Phytotaxa

Elaeocarpus mahamayensis (Elaeocarpaceae), a new endemic species from the Knuckles Mountain Range in Sri Lanka

2023-09-20T13:32:13+12:00

Based on an ongoing taxonomic study on the genus Elaeocarpus, a new endemic Elaeocarpus species, E. mahamayensis, is described and illustrated from the Knuckles Mountain Range in Matale District (Sri Lanka). The new species had been already noticed by Zmarzty in 2001; during the revision of Elaeocarpus sect. Elaeocarpus in Southern India and Sri Lanka, she referred a herbarium specimen of this plant as “Elaeocarpus sp. B”. The stone of Elaeocarpus mahamayensis is similar to that of E. amoenus, E. coriaceus, E. montanus and E. taprobanicus, but their leaf characters differ. With this new addition, the number of Elaeocarpus species occurring in Sri Lanka is elevated to ten. The conservation status of E. mahamayensis based on the IUCN Red Data category guidelines is determined as Critically Endangered.

**Endophytic fungi associated with Coriaria nepalensis in an abandoned open-pit phosphate mine in Yunnan, P.R. China**

2023-06-15T14:06:48+12:00

The phosphate mining industry is prosperous in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Among them, the Kunyang phosphate mine, situated on the southern shore of Dianchi Lake, stands as one of Asia’s largest and most ancient open-pit phosphate mines. However, mining activities and abandoned phosphate mines have resulted in significant soil erosion and water degradation, necessitating immediate ecological restoration efforts. During surveys of endophytic fungi associated with the pioneer plant Masuri berry (Coriaria nepalensis) in mining sites, Kunming, Yunnan, we report a new species, Chrysofolia kunmingensis, and three new host records of Chaetomium cochliodes, Coniella quercicola, and Epicoccum nigrum. All taxa were identified based on morphological examinations and multigene phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), and large subunit (nrLSU) of ribosomal DNA, beta-tubulin 2 (tub), DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb2), and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1-α) sequences. This study will contribute to the isolation of indigenous beneficial fungi and the promotion of “plant-microbe” combined remediation.

Gymnomitrion vietnamicum (Gymnomitriaceae, Marchantiophyta) – a new species from North Indochina

2023-08-17T13:29:17+12:00

Gymnomitrion vietnamicum sp. nov. is described from the Hoang Lien Son Range (North Vietnam), the southernmost outpost of the Sino-Himalayan flora and vegetation, wedged into the Indochinese floristic region of the Paleotropic Kingdom. The species is morphologically similar to G. blankae recently described from the territorially adjacent region—Yunnan Province of China—but differs in the structure of the stem, shape of apices of the leaf lobes and shoot coloration. At the same time, this morphological similarity contrasts with relatively high genetic differences, which show that each of the species is more closely related to other taxa that are much more morphologically different from them. Thus, the morphological similarity of the two compared taxa (G. vietnamicum and G. blankae) may imply convergence. The described new species again confirms the leading role of the Sino-Himalayas as the taxonomic diversity center of the morphologically well-defined “Apomarsupella” group, phylogenetically deeply nested within Gymnomitrion. Gymnomitrion vietnamicum is one of the most southern representatives of this group.

**Taxonomy, phylogeny, and successful cultivation of Marasmiellus scandens (Basidiomycota) associated with Aquilaria sinensis (agarwood tree) in China**

2023-09-20T13:33:28+12:00

Endophytic fungi are isolated from all parts of plants and several have been reported from Aquilaria sinensis and most of them are ascomycetous species. In this study, an endophytic Marasmiellus species collected from Aquilaria sinensis in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China was isolated. Phylogenetic analyses of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (nrITS) gene region and morphological analyses confirmed the endophytic fungus as Marasmiellus scandens. In addition, fruiting bodies of M. scandens were successfully obtained in sawdust grow bags. A full description, illustrations, cultivation results, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of M. scandens are provided. Marasmiellus scandens is reported here as a new country and host record. In addition, this is the first report of the M. scandens cultivation in its endophytic form.

