Callicarpa gonzalezgomezii (Lamiaceae): a new species from Cuba

Serpentine or ultramafic soils are produced by weathering and pedogenesis of ultramafic rocks that are characterized by high levels of Ni, Cr, and sometimes Co, but contain low levels of essential nutrients such as N, P, K, and Ca. A number of plant species endemic to serpentine soils are capable of accumulating exceptionally high concentrations of Ni, Zn, and Co. These plants are known as metal “hyperaccumulators.” The function of hyperaccumulation depends not only on the plant, but also on the interaction of the plant roots with rhizosphere microbes and the concentrations of bioavailable metals in the soil. The rhizosphere provides a complex and dynamic microenvironment where microorganisms, in association with roots, form unique communities that have considerable potential for the detoxification of hazardous materials. The rhizosphere bacteria play a significant role on plant growth in serpentine soils by various mechanisms, namely, fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, utilization of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) as the sole N source, production of siderophores, or production of plant growth regulators (hormones). Further, many microorganisms in serpentine soil are able to solubilize “unavailable” forms of heavy metal–bearing minerals by excreting organic acids. In addition, the metal-resistant serpentine isolates increase the efficiency of phytoextraction directly by enhancing the metal accumulation in plant tissues and indirectly by promoting the shoot and root biomass of hyperaccumulators. Hence, isolation of the indigenous and stress-adapted beneficial bacteria serve as a potential biotechnological tool for inoculation of plants for the successful restoration of metal-contaminated ecosystems. In this study, we highlight the diversity and beneficial features of serpentine bacteria and discuss their potential in phytoremediation of serpentine and anthropogenically metal-contaminated soils.

Slender shrub, c. 0-5 m tall, glabrous; older branches with cortex greyishbrown and somewhat rugose; young branches ? purplish-brown and pruinose, inconspicuously glandular-punctate. Leaves fairly closely set, simple, fairly thick, narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic or elliptic, 14-25 x 411 mm, subacute at the apex, narrowed below into a short (up to 2-5 mm long) petiole; margin entire or slightly crenulate; glands small, dark, punctate. Inflorescences terminal or, in broken branches, in leaf-axils, glabrous, to c. 3 cm in diam. and (5-) 10-25-flowered; bracts linear-elliptic, few, 0-62-4 mm long. Sepals broadly ovate-triangular, 1-1-5 x 0-8-1-2 mm, glabrous, subacute, entire, glandular, somewhat united and slightly overlapping at the base, persistent beneath the ripe capsule. Petals c. 3-6-5 x 2-83-2 mm, broadly ovate, concave, obtuse at the apex, abruptly narrowed and scarcely clawed at the base, carinate dorsally, dark red, without obvious gland-dots. Filaments gradually narrowing from base to apex, narrow, not shouldered, c. 3-2 mm long; anthers oblong, c. 1-6 mm long, tipped with a small gland. Young ovary (4-)5segmented, glabrous, with numerous small convex glands; loculi biovulate; style glabrous, c. 2-8 mm long, slightly thickened above. Capsule glabrous, dehiscent, c. 2-5 mm long and 4 mm wide, glandular-punctate; segments (4-)5, rounded above with no apical tubercle or appendage. Seeds dark greyish-pruinose, c. 1-6 mm long, reniform, with irregular, densely arranged, transverse, occasionally interrupted or confluent ridges.

Saurauia homotricha, a new species from montane forests of western Honduras and Nic¬ aragua, is described and illustrated.It is placed in the Central American series Gymnogynae Buscalioni and is most similar to Saurauia rubiformis Vatke, from which it differs most markedly in the type, length, and distribution of trichomes on the leaves and the abaxial surface of the sepals.

