[Botany • 2023] Chiloschista shanica (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Aeridinae) • A New Species from Myanmar

 Chiloschista shanica K.P.Wojtas, C.Bandara & Kumar, 

in Wojtas, Bandara et Kumar, 2023. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.612.1.4 

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Abstract

A new species of Chiloschista is described and illustrated from Myanmar (Shan State) with colour plates, line drawing and photographs. The comparison and differentiation are made with Chiloschista rodriguezii, C. parishii and C. lunifera. Chiloschista shanica is most similar to C. rodriguezii from which it differs in having brownish streaks on green coloured peduncle and pedicel, densely placed flowers on the peduncle; sepals and petals comparatively shorter and wider, white coloured dotted with reddish-brown spots and being glabrous on the outer surface; labellum sac pointing forwards; side lobes of labellum acute with denticulate margin and arching above the column and denticulate upper margin of rostellum. From C. parishii and C. lunifera the new species differs in having a deeply saccate labellum with hairs on its front and back wall and sepals and petals almost glabrous on outer surface.

Keywords: Chiloschista shanica, Epidendroideae, Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot, Vandeae, wild orchid trade, Monocots

 Chiloschista shanica K.P.Wojtas, C.Bandara & Kumar  

Etymology: Named in reference to Shan State of Myanmar from where the species was reported by Tun (2014) for the first time and is still believed to be endemic to.

K. Philip Wojtas, Champika Bandara and Pankaj Kumar. 2023. A New Species of Chiloschista (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae) from Myanmar.  Phytotaxa. 612(1); 57-66. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.612.1.4

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[Botany • 2022] Teuscheria falcon (Orchidaceae: Maxillariinae) • A New Species from Colombia

Teuscheria falcon Kolan., Szlach. & Medina Tr. 

in Kolanowska, Szlachetko et Trejo, 2022

DOI: 10.5735/085.059.0142 

 facebook.com/MartaKolanowska7

 www.eksoc.uni.Lodz.pl

Abstract  

Teuscheria falcon Kolan., Szlach. & Medina Tr. sp. nova (Orchidaceae, Maxillariinae), is described from the Colombian Andes. It resembles T. cornucopia from which it differs by oblong obovate petals, the lip being wider than long, and by the obflabellate lip mid-lobe with a subhastate base that overlaps the basal part of the lateral lobes. Images of T. falcon are provided together with an identification key to the Colombian Teuscheria species.

Marta Kolanowska, Dariusz L. Szlachetko and Ramiro Medina Trejo. 2022. Teuscheria falcon (Orchidaceae, Maxillariinae), A New Species from Colombia. Annales Botanici Fennici. 59(1); 295-301. DOI: 10.5735/085.059.0142

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Falcon – New Orchid Species Dedicated to Ukraine 

 www.eksoc.uni.Lodz.pl/en/news/details/falcon-new-orchid-species-dedicated-to-ukraine

[Botany • 2024] Begonia naraharii (Begoniaceae, sect. Platycentrum) • A New Species from Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh, India

Begonia naraharii B.Hajong, N.Bhat & P.Bharali, 

in Hajong, Bhat et Bharali, 2024. 

DOI:10.11646/phytotaxa.637.3.7

 

Abstract

A new species of the genus Begonia (sect. Platycentrum, Begoniaceae) from Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh, India, Begonia naraharii B.Hajong, N.Bhat & P.Bharali is described and illustrated. A detailed taxonomic description, accompanied by photographs, as well as notes on distribution, conservation status, and a table of comparisons with allied species, are provided.

 

Key words: Begonia, Cucurbitales, Eastern Himalaya, Eudicots, Northeast India, Taxonomy

Habit of Begonia naraharii B.Hajong, N.Bhat & P.Bharali
A. Leaf showing blue iridescence; B. Inflorescence.

Begonia naraharii B.Hajong, N.Bhat & P.Bharali
A. Habit; B. Adaxial and abaxial leaf surface; C. Adaxial and abaxial stipule surface; D. Bract, E. Front view of staminate flower; F. Adaxial and abaxial tepal surfaces of staminate flower; G. Side view of pistillate flower; H. Front view of pistillate flower; I. Adaxial and abaxial tepal surfaces of pistillate flower; J. Side view of androecium; K. Front view of androecium; L. Stamen; M. Gynoecium; N. Side view of stigma; O. Front view of stigma; P. Transverse section of ovary.

