A new species of the genus Caenorhinus Thomson, 1859 (Coleoptera, Rhynchitidae) from North Vietnam

A new species, Caenorhinus (Flavodeporaus) nahangensis Legalov, sp. nov. from North Vietnam is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to Caenorhinus (Flavodeporaus) lobanovi Legalov, 2021 Laos but differs from it in the different body coloration, narrower rostrum, very weakly curved mesotibiae, densely punctate elytral interstriae, obtuse apex of the aedeagus, and the form of the basal sclerite. From C. nigrobasalis Legalov, 2003, it is distinguish in the narrower rostrum, finely punctate forehead, greenish elytra, red ventrites 4 and 5, pygidium and propygidium, obtuse apex of the aedeagus, and the form of the basal sclerite.

A morphological, anatomical and palynological study of Aethionema lepidioides (Brassicaceae) - an endangered species endemic to Turkey

Aethionema lepidioides Hub.-Mor. is an endangered endemic species in Turkey with a very narrow natural distribution area. The present study aims to reveal the structural features of this species. For this purpose, its unknown morphological features – such as leaf, petal, sepal dimensions and shapes, filament and anther lengths, as well as seed dimensions, shape, colour and micromorphology – have been studied for the first time. To reveal the pollen characteristics of Ae. lepidioides, light microscope and SEM studies were conducted. Additionally, in the present study the anatomical features of Ae. lepidioides were also studied for the first time. The Ae. lepidioides leaves were found to be linear-oblanceolate, with an entire margin and a subacute to obtuse apex. The seeds were found to be dark brown and oval-shaped, with reticulated surface ornamentation. Anatomical studies found roots in the secondary growth stage, with xylem-filled pith. The stem was in the primary growth stage, featuring a multi-layer cortex under its outermost single-layered epidermis, a pronounced endodermis and a central cylinder beneath. The leaves were thick, amphistomatic and covered with a prominent wax layer. Their mesophyll was equifacial, and their stoma type was anisocytic. A stomatal index of 26 was found for the upper epidermis, while a corresponding index of 28.4 was found for the lower epidermis. The pollens were monad, radially symmetrical and isopolar. The pollen type was colpate, and the pollen shape was found to be prolate-spheroidal with a P/E ratio of 1.08.

PHYTOCHEMICAL, PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF THE LEAVES OF TECOMA STANS

Tecoma stans a woody shrubs belonging to the Bignoniaceae family and is commonly known as Pelli Kaner. The present paper shows various pharmacognostic standards such as taxonomy of leaf which shows leaf is found to be simple with the alternate arrangement, serrulate margin with obovate shape, obtuse apex and oblique, rounded base, pinnate venation. Secondly, microscopic characters are determined by cutting its leaf transverse section as well as powder microscopy, these studies provide various information about the arrangement of cell-like xylem, phloem, the upper and lower epidermis. Vein islet and vein termination number etc. Physical and chemical parameters such as total ash, acid insoluble ash, water-soluble ash, moisture content, water-soluble, and extractive value of leaf are calculated. Various chemical reagents are used to identify the chemical nature of leaf extract. Ethanolic extract of leaf is found to be active and 200 and 400 mg when in vivo evaluated for hepatoprotective activity. Ethanolic extract of the leaf also contains total phenolic content of 1.36 ± 0.02 mg/gm of dried extract equivalent to Gallic acid, the total flavonoids content of the extract was evaluated to be 4.41± 0.02 mg/gram and potential antioxidant activity which is comparable to the standards.

A new Dryadella Luer (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from the South Atlantic Rainforest

Dryadella catharinensis, a new orchid species found in the north-northeast part of the Santa Catarina state, in southern Brazil, is described here. The tiny new species was found in the dense ombrophilous submontane forest (Floresta Ombrófila Densa Submontana) in the Atlantic Rainforest. It is similar to Dryadella susanae, which is endemic of the Espírito Santo state and differs in the larger vegetative size, the narrow and suberect leaf, yellow flowers, the sepals with slightly denticulate margins, the petals with an obtuse apex and the cuneate lip with denticulated margins and a annular callus in the median portion of the claw. It is the fifteenth Dryadella species restricted to the Atlantic Rainforest (~25% of the genus), evidencing the importance of the conservation of this biome—of which only 11% remains—for the genus. Due to the rarity and low density of this species in the field, allied to the degradation of the habitat, we suggest a conservation status of Endangered. Further fieldwork is needed to locate additional populations and study the biological aspects for their conservation.

Litsea manilaliana (Lauraceae): a new species from southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

A new species in the Lauraceae, Litsea manilaliana Robi & Udayan, is described and illustrated from the Wagamon hills in India. The new species is similar to L. gorayana, from which it differs by its densely lenticellate branchlets, its elliptic leaves with cuneate base, obtuse apex and pale-glaucous undersurface, its adaxially flat midrib, its 5–7 pairs of lateral veins with abaxially prominent, scalariform-reticulate intercostae, its brachyblasts with 4–8 umbels, its umbels with 4 fragrant flowers, its ovate-oblong or oblong, gland-dotted, glabrous tepals, its slightly curved style, its globose ovary, its obovoid fruits with beaked apex and its glabrous fruiting pedicel.