Chorizanthe aphanantha K.M.Nelson & D.J.Keil is described as a new species from serpentine soils in the Irish Hills portion of the San Luis Range of central-western San Luis Obispo County. It occurs in portions of San Luis Obispo's Irish Hills Natural Reserve, where it grows with several other rare, serpentine-endemic taxa. It is distinguished from C. breweri S.Watson, with which it co-occurs and may be confused (particularly as it ages), by its compact, rather than sprawling habit; the green rather than red color of its herbage at the time of flowering; its much smaller, white, monomorphic perianth lobes, rather than white to pink, dimorphic lobes; bracts with straight, ascending, rather than recurved spine tips; smaller and smooth rather than transversely corrugated mature involucres; and basal leaf blades that are glabrous to minutely strigose, thin, and ovate to elliptic (occasionally mucronate) with obscure veins, rather than thick, leathery, reniform, and apically notched to ±obcordate with pronounced veins. It differs from the recently described C. minutiflora R.Morgan, Steyer, & Reveal by its sparser and shorter pubescence, entire versus erose perianth lobes, nine rather than three stamens, ovate to elliptic rather than oblanceolate basal leaves, and flat rather than undulating leaf margins. It is distinguished from the morphologically similar C. procumbens Nutt. by its ovate to elliptic rather than oblong to oblanceolate leaf blades, its sparser and shorter pubescence, the presence of a narrow scarious margin on the involucral teeth, smaller flowers, and distinct rather than basally connate filaments. A key is provided that distinguishes C. aphanantha from other Chorizanthe species in the San Luis Range. It is currently known to grow in serpentine scrub and chaparral at elevations from 100 to 370 meters.

Ultramafic (“serpentine”) soils from the Nelson Region contain low total levels of calcium, potassium, phosphate and high total levels of chromium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, manganese and nickel. However, the plant‐available fraction as measured by extraction procedures, differs considerably from the total elemental abundances in the soils. The solubility of individual elements is unrelated to total abundance in the soil. Only extractable manganese and iron could be predicted by their total concentration. Extraction experiments indicated that chromium and cobalt have low solubility in the pH range to which serpentine plants are exposed and therefore unlikely to be toxic. Soil analyses across a sedimentary/ultramafic soil boundary indicated that higher levels of extractable nickel and/or magnesium in ultramafic soils seem likely to account for the observed vegetation change. The pH of soils under beech forest was significantly lower than that under serpentine vegetation and was probably a result of humic decay of forest litter. Nickel availability increases with decreasing pH. This effect is not limiting on nickel‐poor sedimentary soils, but the increased nickel availability at lower pH on serpentine soils may prohibit forest colonisation of this ultramafic environment. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that isolated Nothofagus and Pinus radiata have colonised humus‐deficient ultramafics at Hackett Creek and the Cobb asbestos

Thlaspi japonicum is a Japanese Ni-hyperaccumulator plant growing in areas with serpentine soil containing a high level of Ni. In the present study, we investigated the ability of wild Thlaspi japonicum plants inhabiting non-ultramafic soil areas of Hokkaido to accumulate Ni/Zn. Wild T. japonicum plants growing on Rebun Island (Rebun-T) accumulated small amounts of Ni, while the plants cultivated on ultramafic rock soil accumulated large amounts of Ni, like T. japonicum growing on Mt. Yubari (Yubari-T), and this change was also observed for T. japonicum growing on Mt. Tengu (Tengu-T). All the T. japonicum plants transplanted on both ultramaflc soil or Andosol accumulated over 100 mg kg−1 Zn, especially the Ni/Zn content of Tengu-T plants tended to be higher than that of the plants growing in the other two areas. In contrast, transplanting of Yubari-T plants from ultramafic soil with a high level of Ni to soil with a lower-Ni content decrease of the Ni concentration in the leaves. Wild Rebun-T plants showed a smaller biomass than the Yubari-T and Tengu-T plants, and some individuals of the Rebun-T population were smaller than those of the other populations, with tiny radical leaves. Zinc content of the small leaves was not significantly different from that in large leaves. These results suggested that T. japonicum plants are able to accumulate high Ni/Zn accumulation, regardless ecotype, habitat and leaf size.

