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We describe here two new species of Tibouchina from the Brazilian Cerrado. Tibouchina falcifolia is endemic to the state of Goiás and it can be readily recognized by the lanceolate to linear, conduplicate, pendulous leaves, and very conspicuous hypanthium scales. It is morphologically related to Tibouchina aegopogon var. angustifolia, especially by the narrow leaves, but differs by the older branches decorticant (vs. older branches non-decorticating), slightly discolorous leaves (vs. strongly discolorous leaves), with the adaxial surface covered by trichomes (vs. covered by scales). Tibouchina longisquamata is a species endemic to the state of Tocantins and it can be readily recognized by the oval, flat, patent leaves and hypanthium with long scales. It shares with Tibouchina llanorum the oval, slightly discolorous leaves, with a conspicuous petiole, and hypanthium covered with long scales. Tibouchina longisquamata differs from T. llanorum by its subcylindrical branches (vs. 4-6 angulose) and leaves with the adaxial surface covered by trichomes (vs. covered by scales). According to our assessments, based on IUCN criteria, T. falcifolia must be considered as endangered (EN) because its occurrence is restricted, and its populations are small; T. longisquamata is indicated in Deficient Data (DD), with only two known collections. We present here complete descriptions of the new species, taxonomic comments, illustrations made from dehydrated material, photos of live specimens (for T. falcifolia), plates with microscopic details, a distribution map, and an updated list of species of the genus in the Brazilian Cerrado, with its occurrences by state.

The name Spergularia nobreana, originally published by G. A. Sampaio from plants collected in Portugal, is investigated. A lectotype and two isolectotypes are designated on specimens preserved at PO. On the basis of a careful examination of these exsiccata, this taxon cannot be ascribed to the genus Sagina (as reported in POWO and IPNI databases where this name was considered as a synonym of Sa. hawaiensis) since it has stipules (absent in Sagina). The whole morphology of Sp. nobreana agrees with the current concept of Spergularia. The combination of characters [perennial plant, glabrous (finely glandular only in the inflorescence part); stipules triangular to lanceolate 2–3 mm long; flowers with five styles and ten stamens; sepals 4-6 mm long; capsule about 4 mm long, opening into five valves; seeds winged (wings entire or with gland-tipped papillae at the margin, brownish, less than 1/2 wide than the seeds) and unwinged] match the current concept of Sp. media s. l. Therefore, a new synonymization is proposed.

The delimitation and taxonomic status of Geranium mascatense Boiss. in India has not merely been in a state of flux, but also experience distributional inconsistency both at national and global level. The study aims at highlighting an extension to the global distribution range of this species and at resolving the chaos that exists about its taxonomy and distribution in India. The results are validated through detailed description, illustrations, digital photographs, macro and micro-morphological characters, comparison with allied species, taxonomic key, notes on taxonomy and distribution map of G. mascatense and its nearest kin, G. ocellatum.

Molecular analyses have shown that Stellaria is a polyphyletic genus and several species are closely related to other genera of Caryophyllaceae. Among the excluded taxa, a group of four species (S. antillana, S. howardii, S. minutifolia, and S. ovata) appear to be not included in the core of Stellaria and are possibly related to the genus Triplateia. Despite this molecular evidence, as well as the morphology of these four species, a formal proposal for a new taxon is still lacking. I here describe the genus Maguirellaria gen. nov., including Maguire’s Stellaria howardii and S. minutifolia. S. antillana and S. ovata, which display a very different morphology in comparison with Maguire’s species, were never considered in the same molecular study; therefore, I prefer to avoid a taxonomic decision for the moment.

Viola suavis subsp. naqshii (Violaceae) from Kashmir Himalaya, India is described here. The new taxon is based on characters like linear-lanceolate stipules with long fimbriae, position of bracteoles on peduncle and curved nature of the spur. Comparison of diagnostic characters of this new taxon with closely related taxa and photo-illustrations are also provided to facilitate field identification.

The taxonomy of Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba has long been debated with many changes in the last few years. New evidence based on ecological, morphological and genetic data has indicated the occurrence of three taxa, with changes in the limits from the latest taxonomic treatment. In this sense, the taxonomy and nomenclature of Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba is reviewed. Diagnoses of all taxa are presented with an identification key, nomenclatural information and distribution. Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba comprises three endemic species: Magnolia orbiculata, M. minor and M. oblongifolia. Magnolia orbiculata is the only species that keeps the same limits as in the previous taxonomic treatments of the group, whereas it is not the same for the northeastern Cuban species.

