Lepidagathis kurnoolensis sp. nov. is a decumbent, woody undershrub found in scrub forests dominated by quartzite stones near Orvakal Mandal in the Kurnool District. This new species resembles Lepidagathis diffusa C.B.Clarke with respect to habit, leaf shape, inflorescence, number of sterile bracts, corolla and fruits but can be distinguished by differences in spike size, morphology of sterile bracts and bracteoles, size and shape of bracts and calyx, and nature of seed. It also resembles Lepidagathis spinosa Wight ex Nees in spike appearance, sterile bract shape, corolla, and fruit shape but differs in its wood nature, leaf shape and size, bracts and bracteoles surface nature, seed morphology and anatomy of stem. A detailed description, illustrations, and field images are provided for easy identification along with a comparative table highlighting the morphological characters of allied species. The IUCN conservation assessment for this species is discussed.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown The hair types of stipe, rachis, costae, fronds and indusia of 15 species of Hypodematium from China have been carefully observed and photographed under anatomical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) for the first time. The results show that the species can be divided into tree groups based on their rod-shaped glandular hairs and non-glandular hairs under SEM: 1) H. sinense K. Iwatsuki and H. fordii (Bak.) Ching with rod-shaped glandular hairs; 2) H. crenatum (Forssk.) Kuhn, H. hirsutum (Don) Ching, H. guilinense J. X. Li & X. J. Li and H. zhangii J. X. Li & X. J. Li with non-glandular hairs; 3) H. confertivillosum J. X. Li, F. Q. Zhou & X. J. Li, H. squamuloso-pilosum Ching, H. mengshanensis J. X. Li & X. J. Li, H. shandongense J. X. Li & X. J. Li, H. gracile Ching, H. glanduloso-pilosum (Tagawa) Ohwi, H. jianxiuii X. J. Li, H. chingii J. X. Li & X. J. Li and H. taishanensis J. X. Li. & X. J. Li with rod-shaped glandular hairs and non-glandular hairs. These characteristics were stable within species but show significant differences between species, which is combined with palynology, these results not only provide new data of submicroscopic structure characteristics for the species identification and systematic classification for the first time, but also provide a basis for studying the biodiversity of Hypodematium, which is of great significance for the exploitation and conservation of its resources.

Euphorbia costatalata is allied to Euphorbia tortilis but differs in having prominent ribbing and up to 5 wings, segments longer, thinner, not spiral, cymes fewer per axil, trapezoidal glands that are humped convexly upwards, flattened ovaries with non-connate styles, capsules concave on top, and seeds dark brown with light speckles and streaks. This species appears to replace E. tortilis north of the Nilgiri and Bilirangan hill ranges.

Primulina marmorata, a new species of Gesneriaceae from the limestone areas of Siding Town, Rong’an County, liuzhou City, Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated here. It morphologically resembles P. yungfuensis in leaf blades. Still, it can be easily distinguished from the latter by noting a combination of characteristics, especially in its obviously larger bracts. We found only one population, about 10000 mature individuals, at the type locality. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (Version 3.1), the new species is tentatively designated as Near Threatened (NT).

Pollen limitation, a decrease in reproductive success via the female function due to deficient pollen receipt, may influence plant demography and the evolution of sexual systems. Nonetheless, empirical estimation of pollen limitation by pollen supplementation is prone to overestimation due to potential resource reallocation among resource pools within an individual, e.g., among flowers and inflorescences. Yet little empirical research has simultaneously evaluated the effect of resource reallocation across different modular levels within a single species, especially in alpine plants. We estimated pollen limitation at three modular levels (i.e., flower, raceme, and whole-plant) in the perennial alpine herb Veratrum grandiflorum in the eastern Himalayan Hengduan Mountains, using fruit set and seed production as two proxies for female reproductive success. Based on seed production, we found that pollen limitation differed significantly among modular levels, with the highest and lowest values being at the flower and whole-plant levels, respectively; this result points to resource reallocation among modules within individuals. In contrast, fruit set was relatively insensitive to pollen supplementation, so estimates of pollen limitation were low and did not differ among modular levels. These results highlight the importance of multi-modular and multi-metric approaches for accurately assessing pollen limitation, which may often be overestimated at lower modular levels.

Strobilanthes sharavathiensis, a newly discovered species from the high-altitude shola grasslands of the Sharavathi river basin in the central Western Ghats, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, this species is closely allied to Strobilanthes jomyi, particularly in its pendulous spike inflorescence, exerted stamens, and glandular hairs near the capsule apex. However, it is distinct in having smaller leaves, crenate-margined bracts, distinctive longer hairs on each bract notch, shorter inflorescence, a non-villous peduncle during the fruiting stage, black dots on the calyx and the unique colouration of bracts. This is also similar to Strobilanthes ixiocephala in its echinulate, spheroidal pollen and differs in its pendulous inflorescence, exerted stamens, and non-viscid bracts. The pollen morphology is also considered as a critical diagnostic feature for describing this as a new species. Comprehensive notes on its taxonomy, ecology, conservation status and distinguishing characters with other interspecific species in the location are also provided.

