Larger Sepals Research Articles

Bufonia darvishii (Caryophyllaceae), a novel endemic species from Zagros Mountains, Iran

A new subalpine species of Bufonia sect. Longipedicellata from the Zagros Mountains in west Iran is described and illustrated here. It colonizes mountain slopes with gravelly, stony, and scree substrates in one locality of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, preferably with a western and north‐west orientation, at elevations between 2700 and 3100 m a.s.l. The new species, B. darvishii, is diagnosed against the morphologically similar B. macrocarpa. The two species share similarities such as filiform and long pedicels, a lax panicle‐cyme inflorescence, distribution pattern of trichomes, and long peduncles. However, the new species stands out with semi‐shrub life form, its greater height, retention of the previous year's stems, cymes bearing more flowers, orbicular petals, larger petals, a broadly ovate ovary, larger sepals with more pronounced nervation, shorter pedicels, larger flowers, etc. Bufonia darvishii is proposed to be Critically Endangered (CR) following the guidelines of the IUCN.

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.

Three new species of Mitrephora (Annonaceae) from Thailand.

Three new Mitrephora species (Annonaceae), M.langsuanensis sp. nov., M.sirindhorniae sp. nov. and M.sukhothaiensis sp. nov., are described from Thailand. Mitrephoralangsuanensis resembles M.macclurei, but its leaves have more secondary veins, and its flowers have more carpels, with yellow-and-pink striped outer petals with a margin that becomes undulate with age. Mitrephorasirindhorniae resembles M.tomentosa, but has larger sepals and petals, longer flowering pedicels, and shorter monocarp stipes, with monocarps that have a longitudinal ridge. Mitrephorasukhothaiensis is distinct from its Thai congeners in having outer petals that reflex at maturity and inner petals with a pair of appendages on the margin adaxially. The addition of these three new taxa raises the total number of Mitrephora species in Thailand to 14. An identification key for Thai species is provided.

Morphometric analysis of the Daphne kiusiana complex (Thymelaeaceae) using digitized herbarium specimens

Daphne kiusiana is an evergreen shrub with dense head-like umbels of white flowers distributed in southern Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Plants in China and Taiwan are recognized as var. atrocaulis by having a dark purple stem, elliptic leaves, and persistent bracts. Recently, plants on Jejudo Island were segregated as a separate species, D. jejudoensis, given their elliptic leaves with an acuminate apex, a long hypanthium and sepals, and a glabrous hypanthium. Morphological variations of three closely related taxa, the D. kiusiana complex, were investigated across the distributional range to clarify the taxonomic delimitation of members of the complex. Twelve characters of the leaf and flower were measured from digitized herbarium specimens using the image analysis program ImageJ and were included in a morphometric analysis, the results of which indicate that the level of variation in the characters is very high. The results of a principal component analysis weakly separated D. jejudoensis from D. kiusiana according to their floral characteristics, such as a longer, glabrous hypanthium, and larger sepals. However, some individuals of D. kiusiana, particularly those from Bigeumdo Island, were included in D. jejudoensis. Recognition of D. kiusiana var. atrocaulis based on the leaf shape was not supported in the analysis, and D. jejudoensis may be recognized as a variety of D. kiusiana. Our morphometric analysis shows that digitized images of herbarium specimens could be useful and an additional method by which to investigate more diverse specimens.

<strong>Three new Brazilian Myrtaceae</strong>

Eugenia leucogyna, Myrcia acutisepala and M. pirapama are proposed as new species, described and illustrated; additionally, conservation status is proposed for them. Eugenia leucogyna, from the northern Brazilian state of Pará, is related to E. egensis, but differs by its indumentum; Myrcia acutisepala, from rocky fields from the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, is close to M. eriocalyx, but differs by its glabrous leaves and longer sepals; and M. pirapama, also from rocky fields from Minas Gerais, is related to M. hebepetala, but differs by its leaves with longer petioles and shorter blades and acute and larger sepals.

<p><strong><em>Thalictrum nanhuaense</em> (Ranunculaceae), a new species from central Yunnan, China</strong></p>

Thalictrum nanhuaense (Ranunculaceae), a new species from Nanhua in central Yunnan, China, is here illustrated and described. The new species is similar to T. fargesii in habit and having larger sepals up to 4 mm long and persistent at anthesis and straight styles, but differs by its succulent and tuberose (vs. fibrous and slender) roots, filiform (vs. clavate) filaments, point-like (vs. oblong and narrowly winged) stigmas, and subulate-terete (vs. lunate-fusiform) achenes.