Tandang, Danilo N., Docot, Rudolph Valentino A., Galindon, John Michael, Jr, Tomas Reyes, Tadiosa, Edwin R., Tandang, Sue Dixie A., Moran, Cecilia B., Bustamante, Rene Alfred Anton (2023): Corybas hamiguitanensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from a UNESCO world heritage site in the Philippines. Phytotaxa 598 (1): 80-88, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.598.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.598.1.6

Tricholoma lishanense is described and illustrated from northern China based on both morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequence data from the ITS locus resolved the new species in section Lasciva of Tricholoma. Tricholoma lishanense can be diagnosed by its overall white basidiomata with a fragrant and pleasant odor, very narrow lamellae, different phylogenetic position and habitat under oaks.

We studied the taxonomic status of glassfrogs collected in Departamento Huánuco, central Peru, which in the field were tentatively allocated to Chimerella, one of the twelve genera currently recognized in the family Centrolenidae. Detailed analyses of their morphology, bioacoustics, and molecular genetics supported their generic allocation and provided evidence for them representing a divergent and unnamed evolutionary lineage within Chimerella. We herein describe this lineage as a new species, being mainly distinguished from the two other known congeners, C. corleone and C. mariaelenae, by details of colouration in life and preservative, substantial differences in advertisement call, and differentiation in mitochondrial markers (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome b) and a nuclear-encoded marker (Rag-1). The new species is the southernmost distributed species in the genus and was found in a swampy habitat at the bank of the Río Patay Rondos, a tributary of the Río Monzon, in rainforest at the Andean-Amazon foothills at 798 m above sea level. Aspects of species delimitation within Chimerella and related future research are briefly addressed and discussed.

The new species Lindernia adami-hefiedi from Madagascar, Montagne d’Ambre is described and illustrated. It differs from Lindernia rotundifolia, and related species in the dense indumentum with long-stalked glandular hairs, the matt leaves, the long pedicel, the large corolla and the long free staminodes. Additional material of the closely related species L. lemuriana, L. oblongifolia, L. rotundifolia and L. viguieri is studied and a key to the species of Lindernia s.str. in Madagascar is provided. Herbarium studies revealed that Ilysanthes oblongifolia is the oldest name for Lindernia paludosa, and the relevant new combination is made here.

Following results of recent studies, Huperzia myriophyllifolia (Huperziaceae), Lycopodium subinundatum (Lycopodiaceae), and Polystichum pseudodeltodon, P. pseudostenophyllum, P. subapiciflorum, and P. subobliquum (Dryopteridaceae) are recognized/reinstated. A new combination, Pseudolycopodiella subinundata, is made based on L. subinundatum. Spinulum lioui (Lycopodiaceae) is reported as a new record for most part of China and other Asian countries.

Impatiens sigmoidea was described in 1908 by the eminent British plant taxonomist J. D. Hooker based on specimens collected by the French missionaries E. M. Bodinier et al. from Guizhou, China. However, there has been no other records since then. After years of concern, we rediscovered I. sigmoidea in one of its type localities, Gao-po Town, in 2018. A revised description, colour photographs and a provisional IUCN Red List assessment of this species are provided, along with discussions of its geographical distribution, ecology and morphological comparison with I. lasiophyton. The lectotype of I. sigmoidea is also designated here. The rediscovery provides an essential basis for enriching the botanical resources of the genus Impatiens.

Following a recent phylogenetic study, we here review the circumscription of the grammitid fern genus Oreogrammitis (Polypodiaceae: Grammitidoideae). We propose three new genera Calligrammitis, Devolia, and Glabrigrammitis, to accommodate the three clades resolved outside of the core Oreogrammitis. The taxonomic treatment is presented, and the morphology of each new genus is shown with a color plate.

Recent botanical exploration in the Andes in northwestern Peru has led to the discovery of an undescribed species of Salvia. With 78 species of Salvia, Peru ranks second in Salvia richness among American countries behind only Mexico. The most recent comprehensive revision of Peruvian species dates from 1960, so it is highly probable that an updated revision of the genus in the country would entail the description of several new taxa. Accordingly, we present a diagnosis and description of a new species under the name Salvia cajamarcana. This new species is morphologically most similar to S. revoluta, for which a full revised description is presented to facilitate comparison, as well as the designation of a lectotype. Figures and a distribution map are provided to illustrate the morphology and distribution of the species.