Begonia naraharii B.Hajong, N.Bhat & P.Bharali sp. nov. 

§ Platycentrum 

Etymology: The species epithet “naraharii” honors Prof. Garikapati Narahari Sastry, Director of CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, in recognition of his immense contribution to establishing the Germplasm Conservation Centre for the Bioresources of Northeast India at CSIR-NEIST campus and his unwavering commitment to improving the well-being of the people in the northeastern region of India.

Bipankar Hajong, Nazir Ahmad Bhat and Pankaj Bharali. 2024. A New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh, India.  Phytotaxa. 637(3); 285-290. DOI:10.11646/phytotaxa.637.3.7

[Botany • 2022] Hartliella txitongensis (Linderniaceae) • A New Species from Mozambique

Hartliella txitongensis Osborne & Eb.Fisch.,

in Osborne, Datizua, Mucaleque et Fischer, 2022. 

 DOI: 10.1007/s12225-022-10034-3

Summary

Hartliella txitongensis Osborne & Eb.Fisch., a species new to science from Niassa Province in Northern Mozambique, is described and illustrated. Hartliella txitongensis is the only species of Hartliella known from outside the Upper Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the adjacent region of Zambia. The species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered under IUCN criterion B and its potential to be a metallophyte is highlighted. A key to the five species of Hartliella is provided.

Keywords: Chitonga, metallophyte, Niassa, plant taxonomy, Txitonga

Hartliella txitongensis Osborne & Eb.Fisch. sp. nov.

RECOGNITION. Hartliella txitongensis is similar to H. bampsii, but differs in the pairs of stem leaves being closely spaced with a short and condensed internode, thus forming a rosette at base (stem leaves are usually more distant in H. bampsii on a ± elongated stem), the leaves being obovate to elliptic, 2 – 7.5 × 1 – 3.5 cm (vs broadly obovate, 4 – 8 × 2.4 – 2.9 cm in H. bampsii), the slightly longer corolla tube, 8 – 9 mm long (vs 5 – 7 mm in H. bampsii), the undivided upper lip of the corolla (upper lip of corolla bifid in H. bampsii) and the bilobed appendage at the base of the abaxial filaments (simple globose in all other Hartliella species). It differs from Hartliella capitata in the elongated stem below the inflorescence and the shape of the leaves (these being broadly obovate to lanceolate, (3 –) 5 – 7.5 × (1.5 –) 3 – 6 cm in H. capitata) and the shorter corolla tube (12 mm long in H. capitata). A key to species of Hartliella is given below and differences are summarised in Table 1.

ETYMOLOGY. Named after the Txitonga (= Chitonga) Mountains in order to highlight the conservation value of the area.

 

Jo Osborne, Castigo Datizua, Papin Mucaleque and Eberhard Fischer. 2022. Hartliella txitongensis (Linderniaceae), A New Species from Mozambique. Kew Bulletin. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-022-10034-3

[Mammalogy • 2024] Vampyressa villai • A New Mexican endemic Species of Yellow-eared Bat in the Genus Vampyressa (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae)

  

Vampyressa villai 

Garbino, Hernández-Canchola, León-Paniagua & Tavares, 2024

DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyae001 

 twitter.com/GGarbino

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Abstract

Bats from the genus Vampyressa Thomas, 1900 are known from a relatively small number of individuals in Mexico. Through recent collecting efforts in southwestern Mexico, we detected several previously unknown populations of Vampyressa, which appeared to represent a lineage independent from but closely related to V. thyone. Here, we describe this lineage as a new species of the genus Vampyressa from the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca. The new species is currently known from at least 8 collected specimens and 3 released individuals from 8 localities, and can be differentiated from V. pusilla and V. thyone based on pelage and skull characters, size, mitochondrial Cytochrome b, and nuclear Recombination-activating gene 2 sequence data. The new species has been captured mainly in the lowlands but occurs along a wide altitudinal range from 150 to 2,200 m above sea level. Most of the records of the new species are from west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which evidences a new case of a phylogenetic break at this biogeographic barrier. The genus Vampyressa now includes 6 species, and Mexico expands its position as the country with the largest number of endemic bats in the Neotropics, totaling 20 endemics.

