Taxonomic Treatment Research Articles

Post-Publication Linking

One of the main challenges in biodiversity data reusability is finding ways to transform what is provided in research publications into different and reusable formats, following the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles (Agosti and Egloff 2009). Most often, data is restricted to text, figures and tables in the so-called “PDF prison” or other flat formats. Plazi's infrastructure and workflow (Guidoti et al. 2021) transform such data into reusable formats that can then be exported and linked across different platforms, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Biodiversity Literature Repository, Zenodo, Synospecies, ChecklistBank, and OpenBiodiv among others. In order to liberate the many relevant pieces of information, such as taxonomic treatments (Catapano 2019), material citations (Darwin Core term MaterialCitation) or bibliographic references from the publication types mentioned above, one has to run a single document or a batch of documents through a series of extraction steps, which can be done manually or automatically, through the use of templates. The latter are a set of parameters that tell the Plazi-dedicated software (GoldenGATE suite) how to read and where to find key pieces of information; these parameters are established by examining publication standards and publisher-specific layouts, followed by a series of iterative tests, to ascertain the quality of the automation. However, even with a high number of tests to ensure a better extraction, human quality control is still needed (Simoes et al. 2021). To that end, Plazi has a quality control process, based on logical rules, which checks the components of the extracted document, flagging errors in four different levels of severity, which can then be checked and corrected (if needed) by a trained user. These errors are also used in a data transit control mechanism, internally dubbed “the gatekeeper”, which blocks certain data transits to create deposits or reuse of data in the presence of specific errors. In this presentation, we will go through the steps of the entire process, from publication to liberated data (and how it is presented in the linked platforms), highlighting the importance of accurate quality control, and explore some of the many challenges along the way.

A taxonomic revision of Calendula (Asteraceae) in Morocco, including some taxa from Algeria and Tunisia

On the scope of a full taxonomic revision of the genus Calendula (Asteraceae), the morphological patterns in taxa of Calendula occurring in Morocco and some additional taxa from Algeria and Tunisia were analyzed. This genus was inadequately studied in the SW Mediterranean region, in particular the perennial plants with 2n = 32 (commonly included in C. suffruticosa and C. incana) as specimens of these plants held in herbaria generally lacked achenes, which are essential for proper classification/identification. The classification, relationships, distribution and evolution of these Calendula taxa were assessed using principal components analysis, further supported by chromosome numbers and genome size estimations. Morphometric analyses among and between the C. maroccana and C. suffruticosa groups revealed that the major delimiting characters belong to the morphology of the achenes. A taxonomic treatment for Calendula in the SW Mediterranean region (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) is, therefore, presented, based on observations in the field and study of herbarium specimens. Two new species (C. davisii and C. oualidii) and eight new subspecies of C. suffruticosa are described. Six lectotypes and one neotype are designated. Identification keys, taxon descriptions, synonymy, type citations, conservation assessments and notes on distribution and habitat, are also provided. There are 12 species of Calendula in Morocco, of which 8 are endemic. Four species are assessed as Critically Endangered and three as Endangered.

Illustrated Genera of Rust Fungi of Brazil

From the Publisher: Illustrated Genera of Rust Fungi of Brazil presents up-to-date information about the generaof rusts fungi known for Brazil. Included are 65 plates of detailed black and white photos representing 62genera. This number represents approximately one-half of all of the known genera of rust fungi in the world.Results are based on many large scale surveys and field collecting expeditions in Brazil and supplemented withherbarium records. The largest portion of this book is the descriptive flora of the 62 genera, i.e., descriptions,and taxonomic treatments of rust fungi genera, arranged alphabetically by genera and species. Sixty-one generaare treated as holomorphs and 13 as anamorph genera. The most important practical results of taxonomicresearch on these parasitic and pathogenic rust fungi are products such as complete descriptions and illustrationsof symptoms and signs, and other aids such as host indices and keys. These products help scientists andstudents to identify species of rusts. This book is aimed at students and professionals who are fascinated withrusts and their pathogenic fungi.

