Heracleum piliferum (Apiaceae), a new species from central Nepal

A new species, Heracleum piliferum (Apiaceae), is described from the Annapurna mountain massif, central Nepal. The new species is related to H. forrestii and H. hemsleyanum and differs from them in dense pubescence of petioles, short triangular sheaths of stem leaves, 2-pinnate leaf blades, shallow notched terminal leaf segments, crenulate leaf margin, larger terminal umbels, and broadly winged lateral ribs of the mericarps.

A new species of Viola (Violaceae) from Guangdong Province, China

Viola huizhouensis (Violaceae), a new species from Xiangtoushan National Nature Reserve of Guangdong Province in China, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to V. guangzhouensis, but it can be easily distinguished by its much stouter rhizome, lack of aerial stem, dense pubescence of the basal pedicel and the whole plant. Our phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequences, confirms that the new species belongs to V. sect. Diffusae.

Two new species of Meriania (Melastomataceae) from eastern Ecuador

We describe two new species of Meriania (Melastomataceae), Meriania ardyae from Llanganates National Park and Meriania zunacensis from the Río Zuñac Reserve in Ecuador. Meriania ardyae is characterized by dark crimson petals, hypanthium and calyx with a dark purple coloration, young branches and internodes covered with a dense pubescence of violet-black hirsute trichomes and slightly dimorphic stamens. Meriania zunacensis is distinguished by conspicuous interpetiolar flaps, inflorescences with glomerulate flower clusters, large flowers with magenta petals, isomorphic stamens, and a fleshy, strongly curved style.

Studies in Andean Ocotea (Lauraceae) V. Species with Unisexual Flowers and Sparsely Appressed-Pubescent or Glabrous Leaves without Domatia Occurring above 1000 m in Altitude

This is the fifth installment of a treatment of Ocotea Aubl. occurring above 1000-m altitude in the Andean countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. This part covers species with unisexual flowers lacking distinctive characters such as presence of domatia or erect or dense pubescence on leaves. Twenty-six species are treated, of which 12 are new to science. These are O. nidiae van der Werff from Venezuela; O. erugata van der Werff, O. gymnantha van der Werff, and O. lorda van der Werff from Colombia; O. ceronii van der Werff, O. depilis van der Werff, O. homeieri van der Werff, and O. pilosa van der Werff from Ecuador; and O. calcicola van der Werff, O. fulgida van der Werff, O. nana van der Werff, and O. tunquiensis van der Werff from Peru. Ocotea cernua (Nees) Mez is synonymized with O. leptobotra (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez and O. longifolia Kunth is synonymized with O. aurantiodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez.

Sedum chazaroi (Crassulaceae), una nueva especie endémica del sur de Jalisco, México

Sedum chazaroi (Crassulaceae), an endemic new species from southern Jalisco, Mexico, is described and illustrated. This taxon belongs to section Sedastrum (Rose) Berger based on characters such as its basal rosettes, dense pubescence and paniculate inftorescences. Among differentiating characters from the rest of species of section Sedastrum are bigger rosettes (l.5-6 cm in diameter), larger and thicker floriferous stems (57-85 cm long and 1.1-1.8 cm in diameter) anda dense pubescence. Sedum chazaroi is compared with closely all ied species like S. ebracteatum, S. hintonii and S. mocinianum.

A new species of Cascabela (Apocynaceae; Rauvolfioideae, Plumerieae) from Michoacán, Mexico

A new species of Cascabela endemic to the Balsas Basin from Michoacán, Mexico is described and illustrated. Cascabela balsaensis can be separated from all known species of the genus because of its elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate and subcoriaceous leaves with dense pubescence, very small calycine colleters, and shorter corollas. In addition, we provide an evaluation of conservation, a map of distribution, and a species key.

The dune race of Vitis riparia in Ontario: Taxonomy, conservation and biogeography

Although poorly known, the native dune grape, Vitis riparia Michaux var. syrticola (Fernald & Wiegand) Fernald, is a potentially important source of valuable traits for the improvement of cultivated grapes. In order to clarify its taxonomic and conservation status in Ontario and to evaluate ecological and geographic patterns, data were collected from 623 specimens from 10 herbaria. In addition, five plants referable to var. syrticola with densely hairy petioles and five referable to var. riparia with glabrous petioles were cultivated in a greenhouse under uniform mesic conditions. Although the sample was considered reliable, there was no bimodal pattern in the putatively distinctive dense pubescence to support taxonomic recognition of var. syrticola; it may be referred to simply as “the dune race.” Cultivated plants retained their initial pubescence characteristics for 3 consecutive years, suggesting that the character is relatively stable. Plants referable to the dune race with dense pubescence occurred in extremely dry and open natural habitats and occurred significantly more often than expected on shoreline sand dunes of the Great Lakes. In contrast, plants without hair or less pubescent were significantly under-represented in dry habitats and shoreline dunes. While Vitis riparia is widespread in southern Ontario, the pubescent race is restricted and has a predominantly Great-Lakes-shoreline distribution pattern. It has been reported from only 43 locations and is considered vulnerable to decline. Key words: Grape, Vitis, Ontario, germplasm protection, crop relative

Evaluation of Selected Cotoneaster spp. for Resistance to Hawthorn Lace Bug

Four Cotoneaster species were evaluated for resistance to hawthorn lace bug. In a preference study using adults, the lace bugs preferred C. x watereri Exell. ‘Brandekeir’ when compared to the other 3 species, C. lacteus W.W.Sm., C. nitens Rehd. & E.H. Wils. and C. acutifolius Turcz. Significantly fewer nymphs completed development on foliage of C. lacteus than on C. x watereri ‘Brandekeir,’ C. nitens and C. acutifolius. The presence of dense pubescence is suggested as a factor in this reduced development.

TWO NEW COLLETES FROM COSTA RICA

Colletes niger, n. sp. — ♀. Black, shining, with long erect jet black pubescence; clypeus prominent, with coarse close punctures tending to form striæ on either side of a shallow median longitudianl depression, and with a deep transverse depression just before the sharply truncate apex; face above and on sides of clypeus much more closely and finely punctured, and covered with a long and dense pubescence which extends over the clypeus itself; vertex and cheeks very finely punctured, the former practically bare except for a tuft of long hairs in the interocellular space, the latter with abundant long hairs; ocelli pale, opalescent; occiput fringed with long erect pubescence; malar space smooth, its length about, two-thirds width of mandible at base; mandibles slender and polished, deeply grooved without, notched almost at the tip, which is blunt and slightly rufescent in some lights; labrum with a rounded median pit at base; antennæ entirely glossy black, the first joint of the flagellum as long as the second and third together; no prothoracic spines; disc of mesothorax sparsely covered with erect hairs and with a few fine punctures, the pubescence becoming longer and denser and the punctuation finer and much closer on the sides, especially anteriorly;