Chiroptera, Cytochrome b, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, systematics, taxonomy, Vampyressina, Vampyressa thyone

 Portraits of Vampyressa villai (left, MZFC-M 16012), V. thyone (middle, ROM F63103), and V. pusilla (right, MZUFV 5063).
Note the well-marked whitish hairs on the upper lip and on the chin in V. villai.

Vampyressa villai

Guilherme S. T. Garbino, Giovani Hernández-Canchola, Livia León-Paniagua and Valéria da C. Tavares. 2024. A New Mexican endemic Species of Yellow-eared Bat in the Genus Vampyressa (Phyllostomidae, Stenodermatinae). Journal of Mammalogy. gyae001. DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyae001

 Researchgate.net/publication/378655364_A_new_Mexican_endemic_species_of_the_genus_Vampyressa

  twitter.com/GGarbino/status/1763649446888525921

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Resumen: Los murciélagos Vampyressa Thomas, 1900 son conocidos por un número relativamente pequeño de individuos en México. Por medio de recientes esfuerzos de colecta en el suroeste de México detectamos varias poblaciones de Vampyressa previamente desconocidas que parecían representar un linaje independiente pero estrechamente relacionado a V. thyone. En este trabajo, describimos dicho linaje como una nueva especie del género Vampyressa para los estados mexicanos de Guerrero y Oaxaca. Actualmente esta nueva especie es conocida por al menos 8 ejemplares colectados y 3 individuos liberados de 8 localidades, y se puede diferenciar de V. pusilla y V. thyone por los caracteres del pelaje y del cráneo, por el tamaño y por las secuencias del gen mitocondrial citocromo b y del gen nuclear activador de la recombinación 2. La nueva especie ha sido capturada principalmente en tierras bajas, pero se distribuye a lo largo de un amplio rango altitudinal, de 150 a 2,200 metros sobre el nivel del mar. La mayoría de los registros de la nueva especie se encuentran al oeste del Istmo de Tehuantepec, lo que evidencia un nuevo caso de ruptura filogenética en esta barrera biogeográfica. El género Vampyressa ahora incluye 6 especies y México amplía así su posición como el país con la mayor cantidad de murciélagos endémicos del neotrópico, totalizando 20 especies endémicas.

Chiroptera, citocromo b, Istmo de Tehuantepec, Sistemática, Taxonomía, Vampyressina, Vampyressa thyone

[Botany • 2024] Begonia matahom (Begoniaceae, sect. Petermannia) • A New Species from Tago, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

Begonia matahom F.A.Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang & Rubite, 

in Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang et Rubite, 2024. 

 taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/1977 

 facebook.com/TaiwaniaOffice

Abstract

In a recent field survey at Mt. Tingtingan, Badong, Tago, Surigao del Sur, an interesting Begonia with a robust habit was found. With the cane-like, erect and ascending or spreading suffrutescent stem, 2-tepaled staminate flowers and 5-tepaled pistillate flowers, this species belongs to section Petermannia. It's worth noting that the staminate and pistillate flowers of this species exhibit different tepal colors. This new Begonia resembles its Surigao ally B. benitotanii in having erect and glabrous stems, leaf adaxial surface with sparsely white spots between veins, obliquely cordate base, acuminate apex and serrated margin, but the new species named Begonia matahom is distinct in having larger stems that are woody and thick, ovate to triangular leaf shape, larger lamina, longer petioles, longer bracts, glabrous staminate tepals, yellowish-green pistillate flowers, stigmas in a curled spirally extended band with prominent cilia to conspicuously feathery, and smaller green ovary with glabrous and thick, unequal wings.

Keyword: Argostemma, Begonia benitotanii, limestone forest, Mindanao, Mt. Tingtingan, taxonomy

Begonia matahom F.A.Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang & Rubite. (Vegetative Parts)
A. and B. Habit and Habitat: Matured (L), Young (R), C. Stem, D. Stipules: Young (L), Matured (R), E. Leaves (Young and Mature).

All from Freddie A. Blasco 22-003.

Begonia matahom F.A.Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang & Rubite. (Reproductive Parts).
A. Staminate flower, B. Pistillate flowers C. Young pistillate flowers, D. Drying capsules in pairs, E. Staminate inflorescence with bracts, F. Cross section of the ovary, G. Matured capsules.