A global phylogeny of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae) and its systematic implications

AbstractGrammitidoideae are the largest subfamily in Polypodiaceae and contain about 911 species. Progress has been made in understanding the overall phylogeny and generic boundaries in the light of recent molecular works. However, the majority of species, especially Asian species, and some critical type species of genera remain unsampled. In this study, a dataset of six plastid markers of 1003 (112 new) accessions representing ca. 412 species of Grammitidoideae including the type species of Ctenopterella, Grammitis, Moranopteris, Radiogrammitis, and Themelium, was assembled to infer a phylogeny. Our major results include: (1) the type species of Grammitis is successfully sequenced using a next‐generation sequencing technique and is resolved in Grammitis s.str. as expected; (2) Ctenopterella is found to be polyphyletic and a new clade consisting of C. khaoluangensis is resolved as sister to Tomophyllum; (3) the type species of Ctenopterella is resolved in a clade sister to the C. lasiostipes clade; (4) Oreogrammitis is found to be polyphyletic and three clades outside of the core Oreogrammitis are identified containing O. subevenosa and allies, O. orientalis, and O. beddomeana (+ O. cf. beddomeana); (5) Prosaptia is found to be paraphyletic with P. nutans being sister to a clade containing the rest of Prosaptia and Archigrammitis; (6) the intergeneric and major relationships within the Asia‐Pacific clade are well resolved and strongly supported except for a few branches; (7) extensive cryptic speciation is detected in the Asia‐Pacific clade; and (8) based on the polyphyly of Ctenopterella we describe three new genera, Boonkerdia, Oxygrammitis, and Rouhania, for species formerly in Ctenopterella; because the type species of Grammitis belongs to Grammitis s.str., we describe five new genera, Aenigmatogrammitis, Grammitastrum (stat. nov.), Howeogrammitis, Nanogrammitis, and Thalassogrammitis for species formerly in Grammitis s.l. A key to the 35 Old‐World genera is given, a taxonomic treatment is presented, and the morphology of all new genera is shown with either a color plate and/or a line drawing.

An integrative approach supports the taxonomic distinction of the Sardo-Corsican endemic Euphorbia semiperfoliata from the widespread E. amygdaloides (Euphorbiaceae)

In the western Mediterranean, Corsica and Sardinia are characterised by high plant diversity and endemism, and exhibit a tight biogeographic connection. One of the endemic taxa thriving in forests, macchia, along riversides and in mountain grasslands of both islands is Euphorbia semiperfoliata. It was often considered a subspecies of the widespread European forest plant Euphorbia amygdaloides, or deemed closely related with the western Asian E. macroceras and E. oblongifolia. Here, we explored the evolutionary origin of E. semiperfoliata using nuclear ITS sequences that showed that E. semiperfoliata is divergent from E. amygdaloides and the other species of E. sect. Patellares, which indicates its old, likely Tertiary origin. In addition, its relative genome size is different from E. amygdaloides and other species and several morphological characters revealed by morphometric analyses differentiate E. semiperfoliata from E. amygdaloides. Finally, we provide a taxonomic treatment for E. semiperfoliata, including the typification and a morphological description.

Systematics and biogeography of Oleaceae subtribe Schreberinae, with recircumscription and revision of the Malagasy members

Abstract Clarifying generic circumscriptions in Oleaceae improves its complicated infrafamilial classification. Focusing on the small and disjunctly distributed subtribe Schreberinae, we use phylogenomic data from plastid and nuclear DNA from an extensive sampling to assess its phylogenetic patterns and biogeographic history. Results show paraphyly in the subtribe, with Comoranthus nested in Schrebera, leading us to synonymize these genera. Schrebera s.l. occurs in four major regions of the world, but its centre of origin remains uncertain, with three possible ancestral ranges identified. However, the diversification of this genus is estimated to have started in the Early Oligocene (c. 34 Mya), and its current distribution pattern is best explained by dispersal between landmasses rather than continental vicariance. Madagascar is the centre of diversity of Schrebera s.l., where ten endemic species, of which five are new, were recovered from analyses of morphological, molecular and ecoclimatic data. Therefore, a taxonomic treatment of the species from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands is presented. As currently circumscribed, Schrebera s.l., and thus the monogeneric subtribe, includes 16 species (one in South America, two in Southeast Asia, three in Africa, of which one is shared with Madagascar, and 11 in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands).

