Phytotaxa

**The identities of Gynura molleri, G. papillosa, and G. winkleri (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) from West Africa**

2025-12-07T00:49:07+13:00

Gynura molleri, G. papillosa, and G. winkleri (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) are three species names originally published from West Africa. Since their publication, they have been largely overlooked in subsequent taxonomic revisions and floristic studies. However, they are currently all listed as accepted names in major global plant databases. In this study, we located their type specimens and reassessed their taxonomic identities. Our results show that Gynura molleri and G. winkleri are conspecific with Crassocephalum montuosum and should be treated as its synonyms, whereas G. papillosa is conspecific with C. crepidioides and is here reduced to synonymy under the latter.

**Contributions to the knowledge of Colombian Myoxanthus (Orchidaceae) I: A new species, two new records for the country, and new documentation**

2026-03-11T07:19:40+13:00

Myoxanthus is a Neotropical genus of orchids comprising 57 species, of which nearly 20 have been recorded for Colombia. Despite decades of herbarium collecting, some species previously cited for the country lack supporting material or have not been deposited in any scientific collection. In this work, we contribute to the knowledge of Colombian Myoxanthus by describing a new species, M. quindiensis, formally recording M. congestus and M. mejiae for the country, and providing new photographic digital documentation of M. cimex, M. claudiana and M. uxorius. For all taxa, we present detailed descriptions, Lankester Composite Dissection Plates, a distribution map, and discussions of their morphological affinities, together with notes on their ecology and distribution. With these contributions, the number of Myoxanthus species for Colombia increases to 24. These findings underscore the need to continue field exploration and herbarium surveys to clarify the actual distribution and conservation status of species within the genus.

Ceratocystis quercina sp. nov. (Ceratocystidaceae) from Quercus mongolica in South Korea

2026-05-15T13:41:11+12:00

During a survey of putative tree pathogens on oak forests in Gangwon Province, South Korea, a fungal isolate exhibiting morphological characteristics typical of Ceratocystis was consistently recovered from natural wounds on Quercus mongolica. Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood approaches using three loci (TUB2, TEF1α and MCM7), combined with distinctive morphological features of aleuriospores and conidia, revealed that the isolate forms a phylogenetically distinct lineage. Consequently, this fungus is herein described as Ceratocystis quercina sp. nov., marking the second novel species newly described from South Korea, following C. quercicola. In this regard, this discovery suggests the potential for further taxonomic novelty within the genus Ceratocystis and highlights the need for broader surveys to determine the actual prevalence and spatial distribution of Ceratocystis taxa in the Korean Peninsula.

**Fungal diversity in landfill soil from a waste treatment plant in Hebei, China with the description of Scytalidium asiaticum sp. nov. (Helotiales, Ascomycota)**

2026-06-25T02:55:47+12:00

Soil is one of the most favored habitats for fungi, but fungal diversity from plastic-contaminated soil has rarely been explored. This study focused on landfill soil at a waste treatment plant in Hebei, China, resulting in the isolation of 62 strains. These strains were identified to 25 species, belonging to the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Beauveria, Cephalotrichum, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Gliomastix, Marquandomyces, Metarhizium, Mortierella, Mucor, Paraphaeosphaeria, Penicillium, Pseudogymnoascus, Scytalidium, Trichoderma and Yamadazyma. Species in some of these genera, such as Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus sydowii and Cladosporium cladosporioides identified from the newly isolated strains, have previously been reported as plastic-degrading fungi. Nevertheless, no plastic degradation experiments were conducted in this study, and consequently, the potential ability of 62 strains for plastic degradation remains unclear and warrants further investigation. In addition, two strains from the genus Scytalidium were identified as a hitherto unknown species and newly described as S. asiaticum. This new species differs from phylogenetically close species S. sphaerosporum in having larger arthroconidia. The current results indicate that further exploration of landfill soil is necessary to comprehensively assess soil fungal diversity.

