Illicium nymphiiflorum (Schisandraceae), a New Cauliflorous Species from Yunnan, China

To date, the endangered terrestrial orchid Codonorchis canisioi was only known from two collections at its type locality. This plant has not been collected since 1935 and is currently considered as Critically Endangered in the Brazilian list of threatened flora. We recently found two small populations about 174 km from the type locality. We thus seized the opportunity to make a complete record of morphological traits, aiming to fill the gaps of the short and non-illustrated protologue. Plant, flower (including details of column and pollinarium) and fruit features are here illustrated and discussed in detail. Overall, plant and flower features are similar to those of the widespread Patagonian C. lessonii. Yet, both species can be separated by a number of vegetative and floral features. Female Augochlorine Halictidae bees were recorded as pollinators. Fruits mature quickly (15–19 days after pollination). Plants wither by middle October, resting underground as very small (3–5 mm diameter) roundish tubers. The two newly found populations are in privately owned areas and prone to both fire and cattle grazing. Due to the small size of each population (estimated in less than 200 individuals), it is likely that this species would still be considered as CR (Critically Endangered) when formally and properly surveyed under the IUCN criteria. Since plants are small and strongly seasonal, more field surveys are necessary to locate other potentially overlooked populations.

The Azorean endemic arthropod fauna includes seventeen species and subspecies adapted to the subterranean environment. Most of these species are known from single lava-tubes or volcanic pits (seven out of the 17 species) and only a few are widespread (namely Trechus terceiranus and Trechus picoensis). Moreover, many of the caves are under severe impact of the main economic activity on Azores, dairy–cattle production. Consequently, it is urgent to assess the conservation status of the Azorean endemic cave arthropod fauna. The aims of this contribution are twofold: present the results of the first IUCN red-list assessment of the conservation status of Azorean endemic cave adapted arthropods (e.g. Borges et al. 2016, Borges and Amorim 2017a, Borges and Amorim 2017b, Borges and Amorim 2017c, Boieiro et al. 2018, Borges and Amorim 2018a, Borges and Amorim 2018b, Borges and Amorim 2018c, Borges and Amorim 2018d, Borges and Amorim 2018e, Rego et al. 2018) and present an overview of the major threats involving the conservation of those species. The assessments of extinction risk were based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria and the most updated guidelines. Overall, 15 out of the 16 assessed species are threatened (CR+ EN + VU). The most diverse group, the ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) include half of the assessed species and have five species considered as Critically Endangered (CR) (Thalassophilus azoricus, Trechus jorgensis, Trechus montanheirorum, Trechus oromii, Trechus pereirai). present the results of the first IUCN red-list assessment of the conservation status of Azorean endemic cave adapted arthropods (e.g. Borges et al. 2016, Borges and Amorim 2017a, Borges and Amorim 2017b, Borges and Amorim 2017c, Boieiro et al. 2018, Borges and Amorim 2018a, Borges and Amorim 2018b, Borges and Amorim 2018c, Borges and Amorim 2018d, Borges and Amorim 2018e, Rego et al. 2018) and present an overview of the major threats involving the conservation of those species. The assessments of extinction risk were based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria and the most updated guidelines. Overall, 15 out of the 16 assessed species are threatened (CR+ EN + VU). The most diverse group, the ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) include half of the assessed species and have five species considered as Critically Endangered (CR) (Thalassophilus azoricus, Trechus jorgensis, Trechus montanheirorum, Trechus oromii, Trechus pereirai). Most of the species have small extent of occurrence (EOO less than 12 km²) and reduced area of occupancy (AOO less than 12 km²). The main current threat to the species is the impact of agriculture activities. We suggest as future measures of conservation the regular monitoring of the species (every ten years) and fencing the entrances of the caves where human intrusion and disturbance has been occurring. The Azorean Government will publish legislation for the protection of the most important Azorean caves in 2018.