Deep genome skimming reveals the hybrid origin of Pseudosasa gracilis (Poaceae: Bambusoideae)

Pseudosasa gracilis (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) is a temperate woody bamboo species endemic to South-central China with a narrow distribution. Previous phylogenetic studies revealed an unexpected, isolated phylogenetic position of Ps. gracilis. Here we conducted phylogenomic analysis by sampling populations of Ps. gracilis and its sympatric species Ps. nanunica and Sinosasa polytricha reflecting different genomic signals, by deep genome skimming. Integrating molecular evidence from chloroplast genes and genome-wide SNPs, we deciphered the phylogenetic relationships of Ps. gracilis. Both plastid and nuclear data indicate that Ps. gracilis is more closely related to Sinosasa, which is discordant with the taxonomic treatment. To further explore this molecular-morphological conflict, we screened 411 “perfect-copy” syntenic genes to reconstruct phylogenies using both the concatenation and coalescent methods. We observed extensive discordance between gene trees and the putative species tree. A significant hybridization event was detected based on 411 genes from the D subgenome, showing Ps. gracilis was a hybrid descendant between Sinosasa longiligulata and Ps. nanunica, with 63.56% and 36.44% inheritance probabilities of each parent. Moreover, introgression events were detected in the C subgenome between Ps. gracilis and S. polytricha in the same distribution region. Our findings suggest that sympatric hybridization and introgression play a crucial role in the origin of Ps. gracilis. By providing an empirical example of bamboo of hybrid origin using comprehensive analyses based on genomic data from different inheritance systems and morphological characters, our study represents a step forward in understanding of reticulate evolution of bamboos.

High diversity of aquatic Sparganium (Xanthosparganium, Typhaceae) in North Eurasia is mostly explained by recurrent hybridization

The species composition and extent of hybridization in Sparganium subgenus Xanthosparganium in North Eurasia reported in different published sources significantly vary. Thus, we aimed to clarify the taxonomy and distribution of aquatic Sparganium in that area. We supplemented the existing fragmentary genetic and morphological data mainly from North America and South Asia with our data from East Europe and North Asia. We combined molecular barcoding of the nuclear phyC and plastid psbJ-petA DNA regions (382 samples) with morphological analysis of herbarium collections (more than 1500 specimens from 16 herbaria) and numerous natural populations with a special focus on hardly accessible Siberian and the Far Eastern regions of Russia. We found that aquatic Sparganium is represented in North Eurasia by nine species and 14 hybrids. Nine previously unknown hybrids are formally described as new nothotaxa. All species and hybrids could be reliably discriminated with barcoding. We refined the distribution of all taxa in North Eurasia, e.g., S. angustifolium, a species avoiding continental areas, where it was confused by many authors with mostly vegetative specimens of other taxa. In the S. emersum complex in addition to recognized earlier widespread S. emersum and eastern North American S. chlorocarpum we proved the existence of one more distinct lineage – Asian Pacific S. rothertii. We discovered different evolutionary lineages within some species (e.g., S. glomeratum and S. hyperboreum) causing additional issues in the taxa identification. Almost all species cross with each other, usually acting both as plastid and pollen donors. Most of the hybrids are widespread and abundant. They originate each time when the ranges of parental species overlap and suitable habitats are available, and rather do not disperse from the centres of origin. Hybridization can be a threat to species with narrow ecological tolerance. Active gene flow is also evident within species when different evolutionary lineages come in contact (e.g., S. emersum, S. rothertii, S. glomeratum, S. hyperboreum, S. natans). We provide a new taxonomic treatment, which solves many long-standing issues in subgenus Xanthosparganium, and a new identification key for both species and hybrids occurring in North Eurasia.

Morphological and taxonomical treatments of fruits in the subclass Rosidae Takht. of the flora of Ukraine

