Phytotaxa

Reinstatement of Cotyledon ladysmithiensis, a South African endemic leaf succulent in Crassulaceae [subfam. Cotyledonoideae] tr. Cotyledoneae, with notes on the correct orthography and application of the name

GIDEON F. SMITH, NEIL R. CROUCH, ANDREW MCKAY — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

The epithet “ladysmithiensis”, as it was originally spelled in the name published for a South African endemic leaf succulent, i.e., as Cotyledon ladysmithiensis (Crassulaceae [subfam. Cotyledonoideae] tr. Cotyledoneae), should indeed be spelled like that and not be ‘corrected’ to ‘ladismithensis’, nor to ‘ladismithiensis’, two variant spellings often encountered in the hardcopy and electronic literature. Cotyledon ladysmithiensis, which, in 1936, was published as a replacement name for the illegitimate C. heterophylla Schönland (1907), non Roxb. (1832), has been treated at the rank of subspecies under C. tomentosa for the past 50 years. However, C. ladysmithiensis is here reinstated as an accepted species based on several vegetative and reproductive characters. The nomenclature and correct taxonomic application of the name C. ladysmithiensis, with respect to C. tomentosa, is discussed. The typification of the name C. ladysmithiensis is discussed. The cultivar C. tomentosa ‘Cloak-and-Dagger’ is described.

Dacampia himalayana A.K. Maurya, G.K. Mishra & Upreti sp. nov. (Dacampiaceae) from India with a worldwide key to the genus

AKHILESH KUMAR MAURYA, GAURAV K. MISHRA, DALIP K. UPRETI — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

A new species of lichenicolous fungi, Dacampia himalayana sp. nov., is described from the Kumaun Himalayan region in Bagheshwar district of Uttarakhand, India, found growing on Cladonia pyxidata. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by forming semi-immersed perithecioid ascomata, 6-spored asci, sub-muriform to muriform ascospores (18.2–) 20.6–24.3 (–25.9) × (7.8–) 8.6–9.7 (–9.9) µm, with 4–6 transverse septa, and a single longitudinal septum. Dacampia cladoniicola shows similarity with the new taxon but differs in ascospore size. Detailed morphological, anatomical analysis and comparisons with more similar species confirm its novelty. In addition, a detailed worldwide key to the recognized species of Dacampia is provided to facilitate identification.

Discina anatolica sp. nov. (Pezizales, Discinaceae) from Türkiye, with morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence

HALIL GUNGOR, MIHRICAN YARATANAKUL GUNGOR, IBRAHIM TURKEKUL, MEHMET HALİL SOLAK — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

A new species, Discina anatolica, is described from Türkiye based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. The species is characterized by its large, sessile to substipitate, discoid to irregularly lobed ascomata. Discina anatolica is differentiated from its morphologically closest relatives by its consistently broader ascospores. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences strongly support D. anatolica as a distinct lineage within the genus Discina. A comprehensive description, illustrations, and a discussion of diagnostic characters distinguishing the new species from its closest relatives are provided. The discovery of D. anatolica highlights the presence of previously undocumented fungal diversity within Discina and emphasizes the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches for resolving species boundaries in morphologically similar taxa.

Vandenboschia lofoushanensis, a new synonym of V. kalamocarpa (Hymenophyllaceae)

JUN-KAI HUANG, YUN-BAO ZENG, SHI-YONG DONG — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Vandenboschia lofoushanensis has been a dubious species since it was first described from Guangdong, southern China, in 1959, due to the lack of additional material beyond its type specimens. This species was recently rediscovered at its type locality and a nearby site. Our field observations, morphological comparisons, and phylogenetic analyses of plastid sequences demonstrate that V. lofoushanensis is conspecific with V. kalamocarpa, a species widely distributed in East Asia. Accordingly, V. lofoushanensis is formally treated as a synonym of V. kalamocarpa in this study. This case study indicates that the flatness or crispation of the laminae should be used cautiously as a character for species delimitation within Vandenboschia and other filmy ferns.

Allium sarhadicum, a new species of A. sect. Scorodon (Amaryllidaceae) from western-central Iran

AMIN ZERAATKAR, HAMZEHALI SHIRMARDI — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

During fieldwork conducted in western-central Iran as part of a study on endemic and rare species, a previously undescribed species of Allium (sect. Scorodon) was discovered. The new species is partly similar to the Turkish A. taiseba, but it is readily distinguished by the colour of its bulb tunics, bulb size and bulblets number; the height of the scape; leaf-to-scape length ratio; sheath length; the number, length, and orientation of the spathe valves; the diameter of the inflorescence; tepal size; filament and anther size; ovary shape and size; and style length. We here described Allium sarhadicum as a new species, including a full morphological description and data on ecology, habitat and distribution. Due to its restricted distribution, rarity, and the anthropic pressures in the region, we infer that the species is Critically Endangered (CR) based on criteria B and C of the IUCN.