 All from Freddie. A. Blasco 22-003.

Begonia matahom F.A.Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang & Rubite, sp. nov. 

 Section Petermannia. 

Diagnosis: Begonia matahom resembles its Surigao ally B. benitotanii Rubite, Tandang & C.W. Lin in having erect and glabrous stems, leaf adaxial surface having sparse white spots between veins, obliquely cordate base, acuminate apex, with 2-tepaled staminate flowers and 5- tepaled pistillate flowers, but differs in having woody and thick stems (vs. semi-succulent), larger leaves 26–27 × 11–12 cm (vs. 8–21 × 6–12 cm), smooth staminate tepals (vs. wrinkled), curved and thick pistillate tepals (vs. flat and succulent), unequal capsule wings (vs. equal). Table 1 offers a thorough comparison of B. matahom and B. benitotanii.

Etymology: The specific epithet matahom is an archaic Bisayan word in the southern Philippines, which means beautiful, lovely, unique, and rare, referring to the distinct colors of the inflorescence.

 

Freddie A. Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro, Danilo N. Tandang and Rosario R. Rubite. 2024. Begonia matahom (Section Petermannia, Begoniaceae), A New Species from Tago, Surigao del Sur, Philippines.  Taiwania. 69(1); 62-66. taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/1977

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[Crustacea • 2024] Lepidothelphusa menneri (Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) • First Record of the Genus from Kalimantan, Indonesia

Lepidothelphusa menneri 

Ng & Wowor. 2024 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5397.2.3

 

Abstract

The gecarcinucid freshwater crab genus, Lepidothelphusa Colosi, 1920, is known only from Sarawak in northern Borneo, with six recognised species i.e. Lepidothelphusa cognettii (Nobili, 1903); L. flavochela Grinang & Ng, 2015; L. limau Grinang & Ng, 2015; L. loi Grinang & Ng, 2015; L. padawan Grinang & Ng, 2015; and L. sangon Grinang & Ng, 2015. The genus is now reported from Indonesian Borneo for the first time, from specimens recently collected from Gunung Kelam in Sintang Regency, Kalimantan Barat Province. Lepidothelphusa menneri n. sp. has a very distinctive tri-coloured pattern in life, unique among congeners. It can also easily be separated from congeners by carapace, epistome, male pleonal and male first gonopod characters.

Crustacea, taxonomy, Gecarcincoidea, new taxon, freshwater crab, western Borneo, Southeast Asia.

Peter K. L. Ng and Daisy Wowor. 2024. Lepidothelphusa menneri n. sp. (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), First Record of the Genus from Kalimantan, Indonesia. Zootaxa. 5397(2); 218-224. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5397.2.3

 Researchgate.net/publication/377151155_Lepidothelphusa_menneri_n_sp__first_record_of_the_genus_from_Kalimantan_Indonesia

[Mollusca • 2024] Melanochlamys droupadi • A New Species of Head-shield Sea Slug (Heterobranchia: Aglajidae) from the north-western Bay of Bengal, India

  

 Melanochlamys droupadi 

 Tudu, Sajan, Acharya & Mohapatra, 2024

 DOI: 10.1080/13235818.2024.2315536

 twitter.com/SocStudMollDiv

 

ABSTRACT

A new species of the head-shield sea slug is described herein from an examination of the morphological and anatomical characters. A molecular analysis supported the novel status of the species. This species is named Melanochlamys droupadi n. sp. in the honour of the Hon'ble president of India, Shrimati (Mrs) Droupadi Murmu. It is the second species from the Indian region and the third true tropical species. All the specimens were collected from the Digha coast of West Bengal and the Udaipur coast of Odisha state, along the north-western Bay of Bengal.

 

KEYWORDS: Cephalaspidea, Digha coast, Indo-Pacific ,intertidal, morphology, molecular systematics

Melanochlamys droupadi n. sp. 