Description of Heteracris lecoqi Yetchom-Fondjo & Kekeunou sp. nov. and Heteracris hannai Wandji & Kekeunou sp. nov. and redescription of Heteracris guineensis (Krauss, 1890) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) with comments on its ecology in the Southern part of Cameroon

The specimens studied were collected with sweep net and pitfall in the forests, agro-forests, herbaceous fallows, and crop fields of 14 localities in the southern part of Cameroon, from August 2015 to February 2018. The results show that Heteracris hannai sp. nov. and Heteracris lecoqi sp. nov. differ from previously known species of the same genus by the pattern of coloration and the details or shape of the phallic complex. H. lecoqi sp. nov. is characterized by light brownish body; male cercus with flattened, downcurved and obtuse apex; lophus strongly curved; interlophal space with V shape; apodeme of cingulum bow, convergent, with V-shape; valve of cingulum in lateral view longer than apical valve of penis; ramus in ventral view joined. H. hannai sp. nov. is distinct to other species by brown to grey body; male cercus with apex rounded, curved inside; lophus curved; interlophal space with U-shape; apodeme of cingulum thick, slightly parallel, with U shape; valve of cingulum in lateral view hardly longer than apical valve of penis; ramus in ventral view opened. The characteristics of H. guineensis are closer to H. hannai sp. nov. than to H. lecoqi sp. nov. H. lecoqi sp. nov. was collected only in the fallows while H. hannai sp. nov. was collected in the forests, agro-forests, fallows, and crop fields. Compared to H. guineensis, both new species are scarce in the natural vegetation and their distribution area is limited to two and four localities respectively for H. lecoqi sp. nov. and H. hannai sp. nov. All these three grasshopper’s species were recorded as accidental species in all types of vegetation.

Begonia guangdongensis, a new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Guangdong, China

A new species of Begonia section Coelocentrum, B. guangdongensis W.H. Tu, B.M. Wang & Y.L. Li from Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated here. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to B. biflora T. C. Ku and B. longistyla Y. M. Shui & W. H. Chen, but differs from B. biflora by its rugose leaves and glabrous capsules and from B. longistyla by its glabrous stipules without ciliate margin, densely hirsute-pilose leaves and obtuse apex of bracts. Additionally, it is also somewhat similar to B. chongzuoensis Yan Liu, S. M. Ku & C.-I Peng, but there are significant distinctions in their stipules, leaves and bracts. The conservation status of B. guangdongensis is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Nepenthes putaiguneung (Nepenthaceae), a new species from highland of Sumatra, Indonesia

A new species of Nepenthes—Nepenthes putaiguneung—from the highlands of Sumatra (Indonesia) is described and illustrated. This new species is morphologically similar with N. Singalana from which differs in having narrowly spathulate leaves, more gracile upper pitchers with a finely ribbed peristome, lacking teeth on its inner edge, lid with a basal crest and a short tooth-like triangular appendage near the apex on the underside (not lacking such appendages), the lid glands of lower pitcher confined to the midline (not scattered evenly over the whole surface), and pedicel of lower male flowers usually with minutely short bracteole. N. putaiguneung is also similar to N. mikei but differs in having narrowly spathulate leaves with obtuse apex, lower pitcher with slender infundibulate shape below and cylindrical above, peristome of lower pitcher with short and denser distinct ribs, lid of lower and upper pitcher with a prominent glandular crest at the base of midrib, several distinct glands on the lid of lower pitcher that clustered along the midrib; and pedicel of lower male flowers that usually with minutely short bracteole.

On a new species of Cheilolejeunea (Spruce) Steph. (Lejeuneaceae, Machantiophyta) from Amazonian savannas

During fieldwork to investigate bryophyte communities in disjunct areas of savannas in the Eastern Amazon, a new species of Cheilolejeunea was collected. The genus contains species mainly inhabiting tropical rain forests, which also occur in seasonal forests or xeromorphic forests, such as Cheilolejeunea adnata, Cheilolejeunea discoidea, and Cheilolejeunea rigidula. The aim of this paper is to describe and illustrate the new species, as well as to present comments on its morphology, taxonomy and distribution. The new species is characterized by profusely branched, creeping plants with leaves widely spreading to squarrose, imbricate, suborbicular to obovate with usually incurved, rounded to obtuse apex and mammillose leaf cells, often with a lenticular papilla on the dorsal surface. Further diagnostic characters, as well as comments on its distribution and similarities with related species, are given.

Bulbophyllum gedangense (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Malaxideae), a new species from Tibet, China

Bulbophyllum gedangense (Orchidaceae), a new species from Tibet, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to B. psychoon and B. levinei, but differs from them by having longer scapes, smaller flowers, sepals subequal in length, ovate dorsal sepal with obtuse apex, obliquely triangular-ovate lateral sepals with acute apex, ovate petals with entire margins and rounded apex.