**Lost to War, Found by Time: The rediscovery of a Boeckeler’s type specimens and taxonomic realignments within Eleocharis (Cyperaceae)**

DIEGO C. FARIAS, MARCCUS ALVES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Here, the type specimen of Eleocharis lehmanniana, previously thought to have been destroyed during World War II, is reported. In addittion, Eleocharis glazioviana and E. lehmanniana were wrongly synonymized in E. maculosa and here they are transferred to E. debilis. Therefore, a neotype is designated for E. debilis.

Novelties in Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae) from Gaoligong Mountains: two new species and a new record

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Two new species of Orchidaceae, Neottia minutiflora J. D. Ya and Gastrochilus alpinus J. D. Ya, are described and illustrated from Yunnan, China. Bulbophyllum bisetum Lindl. is recorded for the first time in the country. Neottia minutiflora is unique in its tiny flowers, rectangular undulate-margined labellum auricles, and linear-falcate lateral lobes longer than the broadly triangular mid-lobe. Gastrochilus alpinus differs by its bilobed leaf apices, 2–6-flowered racemes, glabrous erose-margined labella with two median ridges, and shortly bifid saccate-subconical hypochilia. All these species are derived from the Gaoligong Mountains. Specifically, Neottia minutiflora is distributed in Tengchong County; Bulbophyllum bisetum and Gastrochilus alpinus are native to Gongshan County.

Chiloschista acuticallosa (Orchidaceae), a new species from northern Vietnam

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Chiloschista acuticallosa (Orchidaceae, Vandeae, Aeridinae) is described here as a new species to science from Cao Bang Province, Northern Vietnam. The floral shape and color pattern of the new species may lead to misidentification as C. eckhardii, C. glabrisepala, or C. quangdangii. Among these species, our plant morphologically is closest to C. eckhardii but differs in having ovate-oblong lateral lip lobes, a conoid, pointed callus on the lip disc, a trapezoid backwall callus with four irregular teeth, an oblong column foot, and semi-elliptic stelidia. Data on the ecology, phenology, distribution, and relevant taxonomic notes for the new species are presented. The conservation status of the new species is preliminarily assessed as Data Deficient (DD) following the categories and criteria proposed by the IUCN Red List.

Stichoneuron laoticum (Stemonaceae), a new species from the limestone karst of Laos

SHUICHIRO TAGANE, PHETLASY SOULADETH, VAN-SON DANG — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Stichoneuron Hooker (1883: 747) is a genus of small perennial herbs in Stemonaceae (Pandanales), distinguished from the other genera of the family, Croomia, Stemona and Pentastemona, by erect or procumbent, branched and perennial stems, four free tepals and stamens and presence of pseudo-funicles (Duyfjes 1993, Inthachub et al. 2009). Currently, five species are known in Stichoneuron: one species, S. membranacea Hooker (1892: 299) is distributed in India and northern Myanmar, and four species, S. bognerianum Duyfjes in Inthachub et al. (2009: 219), S. calcicola Inthachub in Inthachub et al. (2009), S. caudatum Ridley (1911: 107) and S. halabalensis Inthachub in Inthachub et al. (2009), are known from Malay Peninsula of Thailand and Malaysia (Gagnepain 1934, Tanaka et al. 2007, Inthachub et al. 2009, Duyfjes & Inthachub 2011, Majumdar & Datta 2013, POWO 2026). Here, we describe an additional species of Stichoneuron from Laos, which was discovered during a field survey in the forests on limestone hills in Kasi District, Vang Vieng Province, central Laos.

***Impatiens meishanensis* (Balsaminaceae), a synonym of *I. distracta***

XIN-RUI XIAO, HAN-WEN HUANG — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

When examining Chinese Impatiens specimens and reviewing relevant literature, we noted pronounced morphological similarity between Impatiens meishanensis K.Huang & Z.X.Fu in Zhang et al. (2025: 99) and Impatiens distracta Hooker (1910: 272). Impatiens meishanensis was recently described in July 2025 based on a collection from Wawu Mountain, Sichuan Province and was considered to be morphologically similar to I. distracta Hooker (1910), but distinguished by its plant stature, leaf morphology, peduncle characteristics, floral traits, and seed features. However, through detailed comparison of dissections and original descriptions, we conclude that I. meishanensis and I. distracta share identical morphological features. Key specimens examined in this study are illustrated in Figure 1; morphological terminology follows Grey-Wilson (1980).

**A new name for a misplaced species of Cerastium (Caryophyllaceae) from South America**

EMILIO J. TRUJILLO — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Cerastium Linnaeus ex Ruppius (1753: 437) is an important genus within Caryophyllaceae, comprising approximately 203 species widely distributed throughout almost all continents (WFO 2026). In South America, 46 species have been recorded from a broad range of ecosystems (Ulloa-Ulloa et al. 2018), with particularly high diversity in the Andes. Despite previous work on Caryophyllaceae in the continent aimed at improving the understanding of the family in the region (Iamonico 2022, Montesinos-Tubée & Iamonico 2023a, Montesinos-Tubée & Iamonico 2023b, Iamonico & Montesinos-Tubée 2017, Iamonico 2015), Cerastium still lacks recent taxonomic and nomenclatural revisions, and several knowledge gaps and nomenclatural issues remain unresolved even with new efforts to understand the taxon (Teillier & Rodríguez 2022, Trujillo 2026).