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Monday, March 24th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 1:39a | [Botany • 2025] Calea riopardensis, C. roqueana & C. strigosa (Asteraceae: Neurolaeneae) • Three New Species from the Sky Islands of the Espinhaço Range
Abstract Thirty five years since the last new species was placed in Calea sect. Lemmatium, three new species for this section are described here: C. riopardensis, C. roqueana, and C. strigosa. These three new species belong to the C. sickii group, which is characterized by the few-headed cymose capitulescence or capitula solitary and ray florets 5–10 per capitulum (when radiate). Calea riopardensis resembles C. repanda, but it differs by the petiole 0.6–0.7 cm long (vs. 1.3–1.5 cm), leaf base attenuate (vs. rounded), and cypselae 3.5–3.8 mm long (vs. 3.0–3.2 mm). Calea roqueana is also similar to C. repanda, but it can be distinguished by the sessile leaves (vs. petiolate leaves), peduncle 1.2–5.5 cm long (vs. 0.45–0.7 cm), and cypselae 3.8–4.6 mm long (vs. 3.0–3.2 mm). Calea strigosa is morphologically close to C. sessilifolia, but it can be individualized by being 0.4–1.0 m tall (vs. 0.1–0.25 m), base subcordate (vs. rounded), and disc floret corolla 6.3–7.1 mm long (vs. 4.3–5.8 mm). These new species are hereby described, illustrated, its conservation status and taxonomic affinities are discussed. In addition, an identification key for the C. sickii group is provided and its geographical distribution is mapped. Campo rupestre, Compositae, Cerrado, Heliantheae s.l., Eudicots Calea riopardensis V.R.Bueno, Prata-Silveira & Bentes, sp. nov. Etymology:—The epithet “riopardensis” is the latinized form of the gentile of the Rio Pardo de Minas, the municipality where the species was collected.
Calea roqueana V.R.Bueno, Prata-Silveira & Bentes, sp. nov. Etymology:—The epithet “roqueana” was given in honor of Dr. Nádia Roque (1970–2024), who was a biologist with master and doctorate degrees in Botany. She was a professor at the Universidade Federal da Bahia (Federal University of Bahia—UFBA) and served as curator of the ALCB herbarium (Thiers 2025) for 11 years, in the vascular plants section. In addition to being a professor, she supervised undergraduate, master›s, and Ph.D. students at the Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (State University of Feira de Santana) and at UFBA, focusing on Systematics and Floristics research of Angiosperms, mainly Asteraceae. She was also a CNPq research productivity fellow and collaborated on projects with researchers from the Smithsonian Institution (United States of America), Museo de La Plata (Argentina), and Instituto de Biociências (Brazil). Nádia Roque was a prolific researcher with more than 100 articles published, three books organized or authored, 20 books chapters, and 36 new species described. As a collector, N. Roque made more than 5400 collections, and even the first collection of C. roqueana was made by her.