Centaurea serowensis Negaresh, a new species of C. sect. Acrocentron from the West Azerbaijan Province of NW Iran, is described and illustrated. Diagnostic morphological characters of this and closely related taxa are discussed and presented. The ecology and conservation status of the new species are discussed. The geographic distribution of the new species and closely related species is also presented and mapped. In addition, a taxonomic key to the species of C. sect. Acrocentron in Iran is provided.

Tordyliopsis is a monotypic genus within the family Apiaceae and is endemic to the southern margin of the Himalayas. The type species, Tordyliopsis brunonis, is easily distinguished by its lanceolate bracts and bracteoles. In this study, we used both phylogenetic and morphological analyses to investigate the relationship between T. brunonis and other species in the Apiaceae. Our phylogenetic analyses of ITS sequences and 79 coding sequences from complete plastid genomes revealed that T. brunonis is nested with Semenovia species. Additionally, our morphological analysis showed that Tordyliopsis and Semenovia share several similar features, including elliptic or oblong mericarps with widely spaced dorsal ribs, broader and winged marginal ribs with slightly inflated distal parts, clavate vittae, and domed stylopodium. Based on these results, we propose that the monotypic genus Tordyliopsis should be transferred to Semenovia.

The results of phylogenetic analysis, based on the whole chloroplast genome and morphological study support the transfer of a long ignored bamboo species, Sasa gracilis, to the recently established genus, Sinosasa, in this study. Morphologically, this species differs from all the other known Sinosasa species by having very short (2–3 mm) foliage leaf inner ligules, which is unusual in this genus. A revised description of its morphology and colour photos are also provided.

Micrasterias foliacea (Desmidiales, Zygnematophyceae) is an interesting desmid species as its filamentous life form is quite different from all other species within the genus. Due to the large size of the filaments and cells, accurate species identification is easy. After its original description from Rhode Island (USA) it was recorded from five continents, but no record could be found of its presence in Europe. In this paper a review of the worldwide distribution of M. foliacea (Desmidiales, Zygnematophyceae) is presented, together with notes on the species’ ecology. In addition to its currently known geographical distribution, the paper also records the species’ presence at two new locations in southern Africa, namely Botswana (Okavango River) and Mozambique (Palma, Cabo Delgado). The paper presents a discussion of taxonomical levels of intraspecific taxa, based on morphological characteristics. It is proposed that the taxonomical status of M. foliacea Bailey ex Ralfs f. nodosa should be raised to the variety, as its nodular cell wall thickenings are unique morphological features.

Elwendia is a middle-sized genus with its center of diversity in Central Asia. Due to the progress in recent molecular phylogenetic studies, the genus has been restored and expanded by the inclusion of eastern species of Bunium. However, it still lacks a modern infrageneric classification system based on integrative analyses of molecular, morphological, and karyological evidence. Here, we present the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the genus to date, covering all species within the genus. We used DNA sequences from the nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacers and sampled 21 morphological characters for each species. As a result, an infrageneric classification system of Elwendia is proposed with 6 sections and 11 subsections. Diagnostically important morphological characters include specializations of fruits and stem leaves. Of particular interest is the congruence between molecular and chromosomal data. Descriptions and species composition of the sections and subsections are provided. Elwendia longiloba is resurrected from the synonymy of E. hissarica.

We propose the re-establishment of Dyckia tomentosa, after rediscovering its populations, the synonymization of Dyckia polyclada, and Dyckia magnifica as a new species from southern Brazil that is morphologically related to D. tomentosa. Descriptions of external morphology, leaf anatomy and pollen morphology, and comments on species distributions and habitats are provided. The informal species complex in which D. magnifica and D. tomentosa are placed is morphologically re-circumscribed and proposed here as the “Dyckia selloa complex”.

Asarum wannanense Lu Q. Huang & H. S. Peng, a new species from southern Anhui, eastern China, is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to A. magnificum Tsiang ex C. Y. Cheng et C. S. Yang, but the prominent morphological difference lies in the special calyx tube. The calyx tube of A. wannanense is constricted at the middle and upper part, with an orifice ring of ca. 4 mm wide. The orifice ring and the floral opening have elongated into a secondary calyx tube, with transversely corrugate characteristics.

