SummaryThilachium madagascariense Fici, a small tree characterised by 1-foliolate leaves with articulate petioles, leaf blades elliptic or narrowly obovate with base attenuate and apex acuminate, flowers in groups of 2 – 3 at the top of lateral twigs and a high number of stamens, is described and illustrated from forest habitats of eastern Madagascar. The new species is similar to T. laurifolium Baker, a species endemic to central and eastern Madagascar, differing in the longer leaves with acuminate apex, flowers conferted at the top of lateral twigs, shorter pedicels, higher number of stamens and shorter gynophore. Its affinities are discussed and an updated key is provided for all the species of the genus Thilachium.

Strobilanthes medahinnensis (Acanthaceae) a new species, based on morphological and molecular data, from the Peak Wilderness Nature Reserve, Sri Lanka

Strobilanthes medahinnensis, a new species of Acanthaceae is described and illustrated from Sri Lanka. The new species is similar to S. anceps in having ovate leaves, yellow gland dots of abaxial leaf surface and reflexed bracts but differs by rounded stem, leaves with acuminate apex, elongated spikes, lanceolate outermost bract with long acuminate apex. The establishment of the new species is supported by complete plastome genome analyses.

A new moss species from northwestern China: Bryum glacierum (Bryaceae)

The form of the gemmae appears to be constant within Bryum species, and it is an important character for distinguishing among closely related species. In this study, we describe a new species of Bryum, B. glacierum Y.Y. Liu & Y.H. Wu, that was collected from Tianshan Mountain in China along with a description of its gemmae. This species is distinguished morphologically by (1) gemmiforfm to julaceous shoots; (2) broadly ovate leaves, strongly concave, with obtuse to acuminate apex, plane and undifferentiated leaf margins, rhombic to rhomboidal distal and medial cells; and (3) dark red-brown, obconic or ovate bulbils with peg-like leaf primordia, densely clustered in the leaf axils of sterile shoots. The new moss species is currently known from two localities in northwestern China. The species seems to prefer high altitudes, growing as a pioneer mainly on ground exposed by retreating glaciers. The principal distinctive characters that separate Bryum glacierum from similar species of Bryum and Pohlia are discussed. An identification key for bulbiferous species of Bryum in China is provided.

Pharmacognostic and Analytical Profile of Leaves of Erythroxylum Moonii Hochr. – An Ethno-Medicinal Plant

Erythroxylum moonii Hochr. is a shrub or small tree in family Erythroxylaceae and folklore claims report the use of its leaves in the treatment of helminthiasis. Aim: Hence, present study aims to evaluate the pharmacognostic and analytical characters including HPTLC of its leaves. Methods: E. moonii fresh and powdered leaves were explored for the macroscopic and microscopic features along with their physico-chemical, phytochemical properties and HPTLC following standard procedures. Results: The leaf of E. moonii is simple, alternate, petiolate, stipulate, elliptic and lanceolate with obtusely caudate-acuminate apex, acute base and entire margins. Fresh leaf is light green, slight astringent with characteristic odour and smooth texture. Powdered dry leaves were light green, slight astringent with aromatic odour and coarse, fibrous texture. Microscopic evaluation revealed the presence of simple, bilobed and stellate trichomes (with and without lignification), rosette, rhomboidal, prismatic and cluster crystals, paracytic stomata and starch grains as key characteristics both in fresh leaves and powdered leaves. Obtained values for loss on drying, total ash, acid insoluble ash, pH, water and methanol soluble extractive were 10.44±0.31%, 2.2±0.67%, 0.93±0.06%, 5, 7.63±0.57% and 6.44±0.38% respectively. Qualitative phytochemical analysis suggested the presence of carbohydrates, steroids, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids in the test sample. HPTLC study revealed 17 and 11 peaks at short (254nm) and long (366nm) ultraviolet consecutively. Conclusion: Obtained results can be used to establish pharmacognostic and analytical standards of leaves of E. moonii which can serve as an important source to determine the quality, purity and strength of the powdered drug.

Generic affiliation of Phyllagathis phamhoangii (Melastomataceae) from Vietnam

Phyllagathis phamhoangii, a species from Vietnam, was originally described in Phyllagathis based on its resemblance to P. nanakorniana and P. subrotunda in habit, rhizome morphology and leaf shape. However, its overall morphology, mainly stamen and capsule morphology, corresponds better with Fordiophyton indicating questionable generic affiliation. We included molecular (nrITS) and anatomical (crystal form) evidences to resolve the generic affiliation of P. phamhoangii. Our phylogenetic analyses recovered P. phamhoangii inside Fordiophyton and P. nanakorniana and P. subrotunda inside the Kerriothyrsus clade. The Fordiophyton clade is characterized by the presence of raphides, while the Kerriothyrsus clade is characterized by druses. Based on these evidences, P. phamhoangii is herein transferred to Fordiophyton, resulting in a new combination F. phamhoangii. It is morphologically similar to F. peperomiifolium but differs from the latter in the leaf blade with shortly acuminate to acuminate apex (vs. broadly acute), hypanthium 4-ridged (vs. not ridged), and connectives of shorter stamens dorsally spurred (vs. not spurred).