Introduction. Rosids is the pivotal clade of eudicots, whose taxonomic composition was significantly changed based on molecular phylogeny. Molecular insight led to the re-evaluation of many phenotypic features, especially in reproductive morpho­logy. Although the floral structure and evolution within the current scope of rosids were actively investigated, the morphological structure of fruit was almost fully neglected. The present study aimed to survey the morphological diversity of fruits in rosids (subclass Rosidae) in the flora of Ukraine to reveal the most common fruit types, analyze the distribution of the basic fruit types among rosids, and survey some comparative-morphological features of gynoecium and fruit. Materials and Methods. Fruit features have been surveyed based on many carpological sources. We also analyzed the gynoecium characteristics crucial for fruit deve­lop­ment, i.e., the type of ovary insertion, placentation, and ovule and locule number. For Rosidae, seven basic fruit types were recognized using the approach previously elaborated for the monocot plants of Ukraine: aggregate fruit, multi-seeded monocarp, capsule, berry, multi-seeded pyrenarium, schizocarp, and one-seeded fruit. Results. As a result, the annotated list of morphological characteristics for each of the 54 families of Rosidae occurring in Ukraine was composed. In this list, the complementary and the most contrasting definitions of fruits from different sources were combined. Discussion. According to our calculations, the subclass Rosidae in the flora of Ukraine is represented by 326 genera and at least 1617 species. Our results demon­strated that the most widespread fruit types at the family level seem to be capsular and one-seeded fruits, while at genus and species level the portion of multi-seeded monocarps and aggregate fruits is also significant. Nine families reveal more than one basic fruit type in the flora of Ukraine. Some fruits are ambiguously classified into one or another fruit type because of their intermediate features. Thus, fuzzy boundaries between most fruit types are evident. Conclusions. The obtained results have been compared with our previously reported results for the monocot clade in the flora of Ukraine. In both cases, the predominance of capsular fruits at the family-level spectrum of basic fruit types was clearly demonstrated. The results of our analysis suggest that the model of basic fruit types has the potential to be applied to the formal treatment of fruit structure in other groups of angiosperms.

Dactylorhiza maculata agg. (Orchidaceae) in Central Europe: Intricate Patterns in Morphological Variability, Cytotype Diversity and Ecology Support the Single-Species Concept

Effective protection of endangered species is often limited by taxonomic discrepancies across state borders. This is also the case of the Dactylorhiza maculata agg. in Central Europe, where one to three species and several infraspecific taxa are recognized in various countries. Based on an extensive analysis of morphological variation, ploidy levels, environmental traits and habitats of 64 populations in Central Europe and adjacent regions, we aimed to propose a unified taxonomic concept applicable throughout the study area. Multivariate analysis of morphological traits revealed continuous variation at the individual level and only minor differences between particular clusters of populations. Four DNA-ploidy levels were detected using flow cytometry. Diploids (2n = 40) and tetraploids (2n = 80) were the most abundant and usually formed single-cytotype populations whereas DNA-triploids and DNA-hexaploids occurred only sporadically as minority cytotypes. The inferred patterns of morphological and ploidy variation were not congruent with traditional taxonomic treatment regarding diploid D. fuchsii and tetraploid D. maculata as two species with several infraspecific taxa. Instead, all taxa analysed in the current study are best treated at the subspecies level within D. maculata s. lat. due to somewhat continuous morphological variation between morphotypes. A total of eight D. maculata subspecies may be recognized in Central Europe, of which one is newly described here as D. maculata subsp. arcana, subsp. nov. Some nomenclatural riddles have been resolved, and the threat status of the recognized taxa is discussed.

A revision of the Chilean water penny genus Tychepsephus Waterhouse, 1876 (Coleoptera, Psephenidae, Eubriinae), with description of a second species and two larval morphotypes, and notes on other Chilean Psephenidae.

The Chilean water penny genus Tychepsephus Waterhouse, 1876 is revised, with descriptions and photographic illustrations of life stages including two larval morphotypes, the pupa of one morphotype, and adults of two species. The pupa of Tychepsephus has not been reported previously. Tychepsephuscekalovicisp. nov. is described, and Ectopria (Chilectopria) grandis Pic, 1947, syn. nov. is proposed as a new synonym of Tychepsephusfelix Waterhouse, 1876, which is redescribed. Taxonomic treatment of the adults of both species includes images of the habitus of males and females, morphological variation, and male and female genitalia. Males and females are sexually dimorphic. Information on the habitat of Tychepsephus is provided and illustrated with photographs, and the known geographic distribution of the two species is mapped. The occurrence of Tychepsephus in Argentina is reported; therefore, the genus no longer can be considered endemic to Chile. The taxonomic status and geographic distribution in South America of other species of Psephenidae, particularly members of the subfamily Eubriinae, is reviewed.

Taxonomic update of Magnolia subsect. Talauma (Magnoliaceae) from Cuba

The taxonomy of Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba has long been debated with many changes in the last few years. New evidence based on ecological, morphological and genetic data has indicated the occurrence of three taxa, with changes in the limits from the latest taxonomic treatment. In this sense, the taxonomy and nomenclature of Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba is reviewed. Diagnoses of all taxa are presented with an identification key, nomenclatural information and distribution. Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba comprises three endemic species: Magnolia orbiculata, M. minor and M. oblongifolia. Magnolia orbiculata is the only species that keeps the same limits as in the previous taxonomic treatments of the group, whereas it is not the same for the northeastern Cuban species.

