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Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
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| 1:03a | [Botany • 2021] Pseuduvaria kwangtungensis (Annonaceae) • A Second Species of Pseuduvaria in China: The Identity of the Enigmatic Species Meiogyne kwangtungensis
Abstract Meiogyne kwangtungensis is a rare species endemic to Hainan, China, known just from two fruiting collections made in the 1930s. Although it was published under the name Meiogyne in 1976, it was suggested that it might be better placed within Pseuduvaria or Mitrephora. For decades, this species was never collected again, thus its true generic affinity remained unresolved due to the lack of flowers. During a field exploration in Hainan, we re-discovered this species and collected a flowering specimen for the first time. The flower immediately confirmed its affinity with Pseuduvaria. Phylogenetic analyses of five chloroplast regions (psbA-trnH, trnL-F, matK, rbcL, and atpB-rbcL; ca. 4.2 kb, 70 accessions) also unambiguously placed Meiogyne kwangtungensis in the Pseuduvaria clade (PP = 1.00, ML BS = 99%). Morphologically, it is most similar to P. multiovulata which is endemic to Myanmar and Thailand, both with often-paired flowers, long pedicels and short peduncles, and often 1–2 monocarps. However, it differs in having smaller flowers with kidney-shaped glands on the inner petals, fewer stamens and carpels, smaller ovoid monocarps with an apicule and fewer seeds. On the basis of the combined molecular phylogenetic and morphological data, we propose a new combination, Pseuduvaria kwangtungensis (P.T.Li) Qing L.Wang & B.Xue. A full description including floral characters and a color plate are provided here for this species. A key to species in the genus Pseuduvaria in China is also provided. Keywords: Annonaceae, Meiogyne, molecular phylogeny, morphology, Pseuduvaria
  Qing-Long Wang, Hui Zhang, Yun-Yun Shao, Zhu-Nian Wang and Bine Xue. 2021. A Second Species of Pseuduvaria in China: The Identity of the Enigmatic Species Meiogyne kwangtungensis. PhytoKeys. 172: 1-15. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.172.61025  | ||||||
| 2:42a | [PaleoBotany • 2025] Karkenia bracteata • A New Species of Karkenia (Ginkgoales: Karkeniaceae) from the Lower Jurassic of East Siberia (Russia): palaeobiogeographical and evolutionary implications
Abstract The family Karkeniaceae is the most ancient of the Ginkgoales. It is known from the lower Permian to the Lower Cretaceous. Cladistic analysis has shown that Karkeniaceae represents a distinct lineage among the Mesozoic ginkgoaleans and is much closer to Trichopitys. However, the absence of the complex ovule shoots of ginkgoaleans with remains of ‘intercalated bracts’ in the palaeontological record makes it difficult to reconstruct the transformation series linking Trichopityaceae to Karkeniaceae. Here, we report Karkenia bracteata sp. nov. from the Lower Jurassic of East Siberia (Russia). We examined impressions and compressions using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Karkenia bracteata consists of the main axis bearing helically arranged bract–ovule complexes, each composed of a long laminar bract subtending and sheathing an ovule stalk with a single ovule. The presence of a bract distinguishes this species from all known Karkenia. However, the ovule structure, stomatal guard cells and megaspore membrane indicate that the new species belongs to Karkeniaceae. Karkenia could have evolved from Trichopitys due to reduction and condensation from an ancestral state. The ovulate short shoots must have fused to form a compact structure, while the main axis was strongly reduced. The leaves of such branches became reduced and further disappeared. Therefore, the leaves of the intermediate form between Trichopitys and Karkenia must have been bracts. Thus, K. bracteata corresponds to the hypothetical intermediate form linking Trichopityaceae to Karkeniaceae and confirms the hypothesis of the cone-like nature of Karkenia megastrobili. Keywords: Trichopitys, Sphenobaiera, Ginkgoales, palaeobiogeography, compound seed cone, intercalated bract  Karkenia bracteata sp. nov. Andrey О. Frolov, Ilya V. Enushchenko and Irina M. Mashchuk. 2025. A New Species of Karkenia (Karkeniaceae, Ginkgoales) from the Lower Jurassic of East Siberia (Russia): palaeobiogeographical and evolutionary implications. Papers in Palaeontology. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70019 [02 June 2025]  | ||||||
| 9:01a | [Botany • 2024] Aspidistra yangchunensis (Asparagaceae) • A New Species from Guangdong, China
Abstract Aspidistra yangchunensis, a new species of Asparagaceae from Guangdong, southern China, is described and illustrated. Aspidistra yangchunensis resembles A. subrotata, but can be distinguished by the syntepalous part of perigone almost flat, 4 alternate perigone lobes folded at base in full bloom, pure white pistil, lower surface of stigma folds inward to form a circular inner space. morphology, plant diversity, taxonomy, Monocots  Aspidistra yangchunensis S.P.Dong & Z.L.Ning Shu-Peng DONG, Yi HUANG and Zu-Lin NING. 2024. Aspidistra yangchunensis (Asparagaceae), A New Species from Guangdong, China. Phytotaxa. 647(1); 115-120. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.647.1.6 [2024-05-08] http://english.scib.cas.cn/news/202405/t | ||||||
| 10:10a | [Herpetology • 2025] Elaiophis gen. n. • Generic Affinities of African House Snakes Revised: A New Genus for Lamprophis inornatus (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae: Lamprophiinae: Boaedontini)