Serpentine soils also known as ultramafic soils comprise 5 percent of the total land area of the Philippines. Majority of the ultramafic soils occur at the edges of the mainland and small island groups. However, little information had been known regarding inland ultramafic forest ecosystems just like Mt. Kiamo, which form part of the northern Mindanao ultramafic soils. Nine sampling plots with 20x20m dimensions were established within the lower, middle and top elevations at 1,563 to 1,782 masl. All plants having ≥5cm dbh were identified and recorded. Soil characterization was done by digging a 1x1m hole at variable depths within sampling plots. Composite soil samples were collected on every horizon and analyzed. Result showed that Mt. Kiamo is composed of 151 species belonging to 114 families and 129 genera. The dominant species include Symplocos ophirensis , Myristica sp. , Polyosma integrifolia Blume, Calophyllum soulattri , Phyllanthus everettii , Madhuca sp. , Scaevola micrantha , Ardisia elliptica , Weinmannia urdanetensis , Morella javanica , and Omalanthus fastuosus . Soil analysis revealed an extremely high level of Ni, Cr, Mn and Fe. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that species’ dominance, frequency, and diversity was influenced by Ni, soil moisture and thickness while plant density was influenced by Cr and bulk density. Keywords: Mt. Kiamo, ultramafic, serpentine, Bukidnon

The objective of this study was to compare eco-physiological and morphological parameters of a regionally endangered orchid species, Epipactis atrorubens (Hoffm. ex Bernh.) Bess., growing in two forest communities (on serpentine and granite outcrops) of the Middle Urals, Russia. Biodiversity, dominance, and phytocoenosis studies showed the colonization of a wide range of plant species on both sites. The physicochemical properties of the soil, chemical composition and morphological features of E. atrorubens, growing under technogenic conditions (asbestos deposits), on serpentine outcrops and in the natural environment of the granite massif were studied for the first time. The serpentine substrate differed from the granite one by its greater stoniness, circumneutral pH and lower contents of available nitrogen and phosphorus. Extremely high concentrations of magnesium were found in the serpentine soil, some 79 times higher than in the granite substrate. High concentrations of nickel (94 times), chromium (59 times), cobalt (17 times), and iron (4 times) were found in the serpentine substrate, higher than in the granite substrate. The differences between the sites for available metal contents and for root and shoot metal contents were significantly less. Concentrations of most of the metals in the roots were higher than in the shoots. Despite higher metal concentrations and lower nitrogen and phosphorus levels in serpentine soils, E. atrorubens had a larger population and greater viability compared to those growing on granite. Plants on serpentine outcrops were characterized by the formation of a larger number of fruits, greater root lengths and thicker leaf blades, compared to plants on granites. The well-developed orchid mycorrhizae contributed to the survival of this species under unfavorable serpentine conditions. Hence, serpentine outcrops formed due to the mining of asbestos could be a suitable substrate for the light-demanding E. atrorubens due to its capacity to adapt to dry, rocky, nutrient-depleted soils and limited competition from other plants.

Background: Ongoing systematic studies in the African flora periodically reveal the existence of undescribed species.Objectives: To describe the new species.Method: Relevant literature was surveyed, and herbarium and fresh material were examined.Results: Collections of a Massonia (Hyacinthaceae) from the escarpment near Sutherland in Northern Cape with unique, softly hairy foliage represent an undescribed species.Conclusions: Massonia villosa J.C.Manning is a new species distinguished by the small, markedly convex leaves with recurved apex and pilose adaxial surface covered with soft, shaggy hairs up to 7 mm long and slender flowers without marked sigmoid coiling of the tepals.

Bogner J.: Four new species of Culcasia and Stylochaeton (Araceae) from tropical Africa. — Willdenowia 41: 57–66. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2011 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem.. doi:10.3372/wi.41.41106 (available via http//dx.doi.org/)Two species of Culcasia, C. brevipetiolata from Gabon and C. linearifolia from Gabon and Cameroon, and two new species of Stylochaeton, S. pilosus from Sierra Leone and S. malaissei from DR Congo, are described as new to science and illustrated. C. brevipetiolata is characterised by short petioles and leaf blades with a rounded base, C. linearifolia by linear leaf blades, S. pilosus by ± rounded, abaxially hairy leaf blades and hairy petioles, and S. malaissei by leaf blades with a cuneate base.