During field work conducted in Colombia, a new species of the genus Specklinia Lindl., S. pereziana was found. The new species is described and illustrated. Information about its habitat and ecology is provided. Specklinia pereziana is similar to S. muricaudata, from which it differs in leaf shape and floral characters - the main differences between the species are discussed.

A new species of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae-Ceropegieae-Stapeliinae) is described from Ngome in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This new species shares a subset of vegetative and floral characters with the long-lost C. rudatisii, but is clearly separated by its sophisticated floral morphology. Ceropegia heidukiae occurs in Northern Zululand Mistbelt Grassland, an endangered vegetation type. A comprehensive species description is provided together with information on habitat and distribution; photographs of plants in habitat are also provided. A preliminary assessment of conservation status according to IUCN criteria suggests that C. heidukiae is Critically Endangered (CR).

Introduction of genes for rhizomes from wild Lotus corniculatus L. germplasm into domesticated germplasm may be an important step towards improving persistence of cultivated L. corniculatus, normally a cross‐pollinated herbage crop. This study was initiated to determine if rhizomes could be transferred to a L. corniculatus germplasm that sexually reproduces via autogamy. Autogamy is an unusual reproductive expression in this typically self‐incompatible species. Compatibility was high between the autogamous germplasm AG‐S4 and five wild Moroccan accessions with rhizomes. Higher crossing success was obtained when AG‐S4 was used as a maternal parent. Most seeds produced were normal in appearance and size and had high germination. The resulting F1 progeny were morphologically intermediate between the parents for size and shape of leaf and floral characters, but appeared more similar to their Moroccan parents. Differences between reciprocal crosses were not evident. Hybridity of progeny was confirmed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using eight primers. Fertility of F1 progeny was low relative to their parents. Meiosis of parental genotypes was characterized by a high frequency of bivalents, but the meiotic behavior of their F1 hybrids was more irregular. The frequency of univalents varied from 0 to 8 with an average 2.4 per ceil, indicating homology of chromosomes between AG‐S4 and Moroccan accessions was not complete. Rhizomes were successfully expressed in F1 hybrids and a small number were found to also be autogamous. The autogamous hybrids will be important tools to elucidate the inheritance of rhizomes in L. corniculatus. Selection among the hybrids could lead to autogamous, rhizomatous cultivars of L. corniculatus.

The protection and preservation of biodiversity around big cities is an urgent problem of modern times. The present study is devoted to the protection and preservation of the wild flora of Tbilisi City. 40 rare and endangered vascular plants of flora of Georgia growing wild in the Tbilisi environs have been identified. 14 of them are trees, 6 - shrubs, 2 - semi-shrubs and undershrubs, 17 - perennial herbs and 1 - annual plant. Each of them was assessed according to IUCN categories and criteria: Critically Endangered (CR) – 6 species, Endangered (EN) – 10, Vulnerable (VU) – 12, Near Threatened (NT) – 8 and Data Deficient (DD) species – 4. They are plants of different bio-ecologies and are distributed in the different vegetation types and habitats. 19 species are endemics of the Caucasus. Two of them (Astragalus cyri Fomin and Anthemis saguramica Sosn.) are endemics of Georgia. The article provides a list of the target species with reference to key synonyms, families, habitats (within Tbilisi environs), life forms and IUCN categories and criteria (within Georgia).

Nidiranaokinavana (Boettger, 1895) is a small-sized ranid species belonging to the East Asian genus Nidirana Dubois, 1992. Previous studies have indicated that this species was exclusively distributed on Ishigaki and Iriomote islands in the southern Ryukyus, as well as two extremely small wetland habitats in central Taiwan. Such a restricted distribution makes it one of the most endangered frog species in both Taiwan and Japan. By using molecular, morphological, and acoustic analyses, our study reveals significant divergence between the Taiwanese and Japanese clades, supporting the recognition of the Taiwanese clade as a distinct species, described herein as Nidiranashyhhuangi sp. nov. Compared to Nidiranaokinavana sensu stricto from the southern Ryukyus, the Nidiranashyhhuangi sp. nov. is characterized by a significantly smaller and non-overlapping body size, relatively longer forelimbs and hindlimbs, smaller internostril and interorbital distances, with a higher number of cross bands on thigh and shank. Acoustic analyses reveal that the Nidiranashyhhuangi sp. nov. produces calls with a rapid tempo and higher pulse number, with a higher dominant frequency compared to the Japanese clade. Due to the extremely limited distribution of this species to two small sites on Taiwan, and continuing decline in quality of its habitat, we propose that it should be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) under the IUCN criteria. Immediate and comprehensive in situ and ex situ conservation actions are necessary to ensure the sustainable viability of the population.