Prasad Chandra Tudu, Sheikh Sajan, Smrutirekha Acharya and Anil Mohapatra. 2024. A New Species of Head-shield Sea Slug, Melanochlamys droupadi (Heterobranchia: Aglajidae) from the north-western Bay of Bengal, India. Molluscan Research. DOI: 10.1080/13235818.2024.2315536  

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[Paleontology • 2024] Simoniteuthis michaelyi • A New vampyromorph coleoid (Coleoidea: Vampyromorpha) with prey in its arms from the Early Jurassic of Luxembourg

Simoniteuthis michaelyi

Fuchs, Weis & Thuy, 2024

 

DOI: 10.1186/s13358-024-00303-y

Abstract

The evolutionary history of the cephalopod order Vampyromorpha with its only recent representative, Vampyroteuthis infernalis, the deep-sea vampire squid, is still obscure and a new specimen from the Early Jurassic of Luxembourg, provides new information on the vampyromorph morphology at this period. The new taxon Simoniteuthis michaelyi n. gen. n. sp., which is based on a nearly complete gladius with associated head–arm complex, is morphologically intermediate between the families Loligosepiidae and Geopeltidae. Interestingly, the arm crown displays only four arm pairs, although an arm configuration consisting of five arm pairs should be expected in vampyromorph stem lineage representatives. This observation encouraged us to critically review the presumed homology of the filaments of Vampyroteuthis and the lost arm pair in cirrate and incirrate octopods. Moreover, two bony fishes in the mouth region implicated that Simoniteuthis michaelyi n. gen. n. sp. preyed upon them in hostile water depths, a taphonomic phenomenon called distraction sinking. By contrast to modern Vampyroteuthis infernalis, Simoniteuthis michaelyi n. gen. n. sp. roamed and hunted in shallower waters as typical for Mesozoic stem lineage vampyromorphs. According to the current fossil record, a vertical migration into deeper waters (probably associated with a shift in feeding behaviour) occurred at least since the Oligocene.

Keywords: Octobrachia, Vampyromorpha, Leptolepis, Toarcian, Bascharage, Evolution, Predation

Systematic palaeontology

Class Coleoidea Bather, 1888

Subclass Octobrachia Haeckel, 1866

Order Vampyromorpha Robson, 1929

Suborder Loligosepiina Jeletzky, 1965

Family undetermined (?Loligosepiidae Regteren Altena, 1949 Or Geopeltidae Regteren Altena, 1949)

Remarks: The main difference between the Loligosepiidae and the Geopeltidae concerns the length of the hyperbolar zone, which is shorter in Geopeltidae than in Loligosepiidae. An additional character that delimits these two closely related families represents the shape of the hyperbolar zone (V-shaped in Loligosepiidae and arcuated in Geopeltidae).

Simoniteuthis michaelyi n. gen. n. sp., holotype (MNHNL TI024), Lower Toarcian, Serpentinum Chronozone, Exaratum Subchronozone, Bascharage.
A–D slab; E–G counter-slab. A overview; B camera lucida drawing of A; C close-up of the head–arm complex; D same under UV-light showing the weakly illuminating arm musculature; E overview; F close-up of the preyed fishes, red colour Specimen 1 (op = opercle; sop = subopercle), blue colour Specimen 2 (caud = caudal fin; sop = subopercle; centra = central vertebra); G same under UV-light.

Scale bars = 10 mm

Genus Simoniteuthis n. gen.

Derivation of name: Dedicated to Jo Simon, scientific volunteer collaborator of the National Museum of Natural History Luxembourg, who skilfully and patiently cleaned the fossil in the nodule and unveiled the soft part preservation.

Diagnosis: Medium-sized loligosepiids, gladius moderately wide (gladius widthmax-to-gladius length 0.30–0.40); median field very slender to slender (median field widthhypz-to-hyperbolar zone length 0.15–0.25; = opening angle 9–14°), laterally reinforced, anterior median field margin convex; hyperbolar zone very long (hyperbolar zone length-to-median field length 0.80–0.89), deeply V-shaped incised; anterior limit of lateral field thus distinctly projected, spine-like pointed, lateral fields moderately wide (lateral field widthmax-to-median field widthmax 1.85–1.95).

Simoniteuthis michaelyi n. sp.

 Derivation of name: Dedicated to Patrick Michaely, Director of the Natural History Museum Luxembourg with a passion for palaeontological research.