A new species of Hymenasplenium (Aspleniaceae), H. hovenkampii, from the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia is described. This species was preliminarily identified as H. unilaterale, but can be easily distinguished by its bipinnatisect laminae (vs. 1-pinnate lamina) and reddish brown (vs. dark brown to black) stipes and rachises. In fact, all species known so far in the genus have simple or 1-pinnate laminae, whereas the new species is the only one in the genus with bipinnatisect laminae.

An updated list of the species of Gaultheria (Ericaceae) from Myanmar is presented, with additions and corrections to a previously published list. Gaultheria natmataungensis, a new species from Natma Taung National Park, Chin State, Myanmar, is described and illustrated. It is the only species of Gaultheria endemic to the country. Additionally, G. griffithiana var. insignis is raised to the rank of species (G. insignis), and G. insignis and G. suborbicularis are newly recorded for Myanmar. Photographs of living plants of G. insignis are included, along with an updated description and illustration that incorporate new morphological data, including the first documentation of floral characters. Lectotypes are provided for G. fragrantissima, G. insignis, and G. nummularioides. A key to the species is provided. The number of Gaultheria species recorded from Myanmar is 24.

Ceratozamia rosea sp. nov., a new cycad species from the northern mountains of Chiapas, Mexico, is described and compared with its geographically proximal and morphologically similar congeners. Ceratozamia rosea is closely related to the geographically proximal species C. zoquorum, C. becerrae, and C. sancheziae, but easily distinguishable by its purplish-pink (Mexican pink) emerging leaves, a trait unique in the genus. Additionally, C. rosea presents several other qualitative and quantitative traits that are significantly differentiated from each of these species. This new species description suggests that Ceratozamia diversity in Chiapas, Mexico, might be higher than previously thought. Ceratozamia rosea is critically endangered due to over-collecting and habitat destruction.

Several groups within tribe Phyllantheae (Phyllanthaceae) formed, independently, an (obligate) pollination mutualism with Epicephala moths, which originally had been parasitic. In this pollination system, female moths actively collect pollen from staminate flowers and deposit it on the stigma of pistillate flowers, after which they place at least one egg in or against the ovary. The high pollination rate makes the system beneficial for the plants, whereas the larvae are provided with food (part of the developing seeds) and some protection against predation. Qualitative comparisons are made between non-moth-pollinated lineages, used as outgroups and various, independently moth-pollinated Phyllantheae clades, used as ingroups, thereby looking for parallel developments. The flowers of both sexes of various groups display similar, convergent morphological adaptations to the pollination system, likely to secure the obligate relationship and to improve efficiency. Sepals in both sexes, free or partly to highly connate, are commonly upright and form a narrow tube. The staminate flowers often have united, vertical stamens with the anthers along the androphore or on top of the androphore. Pistillate flowers generally reduce the stigmatic surface, either by making the stigmas shorter or by uniting them into a cone with a small opening at the top for pollen deposition. Less obvious is the reduction of the stigmatic papillae; these are often present in non-moth-pollinated taxa, but absent in the moth-pollinated species. The most diverging, parallel adaptations to moth pollination are currently found in the Palaeotropics, whereas in the Neotropics, some groups continue to also be pollinated by other insect groups and are morphologically less changed.

Velani, N., Boatwright, J.S., Magee, A.R., Manning, J.C. (2023): Taxonomy of the small southern African endemic genus Echiostachys Levyns (Boraginaceae: Boraginoideae). South African Journal of Botany 156: 244-256, DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2023.03.019, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2023.03.019

Hieracium lomniczkianum is a new, apomictic species, discovered in the Karkonosze Mountains (Giant Mountains) in the Sudetes, SW Poland. It belongs to the H. wiesbaurianum aggregate which comprises taxa intermediate in characters between H. bifidum s.lat. and H. schmidtii s.lat. The new species is distinguished by a slender stem with small capitula, and by narrow, weakly dentate rosette leaves which are gradually tapered to a winged petiole.

Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan A., Marhold, Karol (2023): Cardamine peruviana (Cardamineae; Brassicaceae), a new species from Peru. Phytotaxa 594 (3): 237-240, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.594.3.8, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.594.3.8

Camellia suddeeana, a new species endemic to northern Thailand that was previously misidentified as C. tenii, is described and illustrated here. It is similar to C. szemaoensis and C. hainingii for sharing the subsessile flower with white petals and distinct styles, but can be distinguished from the former by its glabrous abaxial surface of the sepals, ovary and seeds, leaves without cork-warts and a different flowering period, and from the latter by leaves without cork-warts and the longer styles. Based on its morphology, C. suddeeana may be placed in C. sect. Heterogena or C. sect. Furfuracea according to the classifications proposed by Ming and Chang, respectively.

Carex sect. Mitratae s.l. was established by Kükenthal in 1909 and can be distinguished from the closely related sections in having nutlets frequently discoid-annulate at the apex and a persistent style base. Based on field surveys and specimen examination, three new species of sect. Mitratae are described and illustrated here. Carex fatsuaniana was collected from Yunnan and differs from C. truncatigluma in having the utricles nearly glabrous, the nutlets with a ca. 0.5 mm long beak at the apex, the staminate spikes cylindrical, 5–7.5 cm long, 4–5 mm wide, and the pistillate glumes acuminate at the apex. Carex damingshanica was collected from Guangxi and differs from C. breviscapa and C. rhynchachaenium in having 3 or 4 spikes, the lateral spikes cylindrical, the pistillate glumes, utricles and nutlets all shorter than in the other two species. Carex radicalispicula was collected from Sichuan and differs from C. truncatirostris in having the staminate spikes clavate, 1.5–2 mm wide, the pistillate glumes pale yellow-white, 3–3.2 mm long, acuminate or short-awned at the apex, and the nutlets with 3 angles shallowly constricted at the middle.

Examination of living populations and herbarium specimens (including type material) of Rohdea yunnanensis and R. fargesii has revealed that the two species are morphologically very distinct from each other. We therefore reinstate the independent specific status of R. yunnanensis which has been placed in synonymy with R. fargesii var. fargesii. In former species, the blade margin denticulate; bract base branched or erose; perianth lobe also erose and denticulate; fruit conical and seed reniform, hilum oblique.

Hybridization is a process that can occur randomly in nature between different genetically compatible species, as is observed within the genus Catasetum. Thus, this work proposes the description of a new nothospecies found in the lake of Castanho located in the municipality of Careiro Castanho. It is described, illustrated and compared with its parental species: C. gnomus and C. saccatum. In addition, information regarding the distribution, habitat and phenology as well as a key to the natural hybrids occurring in the Brazilian state of Amazonas are presented. Taxonomic notes are presented for five taxa of the genus currently treated as species that, after performing controlled pollination and germination in vitro, have proven to be in reality natural hybrids. Finally, we propose to place C. sanguineum into the synonymy of C. naso.

Primula xingshanensis, a new species of Primula endemic to Hubei Province, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to two other species belonging to Primula sect. Auganthus, P. rupestris from West Hubei and South Shaanxi Provinces, and P. sinensis from Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces, but can be easily distinguished from the two by its obovate-spatulate to spatulate and pinnately lobed leaf blade, cuneate leaf base and shorter petioles that are 1.3–4.8 cm long.

One of the horticulturally most popular cultivars of Kalanchoe, K. ‘Margrit’s Magic’, (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) in southern Africa was derived from a hybrid between K. blossfeldiana and K. manginii, two Malagasy species. This nothospecies is here described as K. ×oberlanderi. Reference is made to cultivars that likely have been based on K. ×oberlanderi.

Two new species of Asclepias from Mexico are described here: A. sauronii and A. graogramanii. The first species, from the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, is morphologically similar to A. otarioides, but differs by its ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves and its yellow corona with digitated and curved horns. The second species, distributed in Jalisco and Nayarit, is similar to A. glaucescens, but differs by its pink to white-pinkish flowers, its sessile gynostegium and its cylindrical to oblongoid, and rarely slightly conduplicate hoods. Descriptions, morphological comparisons, and geographic distributions of these species as well as a proposal of their conservation status are provided in this study. This discovery highlights Mexico as a center of diversity of the genus, with 75 species currently known in the country. Furthermore, 45.3% of those species are endemic to Mexico.