Assessing the vulnerability of Thailand's forest birds to global change

Floral morphology in all ten species ofCrossostylis, one of the inland genera of Rhizophoraceae and is distributed in the South Pacific Islands, was studied to increase our knowledge on floral features of individual species as well as on relationships among the species. Flowers ofCrossostylis, unlike those of the other Rhizophoraceae, always have semi-inferior ovaries and entire petals, but are diversified concerning the number and arrangement of stamens and carpels, the presence or absence of staminodia, sexuality and the structure of nectaries. Despite some doubt of the presence of apomorphies restricted to the whole genus, we tentatively definedCrossostylis by a combination of the presence of the semi-inferior ovary, entire petals, and arillate seeds, and then performed cladistic analysis on the basis of 24 floral and other morphological characters and withCarallia andGynotroches as outgroups. Our phylogenetic analysis suggested that the species ofCrossostylis are divided into two monophyletic groups: one comprising six species distributed in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Fiji Islands, and the other comprising four species distributed in New Caledonia and Polynesia.

ABSTRACTDalbergia odorifera T.C. Chen is an endemic and endangered species in Hainan, China. This study reassessed its conservation status based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 3.1 and its regional guidelines, as well as evaluation indicators for the threatened degree of the tiny population of wild plants endangered in China. The results showed that according to IUCN criteria, D. odorifera T.C. Chen was assessed as critically endangered (CR) under Criteria A1ac and D. This designation reflects the severe population decline and the extremely small number of mature individuals—only about 30—found within a total wild population of approximately 200 in Hainan. The current CR status contrasts sharply with its previous international classification of vulnerable (VU). Based on China's evaluation index system for extremely small wild plant populations, D. odorifera T.C. Chen was also rated as endangered (Grade IV). The outcomes from both assessment systems are congruent, confirming a status equivalent to CR. This consensus is underpinned by the species' critically small, fragmented, and declining wild population, with the total number of mature individuals remaining dangerously low. This study provides a scientific basis for the endangered level assessment of D. odorifera T.C. Chen and the subsequent management and protection strategies.

Morphological variation among selected accessions of Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl., C. acuminata (P. Beauv.) Schott & Endl. and their interspecific hybrids were studied at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Average Cluster Linkage Analysis (ACLA). Measurements were taken on 30 vegetative and floral characters and the data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. The results from both methods showed that the three groups of plants were morphologically similar but separable. The PCA revealed that the first five principal component axes accounting for 71.78% of the total variation with the first two axes accounting for 31.93% and 18.72% respectively. The major characters which account for the variation among the two species and their hybrids were peak flowering period, leaf shape, tree height, number of primary leaf veins, proportion of female flowers, leaf blade length and extent growth of twig.

The presence of the Norfolk Island endemic wheatgrass, Triticum kingianum of Endlicher (Prodr. Fl. Norf.: 21 (1833), seems assured, judged from two recent collections of it. Both gatherings, in inflorescence, spikelet and floral characters, and also in leaf shape, conform to Elymus multiflorus (Hook.f.) Love & Connor, a species found in coastal New Zealand and in eastern Australia. The most appropriate taxonomic treatment is recognition of Norfolk Island plants at varietal level directly comparable in rank to E. multiflorus var. longisetus (Hack.) L6ve & Connor of New Zealand.