Agapostemonfasciatus Crawford (Hymenoptera, Halictidae), a valid North American bee species ranging into southern Canada.

Sweat bees of the genus Agapostemon Guérin-Méneville, 1844 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) are common and widespread in the Americas. Despite distinct morphological characters that were recognised in earlier taxonomic treatments, Agapostemonfasciatus Crawford, 1901 has been considered a variety of A.melliventris Cresson, 1874 since the 1930s and later placed into synonymy under A.melliventris in the early 1970s. A more detailed study of morphology (including examination of type materials), distribution and genetic data (i.e. DNA barcodes) of these two taxa suggests they are not conspecific. As such, A.fasciatus is resurrected as a valid North American bee species. Agapostemonfasciatus ranges further north in North America than A.mellivenrtis, reaching the southern Prairies Ecozone of Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan), while most records of A.melliventris are from the south-western United States and northern Mexico. More accurate distributions for both species can be modelled as specimens in collections are identified using the diagnostic features provided. However, additional work is required on the A.melliventris species complex in the southern United States as genetic data suggest that multiple taxa could be present.

Phylogenomics reveals widespread hybridization and polyploidization in Henckelia (Gesneriaceae).

Hybridization has long been recognized as an important process for plant evolution and is often accompanied by polyploidization, another prominent force in generating biodiversity. Despite its pivotal importance in evolution, the actual prevalence and distribution of hybridization across the tree of life remain unclear. We used whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing and cytological data to investigate the evolutionary history of Henckelia, a large genus in the family Gesneriaceae with a high frequency of suspected hybridization and polyploidization events. We generated WGS sequencing data at about 10× coverage for 26 Chinese Henckelia species plus one Sri Lankan species. To untangle the hybridization history, we separately extracted whole plastomes and thousands of single-copy nuclear genes from the sequencing data, and reconstructed phylogenies based on both nuclear and plastid data. We also explored sources of both genealogical and cytonuclear conflicts and identified signals of hybridization and introgression within our phylogenomic dataset using several statistical methods. Additionally, to test the polyploidization history, we evaluated chromosome counts for 45 populations of the 27 Henckelia species studied. We obtained well-supported phylogenetic relationships using both concatenation- and coalescent-based methods. However, the nuclear phylogenies were highly inconsistent with the plastid phylogeny, and we observed intensive discordance among nuclear gene trees. Further analyses suggested that both incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow contributed to the observed cytonuclear and genealogical discordance. Our analyses of introgression and phylogenetic networks revealed a complex history of hybridization within the genus Henckelia. In addition, based on chromosome counts for 27 Henckelia species, we found independent polyploidization events occurred within Henckelia after different hybridization events. Our findings demonstrated that hybridization and polyploidization are common in Henckelia. Furthermore, our results revealed that H. oblongifolia is not a member of the redefined Henckelia and they suggested several other taxonomic treatments in this genus.

Integrative and accelerated taxonomy recognises a new species of Psyllaephagus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasitic on Lasiopsylla striata (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) from Australia.

The current taxonomic framework for describing new species of Psyllaephagus in Australia is largely intractable, mainly due to damaged or missing types and, as such, the genus has been neglected for almost 40 years. The repercussions of this include an absence of accurate host association records among Psyllaephagus and their hosts, several genera of which are lerp-forming psyllids that are ubiquitous on Eucalyptus spp. across Australia. In response, and to demonstrate the feasibility of robust and rapid species descriptions, here we describe a new species, Psyllaephagus iridis sp. nov. McClelland and the first record of a Eucalyptus host association for the psyllid Lasiopsylla striata Froggatt 1923, from a previously unsampled location. It is the first instance where an Australian species of Psyllaephagus is described from accurately recorded reared material. Molecular data is associated with the species for future studies and this, combined with diagnostic morphology, and high-resolution images, provides a description of a new species which demonstrates a comprehensive yet robust method for an accelerated taxonomic treatment of the Australian Psyllaephagus fauna.

