Short Inflorescence Research Articles

A new species of Mimosa section Mimosa (Leguminosae) from the Paraguayan Cerrado

Mimosa schininii (Leguminosae), a new species from the Amambay region, in the Cerrado ecoregion of northeastern Paraguay, is described and illustrated. This new species belongs to Mimosa L. section Mimosa series Mimosa subseries Brevipedes Barneby, and is similar to M. brevipes Benth. and M. sceptrum Barneby, but differs from them by shorter inflorescence, secondary leaflets venation pattern and fruit dehiscence. This new entity resembles, in some characters, other subseries of series Mimosa, such as Mimosa section Mimosa series Mimosa subseries Pedunculosae (Benth.) Barneby and Hirsutae (Benth.) Barneby, but can be distinguished adequately from them by vegetative, floral, and carpological characters. Illustration, distribution map, and a key to distinguish M. schininii from close relatives are provided.

TWO NEW SEDGES (CAREX SECT. ACROCYSTIS, CYPERACEAE) FROM NORTHWESTERN MEXICO AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Carex bajacalifornica Zika is described from five populations in the mountains of northern Baja California, Mexico, in the Sierra de Juarez and Sierra de San Pedro Martir. It is distinguished from Carex rossii Boott by its short inflorescence bract, abbreviated perigynium beak shorter than the stipe, and nerved perigynium faces. Carex cryptosperma Zika, D.S. Bell, and L.J. Gross is described from 12 populations in southern California, in the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and San Jacinto Mountains. Carex cryptosperma differs from Carex xerophila Janeway & Zika in its relatively short perigynium stipe and relatively long perigynium beak. The new species are illustrated and mapped, and a key is presented to members of Carex sect. Acrocystis in the states of California and Baja California.

Myrcia auriculata (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Myrcia auriculata, a new species from the Atlantic rainforest of Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically congruent with Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia and is apparently related to M. truncata, differing in its auriculate leaf base, shorter inflorescences and four calyx lobes. Additionally, a distribution map and conservation assessments based on IUCN criteria are provided.

Vanilla yanesha (Orchidaceae), a new species of the membranaceous-leaved group from the central rainforest of Peru

Vanilla yanesha Damian, a new orchid species from Pasco, Peru is proposed. It is similar in overall morphology to V. mexicana Mill. However, V. yanesha is distinguished from the latter by its larger leaves, shorter inflorescence and labellum with a rounded middle lobe with 5–7 low, brownish keels. A line drawing and habitat information are provided as well as a comparison with morphologically similar species including a key to the Peruvian membranaceous-leaved species.Citation: Damian Parizaca A. 2019: Vanilla yanesha (Orchidaceae), a new species of the membranaceous-leaved group from the central rainforest of Peru. – Willdenowia 49: 5–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.49.49101Version of record first published online on 1 March 2019 ahead of inclusion in April 2019 issue.

Two new Brazilian Atlantic Forest Eugenia (Myrtaceae)

There are described and illustrated Eugenia mimetica and E. sudestis. Eugenia mimetica is related to E. praeterita, but has smaller blades and shorter inflorescences. Eugenia sudestis is close to E. persicifolia but has glabrous blades and auxotelic inflorescences. Additionally, topics on distribution, phenology, habitat and conservation status are commented for each species.

A new Platystele (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from the western mountains of Colombia

A new species of miniature orchid, Platystele riograndense, endemic to the Pacific slope of the western Cordillera, Municipality of Restrepo, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, is described and illustrated. Platystele riograndense is similar to P. filamentosa, but the new species has wider leaves, denser and shorter inflorescences and sigmoid (versus convex) lip. Ecological notes are provided. It is the second new species described of Canyon of Rio Grande new protected area in the last four years.

Taxonomic novelties in the subfamily Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae) for the Colombian Amazon

Two new species of Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae) from the Colombian Amazon are described: Aechmea cardenasii and A. andaquiensis. Aechmea cardenasii is significantly different from other species of Bromelioideae, although it roughly resembles A. rubiginosa because of its simple, strobilate inflorescence. Aechmea andaquiensis belongs to a taxonomic complex that includes A. abbreviata, A. angustifolia, and A. roeseliae, but it is unique among these species due to its oblong-spathulate leaf blades and short inflorescences with densely floccose-ferruginous floral bracts. Additionally, an unexpected record of the Choco-centered genus Ronnbergia in the eastern Andean slopes of Caqueta is reported. Finally, a short discussion is provided about the problematic usage of binomials of Streptocalyx instead of Aechmea for taxonomic catalogues. This discussion is based on the necessity to add A. confusa to the Catalogue of Colombian Plants.

Grazers affect selection on inflorescence height both directly and indirectly and effects change over time.