<p><strong>LIVING IN THE CLOUDS: A NEW HIGH-ELEVATION SPECIES OF <em>VANILLA </em>(ORCHIDACEAE, VANILLOIDEAE) FROM PERÚ</strong></p>

Vanilla armoriquensis, a new species belonging to subgen. Vanilla, is described and illustrated based on living material from Peru. The new species is similar to V. costaricensis but can be easily distinguished by the larger sepals and petals, and a lip with a well-developed triangular apex, bearing a callus with prominent, broad keels, that has an orange coloration at the base and above the middle.

Capparis macrantha sp. nov. (Capparaceae, Brassicales), a new shrub species from a deciduous forest of the Nam Kading National Protected Area (central Lao PDR)

Capparis macrantha Souvannakhoummane, Fici & Lanorsavanh sp. nov., a new shrub species characterized by erect or ascending habit, stipular thorns, large lanceolate-elliptic leaves and large flowers in supra-axillary rows, is described and illustrated from the deciduous forest in Nam Kading National Protected Area (central Lao PDR). The new species belongs to Capparis sect. Monostichocalyx Radlk. and is morphologically similar to C. radula Gagnep., a shrub widespread in the Indochinese area, differing in the shorter, straight stipular thorns, larger leaves, larger sepals and petals, higher number of stamens with longer filaments and longer gynophore and ovary. Its affinities with related taxa are discussed and a key is provided for the species of Capparis L. known from Lao PDR. The conservation status of the new species is provisionally assessed as Vulnerable (VU D1).

Capparis macrantha sp. nov. (Capparaceae, Brassicales), a new shrub species from a deciduous forest of the Nam Kading National Protected Area (central Lao PDR)

Capparis macrantha Souvannakhoummane, Fici & Lanorsavanh sp. nov., a new shrub species characterized by erect or ascending habit, stipular thorns, large lanceolate-elliptic leaves and large flowers in supra-axillary rows, is described and illustrated from the deciduous forest in Nam Kading National Protected Area (central Lao PDR). The new species belongs to Capparis sect. Monostichocalyx Radlk. and is morphologically similar to C. radula Gagnep., a shrub widespread in the Indochinese area, differing in the shorter, straight stipular thorns, larger leaves, larger sepals and petals, higher number of stamens with longer filaments and longer gynophore and ovary. Its affinities with related taxa are discussed and a key is provided for the species of Capparis L. known from Lao PDR. The conservation status of the new species is provisionally assessed as Vulnerable (VU D1).

A Monograph of Operculina (Convolvulaceae)

A comprehensive systematic monograph is presented for the genus Operculina Silva Manso (Convolvulaceae). Formerly included in tribe Merremieae D. F. Austin, now incertae sedis, recent systematic studies have clarified the phylogenetic relationships for Operculina and unequivocally demonstrated that it is monophyletic as currently circumscribed and that the unique operculate capsule is a synapomorphy for the genus. Other morphological characters useful for recognizing the genus are: large sepals forming a “pear-shaped” calyx that is broad at the base and tapers upward; calyx that is accrescent and persistent, often cupping the mature fruit; strongly spirally coiled anthers after dehiscence; and axial parts of the plant body (stems, petioles, peduncles, pedicels) that are often prominently winged. The current monograph accepts 13 species, including one variety and one purported hybrid; these taxa are distributed throughout the tropics globally. The hybrid is proposed to accommodate the extraordinary phenotypic variability and intermediacy among South Pacific populations of Operculina. The monograph provides detailed descriptions for all taxa, as well as an identification key, distribution maps, and summaries of ecology, phenology, vernacular names, and uses, with comments on synonymy, typification, variability, biology, and conservation, where appropriate. All names published or combined in Operculina (about 60 epithets) are accounted for as accepted names, synonyms, misapplied names, or uncertain names, or are excluded from the genus. New reductions to synonymy are proposed as follows: O. brownii Ooststr. becomes a synonym of O. codonantha (Benth.) Hallier f.; O. tansaensis Santapau & V. Patel becomes a synonym of O. ventricosa (Bertero) Peter. Lectotypes, neotypes, and epitypes are designated where necessary to stabilize names in current use. An index to numbered collections examined is provided to aid in specimen identification and herbarium curation.