 

Dirk Fuchs, Robert Weis and Ben Thuy. 2024. Simoniteuthis, A New vampyromorph coleoid with prey in its arms from the Early Jurassic of Luxembourg. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology. 143, 6. DOI: 10.1186/s13358-024-00303-y

[Botany • 2024] Marijordaania filiformis (Celastraceae: Cassinoideae) • A New monotypic Genus from South Africa

Marijordaania A.E.van Wyk & R.G.C.Boon, gen. nov.
Marijordaania filiformis (Davison) A.E.van Wyk & R.G.C.Boon, comb. nov.

in van Wyk et Boon, 2024. 

 DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.116544

Abstract

Background and aims – The species name Gymnosporia filiformis, validly published in a 1927 revision of South African Celastraceae, was based on syntypes representing both Maytenus cordata and a new species. Subsequent studies supported the distinction of Gymnosporia and Maytenus as separate genera. From 1984, this new species was provisionally referred to by the designation “Maytenus sp. A”. Maytenus in Africa comprises a diverse group of species not closely related to the New World members of Maytenus. Here, we clarify the taxonomic identity and generic placement of G. filiformis, and compare it with species with which it has historically been confused.

Material and methods – Descriptions and observations are based on extensive field work, supported by conventional taxonomic methods, including study of relevant literature and herbarium collections.

Key results – The name Gymnosporia filiformis is lectotypified using a syntype representing “Maytenus sp. A”. We describe a new monotypic genus, Marijordaania, to accommodate “Maytenus sp. A”, and propose the new combination, Marijordaania filiformis. An amended description is provided for the species. It is morphologically quite different from Maytenus cordata, but also from Maytenus acuminata and Maytenus abbottii, species with which it has been confused in the past. Marijordaania filiformis grows in the understorey of evergreen Scarp Forest and is relatively rare, known with certainty only from KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape provinces, South Africa. A preliminary conservation assessment suggests that M. filiformis should be classified as Endangered.

Conclusion – Marijordaania filiformis is a taxonomically isolated species with no apparent close relatives among African Celastraceae. While the generic status of other African members of Maytenus still needs to be resolved, it would not impact the taxonomic status of Marijordaania. In a recent key for Celastraceae genera based on morphology and geography, M. filiformis ran to the genus Euonymus, but this association lacks support from available molecular evidence.

Keywords: Celastreae, Celastroideae, gutta-percha, lectotypification, Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot, new genus, Pondoland Centre, Scarp Forest, taxonomy

Marijordaania filiformis.
 A. Flowering branchlet, viewed from below; note distichous arrangement of leaves. B. Branchlet showing flowers borne on long, slender, and pendant pedicels; also present is a young developing fruit. C. Flowers; note each stamen inserted on a swollen discoid subunit of the disc. D. Flower viewed obliquely from the side. E. Flower, viewed from below. F. Fruit, intact and almost mature. G. Fruit, dehisced, showing a dark-coloured seed partly covered by a white aril.

Photographs A–C by Sharon Louw; D–G by Richard Boon.

Marijordaania A.E.van Wyk & R.G.C.Boon, gen. nov.

 

Diagnosis: A member of Celastraceae, subfamily Cassinoideae (sensu Simmons et al. 2023), belonging to a clade of African members of the family (sensu McKenna et al. 2011), but taxonomically isolated without obvious close relatives. Often confused with Maytenus cordata, but distinguished from this and other unarmed African species still placed in Maytenus by the following combination of characters: shrub or small tree, without elastic threads (gutta-percha; trans-1,4-polyisoprene); stems distinctly angular when young; inflorescences cymose, 1- or 2(3)-flowered; flowers 5-merous, with pedicel slender, pendant, usually 35–40 mm long, articulated ca 0.5 mm from the base; floral disc present, fleshy, distinctly divided into 5 discoid subunits (lobes), the latter raised and alternating with the petals; stamens 5, each inserted in the centre of a discoid subunit; filaments very short (ca 1 mm); anthers dorsifixed; ovary 5-locular, almost entirely included in and adnate to the disc, with 2 erect collateral ovules in each locule; style ca 0.5 mm long, stigma capitate; fruit a loculicidally dehiscing capsule; seeds lacking postchalazal vascular bundles, with the basal portion enveloped for ca two-thirds or more its length with a fleshy, white aril, the latter mostly smooth-surfaced, but sparsely puberulent towards the base.

Etymology: The generic name commemorates Dr Marie Jordaan (née Prins) [1948–], in recognition of her considerable contributions towards the taxonomy of the southern African flora in general, and the Celastraceae in particular.

