Pertya ferruginea (Asteraceae: Pertyeae), a new species from southeastern China, with a revision of P. cordifolia and P. pubescens

Pertya ferruginea Cai F. Zhang, a new species of the genus Pertya (Asteraceae: Pertyeae) from southeastern China, is described and illustrated with a revision of P. cordifolia and P. pubescens. Specimens of the new species had been usually mis-identified as the latter two species because of unclear boundaries among most known species of the genus in southeastern China. Based on extensive field collections and much more herbarium specimens examined than previous studies, P. cordifolia and P. pubescens are revised with much narrower circumscriptions. Although very similar to P. pubescens, the new species differs in the indumentum, length of involucre, number of series of involucral bracts and corolla size. Conservation status of the new species and previous misidentifications relevant to the three species are briefly discussed.

'Teucrium elymaiticum' (Lamiaceae): a new species for Flora of Iran

A new endemic species from western Iran, Teucrium elymaiticum Attar, Sotoodeh & Mirtadzadini, spec. nova is described. It belongs to section Scordium. Considering the combination of some characteristics like indumentum, bracts, pedicel, calyx, corolla size, and nutlet shape and size, the new species is related to T. scordium subsp. scordioides (Schreb.) Arcang.. The differences between these two species are highlighted. Images, distribution map and an updated identification key for the genus are presented.

Corolla size and temporal displacement of flowering times among sympatric diploid and tetraploid highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Polyploidy (whole-genome duplication) is common in vascular plants, but the modes of establishment and persistence, as well as the ecological consequences, of polyploidy remain vague. Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is an ecologically and economically important understory shrub with an unclear species definition, coexisting in sympatric populations of diploid and tetraploid cytotypes. This study analyzes differences in bloom time between sympatric diploid and tetraploid V. corymbosum in natural populations, testing the potential for these cytotypes to interbreed and contributing to the formation and continuity of ploidy-level diversification within this species. Ploidal level was confirmed through DNA flow cytometry of sympatric plants from two populations in New Jersey, USA. Flower bloom date and corolla size were recorded over a 3-year period. Diploid corollas were 32% smaller than tetraploid corollas, making them easily identifiable in the field. Ploidy accounted for 55%–69% of the variation in bloom date, with diploids flowering about 1 week before tetraploids, and the remaining variation distributed among plants, among branches, and within branches. Notwithstanding these differences, there was modest overlap in flowering time between cytotypes, suggesting that cross-pollination is possible. This contributes evidence to the most current species definition of V. corymbosum as a single (mixed ploidy) species.

Cryptantha nevadensis var. rigida elevated to species with a new name, C. juniperensis

A replacement name, Cryptantha juniperensis, nomen et status novum, is proposed for Cryptantha nevadensis A.Nelson & P.B.Kennedy var. rigida I.M.Johnston. A new name was necessary because the name C. rigida was unavailable, due to its previous use for the South American Cryptantha rigida (Phil.) Reiche. Cryptantha juniperensis is similar to what has been treated as Cryptantha nevadensis var. nevadensis, with which it shares appressed upper stem trichomes and a relatively long fruiting calyx, often with erect to reflexed apices. However, Cryptantha juniperensis differs significantly from Cryptantha nevadensis var. nevadensis by the nutlet shape, which is narrowly ovate to widely lance-ovate, narrowly acute, and tuberculate in the former but lance-ovate, strongly acuminate, and elongate-tuberculate to muricate in the latter. In addition, Cryptantha juniperensis is erect (vs. lax and sprawling in Cryptantha nevadensis var. nevadensis), has fruiting calyces between 4.5–7.5 mm (vs. 6–11 mm long), and has a corolla limb that ranges between 2–5 mm in diameter (vs. 1–2 mm in diameter). Cryptantha juniperensis, which has also been classified as Cryptantha intermedia (A.Gray) Greene var. rigida Brand, is similar to recognized varieties of C. intermedia in nutlet morphology and in growth habit but differs in having upper stems with trichomes mostly appressed (vs. mostly spreading), a smaller corolla size (ca. 2–5 mm vs. 3–11 mm), and cymules that are mostly paired (vs. cymules that are arranged in threes). Preliminary molecular studies also support the recognition of C. juniperensis as a taxon separate from both C. nevadensis and C. intermedia.

Hoya tamdaoensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), a new species from Vietnam

A new species of Hoya R.Br. from Tam Đảo National Park (Vĩnh Phúc Province, Vietnam), Hoya tamdaoensis Rodda & T.B.Tran,is described and illustrated. It is distinguished from the morphologically similar Hoya siamica Craib by corolla size, lamina shape, coloration, and orientation of the petioles.

Echeveria marianae (Crassulaceae), a new species from Jalisco, México

A new species, Echeveria marianae (Crassulaceae) is described from Sierra del Tigre, Valle de Juárez, State of Jalisco, Mexico. The species belongs to ser. Gibbiflorae due to of its acaulescent or short caulescent rosette habit, paniculiform inflorescence, conical-urceolate corolla, and tricolpate pollen grains. Within ser. Gibbiflorae it shares morphological affinities with E. novogaliciana and E. dactylifera from which it differs in the shape, color and margin of leaves, corolla size and color, stamen length, nectaries morphology, and its geographical distribution.

A new species of Renealmia (Zingiberaceae) from Colombia

Renealmia elianae (Zingiberaceae), a new species from the Central Andes of Colombia is described and illustrated. Renealmia elianae is morphologically close to R. puberula, differing by the inflorescence position, corolla size, labellum texture, surface and color, and size of the epigynous glands.