Vamsapriya yinggelingensis sp. nov. (Vamsapriyaceae, Xylariales), a new bambusicolous species from Hainan, China

2026-06-08T14:28:54+12:00

Vamsapriya yinggelingensis sp. nov. (Vamsapriyaceae) is described and illustrated from two specimens collected on bamboo in Hainan Province, China, based on detailed morphological examination and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetically, it forms a distinct clade sister to V. sichuanensis and V. zhaotongensis. Morphologically, the new species is distinguished from V. sichuanensis by its larger ascomata (647–808 µm diam. vs. 350–500 µm diam.), and from V. zhaotongensis by the presence of a mucilaginous sheath around ascospores and smaller asci (99–161 × 6–10 µm vs. 125–180 × 8–14.5 µm). Nucleotide sequence comparisons with the type strains of V. sichuanensis (HKAS 130304) and V. zhaotongensis (GMB6401) showed divergences of 4.2% (ITS), 1.9% (LSU), and 2.2% (rpb2) from V. sichuanensis, and 4.6% (ITS), 2.0% (LSU), 2.2% (rpb2), and 5.1% (tub2) from V. zhaotongensis. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations, a phylogenetic tree showing the placement of the new taxon, and a comparative table of all Vamsapriya species known from sexual morphs are provided.

Sisyrinchium ignotum (Iridaceae), a new species from the highland grasslands of the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil

2026-05-27T04:12:30+12:00

Sisyrinchium ignotum is described and illustrated as a new species, morphologically associated with S. vaginatum (Sisyrinchium sect. Viperella), from the highland grasslands of the First and Second Paraná Plateaus, in Southern Brazil. The new species resembles S. marchio and S. weirii but differs from the former by the presence of indumentum on the reproductive structures and from the latter by their larger size. Sisyrinchium ignotum occurs in the Eastern region of the State of Paraná, Southern Brazil, with an elevation range from 840 to 1,040 m a.s.l. The preliminary conservation status of the species is assessed, and it could be considered Vulnerable (VU, B1+B2ab(iii, iv)). Diagnostic morphological characters, taxonomic comments, conservation status, phenology, habitat notes, and a distribution map are provided.

Mycetia hekouensis (Rubiaceae), a new basiflorous species from Yunnan, China

2026-02-22T03:18:14+13:00

Mycetia hekouensis, a new species is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province of China. The new species is akin to M. basiflora and M. mukerjiana in the basiflorous inflorescence, but morphologically differs by the relatively short, reddish peduncle, reddish calyx and white corolla. Morphological comparisons with closely related taxa are provided to delimit the new species, as well as photographic plates, field images, and a distribution map to visualize its morphology and range.

**To look and to see; a new species of Lepidium (Brassicaceae) from Türkiye**

2026-08-14T19:10:35+12:00

Lepidium caespitosum is an endemic species growing in semi-saline meadows, identified from Erzurum (Eastern Anatolia, Türkiye). Some specimens collected from saline marshes in Central and Western Anatolia have been identified as L. caespitosum for approximately 60 years. In this study, L. caespitosum specimens collected from Erzurum in 2025 -presumably the type locality- were morphologically compared with specimens from saline marshes in Central and Western Anatolia that had been previously identified as L. caespitosum. The comparison revealed that the Central and Western Anatolian specimens generally differed from the Erzurum specimens in terms of indumentum type and density, leaf dimensions and morphology, pedicel and flower part dimensions, fruit morphology, and habitat preference. The Central and Western Anatolian specimens, which shared similar morphological characteristics, were evaluated as a new species and named “Lepidium turcicum”. The new species is described, its distribution, a comparison with L. caespitosum, its brief ecological preferences, and some illustrative photographs are provided.

**Hidden among rocks: Anthurium occultum (Araceae), a short-pedunculate species from the campos rupestres of eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil**

2026-05-20T07:00:18+12:00

A new rupicolous species of Anthurium (Araceae) is described from the campos rupestres of eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Anthurium occultum is restricted to quartzitic rocky outcrops of the Serra do Padre Ângelo and adjacent sectors, where it occurs in small and localized populations. The species is characterized by a combination of morphological features, including a peduncle shorter than the petiole and recurved during fruiting, matte dark green leaf blades, and a greenish-yellow to greenish-purplish spadix at anthesis. Detailed morphological description, illustrations, and comparisons with the most similar species are provided. Notes on habitat, distribution, phenology, and conservation status are presented, highlighting the vulnerability of this narrowly endemic taxon to ongoing threats affecting the campos rupestres of eastern Minas Gerais.

**Erratum: VINAY KUMAR SAHANI & KRISHNA CHOWLU (2026) Disporum yobinorum (Colchicaceae), a new species from Eastern Himalaya, India. Phytotaxa 767 (1): 93–97.**

2026-09-01T12:04:51+12:00