Synergistic interactions between AMF and MHB communities in the rhizospheric microenvironment facilitated endemic hyperaccumulator plants growth thrive under heavy metal stress in ultramafic soil.

Cool temperate regions have a limited number of species able to accumulate nickel (Ni) and other heavy metals in above-ground tissues. Our study was conducted in order to find accumulators of Ni on serpentine soils in the Middle and Southern Urals. Above-ground tissues of plants as well as soil samples were collected in 10 ultramafic massifs. Our results confirmed hyperaccumulation activity of Alyssum obovatum (C.A.Mey.) Turcz. Three species that appeared to be hemi-accumulators of Ni are Alyssum litvinovii Knjaz., Alyssum tortuosum Willd. and Noccaea thlaspidioides (Pall.) F.K.Mey. All these species are facultative accumulators/hyperaccumulators and exhibit different concentrations of Ni under a range of soil conditions. The highest Ni concentration was found in A. obovatum in Krakinskiy massif (6008 μg·g–1 dry mass), A. tortuosum (1789 μg·g–1) and A. litvinovii (160 μg·g–1) in Khabarninskiy massif, and N. thlaspidioides (741 μg·g–1) in Sugomakskiy massif (Southern Urals). Regression analysis shows statistically significant dependence of Ni concentrations in soil and tissue of both A. obovatum and A. tortuosum. The latter shows a dramatically high difference in the level of accumulation that varies from excluder to 20 μg g–1 Ni to hyperaccumulator levels, suggesting the existence of genetically distinct populations with the ability to vary their accumulation of Ni.

The efficiency of nickel (Ni) phytoextraction by hyperaccumulating Brassicaceae was compared in two types of covers, namely, monoculture or mixed culture. The selected species were from the Pindus Mountains (Greece), including Alyssum murale, Noccaea tymphaea, Leptoplax emarginata and Bornmuellera tymphaea. After 4 months of culture in mesocosms using ultramafic soil (Ni = 1480 mg kg–1), plant biomass yield and Ni concentrations in shoots and roots were recorded for each of six treatments (mixed-culture cover, four monoculture covers and unplanted soil). Microbial biomass carbon, the size of the cultivable rhizosphere bacterial community and its phenotypic structure (Biolog EcoPlates™), bacterial and fungal genetic structure (SSCP), as well as the potential production of auxin compounds, were also evaluated. Moreover, measurements of various microbial enzymes were performed. The biomass and shoot Ni concentration (albeit not significant) of B. tymphaea increased in co-cropping system. A slight acidification of the soil occurred and a strong correlation between pH and the size of the bacterial community was also observed. No significant change in enzyme activity was observed among the cover types, except in the case of arylsulfatase. The phenotypic structure of the bacterial communities and the bacterial and fungal genetic structures appeared to be specific to the type of cover, although the size of the culturable bacterial community did not show variation among treatments. Therefore, on the basis of the bioaccumulation coefficient and the translocation factor, our results showed that B. tympheae, and to a lesser extent N. tympheae, were the two species with the greatest Ni phytoextraction potential in co-culture systems.

Nitrogen fixation and growth of Lens culinaris as affected by nickel availability: A pre-requisite for optimization of agromining

Two new species of Vaccinium from the Philippines are described and illustrated from historical herbarium collections. Vaccinium burburan from Luzon Island, Northern Philippines is morphologically similar to V. tenuipes, but is distinguished by having shorter petioles, pedicels and corolla, adaxially pubescent leaf blades with cordate base, apically pubescent corollas, and pubescent filaments throughout. It is only one of two species of Vaccinium in the Philippines known to have a cordate leaf blade base. Vaccinium burburan is considered critically endangered. Vaccinium jubatum from Mindanao Island, Southern Philippines, is morphologically similar to V. sylvaticum, but is distinguished by having a dentate leaf blade margin, shorter inflorescences and pedicels, a glabrous calyx, and shorter filaments. The dentate leaf blade margin of V. jubatum uniquely distinguishes it from other Philippine Vaccinium species. The conservation status of V. jubatum is considered data deficient. These discoveries further increase the current number of known Vaccinium species in the Philippines to 40.