Digitopodium citri sp. nov.; an endophytic species associated with Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis from Guangdong Province, China

2023-06-13T11:51:01+12:00

Fingered citron (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis), is one of the fragrant herbs of the family Rutaceae. This plant is widely cultivated for its medicinal properties, food and flavoring uses, ornamental value, and cultural significance. In this study, we collected fruits of fingered citron in Deqing County, Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province, China, and several isolates of an endophytic, pigmented hyphomycetes species were obtained. The DNA sequences of our isolates were compared and analysed with those in the NCBI database, revealing that they are closely related to Digitopodium. Maximum likelihood, Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of combined LSU and ITS sequence data were performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species. Based on the distinctive morphological characters and phylogenetic support, a new species, Digitopodium citri sp. nov. is introduced. The new species is compared with other similar taxa and comprehensive descriptions and illustrations are provided. This is the first endophytic species of Digitopodium.

**Two new species of Gigantochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Yunnan, China**

2023-09-20T13:34:14+12:00

Two new species of Gigantochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Yunnan, China, namely Gigantochloa brachystachya and G. maneensis, are described and illustrated. G. brachystachya is morphologically similar to G. levis, but differs in its infranodal region with a ring of white hairs, culm leaf with erect blade, linear and glabrous auricle being ca. 10 mm wide and less than 1 mm tall, and glabrous ligule being 5–10 mm tall, and foliage leaf with glabrous sheath, 3–5 mm tall ligule and 2–2.5 mm tall outer ligules. Gigantochloa maneensis is morphologically similar to G. callosa, but differs in its intranode and infranodal region both with a ring of white hairs, culm leaf with densely black-hispid sheath abaxially and without stripes, erect blade and oblong auricle being 6–7 mm wide, and sparsely brown-hispid foliage leaf sheaths.

A new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) from high-altitude grasslands of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

2023-09-20T13:34:49+12:00

A new species of Pleroma, endemic to the high-altitude grasslands of the state of São Paulo, is described. Pleroma curucutuense is morphologically similar to Pleroma caissara, but differs by the shrubby plants, 0.4–2 m tall (vs. arboreal plants, 2–7 m tall in P. caissara), smaller leaves, 2.4–5.6 × 1.2–2 cm (vs. 2.4–8.5 × 1.2–3.4 cm), with only 3 veins (vs. 5 veins), the smaller hypanthium, 5.5–6 × 4.5–5.5 mm (vs. 6.7–8.8 × 5.2–7.7 mm) and smaller sepals, 3.3–4.5 × 2.3–3.3 mm (vs. 6.7–10.2 × 2.7–4.6 mm). These species also occur in different habitats: P. curucutuense occurs above 750 m in high-altitude grasslands, while P. caissara occurs between 10–400 m elevation, in Restinga and Lowland and Submontane Atlantic Forest. According to our assessments based on IUCN criteria, P. curucutuense is preliminarily included in the Deficient Data category, because there is little information about its extent of occurrence and area of occupancy. Here we present its taxonomic description, comparisons with related species, illustrations made with photos of live and dehydrated specimens, and a distribution map. To facilitate its recognition, we present an identification key for the species of Pleroma that occur on high-altitude grasslands of the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, at the Núcleo Curucutu, where P. curucutuense has been collected.

Agave mayo (sect. Littaea, Asparagaceae), a new species from northern Sinaloa, Mexico

2023-09-20T13:35:16+12:00

Agave mayo (sect. Littaea, Asparagaceae), a new species endemic to the Sierra de Barobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico, is described. This species shares morphological characteristics with A. schidigera, from which it is distinguished by its often falcate leaves leaves, inclined inflorescence, larger reddish flowers, larger tubes, larger tepal lobes, filaments inserted inserted in the middle of the tube, longer ovaries, and longer obpyriform fruits. A distribution map with biogeographic provinces is provided to place the species in an ecological and evolutionary context.

**A new spurless species of Impatiens sect. Microsepalae (Balsaminaceae) from south India**

2023-09-20T13:35:47+12:00

An interesting balsam with spurless lower sepal is described here as a new species to the Impatiens Sect. Microsepalae (Balsaminaceae) from southern parts of Western Ghats, India. Detailed notes on description, ecology, and distribution are provided along with a comparison of its morphologically similar species and colour photographs.