Calea strigosa V.R.Bueno, Prata-Silveira & Bentes, sp. nov. Etymology:—The epithet “strigosa” refers to the strigose indument of the stems, abaxial leaf surface, and outer involucral phyllaries of the new species. Vinícius R. BUENO, Marina Soares BENTES, Renato RAMOS, Danilo A.. ZAVATIN and Ananda PRATA-SILVEIRA. 2025. Three New Species of Calea (Asteraceae, Neurolaeneae) from the Sky Islands of the Espinhaço Range. Phytotaxa. 689(2); 185-203. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.2.2 [2025-02-24] www.facebook.com/dtnatemporeal/posts/959455566168693 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WjZuFCx | ||||||
| 2:31a | [Botany • 2025] Matisia boyacensis (Malvaceae: Malvoideae) • A New Species from the premontane forests of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia
Abstract The new species Matisia boyacensis (Malvaceae) is described and illustrated. The species is assigned to the Calyculatae section of the genus Matisia and is compared to closely related species. Matisia boyacensis is only known from premontane forest matrices and pastures of Boyacá department, in the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. Keywords: Boyacá, Malvoideae, Matisieae, sub-Andean forest, zapote
Matisia boyacensis Torrejano-M, Paz-López & Fern.Alonso, sp. nov. Etymology. The epithet boyacensis honors the Boyacá Department, within which its sole currently known locality occurs. This department is home to well preserved montane forest remnants and exhibits high biodiversity. Additionally, the name pays tribute to the local inhabitants of this region. Andrés Felipe Torrejano-Munevar, Carlos Andrés Paz López and José Luis Fernández-Alonso. 2025. Matisia boyacensis (Malvaceae): A New Species from the premontane forests of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. Brittonia. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12228-025-09828-z [05 February 2025] | ||||||
| 3:45a | [Herpetology • 2025] Iguanas rafted more than 8,000 km from North America to Fiji
Abstract Founder-event speciation can occur when one or more organisms colonize a distant, unoccupied area via long-distance dispersal, leading to the evolution of a new species lineage. Species radiations established by long-distance, and especially transoceanic, dispersal can cause substantial shifts in regional biodiversity. Here, we investigate the occurrence and timing of the greatest known long-distance oceanic dispersal event in the history of terrestrial vertebrates—the rafting of iguanas from North America to Fiji. Iguanas are large-bodied herbivores that are well-known overwater dispersers, including species that colonized the Caribbean and the Galápagos islands. However, the origin of Fijian iguanas had not been comprehensively tested. We estimated the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary timescale of the iguanid lizard radiation using genome-wide exons and ultraconserved elements (UCEs). Those data indicate that the closest living relative of extant Fijian iguanas is the North American desert iguana and that the two taxa likely diverged during the late Paleogene near or after the onset of volcanism that produced the Fijian archipelago. Biogeographic models estimate North America as the most probable ancestral range of Fijian iguanas. Our analyses support the hypothesis that iguanas reached Fiji via an extraordinary oceanic dispersal event from western North America, and which spanned a fifth of the earth’s circumference (>8,000 km). Overwater rafting of iguanas from North America to Fiji strengthens the importance of founder-event speciation in the diversification of iguanids and elucidates the scope of long-distance dispersal across terrestrial vertebrates.
Simon G. Scarpetta, Robert N. Fisher, Benjamin R. Karin, Jone B. Niukula, Ammon Corl, Todd R. Jackman and Jimmy A. McGuire. 2025. Iguanas rafted more than 8,000 km from North America to Fiji. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 122 (12) e2318622122. DOI: doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2318622122 [March 17, 2025] Iguanas floated to Fiji millions of years ago on an unprecedented raft journey, scientists say https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/n Significance: Transoceanic dispersal to far-away islands is an important mechanism for the generation of new species lineages and biotas and has captivated scientists since at least the time of Darwin. Determining whether and how such events occur is challenging, particularly for hypothesized dispersals spanning thousands of kilometers. We addressed the enigmatic occurrence of Fijian iguanas via phylogenomic and biogeographic analyses, providing strong evidence that iguanas rafted >8,000 km from North America as early as the Paleogene. This represents the longest documented transoceanic dispersal in terrestrial vertebrates. Our findings elaborate on the importance of long-distance dispersal in the diversification of iguanids. Iguanid lizards display a propensity for overwater dispersal, which could stimulate further research into the predictability of these incredible biogeographic events. | ||||||
