Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae): Parasitoid of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) Adventive in Chile

A parasitoid wasp, Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), was reared from eggs of the invasive stink bug Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) in Chile. The identification of G. aetherium, which is under study as a biological control agent, was made with morphological and molecular data in the context of a recent taxonomic treatment of this species. The presence of an adventive population of G. aetherium in South America has implications for biological control of B. hilaris in Chile, and other countries on the continent, where this stink bug may become a pest.

A taxonomic treatment of Synopeas Förster (Platygastridae, Platygastrinae) from the island of New Guinea

Synopeas from New Guinea is revised, including 16 new species and four previously named species. The concepts for these species were developed in conjunction with a CO1 analysis that includes 16 New Guinean species and 3 Synopeas species from other regions. The molecular analysis determined that the New Guinea fauna does not form a clade, indicating multiple migrations. The following species are described and keyed: S. amandae Awad, sp. nov.; S. anunu Awad, sp. nov.; S. butterilli Buhl; S. codex Awad, sp. nov.; S. csoszi Buhl; S. kalubia Awad, sp. nov.; S. kiki Awad, sp. nov.; S. kira Awad, sp. nov.; S. klingunculum Awad, sp. nov.; S. luli Awad, sp. nov.; S. occultum Awad, sp. nov.; S. pattiae Awad, sp. nov.; S. psychotriae Buhl; S. pterocarpi Buhl; S. pulupulu Awad, sp. nov.; S. roncavei Awad, sp. nov.; S. sanga Awad, sp. nov.; S. toto Awad, sp. nov.; S. valavala Awad, sp. nov.; S. zhangi Awad, sp. nov.Leptacis pleuralis (Buhl), comb. nov. is transferred from Synopeas. Images of 56 holotypes of Synopeas are made publicly available online.

Notes on Brazilian Pachira (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) II: Additional typifications and new synonymies

The typification and status of the names of 14 species of Pachira (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae) found in Brazil are discussed, including type material from Brazil, the Guianas, Colombia, Venezuela, and cultivated in Algeria. We designate 11 lectotypes, three neotypes, and four epitypes for these names. Six names are newly considered to be synonyms of the species accepted here. The results support a forthcoming taxonomic treatment of Pachira for the Flora of Brazil.

Lectotypification of Chamaecyparis hodginsii of the Cupressaceae

Recent phylogenetic studies have suggested that the monotypic Fokienia A.Henry & H.H.Thomas is nested within Chamaecyparis Spach, which is in agreement with separate morphological studies. Here the authors confirm a previous taxonomic treatment that incorporated Fokienia hodginsii (Dunn) A.Henry & H.H.Thomas into Chamaecyparis based on the monophyly requirement of taxonomy, i.e. Chamaecyparis hodginsii (Dunn) Rushforth. In addition, the type collection of the basionym Cupressus hodginsii Dunn was found to contain three sheets of specimens, one in K including a vegetative branch (K000088294) and a separate ovulate cone (K001090486), a second one in A (A00022477), and a third one in IBSC (IBSC0016081). All three specimens are marked with Hongkong Herbarium No. 3505, but only the two specimens in K and IBSC possess similar handwriting of “Cupressus hodginsii Dunn”. The two specimens should be considered as syntypes according to the Shenzhen Code. The specimen in K is better preserved but it is a mixture according to the collection label: cones from Foochow (Fuzhou) and foliage from Yenping (Nanping). We lectotypified the name Cupressus hodginsii with K000088294 because the specimen is well preserved and has enough characters for identification. Moreover, an ovulate cone (K001090486) is on the same sheet.

A revision of Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae) in Borneo

SummaryThe genus Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae) is revised for Borneo. 13 species are recognised using morphological evidence, including three new endemic species: Ziziphus cuspidata, Z. domatiata and Z. puberula. Borneo is therefore the island with the greatest known diversity of Ziziphus species. The area surrounding Mount Kinabalu is particularly diverse, with nine species occurring in Ranau. Two new varieties of Z. borneensis are also described here, Z. borneensis var. ranggam and Z. borneensis var. velutina, five new synonyms are established, including the placement of Z. elmeri as a synonym of Colubrina beccariana. A taxonomic treatment, including a preliminary IUCN conservation status assessment, is presented for each species and variety.

Taxonomic revision of the Pteronia adenocarpa group (Astereae, Asteraceae)

This study presents a taxonomic revision of the Pteronia adenocarpa group. Six species are recognised within this group, namely P. adenocarpa, P. armatifolia, P. elongata, P. hutchinsoniana, P. stoehelinoides and P. viscosa. The group is distinct in its characteristic basally hairy cypselae, as opposed to the glabrous-glossy, glandular and/or variously hairy cypselae with the hairs evenly distributed throughout the surface found in the remaining species of the genus. We here present a detailed taxonomic treatment with descriptions, nomenclature, diagnostic characters, geographical distribution and maps, ecological information as well as the key to the species.

New taxonomic treatment for Trichomanes parvulum Poir. and T. dregei Bosch (Hymenophyllaceae, Polypodiidae)

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Chara zeylanica J.G.Klein ex Willd. (Charophyceae, Charales, Characeae): First European Record from the Island of Sardinia, Italy

The first record of a species belonging to the genus Chara L. subgenus Chara R.D.Wood section Grovesia R.D.Wood subsect. Willdenowia R.D.Wood from Europe is presented here, thus challenging the interpretation of its distribution pattern as an intertropical group of charophytes. The morphological characters of the specimens, as well as the results of a phylogenetic analysis, clearly identified them as Chara zeylanica J.G.Klein ex Willd. Although the subsection Willdenowia has yet to receive a thorough taxonomic treatment, a discussion of its relationship to other taxa of this subsection is provided despite the lack of a commonly agreed upon taxonomic concept. The ecological conditions of the Sardinian site of C. zeylanica are presented. Moreover, the status of and threats to this taxon, and hypotheses regarding potential pathways through which it reached Europe, are discussed.

Comparative Floral Micromorphology in Mimosa sect. Calothamnos (Fabaceae)

The genus Mimosa L. is well known for its high morphological variability and the presence of taxonomic complexes—groups of taxa that are not adequately circumscribed and are therefore in continuous revision. For this study, we analyzed flowers from 28 different taxa in Mimosa sect. Calothamnos Barneby and five vegetatively similar taxa from Mimosa sect. Mimosa. We observed three calyx shapes and four (glabrous or pubescent) calyx border types, as well as describe glandular trichomes on the calyx border for the first time in section Calothamnos. While the corolla exhibits only two shape types, trichomes on the corolla are much more diverse, as we found one simple and 11 branched trichome types in diverse orientations and dispositions. Given the taxonomic value of trichomes and profuse terminology in different families, we focused on the detailed description of their micromorphology, type, and shape, finding morphological differences between trichome types, which is an easy way to adequately compare them between even unrelated taxa. Our results using trichome types on the corolla are consistent with the original differentiation of sections Calothamnos and Mimosa. Flower micromorphology also provides characters to distinguish species, groups of species, and varieties within section Calothamnos and could be useful in a future taxonomic treatment of the section. We also found that some floral features, such as inflorescence color and stamen fusion, are associated with the characters used in this study.