Kalanchoe benbothae (K. subg. Fernandesiae; Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae), a new southern African species endemic to KwaZulu-Natal in the Maputaland-Pondoland Region of Endemism

Since 2016 the number of species of Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) known from southern Africa has increased by more than 50%, from 13 to 20. We here describe the 21st species known from the subcontinent. As far as could be determined, this new species, K. benbothae, is endemic to northeastern KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern-most province of South Africa, with the entire natural geographical distribution range of the species falling within the Maputaland-Pondoland Region of Endemism. Kalanchoe benbothae fits in K. subg. Fernandesiae, a cluster of species with large, paddle- to soup plate-sized leaves, and dense, elongated, often club-shaped inflorescences. The closest relative of K. benbothae is K. luciae, which was described just over 110 years ago, and was the second representative of K. subg. Fernandesiae to have been described. Kalanchoe benbothae differs from K. luciae mostly in its reproductive morphology (corolla lobe colour and orientation, anther colour and presentation, filament length, pistil shape, and size and shape of the nectar scales).

Lepidaploa restingae (Asteraceae: Vernonieae), a new species from Northeastern Brazil

Lepidaploa restingae, a new species from the restinga vegetation in Northeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. This new species differs from morphologically related species by the branch indument, leaf morphology, number of phyllary series and corolla lobe indument. Taxonomic comments, a distribution map and a preliminary conservation status for the new species are provided.

Primula qiupuensis, a new species in Primulaceae from China

Primula qiupuensis J.W.Shao, a new species in sect. Ranunculoides from eastern China, is described and illustrated. It can be distinguished from relative species within the section by corolla lobe apex rounded and pollen grains suboblate and stephanocolpate. Primula qiupuensis is endemic to the hilly and mountainous areas of Qiupu River Basin in Anhui Province.

Gentianella macrosperma, a new species of Gentianella (Gentianaceae) from Xinjiang, China

Gentianella macrosperma Ma ex H.F. Cao, J.D. Ya & Q.R. Zhang, a new species of Gentianaceae from Xinjiang, Northwest China is described and illustrated. This new species is unique in having equal length of corolla lobe and corolla tube, nectaries located at the throat of the corolla tube and large seeds up to 1.6 mm in diameter. In addition, an updated identification key to the Chinese species of Gentianella is provided.

A NEW SPECIES OF DIASTEMA (GESNERIACEAE) FROM THE EASTERN ANDEAN SLOPES OF PERU

A striking new species of Diastema, D. fimbratiloba, is described from Ucayali Region, along the eastern Andean slopes in central Peru. The new species has a fimbriate lower corolla lobe, a feature not previously documented in the genus. We also provide a general comparison of the newly described species and morphologically related species in the context of the taxonomy and phylogeny of the poorly known genus Diastema.

Oreocharis odontopetala, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guizhou, China

A new species, Oreocharisodontopetala Q.Fu & Y.Q.Wang from Guizhou Province in southwest China, is described and illustrated, based on morphological comparison with existing species. It is morphologically most similar to O.elegantissima, but can be easily distinguished by its adaxially bullate leaf blade, abaxially conspicuous reticulate veinlets, brown-purple peduncles, triangular adaxial corolla lobes and abaxial corolla lobe margins bearing 4–10 long teeth, glabrous style and shorter stamens with confluent thecae at the apex, as well as leaf epidermal characters.

Short communication: A new record of Etlingera megalocheilos (Griff.) A.D. Poulsen (Zingiberaceae) in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Trimanto, Hapsari L. 2018. Short communication: A new record of Etlingera megalocheilos (Griff.) A.D. Poulsen(Zingiberaceae) in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 1227-1235. A through morphological examination has been conducted to aliving specimen of Zingiberaceae collection of Purwodadi Botanic Garden, East Java which was collected from Pangi Binangga NatureReserve, Central Sulawesi. The result showed that the characters of the species match very well with the description of Etlingeramegalocheilos. The distribution of E. megalocheilos was previously reported to occur only in Sundaland includes Peninsular Malaysia,Singapore, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Thus, E. megalocheilos is a newly recorded species in Sulawesi; and confirmed that itsdistribution record now has expanded to Wallacea. The key morphological characters of E. megalocheilos are labellum hourglassshaped,dull red or red to orange-red with the yellow margin, the anther is not covered by the corolla lobe, and have slightly angledfilament. Detailed descriptions, photographs, and notes of the species are presented in this paper. Due to its high potential medicinalproperties, further bioprospecting studies are necessary to conduct.

Sipaneopsis (Sipaneeae, Ixoroideae): A unique flowering process in the family Rubiaceae and its taxonomic significance

The process of anthesis of Sipaneopsis is unique within the Rubiaceae, and is here described and illustrated in detail for the first time. During the initial stage of anthesis the flowers are small, with the corolla lobes already open and erect before tube elongation, and the corolla lobe basal appendages are appressed against each other, forming a convex structure at the corolla mouth obstructing the entrance of visitors and pollinators. At the final stage of anthesis, the corolla lobes reflex and become perpendicular to the tube, and their basal appendages become erect, not touching each other, allowing visitors and pollinators to access the corolla tube and the nectar disk. Neobertiera and Sipaneopsis are unique within the tribe Sipaneeae in having indehiscent dry fruits and recent molecular phylogenies positioned them as sister taxa. Sipaneopsis is distinguished from Neobertiera in having flowers consistently homostylous (vs. distylous or rarely tristylous in Neobertiera), stamens inserted at the middle of the corolla tube (vs. at variable positions), and five triangular appendages at the base of each corolla lobe (vs. corolla lobes thickened at base, without appendages). The differences in flower morphology and process of anthesis between the two genera (which most likely influence their different pollination syndromes) provide an important set of significant taxonomic and diagnostic characters that can be used to distinguish them.

Two new species of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from eastern Thailand

Two new species from Pha Taem National Park, eastern Thailand, Ceropegia acicularis Kidyoo and C. tenuicaulis Kidyoo (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), are described, illustrated and compared with the related C. thailandica Meve, from which they differ in growth form, stem branching pattern, type of flower, shape of corolla tube and lobe, and type of hair present on corolla lobe.