| 4:11a | [Botany • 2025] Hyoscyamus labiatus (Solanaceae: Hyoscyameae) • A New Species from Henan, China: Implications for the Delimitation of Hyoscyamus
Abstract Hyoscyamus labiatus Y. Y. Liu, Q. R. Wang and J. M. Li, a new species of Hyoscyamus (Solanaceae) from Henan province, China, is described and illustrated here. It is morphologically similar to the known species of Hyoscyamus and Archihyoscyamus, but can be distinguished by corolla 2-lipped, adaxial lip 3-lobed and much longer than abaxial lips, tube slender at base, and stamens 5, inserted on inner side of disk, free, obviously unequal, and exceeding corolla. To infer the systematic position of this new species, phylogenetic analysis was performed based on four chloroplast markers, viz rbcL, ndhF, trnC-psbM and trnL-F. According to the phylogenetic tree, Hyoscyamus labiatus is strongly supported as sister to a monophyletic group containing all species of Hyoscyamus and Archihyoscyamus previously described. Morphological comparison and molecular phylogeny confirmed the identity of the species as a new taxon, and that Archihyoscyamus should be included in Hyoscyamus. Keywords: Archihyoscyamus, Hyoscyameae, phylogeny, Solanaceae, taxonomy   Hyoscyamus labiatus Y. Y. Liu, Q. R. Wang and J. M. Li, sp. nov. Yan-Yan Liu, Qi-Rui Wang, Zeng-Lu Mi and Jia-Mei Li. 2025. Hyoscyamus labiatus sp. nov. (Solanaceae) from Henan, China: Implications for the Delimitation of Hyoscyamus. Nordic J. Botany. e04525. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04525 [10 December 2024] | ||||||
| 5:20p | [Botany • 2025] Aristolochia zhuhaiensis (Aristolochiaceae) • A self-supporting New Species from Guangdong, China
Abstract A self-supporting new species of Aristolochiaceae, Aristolochia zhuhaiensis Y.Fan Wang & Z.R.Guo, is described and illustrated from Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Morphologically, this species exhibits vegetative characters, including leaf blade shape and growth form, that are similar to Aristolochia thwaitesii Hook., the only other known taxon in Aristolochia subg. Siphisia in Asia that is non-twining and self-supporting, native to southern Guangdong, particularly the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. However, A. zhuhaiensis can be readily distinguished from A. thwaitesii by its unique floral morphology. The new species features a campanulate to funnel-shaped calyx limb densely covered with porcelain-white granular pustules. In contrast, A. thwaitesii has an elongated, concave tubular calyx limb with an adaxial surface that transitions from purple to pale yellow or white towards the apex, densely covered with recurved fleshy prickles. Aristolochia zhuhaiensis is endemic to Zhuhai City and has not been observed elsewhere. Detailed illustrations, photographic plates, a distribution map, a digitized holotype voucher specimen, a comparative table, and an identification key are provided to facilitate the differentiation of A. zhuhaiensis from A. thwaitesii. Key words: Aristolochia subg. Siphisia, conservation status, fieldwork, morphology, taxonomy
Aristolochia zhuhaiensis Y.Fan Wang & Z.R. Guo, sp. nov. Diagnosis. Aristolochia zhuhaiensis shares morphological similarities with A. thwaitesii, both of which are distributed in neighboring regions and represent the only two known self-supporting, non-twining Aristolochia subg. Siphisia species in Asia. In terms of vegetative characteristics, these two congeners are highly similar; however, they can be readily distinguished by their markedly different floral morphologies. Aristolochia zhuhaiensis is characterized by a campaniform-infundibuliform calyx limb densely covered with porcelain-white granular pustules. It also features a conspicuous platform-shaped area beneath the perianth throat, which is white, glabrous, waxy, and slightly elevated upward. In contrast, A. thwaitesii possesses an elongated, concave tubular calyx limb with an adaxial surface that transitions from purple to pale yellow or white towards the apex. This species is entirely covered with recurved fleshy prickles and lacks the distinctive platform structure found in the calyx of A. zhuhaiensis. Detailed morphological comparisons between the new species and A. thwaitesii are shown in Figs 4, 5 and Table 1. Yi-Fan Wang, Zi-Rui Guo, Sven Landrein, Joyce G. Onyenedum, Shuai Liao. 2025. Aristolochia zhuhaiensis, A self-supporting New Species of Aristolochiaceae from Guangdong, China and Notes on Aristolochia thwaitesii. PhytoKeys. 254: 61-76. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.254.139616 |
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