Selection mediated by one biotic agent will often be modified by the presence of other biotic interactions, and the importance of such indirect effects might change over time. We conducted an 11-yr field experiment to test the prediction that large grazers affect selection on floral display of the dimorphic herb Primula farinosa not only directly through differential grazing damage, but also indirectly by affecting vegetation height and thereby selection mediated by pollinators and seed predators. Exclusion of large grazers increased vegetation height and the strength of pollinator-mediated selection for tall inflorescences and seed-predator-mediated selection for short inflorescences. The direct effect of grazers on selection resulting from differential grazing damage to the two scape morphs showed no temporal trend. By contrast, the increase in vegetation height in exclosures over time was associated with an increase in selection mediated by pollinators and seed predators. In the early years of the experiment, the indirect effects of grazers on selection mediated by pollinators and seed predators were weak, whereas at the end of the experiment, the indirect effects were of similar magnitude as the direct effect due to differential grazing damage. The results demonstrate that the indirect effects of a selective agent can be as strong as its direct effects, and that the relative importance of direct vs. indirect effects on selection can change over time. A full understanding of the ecological processes governing variation in selection thus requires that both direct and indirect effects of biotic interactions are assessed.

Anisochilus kanyakumariensis (Lamiaceae): a new species from the Western Ghats, India

A new species, Anisochilus propecephalus (Lamiaceae) from Kanyakumari, Western Ghats, India is described and illustrated here. This new species is similar to Anisochilus carnosus in vegetative characters and inflorescence nature whereas in floral characters it is close to Anisochilus paniculatus, but differs from both by its decumbent habit, leaf size and shape, short petiole, inflorescence nature, size and shape of spike head, corolla size and shape and densely villous calyx. Detailed description, photographs, illustrations, IUCN red list category, distribution map, notes on biogeography and other relevant notes are provided.

Liparis meihuashanensis, a new orchid species from Fujian, China: Evidence from morphological and molecular analyses

A new orchid species, Liparis meihuashanensis, from Fujian, China is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular analyses. Detailed morphological comparisons indicate that L. meihuashanensis is similar to L. auriculata and L. pauliana, but it can be distinguished from them by the shorter inflorescence, triangular floral bract, and a lip with a truncate-emarginate and mucronate apex and 2 small subconical calli on contracted base. Molecular analyses based on nuclear ITS and plastid matK DNA sequence data support the L. meihuashanensis as a distinct species.

A new species of Andinia subgen. Brachycladium (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from Colombia

A new species of Andinia belonging to A. subgenus Brachycladium from the eastern Andes of southern Colombia is described and illustrated. Andinia obesa is related to the A. nummularia species complex, characterized by the glabrous leaves, short inflorescences, an inconspicuous trilobed lip and a relatively large column. The new species can be distinguished by the unusually plump, orbicular, cucullate column with an incumbent anther.

Novelties in Costa Rican Stelis (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae): two new species and a new record in the "Dracontia group"

Stelis dies-natalis y Stelis aenigma, pertenecientes a un grupo de especies en su mayoría Centroamericanas colocadas alternativamente en el género Dracontia, son descritas e ilustradas basadas en material vivo. Ambas se encontraron en robledales de altura en diferentes picos de la Cordillera de Talamanca en Costa Rica. La primera, S. dies-natalis, se encontró en los Cerros Buena Vista y Urán, es similar a S. hydra pero se puede distinguir por la inflorescencia relativamente corta, las flores morado oscuro con un labelo amarillo cubierto por verrugas morado oscuro, los pétalos apiculados y el labelo con un apículo brevemente acuminado. La segunda, S. aenigma, que se pensaba inicialmente que se trataría un segundo espécimen de S. dies-natalis cuando se colectó en el Cerro Utyum, pero se puede distinguir fácilmente por las inflorescencias con pocas flores que apenas supera el tamaño de la hoja, las flores rojizas, el labelo sigmoideo y la antera obtusa y cuculada. Stelis platystylis, una especie previamente conocida de México a Nicaragua, es ilustraba basada en material vivo de Costa Rica.

A New Species ofStyrax(Styracaceae) from Peru

A new species of Styrax L. from the region of Cusco, Peru, is described and illustrated. Styrax excelsus P. W. Fritsch belongs to Styrax subser. Foveolaria (Ruiz & Pav.) P. W. Fritsch through its flowers shorter than or up to 10 mm; number of stamens equal to the number of petals (five); near-basal placentation; three ellipsoid ovules per flower (i.e., one per carpel); and presence of only female flowers, which suggests a gynodioecious breeding system. It is similar to S. maninul B. Walln. but differs by its taller habit; abaxial surface of the leaf blade with ferruginous, stellate trichomes that are generally smaller but with more arms and prominent reticulate tertiary veins; acute or slightly acuminate leaf apex; shorter inflorescences with fewer flowers; a longer corolla; and narrower staminodial pseudoanthers. The new species is only known from the type.

High Constitutive Overexpression of Glycosyl Hydrolase Family 17 Delays Floral Transition by Enhancing FLC Expression in Transgenic Arabidopsis.