Circumscription of the grammitid fern genus Oreogrammitis (Polypodiaceae) with the description of three new genera: Calligrammitis, Devolia, and Glabrigrammitis

Following a recent phylogenetic study, we here review the circumscription of the grammitid fern genus Oreogrammitis (Polypodiaceae: Grammitidoideae). We propose three new genera Calligrammitis, Devolia, and Glabrigrammitis, to accommodate the three clades resolved outside of the core Oreogrammitis. The taxonomic treatment is presented, and the morphology of each new genus is shown with a color plate.

Synopeas maximum Awad & Talamas (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae): a new species of parasitoid associated with soybean gall midge, Resseliella maxima Gagné (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae)

Synopeas maximum Awad & Talamas, sp. nov., the first reported parasitoid associated with the soybean gall midge, Resseliella maxima Gagné, is described based on morphological and molecular data. Parasitoids were reared from soybean stems infested by R. maxima in Minnesota. A phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus Synopeas Förster was performed with COI sequences (n=2412) available on the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). Phylogenetic and barcode gap analyses suggest 279 Synopeas species in this dataset, with S. maximum sequences forming a monophyletic clade that is distinct from relatives. The Synopeas maximum clade was close to specimens from Canada and the United States, suggesting it is native to North America. We present a taxonomic treatment of S. maximum to facilitate its identification, including comparison to morphologically similar species. This project provides baseline data for further ecological study of R. maxima parasitism, and its management in soybean.

Some Physciaceae lichens from Pakistan

This study aims to update the number of Phyciaceae lichens from Pakistan. Several new records have been added to the lichen flora of Pakistan, collected from different biomes. However, the lichen specimens for this study were collected from the country's cold temperate and humid subtropical climate eco-zones. A taxonomic treatment, including a description based on the newly collected material, is provided along with molecular phylogenetic analysis. Physcia biziana, Physciella nepalensis and Physconia perisidiosa are three new records for the country. Physcia aipolia and Physconia muscigena are being reported for the first time from new localities, and Physconia enteroxantha is only being collected for the second time from the country.

Epipactis bucegensis-A Separate Autogamous Species within the E. helleborine Alliance.

A new species of Epipactis from Bucegi Natural Park ROSCI0013, Southern Carpathians, Central Romania is described. Three medium-sized populations of Epipactis bucegensis (65-70 individuals in total) were discovered in the south-eastern, subalpine area of the park. To properly describe and distinguish the newly found taxon from other Romanian Epipactis, 37 morphological characters were measured directly from living plants and flowers. Moreover, a detailed taxonomic treatment and description with corresponding colour photos and line drawings illustrations of the holotype are also included. Epipactis bucegensis is an obligate autogamous species that partially resembles Epipactis muelleri, from which it differs in the basal distribution of leaves on the stem (vs. median distribution); near-erect leaf posture (vs. horizontally spread, arched downwards); lanceolate-acuminate, yellowish-green leaves (vs. oval-elongate, vivid-green leaves); bipartite labellum lacking the mesochile (vs. tripartite labellum); crimson-red, wide, ovoid-elongated, flattened hypochile (vs. dark-brown to black roundish hypochile); triangular, white epichile with a sharply tapering apex (vs. heart-shaped, greenish-yellow epichile with obtuse, roundish apex); and two wide-apart, purple, pyramidal calli (vs. two closely placed, attenuated, mildly wrinkled, greenish-yellow calli). Epipactis bucegensis is easily distinguished from all other European Epipactis taxa by the bipartite, wide labellum that lacks the mesochile. In addition, information regarding its distribution (maps), habitat, ecology, phenology and IUCN conservation assessments are provided.

A New Ant Species of Strumigenys Smith, 1860 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Strumigenys is one of the largest genera of ants, and one of the few which has received relatively recent global taxonomic treatment at the species level. Despite this, many new species continue to be found in most biogeographic regions. Strumigenys flavianae sp. nov. is described based on material collected in Viçosa, in the state of Minas Gerais, among secondary growth remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Three workers of this new taxon are known, and the lack of additional specimens in the main ant collections harboring Atlantic Forest ants indicates its rarity. Strumigenys flavianae can be differentiated from all Neotropical Strumigenys for its overall slenderness, flagellate and wire-like pilosity, extremely long head, large and medially notched subpetiolar spongiform tissue and a mostly reticulate pleura. The new species is distinct from all other species found in the Atlantic Forest. It has similarities to some Amazonian species in the hyphata-group (S. cincinnata and S. hyphata) and the probatrix-group (S. doryceps), while still having significant differences relative to both. Therefore, a new species group was created to account for the new species.