Myrica tristigma (Myricaceae), a new species from Vietnam

Dendrobium Sw. is the a highly diversified Orchidaceae genus with at least 100 identified species in Vietnam. Classification and description of this genus in Vietnam suffered from a number of setbacks such as lack of synchronization and photographic illustrations, which rendered identification and researches of Dendrobium samples a daunting task. Therefore, this study constructed the database of morphological descriptions along with sample images of forty Dendrobium samples in Vietnam. Based on this database, species in the Dendrobium genus were analyzed and categorized to create a clear-illustrated information resource which is easy to use by non-specialized users.

Schisandra grandiflora (Wall.) Hook. f. & Thomson (Schisandraceae: sect. Pleiostema), the specimens collected in Ha Giang, Cao Bang, and Vinh Phuc provinces, as a new recorded species for the flora of Vietnam. A morphological comparison with related species and a key to species in Vietnam was provided. A description including details of distribution and habitat is supplied with a line-drawing.

Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses using a mitochondrial gene of COI supported the monophyly of Acanthosaura longicaudata, including the holotype from China and Acanthosaura specimens collected in Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces, Vietnam. Genetic divergence (p-distances) between the Vietnamese and Chinese populations of A. longicaudata was relatively high, ranging 3.25 – 4.03%. However, morphological comparisons between them are highly similar. Based on the integrative analyses, we approved the first record of A. longicaudata in Vietnam, which increase the number of recorded species in Vietnam to 11. A Maxent model was employed that predicted the potential distribution of A. longicaudata mainly covering the sites of occurrences and their surroundings in the border areas between Vietnam, China, and Laos.

Sam bo chinh (Abelmoschus sagittifolius (Kurz) Merr.) is a precious medicinal plant that has been exploited and planted in Vietnam for a long time. However, the morphological characteristics of this plant is easy to confuse with other species of the same genus. In addition, the microscopic characteristics and medicinal powder composition of this medicinal plant have not been comprehensively described. The present investigation was aimed to determine the morphological and microscopic characters of Sam bo chinh using comparative morphology, anatomical research and medicinal powder analysis. The complete description of morphological and microscopic characteristics reported in this study will serve as valuable data for the conservation and development of this species in Vietnam.
 Keywords
 Morphology, microscopic characteristics, medicinal plant, Abelmoschus sagittifolius.
 References
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Stellariayabulaiensis (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Inner Mongolia, China, is described and depicted with photographic illustrations. It is similar to S.bistyla, from which differs in its slender fibrous root, longer leaves and pedicel, occurrence of three styles, and more seeds. A morphological comparison among the new species and the similar ones is also provided.

Using morphological comparison method, the authors identified that the specimens collected in Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve is Rothmannia wittii. Information on the distribution of this species in Vietnam was also reported. Moreover, based on molecular biology techniques, the matK and trnL-F regions of R. wittii were successfully amplified and sequenced. Also, the results showed that there were differences in matK and trnL-F sequences between R. wittii and R. daweishanensis that were similar in morphological characteristics.

Cyrtodactylus is the most diverse genus of the family Gekkonidae and the world’s third largest vertebrate genus. The number of species has increased more than fourfold over the last two decades. Indochina, especially Vietnam and Laos, has witnessed a surge in new species discoveries over the last three decades. The species number reported from Laos and Vietnam has remarkably increased from five in 1997 to 71 species in 2021. However, within the genus, several taxonomic issues have not yet been fully resolved. Based on recently collected samples from Laos and Vietnam, we conducted a comprehensive molecular review of Cyrtodactylus occurring in Laos and Vietnam. Our molecular analysis with support from morphological comparisons showed that C.thuongae is a junior synonym of C.dati and C.rufford is a junior synonym of C.lomyenensis. In total, 68 described species distributed in Laos and Vietnam are undisputed with strong support from both molecular and morphological evidence. On the other hand, the molecular analyses revealed that there are at least seven undescribed species in Vietnam and Laos, one in the C.angularis group, one in the C.chauquangensis, and five in the C.irregularis group. This number will likely increase significantly, as previous work suggested that the C.angularis and C.irregularis groups harbor three and six unnamed lineages, respectively. Based on survey gaps identified in our study, it is clear that additional new species will be discovered in poorly studied regions of central Vietnam and northern and southern Laos. As many species in the genus are facing high extinction risks, several undescribed populations might already be severely threatened by human activities in both countries. Therefore, urgent taxonomic research is needed before conservation assessments of newly discovered taxa can be undertaken to protect them from anthropogenic threats.

Abstract— We demonstrate that Tectaria cadieri (Tectariaceae) is a distinct species in Vietnam after long being placed under the synonymy of T. ingens. Morphologically, T. cadieri is similar to T. ingens, T. setulosa, and T. trichotoma in their large fronds (up to 0.8‐2 m long), 3-pinnate laminae, fully free veins, and sori in two rows on ultimate segments. However, our observations show that T. cadieri differs from these species in the presence of linear, membranaceous stipe scales. Our analyses of five plastid regions (atpB, ndhF plus ndhF-trnN, rbcL, rps16-matK plus matK, and trnL-trnF) show that T. cadieri is not closely related to T. ingens, T. setulosa, nor T. trichotoma. Rather, T. cadieri is closely related to T. multicaudata, a morphologically distinct species with anastomosing veins. Along with a detailed description and illustrations for T. cadieri, we provide morphological comparisons and comments on the relationships between T. cadieri and morphologically similar species.

Based on morphological comparison and literature consultation, a new species, Metapetrocosmea alba (Gesneriaceae), is confirmed from Bach Ma National Park, central Vietnam. This new species is similar to M. poilanei, but differs by its longer and white funnelform corolla and three staminodes. And it is easy to distinguish the new species from M. cycnostyla by its distinct stem, and the shape and size of leaf blade. A detailed morphological description and photographic illustration of the new species are provided along with ecological information and geographic distribution.

Paphiopedilum exul, Calanthe chrysoglossoides, and Luisia brachystachys are reported here as new records for Malaysia, whereas Bryobium cordiferum subsp. borneense, Habenaria rostellifera, and Taeniophyllum rugulosum are three rare orchid species recollected from Sarawak, Perlis, and Perak, respectively. This paper highlights brief descriptions and photographic illustrations of each species for easy identification. Besides, notes on morphological comparisons with the closely related species and artificial taxonomic keys are included as well.