Phytotaxa

The wood-decaying fungal diversity unveiled by morphology and phylogeny in Ailaoshan Mountain, Yunnan, China

2024-03-19T14:11:00+13:00

Seven field surveys were carried out in the Ailaoshan area of Yunnan Province, China, from 2016 to 2021, in which 2,814 specimens of wood-decaying fungal species were collected and identified based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses. One hundred and three wood-decaying species were identified, belonging to 64 genera, 29 families, and nine orders. Polyporales is the most abundant order in this area, accounting for 55.34% of all species, while Polyporaceae is the most abundant family, accounting for 18.45% of all species discovered in this area. The wood-decaying fungal checklist is provided according to the latest fungi classification system. Of these species, 11 are edible and therapeutic, four are forest pathogens, eight are threatened, and nine have just been reported from Ailaoshan Mountain. These species comprise 10.68%, 3.88%, 7.77%, and 8.74% of all species, respectively, while 71 species, or 68.93%, have unclear functional relationships. The sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene region of the studied specimens were generated, and the phylogenetic analyses were performed with the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. This study enriches the diversity of wood-decaying fungi in the Ailaoshan area. Also, it provides a theoretical basis for the future protection and utilization of wood-decaying fungal resources in this area.

Volvariella griseoalba (Agaricales, Volvariellaceae), a new species from Punjab, Pakistan

2024-05-12T03:59:41+12:00

Volvariella griseoalba is described as a new species from Punjab, Pakistan. The species was separated from its morphologically closest relative, V. sathei by its shiny greyish-white, umbonate pileus, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, utriform cheilocystidia and a white to brown volva. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU region of the nrDNA also supported the studied taxon as a distinct species in Volvariella.

**A new species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Southern Xizang, China with supplementary knowledge on I. leptocarpa Hook. f.**

2023-11-13T03:16:58+13:00

A new species, Impatiens lhunzeensis (Balsaminaceae), and a new record of I. leptocarpa from southern Xizang, China are reported and described in this study. Based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, both I. lhunzeensis and I. leptocarpa are assigned to I. sect. Racemosae. The new species forms a clade with I. drepanophora, I. eubotrya and I. principis, while I. leptocarpa is phylogenetically close to I. radiata and I. harae. The new species has a sympatric distribution with and is morphologically similar to both I. radiata and I. harae, but differs by the hairy stem, the densely hairy leaf blade, the raceme inflorescence, the reniform dorsal petals, the navicular lower sepal, the broadly ovate to sub-orbicular upper petals and the triangular oblong lower petals.

Morphological variation within Solanum campylacanthum (Solanaceae) in Uganda and its relationship with S. cerasiferum

2024-07-25T08:56:34+12:00

This is a morphological study of 108 accessions of Solanum campylacanthum and 10 accessions of Solanum cerasiferum. The aim was to assess the morphological variations that occur within the S. campylacanthum species in Uganda and evaluate the morphological differences between S. campylacanthum and S. cerasiferum. Fourteen quantitative and eleven qualitative vegetative characters were measured and analysis done by phenetics method. Cluster (UPGMA) and box plot analyses were done in PAST program version 4.03. Prickle density and leaf tip angles are reported for the first time as being useful in the intraspecific delimitation of S. campylacanthum. The distinction between S. cerasiferum and S. campylacanthum can only be based on leaf base shapes, which is, attenuate and oblique respectively.

**Molecular phylogeny and morphology reveal a new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Hyphoderma guangdongense (Polyporales, Basidiomycota), from China**

2024-04-07T15:12:48+12:00

Hyphoderma is one of the most important representative groups of wood-inhabiting fungi. These fungi secrete various enzymes capable of degrading cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin into simple inorganic substances. The taxa within the genus cause the white rot of wood, play a key role in the carbon cycle, and are the most efficient wood decomposers in the forest ecosystem. This study proposes a new wood-inhabiting fungal taxon, Hyphoderma guangdongense, based on morphological features and molecular evidence. It is characterized by the white hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system having the generative hyphae with clamp connections, the presence of the septate and tubular cystidia, and cylindrical basidiospores (6–10 × 3–5 µm). The phylogenetic tree inferred from a combination of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and large subunit (nrLSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences revealed that H. guangdongense placed into the genus Hyphoderma, in which it is closely related to a clade comprising two taxa, H. setigerum, and H. floccosum. A full description, illustrations, and results of the new species' phylogenetic analysis are provided.

