Phytotaxa

**Lectotypification of ninie binomials proposed for Sorocea (Moraceae)**

LETICIA DE MATTOS — 2026-01-09

N/A

**Re-evaluation of the morphology and distribution of the newly described species Tirpitzia meiguensis (Linaceae)**

HONG CHEN — 2026-01-09

Tirpitzia meiguensis, a species described in 2023, is the focus of this study. Based on botanical resource surveys conducted in the areas surrounding its type locality, detailed dissection and observation revealed several diagnostic characteristics: its corolla is white, occasionally tinged with pale pink (vs. uniformly white in congeners); the number of stigmas ranges from 3 to 5 (vs. 4–5); and between the fertile stamens, there is either a single linear-lanceolate staminode or a staminode with 2–3 teeth (vs. consistently 3-toothed). In addition to its type locality in Meigu County, this species has also been recorded in neighboring Zhaojue County, suggesting that its existing population size may be considerably larger than previously reported. This paper provides supplementary description of the surface papillae of the flowering branches and discussion on the reduction of seed wings in T. meiguensis, aiming to offer foundational data for a better understanding of the evolutionary systematics within the genus.

Abrodictyum polynesicum (Hymenophyllaceae, Polypodiidae), a new fern species for the French Polynesia

JEAN-YVES DUBUISSON — 2026-01-09

The filmy fern Abrodictyum asae-grayi (Hymenophyllaceae) is thought to be distributed from New Guinea to French Polynesia. However, specimens from the Marquesas Islands and some populations from the Society Islands show clearly erect rhizomes, while the species A. asae-grayi is described as having creeping rhizomes. In-depth examination of the herbarium specimens and phylogenetic analysis demonstrate that the specimens with creeping rhizomes and those with erect rhizomes define two distinct species. The new species, A. polynesicum, endemic to French Polynesia, is discussed and described here.

**A new species of Paraphlomis (Lamiaceae) from Northern Luzon, Philippines**

DANILO N. TANDANG — 2026-01-09

Paraphlomis aristata, a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae), was discovered in Northern Luzon, Philippines, and is herein described and illustrated. The new species shares phenetic similarity with P. javanica in having a stem with quadrangular, obtuse corners, covered with fine hairs, and with elliptic leaves that are confined to the upper stem. In addition, the species have globose verticillaster inflorescences, and mature nutlets have a rounded apex. Paraphlomis aristata is notably differentiated by its light-yellow flowers with calyces that have a strongly involute margin, which are constantly densely villose on the abaxial surface throughout both flowering and fruiting stages. Moreover, the calyx lobes are narrowly triangular, each with a needle-like, filiform, or bristle-like apex.

Megacapitula guizhouensis (Megacapitulaceae, Pleosporales), a new species from Guizhou Province, China

GUI-LI ZHAO — 2026-01-09

A new hyphomycetous species, Megacapitula guizhouensis, collected from a forest in Guizhou Province, China, is described and illustrated. The species is characterized by micronematous conidiophores and solitary, tadpole-shaped, dark brown to black conidia, which exhibit long, dense, hairy appendages arising from a beak-like apical structure. Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined large subunit ribosomal RNA region (LSU), internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), small subunit ribosomal RNA region (SSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) sequences indicate that M. guizhouensis is sister to the type species M. villosa with strong statistical support (100% ML/1.00 PP). The morphologically similar genus Kalamarospora is compared and discussed.

**A new species of Neophyllachora (Phyllachoraceae, Phyllachorales) on Ficus altissima (Moraceae) in Southwestern China**

YI-TONG WANG — 2026-01-09

Neophyllachora species are parasitic on the leaves of dicotyledonous plants. In this study, a new species of Neophyllachora, N. tongbiguanensis, was introduced from Yunnan Province, China, based on morpho-molecular analyses. A multi-gene phylogenetic analysis (based on large subunit rRNA, internal transcribed spacer region, and small subunit rRNA) was conducted using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) methods to clarify its taxonomic position. Our study provides a detailed description, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree showing the position of this new species. The key to the species of Neophyllachora is also provided. These findings enrich the taxonomic diversity of Neophyllachora and provide valuable morphological and molecular data for its classification.

Sawadaea taibaishanensis sp. nov. (Erysiphales, Erysiphaceae): a powdery mildew of Acer from China

ZIJIA PENG — 2026-01-09

The genus Sawadaea (Erysiphales, Erysiphaceae) comprises obligate parasitic fungi that cause powdery mildew diseases primarily on maples (Acer spp.). During a mycological survey in the Qinling Mountains, China, distinctive powdery mildew specimens were collected from leaves of Acer stachyophyllum subsp. betulifolium. To elucidate its taxonomic status, we conducted comprehensive morphological characterization using light microscopy and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on a concatenated ITS and LSU dataset. The fungus is distinguished from all previously described Sawadaea species by its unique chasmothecia bearing numerous dichotomously to trichotomously branched appendages with up to 12 ultimate branchlets. Phylogenetically, the specimens form a monophyletic clade with strongly supported values of ML/MPBS = 100% and BPP = 1.0, within the genus Sawadaea. Based on this congruent morphological and phylogenetic evidence, the fungus is formally described herein as a new species, Sawadaea taibaishanensis sp. nov.