Background: During a prospecting revision of Salvia collections at IEB, MEXU and XAL herbaria for Flora of Veracruz, undetermined specimens, or misidentified either as S. nana or S. prunelloides , not referable to any known species were identified. Hypotheses: The morphological characters of these specimens match with those of Salvia subg. Calosphace sect. Farinaceae and support them as an undescribed species. Taxon: Lamiaceae, Salvia sp. nov. Study site: Central portion of the state of Veracruz. Methods: Botanical explorations were conducted in the two general areas in which the putative new species has been recorded, new specimens were collected and prepared according to standard procedures. A thorough morphological examination was applied, and the hypothesis was tested contrasting the evidence against specialized taxonomic literature and specimens of the most similar species. Results: Salvia sp. nov. is vegetatively almost identical to S. nana but lacks the diagnostic floral characters defining the group to which this species belongs, sect. Uliginosae . Floral characters rather match those of sect. Farinaceae , to which is assigned; between the species of this section, it is most similar to S. oblongifolia but clearly differs by vegetative characters (petiole length, absence of axillary leaves, leaf shape, size, pubescence and texture, as well as by having thickened veins). Conclusions: Morphological and comparative examination contrasting with the species of Salvia justifies the recognition of a new Salvia species, which is here named as Salvia gomezpompae and properly described.

Malaxidinae are a cosmopolitan higher Epidendroid subtribe of > 1250 species that exhibit wide morphological and ecological diversity. Despite almost two centuries of taxonomic deliberation, controversy persists regarding the delimitation of practically all Malaxidinae genera, the most important of which are Crepidium, Dienia, Liparis and Malaxis. Previous attempts to classify these genera using a molecular phylogenetic approach showed Liparis and Malaxis to be polyphyletic and the floral characters traditionally used to define them as homoplastic. Emphasis has instead shifted to vegetative and ecological traits. Here, we conduct an expanded analysis of nuclear (ITS) and plastid (matK) sequences focused on terrestrial taxa, with the resulting phylogram largely corroborating the emerging picture, and we test the efficacy of four previously highlighted traits to recover the same relationships. Although growth habit is underscored as important for resolving a natural distinction between epiphytic Liparis and terrestrial ‘Crepidium clade’ plus ‘Malaxis clade’ taxa, leaf shape and venation and habitat preference are shown to be poor predictors of phylogenetic affiliation. Instead, perennating organ structure (heteroblastic or homoblastic) and placement (predominantly above- or below-ground) – are incisive, with leaf number and texture apparently correlated. These findings are discussed in the context of an inferred evolutionary history of the subtribe. Although homoplastic at the subtribe level, some floral characters are shown to be useful for resolving identities at the species level. Accordingly, the status of four long-confused species (Crepidium acuminatum, C. allanii, C. purpureum and Microstylis biloba) is resolved.

A field trial was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Adilabad of Northern Telangana Zone in Telangana State, India for two consecutive years of 2018 and 2019 with forty five genotypes of dolichos bean. The study was initiated to study the vegetative, floral characters and yield performance of different genotypes. The experiment was laid by adopting Randomized block design with two replications each in 2018 and 2019. Significant variations were noticed in the vegetative, floral characteristics; yield attributes and yields among the different genotypes. Stem pigmentation varied from meager or no pigmentation in 33 genotypes to almost solid in IC-426968 and IC-427428. The leaf colour was green and dark green in 12 and 33 genotypes respectively. The leaf shape was round (IC-426968), lanceolate, ovate lanceolate and ovate in 2, 10 and 32 genotypes. The standard petal colour and keel petal colour varied among the genotypes. It was cream, pink, purple and white. Maximum pod length was reported by IC-427436 and IC-427462 (16.15 cm), mean pod width by PSRJ-12953 (6.36 cm), mean pod weight by IC-427436 (11.05 g) and number of seeds per pod (6.35) by genotype Sambram. The genotype IC-427436 recorded significantly higher pod yield per plant (2713 g) and pod yield per hectare (13563 kg) over rest of the genotypes and it was followed by the genotypes IC-427462 and RND-1.