<p><strong>A conspectus of<em> Magnolia </em>(Magnoliaceae)<em> </em>in Guatemala: novelties and conservation</strong></p>

Magnoliaceae of Guatemala are summarized, and two new Guatemalan species from Alta Verapaz are described and illustrated. Two Magnolia occurrence records are added to the flora of this country. Magnolia archilana is similar to M. hondurensis, but it differs from the latter in having glabrous terminal twigs, petioles, spathaceous bracts, peduncles and carpels, broadly obovate leaves, longer peduncles and larger sepals, outer petals and polyfollicles. Magnolia tribouillierana resembles M. montebelloensis but differs from the latter in lacking branches below five metres; in having glabrous twig internodes, spathaceous bracts and carpels, more numerous leaf veins per side, longer longest peduncular internode, abaxially yellowish sepals, fewer spathaceous bracts and more numerous carpels. A key to species and a distribution map of native Guatemalan magnolias is also provided. Data on diversity, endemism, ethnobotanical knowledge and conservation are also provided. Using the IUCN criteria, conservation status of M. archilana and M. tribouillierana are here assessed as endangered (En) and critically endangered (CR), respectively. Conservation actions are urgently needed for the six Guatemalan magnolias faced with extinction.

A New Bernardia (Euphorbiaceae) with Stellate Trichomes from the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract—A new species of Bernardia with stellate trichomes from the Brazilian Cerrado is described and illustrated. Bernardia allemii is most similar to B. gardneri, but differs by its multi-stemmed, subshrub habit, broader leaf blades, tomentose old branches, staminate bracteoles that are usually reniform to flabellate, and larger sepals and bracts in the pistillate flowers. Photographs, a distribution map, information about the conservation status of the new species, and a key to the species with stellate trichomes in Brazil are also provided.

Eugenia velutifolia (Myrteae, Myrtaceae), a new species from the Cerrado of São Paulo, Brazil

Eugenia velutifolia is a new species of Myrtaceae from the Cerrado of São Paulo state, Brazil, which is here described, illustrated and compared morphologically with three similar species, E. bimarginata, E. livida and E. suberosa. It differs mainly from those species by the velutinous indumentum on both sides of the leaf blade and twigs, also by the larger sepals.

Dasymaschalon bachmaensis (Annonaceae), a new species from Bạch Mã National Park, North Central Coast region, Vietnam

A new species of Dasymaschalon (Annonaceae), D. bachmaensis, from Bạch Mã NP, Thừa Thiên-Huế Province from North Central Coast region, Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. It shares several characteristics with D. glaucum, D. sootepense and D. wallichii (the leaves are glaucous, the petals are somewhat ovate and spirally twisted when mature, the stamen connectives are truncate and glabrous, the ovaries are hairy, and the stigmas are glabrous) but differs from them in having an obtuse leaf base, larger triangular-ovate sepals that are hairy on both surfaces, pale greenish-yellow petals, fewer stamens, smaller fruits that are not constricted between seeds, and smaller subglobose seeds. Details on distribution, ecology, phenology preliminary conservation assessment of D. bachmaensis, a key to Dasymaschalon species in Vietnam and a distribution map are provided.

Linum ayliniae (Linaceae), a New Species from West Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Linum ayliniae Yılmaz (Linaceae), is described from West Anatolia, Turkey. The new species is similar and probably closely related to L. cariense Boiss., but differs in having oblong-linear to slightly lanceolate leaves, lax inflorescences, and larger sepals. Diagnostic, morphological, and geographical data are discussed, and an updated key to all species of Linum L. sect. Syllinum Griseb. in Turkey is presented.

A New Species of Telipogon (Orchidaceae) from Mexico and its Phylogenetic Position Among Mesoamerican Species

Telipogon is a Neotropical genus with approximately 200 species, the majority of which are epiphytes and are distributed in South America; Mexico is the northernmost area of distribution with only two recorded species. Here we describe a third species, Telipogon corticatus, collected in cloud forests of eastern Mexico, in Veracruz. It is a species growing solely in mossy patches in the exfoliating bark of trees of Oreomunnea Mexicana (Juglandaceae). Reddish-brown flowers, large sepals close to each other in the open flowers, two thirds of the length of the lip, elliptic petals, large auricles of column with long hairs and a wide apex, a sagittate lip separated from the column with a base with a sinus, and a curved anther are diagnostic characters for this species. The phylogenetic position of T. corticatus with Mesoamerican species was identified based on ITS and the plastid matK, atpB-rbcL DNA markers considering representative taxa in subtribe Oncidiinae to which Telipogon belongs. Telipogon corticatus, together with the Mesoamerican T. helleri and T. cobanenis, were retrieved as closely related, and associated to clades consisting of Central American species.

