Glabrous Bracts Research Articles

Syzygium ngheanense (Myrtaceae: Myrtoideae), a new species of Syzygium from Central Vietnam

Syzygium ngheanense (Myrtaceae), a new species from Nghe An Province, in Central Vietnam is described and illustrated. The species is most similar to S. vestitum, S. scarbum and S. levinei but differs from the three latter in having glabrous bracts and bracteoles, sparsely scabrid flower buds and hypanthia, larger sepals and petals, longer stamens and styles. Information on phenology, ecology and distribution is provided, together with a preliminary conservation status assessment and taxonomic notes for the new species and a key to distinguish it from three hairy Syzygium species in Indochina.

A new species of Habenaria (Orchidaceae, Orchideae) from Qinghai Province, China

Habenaria qinghaiensis, a new species of Orchidaceae from Qinghai Province, is described and illustrated. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear ITS (nrITS) and two plastid (matK and rbcL) DNA markers indicates that H. qinghaiensis belongs to H. josephi group (sect. Diphyllae s.l.). It is morphologically similar to H. josephi and H. tibetica, but differs from the former by having petals shallowly 2-lobed at base, lateral lobes of lip 1.8–2.2 cm long, lip with cushion-like appendage at entrance of spur, and from the latter by having almost glabrous bracts, petals and ovary, lip with cushion-like appendage at entrance of spur, and three stigmas.

New contributions to Goodyerinae and Dendrobiinae (Orchidaceae) in the flora of China

Eight new species from China, Cheirostylis chuxiongensis, C. yei, Myrmechis lingulata, M. longii, Bulbophyllum ximaense, B. xizangense, B. retusum and B. pulcherissimum, are described and illustrated. Cheirostylis chuxiongensis differs from C. thailandica by having 5–9 irregular and papillae-like calli on each side in the sac of the lip, epichile with entire lobes, petals narrowly obliquely obovate and an apex that is not recurved. Cheirostylis yei is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having a long stem, pubescent ovary and sepals, epichile lobes with irregular and undulate margins, a subquadrate callus without teeth in the saccate hypochile. Myrmechis lingulata differs from M. chinensis by having a simple and lanceolate to ligulate lip, glabrous bracts and ovary, oblique and narrowly ovate petals. Myrmechis longii differs from M. pumila by having white-veined leaves, oblong-lanceolate epichile lobes, and viscidium attached to the middle of the caudicle. Bulbophyllum ximaense is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having distant pseudobulbs, shorter scape, an inflorescence with 9–16 orange-red flowers, shorter lateral sepals with a long acuminate apex, incurved and tubular apical margins, a papillate lip disk and triangular-subulate stelidia. Bulbophyllum xizangense is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having narrow lanceolate leaves, shorter inflorescence with 1–3 greenish-yellow flowers, falcate-ovoid lateral sepals, a lip with small lateral lobes and 3 keels at the base. Bulbophyllum retusum differs from B. spathulatum by having shorter inflorescence, peduncles with 2 tubular sheaths, dorsal sepals with a retuse apex, lateral sepals with lower edges that are connate to each other and free and divergent toward the apex, obovate petals with an acute or slightly retuse apex. Bulbophyllum pulcherissimum differs from B. lopalanthum by its 5-veined dorsal sepal, ovate-lanceolate lateral sepals, obliquely ovate-oblong petal, erose-toothed margins and obovate lip with a large, oblong basal callus, and an obtuse base. In addition, three species (Bulbophyllum frostii, B. raskotii and B. nematocaulon) are reported for the first time in China.

Dioscorea longipedicellata (Dioscoreaceae), a new species from the Indian subcontinent

A new species of Dioscorea, viz., D. longipedicellata is described and illustrated based on collections from northeast India and northwest Bangladesh. The new species is closely allied to D. kamoonensis and D. pentaphylla. D. longipedicellata can be diagnosed by its glabrous stem, glabrous membranous lamina, pedicellate male flowers, funnel-shaped, fleshy prominent pedicels, glabrous bract situated at the base of pedicel directly on rachis and membranous, glabrous tepals.

Billolivia cadamensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Central Vietnam

Billolivia cadamensis (Gesneriaceae) is described as a new species from the central province of Quang Ngai, Vietnam. The new taxon is close to B. tichii but differs in shorter stem, abaxially glabrous bracts, calyx divided into 5 lobes to base, outside pubescent apical half of corolla tube, oblong or deltoid corolla lobes, dense hairs on apical 3/4 of the ovary and white corolla lobes. A key to all known species of Billolivia of Vietnam is given. Received 3 November 2016, accepted 27 December 2016, published online 28 December 2016

향유속(꿀풀과)의 신종: 변산향유(Elsholtzia byeonsanensis M. Kim)

A new species, Elsholtzia byeonsanensis M. Kim is named and described from Byeonsan, Jeollabukdo Province, Korea. Molecular data confirmed that this new taxon was distinguished from other congeneric species. Elsholtzia byeonsanensis shares several characteristics (secund spikes, ovate leaves, long corolla length, etc.) with its related species E. splendens, but it is distinct from E. splendens which has a large plant, green stem color, chartaceous leaf textures, non-shiny leaf surfaces, pubescent petioles, pubescent leaf blade surfaces, pubescent bract surface, and open woodland habitats by having a small plant, purple stem color, coriaceous leaf textures, shiny leaf surfaces, glabrous petioles, glabrous leaf blade surfaces, glabrous bract surface, and marine habitats.