New species of Anthurium Schott (Araceae) from the Kõkõi Eujã Natural Traditional Reserve of the Pacific coast, Cauca Department, Colombia

The Kõkõi Eujã Natural Traditional Reserve was created in 2019 to protect the golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis Myers, Daly & Malkin, 1978) in the Cauca Department of Colombia. As part of the biodiversity inventory of the reserve a new species of Anthurium with scandent habit was discovered. The new species is endemic to Colombia and it is more similar to A. caldodsonii Croat, A. boekei Croat, and A. scandens (Aubl.) Engl., but differs by having widely lanceolate leaves with acuminate apex, cuneate base, and acrodromous venation with three pairs of basal veins.

A new species of Ilex sect. Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) from Guangdong, China

A new species, Ilex jiangmenensis, is described from Gudoushan Provincial Nature Reserve of Jiangmen City, a coastal city in southern Guangdong, China. It was observed to grow in rock crevices or beside the evergreen broad-leaved forests in the mountains of Gudoushan and Nanfengshan at an elevation of 50–550 m. The new species differs from its morphologically most similar species I. pingheensis by its much smaller leave blade, acute or short acuminate apex of leave blade, pistillate inflorescences with fascicles 1–2(–4)-flowered, and staminate inflorescences with individual branches of the fascicles (1)–3-flowered.

Six new Amazonian Myrtaceae

There are described and illustrated Eugenia andiraana, E. libens, Myrcia iranduba, M. javariana, M. piptocalyx and Plinia rufiflora, all from Amazonian Brazil; additionally, affinities and conservation issues are discussed for each species. Eugenia andiraana, from the state of Acre, is morphologically related to E. minuscula, differing by its pilose, longer blades; E. libens, from the state of Roraima, is related to E. callichroma, but has wider blades, persisting bracteoles and locules of the ovary with less ovules; M. iranduba is related, between others, to M. inaequiloba, but differs by its scarcely reticulated blades with acute or shortly acuminate apex and inflorescences with deciduous bracts; Myrcia javariana, from the state of Amazonas, is related to M. megapaniculata, but differs by its winged twigs, narrower blades and applanate inflorescences; M. piptocalyx, from Acre, is related to M. splendens but differs by its blades with larger glandular dots and deciduous calyx lobes, and Plinia rufiflora, from the state of Pará, is related to P. costata, but has blades with midvein and lateral veins raised on both sides and flowers with rufescent trichomes.

Berbris aristata DC: Pharmacognostical Standardization and Phytochemical Studies of its Leaves

Berberis aristata DC. (Fam: Berberidaceae) commonly known as Daruharidra, Indian Barberry or tree turmeric. Leaves of this plant are traditionally used in the treatment of inflammation, wound healing, skin disease, menorrhagia, diarrhea, jaundice and infection of eyes etc. Micromorphology and physicochemical analysis of the leaves of B.aristata were performed as per WHO and Pharmacopoeial methods. Leaves (4.9cm × 1.8cm) are deep green on dorsal and light green on ventral side. Leaves are in tufts of 5 to 8, phyllotaxy verticillate, simple spiny, lanceolate, toothed, leathery, sessile, acuminate apex and reticulate pinnate venation. Microscopic evaluation of leaves showed biconvex midrib and thick lamina. The epidermal layers of the midrib are thick with small, less conspicuous cells and thick cuticle. The vascular system consists of three large vascular bundles; the median one is small than the two lateral bundles; the bundles are collateral and wedge shaped. Lamina is made of epidermal layer on the adaxial side with spindle shaped thick walled cells and papillate cuticle. The abaxial epidermis has squarish or rectangular epidermal cells with prominent spiny cuticular outgrowths. Powder microscopy showed the presence of cuticular papillae, anomocytic stomata and spiny outgrowth. Preliminary phytochemical screening of appropriate solvent extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, sterols, tannins, proteins and amino acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponin, carbohydrates and absence of glycosides and volatile and fixed oil. Microscopic analysis and other parameters were informative and provide valuable information in the identification, standardization of B.aristata leaves. Keywords: Berberis aristata, Berberidaceae, leaf, Microscopical evaluation.

A new species of Sonerila (Melastomataceae) from the Western Ghats of India

Sonerila coimbatorensis sp. nov. is described here. The new species is closely allied to S. gadgiliana Ratheesh & Sivad., by its acaulescent habit and the presence of a tuber, but differs in having smaller leaves (1.5–4.5 cm wide) with 3–5 nerves, sparsely glandular petiole, single inflorescence with 1–4 flowers, terete peduncle with 6–18 cm long, pedicel and hypanthium green, petals abaxially with a glabrous midrib and with acuminate apex, style 0.4 cm long and glabrous capsule.