Diversity and distribution of microfungi in foliage leaf, bark and leaf litter of Couroupita guianensis

The diversity and distribution of micro fungal assemblages in the foliage leaf, bark and leaf litter tissues of the Couroupita guianensis sacred plant. For the host, we recorded 1005 fungal species isolates from 900 tissue segments. A total of 62 fungal species were isolated from foliar endophytes, phellophytes and leaf litter. The colonization frequency of the fungi species has been recorded as 111.66% from the endophytes, phellophytes and leaf tissues. The fungi species recovered in various groups included ascomycetes, coelomycetes, hyphomycetes, zygomycetes and sterile fungi. The number of fungal species is increased for the plant tissues, it showed that the species diversity is increasing. A correspondence analysis also showed that the fungal species assemblages were different from each type of tissue.

Morphology and symmetry of the vegetative parts of Smilax auriculata (Smilacaceae)

Smilax auriculata produces a subterranean rhizome system and an aerial vegetative branching system. Three intergrading types of stems (types 1, 2, and 3) compose the aerial branching system; these types are identified primarily according to prickle concentration, but also differ from one another in additional ways. Type-3 stems are determinate and either proleptic or precocious. Between growing seasons a foliage leaf of a type-3 stem may subtend either a solitary vegetative bud (or an expanded vegetative branch) or an inflorescence superposed over a vegetative bud (or expanded vegetative branch). Occasionally, an inflorescence terminates a type-3 stem. Whereas, rhizomes exhibit solely scale leaves, the aerial vegetative branching system manifests scale leaves, transitional leaves, and foliage leaves. On many type-3 stems the foliage leaves become oriented skyward, by bending of their leaf sheaths and petioles. The aerial vegetative branching system manifests bilateral symmetry and mirror-image symmetry. The inflorescence is a pedunculate umbel. The peduncle culminates in a torus which bears a peripheral whorl of bracts, centripetally situated bracteoles, and pedicellate flowers. Type-1 stems exhibit numerous prickles, which vary from unbranched to branched and from solitary to basally connate in rows.

Heavy metals content in soils and cocoa tissues in Magdalena department Colombia: emphasis in cadmium

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is a species originating from the humid tropics. Over 70,000 km2 worldwide is dedicated to growing cocoa, and approximately 30% of its global production is concentrated in the equatorial regions of Central and South America, the Antilles and tropical Asia. The demand for cocoa is growing significantly, but the presence of cadmium (Cd) in the species is a potential problem limiting its commercialization. The present study determined the Cd, Ni, Pb and Cr content in two cocoa-producing regions in northern Colombia. Foliage (leaf, bean and shell) and soil were analyzed. The mean Ni, Pb and Cr content in the plant tissue did not exceed the maximum permissible limits set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The mean Cd content in the beans was 0.51 mg kg-1 in region 1 and 0.66 mg kg-1 in region 2, which are considered risky per reports from the European Union and restrict the product’s export. These results serve as a reference for future research on cocoa.

Chusquea limensis (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae), a new species from the western Andes of Peru

A new, narrowly endemic species from the Andean western slopes of central Peru, Chusquea limensis (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae), is described and illustrated. Identification keys and a comparative table based on vegetative and reproductive characters, including morphologically similar species such as C. huantensis, C. inamoena, C. scandens and C. tarmensis, as well as habitat and geographical distribution notes, are included. Additionally, anatomical and micromorphological characters of the culm and foliage leaf blades of the new species are presented, as a valuable tool for the identification of sterile specimens.

Convergence strikes again in the Neotropical woody bamboos (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae): a new Andean genus and a new species

Aulonemiella (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae: Arthrostylidiinae), a new Andean genus from Colombia and Ecuador, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by its delicate scandent, vining habit, filiform to narrowly triangular, reflexed culm leaf blades, short, delicate foliage leaf fimbriae, synflorescences with subtending bracts and prophylls, awnless spikelets in spicate to racemose synflorescences and clavate rachilla internodes. The new species Aulonemiella laegaardii (southern Ecuador) is described, and the new combination A. ecuadorensis (Colombia and northern Ecuador) is made. Aulonemiella laegaardii is smaller overall and more delicate than A. ecuadorensis; it is also distinguished by its filiform, recurved culm leaf blades and paleas shorter than the lemmas. The culm leaf blades of A. ecuadorensis are narrowly triangular and straight, and its paleas are subequal to the lemmas; in addition, the synflorescence axes of A. ecuadorensis are usually apically zigzag at maturity.

