Many species of the Carnivora consume grass and other fibrous plant tissues

Within the Carnivora order, the consumption of fibrous plant tissues (FPT), such as leaves and stems, is only known to serve the nutritional needs of eight species in the Ailuridae and Ursidae. Apart from the Ailuridae and Ursidae, the extent of FPT ingestion in the Carnivora is poorly understood. A literature search was conducted to compile studies containing evidence of FPT consumption in the Carnivora, primarily based on analyses of scats or gastrointestinal tracts. Among 352 studies, there was evidence of FPT consumption in any amount in 124 species, or 41%, of the Carnivora. Grass consumption was documented in 95 species, while ingestion of sedges, marine plants, bryophytes, conifers, and dicots was much less frequent. A few species showed evidence of consuming fungi or soil. Nine studies observed co-occurrences of intestinal parasites with grasses or sedges in the scats of the Carnivora, suggesting these abrasive or hairy plant tissues help to expel intestinal parasites. The relevance of consuming marine plants, bryophytes, conifers, dicots, fungi, or soil has also been underappreciated. Deliberate ingestion of FPT may be more widespread and important than previously realized in the Carnivora.

Clematis mae (Ranunculaceae), a new species of C. sect. Meclatis from Xinjiang, China

Clematismae Z.Z.Yang & L.Xie, a new species of Ranunculaceae from Xinjiang, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to C.orientalis and C.glauca but can be distinguished for being a less hairy plant (hairy in C.orientalis), often 2-ternate leaves (1–2-pinnate for C.orientalis and C.glauca), lanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaflets (elliptic or ovate in C.glauca), larger flowers (smaller flower in C.orientalis) and narrowly lanceolate sepals with acute to slightly attenuate apex (narrowly oblong sepals in C.orientalis and ovate to broadly lanceolate sepals in C.glauca). The new species is endemic to the southern slope of North Tianshan Mountain in Central Xinjiang. The conservation status of the species is also discussed.

Six cultivars of Solanum macrocarpon (Solanaceae) in Ghana

The Solanum macrocarpon complex (the cultivated egg plant) has been studied in Ghana using morphological and experimental methods. Six cultivars belonging to the S. macrocarpon complex have been recognized and described. The cultivars are S. macrocarpon ‘Gboma’, S. macrocarpon ‘Mankessim’, S. macrocarpon ‘Akwaseho’, S. macrocarpon ‘Kade’, S. macrocarpon ‘Sarpeiman’ and S. macrocarpon ‘Bui’. The very spiny, hairy plant traditionally called S. dasyphyllum is regarded as the wild ancestor from which the cultivars have been derived through a process of crop evolution. The variation within S. macrocarpon complex is attributable to genotypic differences and environmental factors.