Marijordaania filiformis (Davison) A.E.van Wyk & R.G.C.Boon, comb. nov.

Vernacular names: English vernacular names in use are “red-flowered false silkybark” and “red-flowered silkybark”, and Afrikaans names are “rooiblomvalssybas” and “rooiblomsybas” (Boon 2010; Van Wyk et al. 2011). The first mentioned of these English and Afrikaans names are the ones recommended by the Dendrological Society of South Africa (Von Dürckheim et al. 2014). No names have been recorded in any of the other local languages.

 Abraham E. van Wyk and Richard G.C. Boon. 2024. Marijordaania (Celastraceae: Cassinoideae), A New monotypic Genus from South Africa. Plant Ecology and Evolution. 157(1): 100-112. DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.116544

[Ichthyology • 2024] Halichoeres sanchezi • A New Wrasse (Teleostei: Labridae) from the Revillagigedo Archipelago of Mexico, tropical eastern Pacific Ocean

Halichoeres sanchezi 

Victor​, Frable & Ludt, 2024

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16828

Photos: Allison Morgan Estape.

Abstract 

A new labrid fish species, Halichoeres sanchezi n. sp., is described from eight specimens collected in the Revillagigedo Archipelago in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Mexico. The new species belongs to the Halichoeres melanotis species complex that is found throughout the region, differing by 2.4% in the mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase I sequence from its nearest relative, H. melanotis from Panama, and 2.9% from Halichoeres salmofasciatus from Cocos Island, off Costa Rica. The complex is distinguished from others in the region by having a black spot on the opercular flap and a prominent black area on the caudal fin of males. The juveniles and initial phase of the new species closely resemble those of H. salmofasciatus and Halichoeres malpelo from Malpelo Island of Colombia, differing in having an oblong black spot with a yellow dorsal margin on the mid-dorsal fin of initial-phase adults as well as on juveniles. In contrast, the terminal-phase male color pattern is distinct from other relatives, being vermilion to orangish brown with dark scale outlines, a white patch on the upper abdomen, and a prominent black band covering the posterior caudal peduncle and base of the caudal fin. The new species adds to the list of endemic fish species for the isolated archipelago and is an interesting case of island endemism in the region. The discovery was made during the joint 2022 collecting expedition to the archipelago, which featured a pioneering collaborative approach to an inventory of an island ichthyofauna, specifically including expert underwater photographers systematically documenting specimens in situ, before hand-collection, and then photographed fresh, tissue-sampled, and subsequently vouchered in museum collections.

Halichoeres sanchezi n. sp., juvenile and Initial-phase adults underwater, San Benedicto, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Colima, Mexico.
(A) Small juvenile. Photo credit: Allison Morgan Estape (B) Large juvenile. Photo credit: Jeff Haines. (C) Initial-phase adult.

Photos: Allison Morgan Estape.

Halichoeres sanchezi n. sp., first known underwater photographs, from Socorro, Revillagigedo Archipelago in 2013.
(A) Small Initial-phase. (B) Initial-phase adult.
(C) Two Terminal-phase males.

Photos: Kreg Martin.

 

Benjamin C. Victor​, Benjamin W. Frable and William B. Ludt. 2024. Halichoeres sanchezi n. sp., A New Wrasse from the Revillagigedo Archipelago of Mexico, tropical eastern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Labridae) PeerJ. 12: e16828. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16828

[Botany • 2024] Relictithismia kimotsukiensis (Thismiaceae) • A New Genus and Species from southern Japan with discussions on its phylogenetic relationship

 

Relictithismia Suetsugu & Tagane,
Relictithismia kimotsukiensis Suetsugu, Yas.Nakam. & Tagane, 

in Suetsugu, Nakamura, Nakano et Tagane, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1007/s10265-024-01532-5