Chusquea parviligulata (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae): a new species of C. subg. Chusquea endemic to the Atlantic rainforest of Bahia, Brazil

Chusquea parviligulata, a new species of Neotropical woody bamboo (Bambuseae: Chusqueinae), is herein described and illustrated, and information on its morphology, conservation status and distribution are provided. It is classified within C. subg. Chusquea based on its relatively elongated internodes, differentiated culm leaves, a triangular and vertically oriented central bud, and infravaginal branching. Based on its occurrence in Brazil and the presence of a white waxy band below the nodes and infravaginal branching, C. parviligulata is further assigned to the C. meyeriana informal group. Within this group, C. parviligulata is most similar to C. clemirae and C. longispiculata, sharing the usually evident division of the subsidiary buds/branches into two groups as well as a triangular central bud and little to no fusion of the overlapping margin of the culm leaf sheaths. Chusquea parviligulata is characterized by having 20–42 subsidiary buds per node; foliage leaf blades adaxially scabrous near the margins and otherwise glabrous or sparsely setose and abaxially mostly glabrous, with a tuft of trichomes at the base; foliage leaf blade base attenuate and slightly asymmetric; and an inner ligule 0.05–0.2 mm long, among the shortest recorded for the genus. Chusquea parviligulata is found exclusively in the Serra da Pedra Lascada, a montane Atlantic Rainforest area in southern Bahia, and it has a restricted occurrence within the Serra. We also report a new locality for C. clemirae and confirm that is has infravaginal branching, not extravaginal branching as originally reported.

Otatea nayeeri (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae: Guaduinae), a new species endemic to Nayarit, Mexico

Otatea is the most diverse genus of Guaduinae in Mexico, with 10 described species mostly inhabiting tropical dry forest. Here, with the description of Otatea nayeeri, the number of species increases to 11. Morphologically, O. nayeeri is similar to O. reynosoana and O. transvolcanica but differs in having thin-papery and deciduous culm leaves, oral setae absent in culm leaves, developing erect and reflexed culm leaf blades, three subequal branches per node and smaller foliage leaf blades without fimbriae. A comparative table of vegetative characters, an illustration and photographs are also provided.

Chusquea nedjaquithii (Poaceae: Bambusoideae, Bambuseae, Chusqueinae), a new endemic species from Oaxaca, Mexico

Chusquea is the most diverse among woody bamboo genera, with 174 described species. Not surprisingly, Chusquea is the most diverse bamboo genus in Mexico, and with the description of C. nedjaquithii the number of species will increase to 20, representing almost 45% of the total Mexican woody bamboo diversity. Based on fieldwork in the Mexican state of Oaxaca and revision of herbarium specimens we describe and illustrate C. nedjaquithii, a species endemic to the Sierra Madre del Sur in Oaxaca, Mexico. Chusquea nedjaquithii is similar to C. liebmannii but differs in having culms with deciduous hairs, an oblate central bud and fewer subsidiary buds, strongly geniculate branches in one row forming an incomplete verticil, oblique foliage leaf blade bases, and longer inner ligules in the foliage leaves. A key to the Mexican Chusquea species based on vegetative characters is provided.

Two new species and synopsis of Chusquea subg. Platonia (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Chusqueinae) in Bolivia and a new record for Peru

The present study describes and illustrates two new species of Chusquea subg. Platonia, C. parodii and C. paucispiculata. Chusquea laegaardii is cited for the first time in Bolivia and C. asymmetrica for Peru. Two keys for the identification of the species, mainly based on vegetative or reproductive characters, and a comparative table with micromorphological diagnostic features of foliage leaf blades are included. Finally, some remarks about the characteristics of the phytogeographical regions and the ecology of these new species are given.