**Two new species of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from Wawonii Island, Southeastern Sulawesi, Indonesia**

2024-07-25T08:57:23+12:00

Two new species, Syzygium lampeapiense and Syzygium wawoniense, from Wawonii Island, Sulawesi, are described and illustrated. Syzygium lampeapiense is related to Syzygium comosum, while the latter is to S. ketambense. Both species are described and illustrated, and conservation assessments are provided.

A new species of Tarenna (Rubiaceae: Ixoroideae) from Kerala, India

2023-10-21T04:20:04+13:00

A new species of Tarenna Gaertn. (Rubiaceae), T. idukkiana Robi & Balan sp. nov. from the Cardamom Hill Reserves of Elappara, Idukki district, Kerala, India is described here. A detailed description along with diagnostic characters between allied species, pollen morphology and colour photographs are provided.

**Lectotypification and new data on the distribution of the Philippine endemic Liparis dumaguetensis (Orchidaceae)**

2024-07-16T14:18:02+12:00

Liparis dumaguetensis (Orchidaceae) is a Philippine endemic species widely distributed throughout the Philippine archipelago. A review of literature and specimens demonstrated the necessity for lectotypification of this species which we accomplished in this paper. Further, detailed information is provided based on our current collection such as a description, colour photographs, an updated geographical distribution, habitat, phenology, and an IUCN conservation assessment.

Geissleria triundulata sp.nov., a new freshwater diatom (Cymbellaceae, Bacillariophyta) from the Mula-Mutha River Basin, India

2024-02-18T09:00:21+13:00

While conducting a seasonal assessment of the Mula-Mutha River basin in Maharashtra, India, an unknown taxon of the genus Geissleria was observed from an oligotrophic stream connected to the Mutha River. This taxon is described here as new to science based on detailed light and scanning electron microscopic observations. The characteristics of this new species used to assign it to the genus Geissleria include triundulate valve margins, a straight and filiform raphe structure, lineolate striae, and the presence of annuli a circular or semi-circular hyaline area positioned on the valve apices. In G. triundulata sp. nov., the annulus is barely visible in light microscopy. The present study discusses the morphology of this new species compared to other Geissleria species, undertaking a thorough analysis of various morphological features observed in members of the genus Geissleria. This new taxon resembles G. lubilensis and G. fogedii in having a slightly triundulate margin but differs in their broad and protracted valve apices, holding differences from the new species. This study also presents a brief discussion concerning the ecology of the newly discovered species and the worldwide distribution of all Geissleria species.

Dryopteris microlepioides, a new synonym of Trichoneuron microlepioides (Dryopteridaceae)

2024-06-25T14:48:27+12:00

When reviewing the species diversity of Dryopteridaceae from Vietnam, we noticed the name Dryopteris microlepioides Christensen (1934: 102) is taxonomically uncertain and to be treated (Hassler 1994–2024). Dryopteris microlepioides was described based on two collections from northern Vietnam and was thought to be a distinct species superficially resembling Microlepia speluncae (Linnaeus 1753: 1093) Moore (1857: 93) (Christensen 1934). Since its publication in 1934, this name had been neglected by authors who treated Dryopteris Adanson (1763: 20) for the fern flora or species diversity of Vietnam (e.g., Tardieu-Blot & Christensen 1938, 1941; Pham 1999; Phan 2010). At the first sight of the type specimens of D. microlepioides, the senior author (SYD) was aware of D. microlepioides representing the same taxon with Trichoneuron microlepioides Ching (1965: 119) described from southern Yunnan, China, because this taxon is morphologically unique by having the microlepioid frond habit (especially with copious pale hairs on both surfaces) and the dryopterioid sori (reniform, medial on abaxial surface of lamina) (Fig. 1). Phylogenetically, the sample of this species from northern Vietnam, which was identified as T. microlepioides by Liu et al. (2016), was resolved to be sister to Polystichopsis (Smith 1875: 217) Holttum (1947: 147) in Dryopteridaceae subfam. Polybotryoideae based on the analysis of three cpDNA sequences (rbcL, atpA, and atpB) (Liu et al. 2016). In recent years, we also collected this taxon in northern Vietnam (paratype locality of D. microlepioides) and southern Yunnan, China, and conducted phylogenetic analysis based on cpDNA genome (not presenting here). Our analysis resolved one sample from Vietnam (Dong 4598) and two collections from Yunnan (Dong 4801 and Zuo 5093) clustered together, identifying no any significant difference between them. The three samples in the phylogenetic tree formed a sister relationship in high supporting values with Polystichopsis as the result in Liu et al. (2016). This result provides further evidence supporting the same species of D. microlepioides Christensen (1934) with T. microlepioides Ching (1965).