Studies on Schismatoglottideae (Araceae) of Peninsular Malaysia III: New species for the Schismatoglottis Calyptrata Clade

Three new colonial species of Schismatoglottis Calyptrata clade are described from Peninsular Malaysia and compared with the four already known morphologically similar species described from there. All seven species are illustrated from living plants and an identification key is provided.

Lectotypification of five names in the genus Blumea (Asteraceae)

The lectotypification of five names in the genus Blumea (Asteracea): Blumea glomerata DC., B. pterodonta DC., B. hamiltonii DC., Blumea arenaria DC. and Blumea virens DC., is discussed and lectotypes designated.

Hedyotis hamiguitanensis (Rubiaceae: Spermacoceae), a new species from Mt. Hamiguitan, Davao Oriental, Philippines and its systematic position in Hedyotis

Hedyotis hamiguitanensis, from Mt. Hamiguitan, Davao Oriental, Philippines, is described, illustrated, and compared with two similar species, H. whiteheadii and H. schlechteri. This species is distinguished from congeneric Philippine species by its 5–12 cm long, compound, umbellate inflorescences, pendulous flowers, lanceolate to oblanceolate, thick, scabrid leaf blades with revolute margins. Its phylogenetic systematic position within the tribe Spermococeae is determined with a phylogenetic analysis using chloroplast (rps16, petD) and nuclear ribosomal (ITS, ETS) nucleotide sequence data.

The expeditions of the research yacht Utowana and the building of the plant living collections of the oldest botanical garden of Cuba

Cienfuegos Botanical Garden is the oldest functioning botanical institution of Cuba. It was established originally as a joint endeavor between sugar magnate Edwin F. Atkins and Harvard University in 1901. Between 1925 and 1934, the research yacht Utowana performed ample plant germplasm collections for the USDA in the New and Old World as well as archeological and zoological surveys in the Neotropics. The botanical expeditions were conducted mostly, under the leadership of David Fairchild. In this contribution we review to what extent Utowana expeditions and collections were instrumental in building the living collections of Cienfuegos Botanical Garden. A total of 278 accessions (comprising 254 species) were introduced into this garden directly or indirectly through these expeditions. Currently 57 of these species (132 individuals) are still part of its living collections. Interestingly, five of the Caribbean expeditions of this research yacht carried plant material between the Cienfuegos Botanical Garden and two other botanic gardens that were operated by US entities, namely the Lancetilla Botanical Garden in Honduras (owned by the United Fruit Company) and the Summit Gardens in Panama City (managed by the Panama Canal governmental agency). Our study also shows that plant material collected during Utowana expeditions was sent from Old World and Caribbean Island botanic gardens to Cienfuegos Botanical Garden. Thomas Barbour, director of this botanical institution between 1927 and 1946 joined four of these plant hunting endeavors. He provided strong support for the growing of the Cienfuegos Botanical Garden living collections with plant material collected during Utowana expeditions.

On the status of the genus Hybochilus, with a new combination in Leochilus (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae)

The name Rodriguezia inconspicua, proposed as a replacement name for Trichocentrum candidum, is a homotypic synonym of the latter, as well as the new combinations based on the same name. The genus Hybochilus, typified by Rodriguezia inconspicua, is reduced into synonymy under Trichocentrum. A new combination, Leochilus candelariae, is proposed to accommodate the species from Costa Rica. Rodriguezia candelariae is typified.

Studies on Schismatoglottideae (Araceae) of Borneo LXX — New colonial species for the Schismatoglottis [Calyptrata Clade] from Sarawak

Three new colonial species of Schismatoglottis Calyptrata clade are described and illustrated from Sarawak and compared with the four pre-existing morphologically similar species occurring in the state. A modified description of Schismatoglottis niahensis is provided to correct a previous misinterpretation of the stem architecture. All seven recognized species are illustrated from living plants.

Matelea tarrazuana (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), a new critically endangered ocellate species from Central Pacific of Costa Rica

Matelea tarrazuana, a new species endemic to Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. It is similar to M. pusilliflora, a vine from Yucatan Peninsula because of its green flowers with a reflective white spot in the apex at the apex of each lobe, but differs from that species by its longer pedicels, larger corolla lobes, staminal corona purple (vs. orange), gynostegium with the style apex purple (vs. green) and inhabiting premontane forests of Costa Rica. Data on its distribution and habitat, phenology, conservation status and taxonomy are included, as well as photographs of the living plant, and a key to identify the five related species in Mesoamerica.

Index of New Taxa

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Wood micro-morphological characteristics of the Tribe Dalbergieae in Nigeria

The present study examined the wood micro-characters of 18 species of the tribe Dalbergieae across 4 genera in Nigeria, following previously described methods by other authors. The species are distributed across all geo-ecological zones of the country but more abundant in the southern area which is characterized by higher precipitation. Findings clearly showed that members of the tribe Dalbergieae have more generic/tribal characteristics than delimiting characters. The species have certain unifying characters such as diffuse pore porosity, simple perforation plates, oblique to orthogonal vessel transverse wall inclination, prismatic/styloid crystals, and non-septate fibres. Vessels were longest and widest in D. saxatilis, about 197.89x104.23µm. On the contrary, the shortest was observed in D. hostilis - 67.62 µm while the narrowest was in D. oligophylla (28.4 µm). While fibre length was highest in P. mildbraedii (331.22 µm±7.5) and smallest in D. saxatilis (0.69 µm±0.0), the ray cells were longest in D. saxatilis (185µm) and shortest in P. santalinoides (41.82µm) respectively. We confirm here that anatomical studies should not be neglected in plant systematics, even though molecular approaches have been the focus in recent times.

Four new species of Monstera (Araceae) from Panama, including one with the largest leaves and another with the largest inflorescences in the genus

Monstera bocatorensis Croat & M.Cedeño, Monstera donosoensis Croat, M.Cedeño & O.Ortiz, Monstera gigas Croat, Zuluaga, M.Cedeño & O.Ortiz, and Monstera titanum Croat, M.Cedeño & O.Ortiz are newly described from Panama, and illustrated from living material.