Geranium rubricum (Geraniaceae), a new species from ultramafic soils in the Red Hills, northern South Island, New Zealand

A new species, Geranium rubricum, is described from the Red Hills, northern South Island, New Zealand. Geranium rubricum is distinguished by its rhizomatous and compact growth habit, small and coriaceous leaves up to 10 mm in diameter, large sepals with uniformly sized appressed hairs, and large flowers up to 25 mm in diameter. G. rubricum is restricted to soils associated with ultramafic rock outcrops and scree slopes. It is known from seven small subpopulations in the Red Hills, and the conservation status is assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System as Nationally Endangered.

Lepanthes aures‐ursinae and L. vertebrata spp. nov. (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from Panama

Panama is still far from completing its orchid flora inventories, where large genera such as Lepanthes (Pleurothallidinae) reveal novelties regularly. Here, we describe and illustrate two new species of Lepanthes. Lepanthes aures‐ursinae is similar to L. micellilabia but differs by the orbicular‐ovate, obtuse, convex leaves, larger sepals 2.7–3.0 × 2.2–2.3 mm the yellow petals, shorter column to 1 mm long and Y‐shaped bi‐laminate lip with the blades embracing the column and the body elongated towards the base of the column forming a cylindric structure. Lepanthes vertebrata is most similar to L. demissa, from which it can be distinguished by the inflorescences bearing 20–73 pedicels in well‐developed inflorescences, the vinaceous flowers, the larger lateral sepals to 6.0 × 2.3 mm, wider petals to 4.5 mm with the lower lobe longer than the blades of the lip, narrowly oblong upper lobe of petals, oblong lower lobe, shorter lip ca 1 mm long with ovate pink blades and ventral stigma. Data on distribution, habitat and ecology, etymology and phenology are provided for each species.

Diversity of agronomic traits of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis and their correlation with rhizome yield and active compositions

The supply deficiency of crude medicinal plant of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis has become a bottleneck for related medicinal industry. An important approach to increase herbal production is to breed high-yield cultivated variety, which characterized ideal plant morphology. In the present study, we collected 99 wild germplasm resources of P. polyphylla and then measured their 12 main agronomic traits and contents of polyphyllin Ⅶ,Ⅵ,Ⅱ,Ⅰ. Followed analyses were used to characterize those traits and explore the potential connection with herbal yield or quality. The results showed that: ①There was ample morphological diversity in wild P. polyphylla, whose variation of agronomic traits reduced according to followed order: content of polyphyllin, weight of dry rhizome, petiole length, stem length, petal length, pedicel length, sepal length, leaf width, leaf length, sepal width, leaf number, stamen number, petal number. ② Most of those traits were significantly correlated to each other and generally represented the characterization of photosynthetic organs or reproductive organ. ③The total content of polyphyllin Ⅶ,Ⅵ,Ⅱ,Ⅰvaried between 0.02% and 0.87% and averagedat 0.13%, which showed no significant correlation with any agronomic trait. ④Plant breeders should play more attention on those germplasm resources with large leaves, large sepals and high stem.

Paphiopedilum notatisepalum, a new species of slipper orchid (Cypripedioideae, Orchidaceae) from China based on morphological and DNA evidence

A new species of Paphiopedilum (Orchidaceae) from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. Morphological comparisons indicate that the new species P. notatisepalum is highly similar to P. henryanum, from which it differs by its leaves with large yellow spots, shorter scape, larger flower, ovate, white sepals and petals that are pale purple-red with large purple spots and yellow-white margins. Molecular analyses of combined nuclear and plastid datasets (nrITS and matK) indicate that P. notatisepalum is sister to P. barbigerum, which has a green leaves and pale yellow-green sepals and petals. The morphological and molecular evidence support the hypothesis that P. notatisepalum is a new species.