Vitis vinifera glycosyl hydrolase family 17 (VvGHF17) is a grape apoplasmic β-1,3-glucanase, which belongs to glycosyl hydrolase family 17 in grapevines. β-1,3-glucanase is not only involved in plant defense response but also has various physiological functions in plants. Although VvGHF17 expression is negatively related to the length of inflorescence in grapevines, the physiological functions of VvGHF17 are still uncertain. To clarify the physiological functions of VvGHF17, we conducted a phenotypic analysis of VvGHF17-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants. VvGHF17-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants showed short inflorescence, similar to grapevines. These results suggested that VvGHF17 might negatively regulate the length of inflorescence in plants. VvGHF17 expression induced a delay of floral transition in Arabidopsis plants. The expression level of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), known as a floral repressor gene, in inflorescence meristem of transgenic plants were increased by approximately 10-fold as compared with wild plants. These results suggest that VvGHF17 induces a delay of floral transition by enhancing FLC expression and concomitantly decreases the length of plant inflorescence.

Typification of species names of Schaefferia (Celastraceae) from Argentina

Schaefferia Jacquin (1760: 10) is a genus of Celastraceae family endemic to the New World currently comprising 23 species (Simmons et al. 2012). It occurs from the southern U.S.A. (Florida) to Argentina, including Antilles, but shows a greater diversity of species in the northern hemisphere. The genus is characterized by: dioecious plants (unisexual flowers), leaves alternate or fasciculate in short shoots, fasciculate inflorescences, flowers 4-merous, disk indistinct or absent, and drupes.

Five new species and one new combination in Brazilian Myrtaceae

Eugenia asema, E. trichogyna, Myrcia altomontana, M. fria and M. macucana are described and illustrated, and the new combination Eugenia subglomerata, based on Myrtus subglomerata, is proposed. Eugenia asema, from the state of Rio de Janeiro, seems related to E. subavenia, but has glabrous shining blades and smaller flowers; E. trichogyna, also from Rio de Janeiro, is apparently close to E. pluriflora, but has wider blades and pilose flowers with unequal pairs of calyx lobes; Myrcia altomontana, from Espírito Santo, is related to M. neocambessedeana, but differs by its denser indumentum and shorter inflorescences; M. fria, also from Espírito Santo, is apparently related to Calyptranthes pauciflora but has glabrous flowers and larger inflorescences, and M. macucana, from the state of Minas Gerais, is apparently close to Calyptranthes anceps, from which it is distinguished by its markedly shorter inflorescences. Additionally, conservation status is assessed for the species described here.

Synopsis of <em>Chionanthus</em> (Oleaceae) from Colombia and neighboring countries, with description of a new species

A synoptic review of Chionanthus species (Oleaceae) from Colombia and neighboring countries is presented, in which new information, taxonomic and chorological, is disclosed, and a new species, Ch. vargasii, from the Central Cordillera of Colombia. This species resembles Ch. abriaquiensis, but has coriaceous leaves, with shorter petioles and woolly domatia along the veins of the underside, and shorter inflorescences. Chionanthus guianensis and Ch. panamensis are cited for the first time in Colombia and the known distribution in Colombia of Ch. compactus, Ch. implicatus, and Ch. pubescens is extended. In addition, the reviewed material of Ch. avilensis, Ch. colonchensis, Ch. ligustrinus, and Ch. wudackii, all present in neighboring countries, is also commented. Finally, a key is included to facilitate the identification of the species of the north of South America.

First Record of the Mycoheterotrophic Orchid Gastrodia uraiensis (Orchidaceae) from Yakushima Island, Japan

Flowering individuals of an unknown species of Gastrodia were discovered on Yakushima Island, Japan. While those plants were somewhat similar to gastrodia fontinalis, they had shorter inflorescences,

Ardisia gasingoides (Primulaceae-Myrsinoideae), a new species from southern Peninsular Malaysia

Ardisia gasingoides Julius & Utteridge sp. nov. (Primulaceae-Myrsinoideae) is described and illustrated as a new species; it is endemic to the state of Johor from southern Peninsular Malaysia. The new species belongs to subgenus Stylardisia and is morphologically similar to Ardisia cockburniana, A. crassa and A. crassiuscula in having obconically flared and thickened pedicels but differs in smaller leaves with fewer veins, few flowers in shorter inflorescences and, especially, the 5-sided turbinate fruits. A preliminary conservation status and key to related taxa are provided.

Studies in Asian Nervilia (Orchidaceae) VII: Nervilia kasiensis, a new Lao endemic

A new species belonging to the terrestrial orchid genus Nervilia is described from Kasi District, Vientiane Province, northern Laos. Referable to the widespread and species-rich N. adolphi/punctata alliance on account of its solitary flower, slender white and violet-marked labellum and glabrous, angular leaf, N. kasiensis is morphologically most closely allied to N. muratana of southern China and northern Vietnam. As in that species, the flowering and leafing phases overlap, an unusual feature among members of the genus. The new species can be distinguished from N. muratana by its shorter inflorescence, its weakly spreading perianth with beige sepals, its narrower labellum with a central pubescent strip on the epichile, its arched column, and by its faintly tessellated leaf. A morphological description, line drawing and notes on the species’ ecology and conservation status are presented.