Abstract This article is the second part of a revision of the systematics of Boaedontini Dowling, 1969 and a follow-up to the work by Tiutenko et al. (2022). As a result of morphological and phylogenetic analyses, further taxonomic actions are taken in the genus Lycodonomorphus Fitzinger, 1843. Lamprophis inornatus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854, a species initially described in the genus Lamprophis and subsequently assigned to Lycodonomorphus, is here transferred to a new monotypic genus on a basis of combined criteria including genetic distance, morphology, ecology and biogeography. For improved taxonomic stability of the species and the new genus, a neotype for L. inornatus is designated from the specimen ZFMK 032712. The lectotype of Boodon infernalis Günther, 1858 is designated from one of three extant syntypes NHMUK 1858.4.11.5 and the type locality of this species, that is currently treated as a junior synonym of L. inornatus, is restricted to Durban, South Africa. The name ‘infernalis’ should be available if the species status of this northern clade would become restored. Lycodonomorphus subtaeniatus Laurent, 1954, another former Lycodonomorphus species long assumed to be a member of Boaedon, is here formally assigned to this genus and tentatively placed next to Boaedon upembae (Laurent, 1954) and Boaedon virgatus (Hallowell, 1854) on a basis of pholidosis, cranial morphology and dentition. The tribe Boaedontini now contains nine genera that can be separated by morphological characters according to the proposed key. The genus Lycodonomorphus still requires attention of taxonomists, as it contains species, such as L. bicolor, L. laevissimus, L. leleupi, L. mlanjensis, L. obscuriventris, and L. whytii, with uncertain taxonomic position and in this sense has to be viewed as sensu lato. Key words. Squamata, Elaiophis, nomenclature, osteology, skull, taxonomy
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Elaiophis gen. n. Type species: Lamprophis inornatus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854, by present designation. Diagnosis: Body cylindric, moderately short. Head moderately depressed. Eye medium-sized to small. Tail short, representing ca. 12–15% of the total length. Head trapezoidal, broader posteriorly, moderately distinct from neck. Snout blunt, square-shaped. Rostral rather large, approximately as high as broad, well visible from below and above. Nasal divided. Eye medium-sized, with wide sub-elliptical pupil. Anterior chin shields equal in size to the posterior or slightly longer. Loreal single, rectangular, horizontally elongate. No labial pits. No loreal grooves. Dorsal scales with two apical pits, arranged in 23 rows at the middle of the body. Subcaudals paired. Anal entire. 18–19 maxillary, 10–11 palatine, 17–19 pterygoid, 20–23 mandibular teeth. No diastemata. Maxillary teeth subequal. Mandibular teeth 2–7 strongly enlarged. Hemipenis bilobal, shallowly forked; sulcus spermaticus centrifugal, dividing approximately half way up shaft. Dorsal colour olive-green, olive, dark brownish olive, glaucous, dark neutral grey. Ventral colour cream white, or pale neutral grey Content: The genus is currently monotypic, containing one species – Elaiophis inornatus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) comb. n. Etymology: In South Africa where this snake is distributed it is called ‘Olive Snake’ in English, or ’Olyfslang’ in Afrikaans. Both names refer to the dorsal colour. The new genus name ‘Elaiophis’ is a translation of these vernacular names into Latin, being a compound of the Greek words ὄφις (snake) and ἐλαία (olive). Since the head of the nominal compound (‘ophis’) is masculine, the new noun is of the same gender. As English name for the new genus, we suggest ‘African olive snakes’. Tiutenko, A., A. Maliuk and C. Koch. 2025. Generic Affinities of African House Snakes Revised: A New Genus for Lamprophis inornatus (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae: Lamprophiinae: Boaedontini). Salamandra. 61(2); 215-239. https://www.salamandra-journal.com/index.p --novataxa_2025-Tiutenko_Maliuk_.jpg) | ||||||
| 2:24p | [Botany • 2025] Onosma sanninensis (Boraginaceae) • A New Species from the Mount Sannine, Central Lebanon
Abstract In this study, a new species of Onosma (Boraginaceae: Lithospermeae), subsect. Asterotricha, from Mount Sannine, Lebanon, is described and illustrated. This new species was conclusively identified through a comprehensive analysis of morphological features and geographical distributions compared across herbarium specimens from multiple collections. The new species is closely related to O. caerulescens and O. inexspectata, but it is different with 1–2 terminal cymes, smaller bracts, longer pedicels in fruit, larger calyx in flower and fruit, different corolla color, smaller anthers, and different pollen shape. Additionally, geographical distributions and map, an image of the holotype specimen, diagnostic characters, detailed photographs, habitat descriptions, and an identification key for the new species, O. caerulescens, and O. inexspectata are provided, along with a vernacular name and IUCN conservation status. Boraginaceae, Onosma, Asterotricha, nova taxa, microendemic, Lebanon, Eudicots  Ramy MAALOUF and Riza BINZET. 2025. Onosma sanninensis (Boraginaceae), A New Species from the Mount Sannine Central Lebanon. Phytotaxa. 702(1); 72-82. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.702.1.5 [2025-05-22] www.facebook.com/ramymaalouf www.facebook.com/share/p/1C5bKhNqR7  |
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