Calathea matudaeandC. sousandradeana, New Species of Marantaceae from Mexico and Northern Central America

Two species of Marantaceae, Calathea matudae H. Kenn. & Ganders from Chiapas, Mexico, to Honduras, and C. sousandradeana H. Kenn. & Ganders from Veracruz and Oaxaca, Mexico, are described as new for inclusion in Flora Mesoamericana. Calathea matudae differs from C. atropurpurea Matuda in lacking reduced basal inflorescences, the bract acumen that is shorter and acute at the tip, the bracts that consistently dry brown, and the cross veins between the lateral veins of the leaves that are farther apart (15 to 20 per 5 mm vs. 23 to 30 per 5 mm in C. atropurpurea). Calathea sousandradeana differs from C. matudae and C. atropurpurea by the smaller, glabrous bracts with obtuse to rounded margins in the upper ones. A key is provided to the Mexican species in Calathea sect. Breviscapus Benth.

Aspalathus abbottii (Fabaceae: Crotalarieae), a new species from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A new species Aspalathus abbottii C.H. Stirt. & Muasya, is described. The species is known only from Oribi Flats, KwaZulu-Natal, where it grows in grassland vegetation. The new species is characterised by its rigid spreading habit, densely and shortly villous branches, glabrous bracts and bracteoles, and 1(2) bright yellow flowers borne on short lateral shoots. It is most similar to other grassland species, A. frankenioides DC. and A. gerrardii H. Bol., all from the summer rainfall area of South Africa but differs in its rigid spreading habit, few bright yellow flowers per flowering branchlet, glabrous bracts and bracteoles, villous yellowish-green seasonal shoots, and its pale brown to tan over-seasonal branches with a blackish lattice of peeled bark.

Notes on Some Scrophulariaceae from China

Notes on Some Scrophulariaceae from China

Bird Visitation, Seed-Set, and Germination Rates in Two Species of Lobelia on Mount Kenya

Seed-set in natural plant populations may be limited by pollinators, resources, or seed predators. Bierzychudek (1981) found pollinator numerical limitation of seed-set to be common in natural populations. However, many plant species are capable of self-pollination when pollinators are absent (Proctor and Yeo 1973); in others natural levels of outcrossing are sufficient for full seed-set, and seed-set appears to be resource limited (Primack and Lloyd 1980, Udovic 1981, Udovic and Aker 198i). In most pollination studies of natural plant populations, numerical seed-set is the only measure of reproductive success, although recent studies have shown that other factors such as seed size, germination rates, and seedling success may be affected by the degree of outcrossing (Price and Waser 1979, Schoen 1982). Such effects have long been known for crop plants (Crumpacker 1967). This paper reports an attempt to determine the importance of pollinators for the seed production of two species of Lobelia on Mount Kenya. Two species of rosette plants in the genus Lobelia (family Lobeliaceae) occur in the alpine zone of Mount Kenya. L. telekii is primarily semelparous, and L. keniensis is primarily iteroparous. These two species are thought to be bird pollinated (Hedberg 1964). The morphology of the reproductive structures is such that birds, but no native insects, normally come into contact with the pollen source (T. P. Young, personal observation). The cylindrical inflorescences project above the surrounding vegetation, and the purple flowers secrete copious nectar. L. telekii has narrow, hairy bracts and is visited primarily by territorial individuals of the Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia johnstonii). L. keniensis has broad glabrous bracts, and is visited by a variety of birds, including N. johnstonii, the Mountain Chat (Pinarchroa sordida), and the Slender-billed Chestnut-winged Starling (Onagnathus tenuirostris). The tall terminal inflorescences mature progressively upwards from the base. The five petals are united and open between the upper two petals to form a lower-lipped flower (Fig. 1). The style is enclosed by a tube formed of the five united filaments and anthers. This tube terminates in a brush that acts as a block to pollen release. Dehisced pollen collects inside the distal end of the filament tube. When the brush is pushed back by the forehead of a visiting bird, pollen is released. I have observed white pollen on the foreheads of P. sordida and 0. tenuirostris visiting L. keniensis flowers. The male state of the flowers lasts up to 2 wk. The style lengthens during this time, and is finally exserted from the filament tube. The stigmas separate and become receptive several days later, and begin to dry up after 2-4 wk. Seeds develop in a pair of inferior ovaries and are wind dispersed over a period of many weeks. The time from the first appearance of the flowers to final dispersal of seeds is =12-18 mo, depending

Suspension and elevation of clouds

A new species Aspalathus abbottii C.H. Stirt. & Muasya, is described. The species is known only from Oribi Flats, KwaZulu-Natal, where it grows in grassland vegetation. The new species is characterised by its rigid spreading habit, densely and shortly villous branches, glabrous bracts and bracteoles, and 1(2) bright yellow flowers borne on short lateral shoots. It is most similar to other grassland species, A. frankenioides DC. and A. gerrardii H. Bol., all from the summer rainfall area of South Africa but differs in its rigid spreading habit, few bright yellow flowers per flowering branchlet, glabrous bracts and bracteoles, villous yellowish-green seasonal shoots, and its pale brown to tan over-seasonal branches with a blackish lattice of peeled bark.