Abstract

The family Thismiaceae, known as “fairy lanterns” for their urn- or bell-shaped flowers with basally fused tepals, consists of non-photosynthetic flowering monocots mainly in tropical regions, extending into subtropical and temperate areas. Here, we propose a new mycoheterotrophic genus, Relictithismia Suetsugu & Tagane (Thismiaceae), with its monotypic species Relictithismia kimotsukiensis Suetsugu, Yas.Nakam. & Tagane from Kimotsuki Mountains in the Osumi Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu Island, southern Japan. Relictithismia resembles Haplothismia Airy Shaw in having a cluster of tuberous roots, a feature previously observed only in this genus within the family Thismiaceae. However, it differs in having solitary flowers (vs. 2–6-flowered pseudo-raceme in Haplothismia), anther thecae largely separated (vs. connate), and the presence of an annulus (vs. absent). Additionally, Relictithismia differs from the geographically overlapping genus Thismia Griff. in its stamen structure and the position of the annulus. In Relictithismia, the stamens lack connectives, and its free filaments arise from the annulus located inside the perianth mouth, while in Thismia, the stamens typically have connate connectives, forming a staminal tube pendulous from the annulus located at the mouth of the floral tube. Our morphological and phylogenetic data indicated that R. kimotsukiensis holds an early-diverging position within the family, situated outside the Old World Thismia clade. This paper offers an extensive description and color photographs of R. kimotsukiensis, complemented by notes on its phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary history.

 

Keywords: Angiosperms, Endemic, Flora, Dioscoreales, East Asia, Taxonomy

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis.
a Habit. b Close-up of root surface. c Longitudinal section of flower. d Anther. e Stigma surface. f Immature fruit.

Materials from Y. Nakamura & S. Tagane 23060901 (KAG). Drawn by S. Tagane

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis.
a Habit. b Flower, top view. c Flower, diagonal top view. d Flower, lateral view. e Tuberous roots. f Close-up of root. g Longitudinal section of floral tube showing stamens, style, and stigma. h Longitudinal section of floral tube with stamens. i Style and stigma. j Annulus and stamens. k Anthers. l Transverse section of ovary with three equal placentas and numerous ovules.

 Materials from Y. Nakamura & S. Tagane 23060901 (a–f, h–l for TNS, g for KAG). Scale bars: 10 mm (a), 5 mm (b–e and g–h), and 1 mm (f and i–l)

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis and its habitat at the type locality.
a & b A secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest where R. kimotsukiensis was found. c & e Flower, top view. d & f Flower, lateral view.

Scale bars: 10 mm. Photos (a & b) were taken by Yasunori Nakamura on 3 June 2022, and photos (c–f) were taken by Shuichiro Tagane on 9 June 2023. Photos (e & f) were captured after collection

Relictithismia Suetsugu & Tagane, gen. nov.

Diagnosis Relictithismia resembles Haplothismia in possessing a cluster of tuberous roots, yet it is clearly distinguished by its solitary flowers (vs. 2–6-flowered pseudo-raceme in Haplothismia), largely separate anther thecae (vs. connate), and the presence of an annulus (vs. absence).

Etymology: The name of the new genus, Relictithismia, is a combination of the Latin word “relictus”, meaning “left behind”, and the generic name Thismia. The name reflects its morphological characteristics that serve as a bridge between the early-diverging genera in Thismiaceae and the genus Thismia, showcasing the putative ancestral condition of these plant groups.

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis Suetsugu, Yas.Nakam. & Tagane, sp. nov.

Etymology: The species epithet refers to the type locality of the new species.

Vernacular name: Mujina-no-shokudai (in Japanese). The vernacular name is inspired by its apparent resemblance to and the distinct diffrences from species of Thismia, locally referred to as “tanuki-no-shokudai,” meaning a candlestick used by a raccoon dog. The term “mujina” is an old Japanese name for a badger, known as “anaguma” in Japanese, although historically and regionally, it has sometimes also been associated with raccoon dogs. Therefore, we consider that this name aptly represents the similarity and differences between Thismia and Relictithismia. Moreover, the name “mujina-no-shokudai” (= a candlestick used by a badger) fits its ecology, as the majority of the plant, even during the flowering stage, remains buried underground beneath fallen leaves, reminiscent of a badger burrowing underground.

Distribution Japan, Kagoshima Pref., Kimotsuki-gun, Kimotsuki-cho (currently known only from the type locality).

Kenji Suetsugu, Yasunori Nakamura, Takafumi Nakano and Shuichiro Tagane. 2024. Relictithismia kimotsukiensis, A New Genus and Species of Thismiaceae from southern Japan with discussions on its phylogenetic relationship.  Journal of Plant Research. DOI: 10.1007/s10265-024-01532-5