Phytotaxa

Two new wood-inhabiting fungal species (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from Yunnan Province, China

LU WANG, JIANGQING SU, AKMAL MUHAMMAD, CHANGLIN ZHAO — Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 +1200

Wood-inhabiting fungi are a cosmopolitan fungal group worldwide. Two new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Rhodoantrodia purpurascens and Steccherinum wumengshanense are proposed based on a combination of the morphological features and molecular evidence. Rhodoantrodia purpurascens is characterized by the corky basidiomata with a pale lilac to lavender pore surface, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores. Steccherinum wumengshanense is characterized by the corticoid basidiomata having a white to cream hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamp generative hyphae, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Full descriptions, photo plates and phylogenetic analysis results of the new species are provided.

**Three new species of Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) from Mindanao Island, Philippines**

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 +1200

Three new species of Vaccinium endemic to the island of Mindanao, Philippines are here described and illustrated. Vaccinium fallax most closely resembles V. myrtoides, but differs by having smaller leaves, caducous bracts, shorter pedicels, a broadly obconical hypanthium, broadly triangular calyx lobes, and a deep pink and broadly urceolate corolla. It grows on exposed areas and among sulfur vents at and near the summit of Mt. Apo. Vaccinium gamay most closely resembles V. gitingense, but differs in having shorter inflorescences, early caducous inflorescence bracts, shorter pedicels, presence of clavate glands on the hypanthium, and an absence of anther spurs. It grows on exposed areas in the ultramafic forest of Mt. Hamiguitan. It is one of only two Philippine Vaccinium species possessing distinctly callose-thickened calyx lobes, the other being V. gitingense. Vaccinium vomicum most closely resembles V. carmesinum, but differs by having smaller leaves, presence of glands on the extreme end of the leaf blade base, presence of clavate glands on the hypanthium, shorter stamens, and presence of stalked glands on the dentate apex of the tubules. It grows in the mossy rainforest of Mt. Kitanglad, and it is the only Philippine species of Vaccinium with glands on the extreme end of its leaf blade base. Following IUCN guidelines, we propose a conservation status of Critically Endangered for V. fallax, Endangered for V. gamay, and Data Deficient for V. vomicum. With these discoveries, the number of Vaccinium species in Mindanao Islands increases to 22 and in the Philippines to 44. Furthermore, the Mindanao Islands can now be considered the center of Vaccinium diversity in the Philippines.

**Molecular characterization uncovering a novel genus of tapering-filamentous cyanobacteria from Thailand: Phayaothrix lacustris gen. & sp. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanophyta)**

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 +1200

In this study, novel Calothrix-like strains NUACC09 and NUACC10 were isolated from the surfaces of rocks in Phayao Lake, Thailand. Morphological, molecular and ecological comparisons were investigated to characterize the taxonomic status of these novel strains. Under the light microscope, morphological studies indicated that these two strains were morphologically similar to Calothrix but could be differentiated by production of a non-hyaline hair at the terminal end, a low degree of tapering, twisted or loop-forming filaments, a knotted growth form, intertwined trichomes and presenting more than one trichome within the single sheath. In the 16S rRNA and rbcLX gene phylogenetic tree analyses, our strains formed a monophyletic clade with former freshwater/terrestrial Calothrix-like taxa separating distantly from other Calothrix-like genera. Furthermore, low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (<94.9%) to the closely related genera and species delimitation analyses (PTP/bPTP, GMYC, ABGD and ASAP methods) indicated that this clade should be considered as a different cyanobacterial lineage. The phylogenetic tree and secondary structures (D1–D1′, V2, Box-B and V3 helix) based on 16S–23S rRNA ITS regions suggested that multiple species might be contained in this clade. Therefore, here, Phayaothrix was proposed as a novel cyanobacterial genus with Phayaothrix lacustris sp. nov. as the type species following the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants.

**A preliminary study of the morphological variation of rhizomes in Zingiber Mill. and its role in taxonomy**

LIN BAI, NIAN‑HE XIA — Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 +1200

The rhizomes of Zingiber are highly diverse and have potential in taxonomy, but their fundamental structure has never been properly understood in connection with an understanding of the sympodial growth form of the whole plant. This study is based on a literature review and on observations of fresh materials of 32 Zingiber species mainly from China, representing all four sections of the genus. An analysis of the sympodial modular growth habit of these plants has recognised that both isomodular and heteromodular growth exist within the genus. The study shows that rhizomes of Zingiber are highly-organised, compound, sympodial structures. By introducing the term rhizome unit, Zingiber rhizomes can be meaningfully described by depicting the morphology of the rhizome units and the relative arrangement of these units to one another. Six morphological attributes of rhizome units (shape, size, direction of growth, colour and number of nodes per rhizome, and length of internodes) and two attributes of their relative arrangement to one another (dorsiventral vs lateral position of rhizome units and the ramification position along the length of rhizome unit) are discussed. A preliminary assessment of variation patterns and the taxonomic value of these characters are presented. Together, these attributes contribute to the overall morphology of rhizomes. The relationship between rhizome structure and the above-ground clumping habit is discussed. The term pseudo-neck is coined to refer to the narrowed basal part that occurs in the rhizome units of some Zingiber species while the thick apical part of rhizome units where the internodes are often shorter than those on the pseudo-neck is called head. Problems with existing terminology for rhizome and plant habit descriptions in Zingiber are highlighted. This study suggests that whether the plane of distichy of leaves is parallel or perpendicular to the rhizome unit, a key character that many previous studies used for subdivision of Zingiberaceae, needs re-assessment, because in Zingiber both states of the character exist. Characters of rhizome morphology of the four sections in Zingiber are discussed, but studies of a larger number of species are needed to better-assess the relevance of these characters to the infrageneric classification of the genus. Schematic illustrations and colour plates of rhizomes from representative species are provided to assist the descriptions and discussions. It is hoped that this preliminary study will facilitate and encourage more comprehensive studies of rhizomes of Zingiber and of other genera within Zingiberaceae. Such work will lead to a better understanding of these structures and help establish a more comprehensive and accurate terminology for them, which in turn will facilitate the taxonomy and identification of the family.

**New records of Pestalotioid species associated with leaf spot disease on Camellia sinensis from northern Thailand**

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 +1200

Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze var. assamica (Miang tea) is widely distributed in northern Thailand due to its traditional and industrial attributes, including black tea and Miang production. In this study, two Pestalotioid taxa associated with C. sinensis leaf spots were collected in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Species delineation was based on the evidence from morphological and multi-locus phylogenies using ITS, tub2 and tef1-α. Neopestalotiopsis saprophytica is herein reported as a new record on Camellia sinensis, while Pseudopestalotiopsis chinensis is recorded as a new geographical record from Thailand. The findings of this research have the potential to offer fresh insights into the two previously documented species within the existing fungal community associated with C. sinensis in Thailand. This, in turn, could enhance our comprehension of their interactions with the host plant in the times ahead.

Aspidistra yangchunensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from Guangdong, China

SHU-PENG DONG, YI HUANG, ZU-LIN NING — Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 +1200

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.