The insect-pathogenic fungal genus Strongwellsea (Entomophthorales) contains specialist species infecting only adult flies from cyclorrhaphan adult flies. Flies with infection develop one, two or even three abdominal holes, through which conidia are discharged while the fly is still alive. We describe three new species from Strongwellsea infecting adult flies from the family Anthomyiidae. Strongwellsea caulis infects cabbage root fly, Delia radicum (Linnaeus), Strongwellsea lata infects Anthomyia liturata, and Strongwellsea potentia infects Hylemya vagans. The descriptions of the three new species are based on a) pathobiology as revealed by natural host species, b) the morphologies of primary conidia and resting spores, and c) DNA as revealed by ITS2 sequence analysis. Of particular importance is that the two pest species cabbage fly D. radicum and bean seed fly Delia platura (Meigen), are infected by different species from Strongwellsea, namely S. caulis and Strongwellsea castrans respectively. Our findings suggest the existence of a high and still little known diversity of highly specialized Strongwellsea species infecting adult flies from Anthomyiidae.

The identification of Daphne species is difficult because of the lack of available morphological characteristics. Here, we aime to describe leaf and wood micromorpho-anatomical characteristics of native Turkish Daphne species (D. glomerata, D. gnidioides, D. mezereum, D. mucronata, D. oleoides subsp. kurdica, D. pontica and D. sericea) from three phytogeographical regions (Europeo-Siberian, Ir.-Turanian and Mediterranean) to contribute to the systematic position of species. Totally, 41 leaf and wood characters were investigated. Most of the features were characterised in detail for the first time in these taxa, and statistical analyses were used to evaluate the diagnostic characters. SEM analysis was carried out to determine the surface structures of leaves and tracheal elements of wood. We encountered the following distinct anatomical differences: (1) the differences in wax depositions in leaves, (2) the pubescens details, (3) the cell wall patterns, (4) the mesophyll types, (5) the structures of midrib, (6) differing stomatal number and stomatal length in hypostomatic leaves with anomocytic stomata and (7) vessels arranged in growth rings, with different ray frequency and cellular ray composition, and the presence of tori in intervessel pits in wood. An identification key based on these micromorpho-anatomical characters is presented, some ecological interpretations are made, and the study’s results are compared to existing data in the literature. Our results demonstrate that the compared micromorpho-anatomical data across taxa are partly congruent with the classification in the Flora of Turkey, but new arrangements may be recommended for the systematic positions of taxa based on their phytogeographical origins.

The Eurasian steppe area has been a dynamic vegetation type during the Pleistocene with its repeated cycles of forest advances and retreats. Such a scenario allows the evolution of ecotypes at the ecotone with the potential for parallel evolution in different parts of the distribution area. We test this hypothesis using the forest steppe/steppe herb Veronica spicata, based on results from genotyping-by-sequencing and pollen morphology. We provide evidence that the forest-living paczoskiana-morphotype evolved independently in Ukraine (the type locality in central Ukraine) and the Altay region, but potentially also elsewhere. Pollen morphology of 26 herbarium specimens was studied using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains are 3(4)-colpate and 3-colporate, suboblate to prolate (P/E = 0.82–1.75) in shape; small- and medium-sized. Pollen grains of forest ecotypes were usually smaller in size (mean20.74 × 18.72 µm) than pollen of grassland V. spicata (mean 23.79 × 20.98 µm). Lack of an indumentum, reddish stem color and smaller pollen seem to be parallel adaptations to the shadier and more acidic soil in these forests. The dynamic history of the forest-steppe zone in Eurasia during the Pleistocene provides a compelling scenario supporting the convergent evolution of this morphotype.

Based on morphological evidence three new deciduous species of Berberis L. are proposed - Berberis pseudovirescens, Berberis orbicularis and Berberis tawangensis, the types being collected in the Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Detailed description and diagnosis, along with colour photoplate, distribution information and conservation status are provided. All these new species are provisionally evaluated as Data Deficient (DD) following IUCN guidelines.

Geodorum laxiflorum Griff. (Orchidaceae) is relectotypified here by superseding Bhatt & al. (2015) and by designating a CAL-specimen as lectotype of G. laxiflorum, as the lectotype designated by Bhatt & al. (2015) for the name is found erroneous. Morphological variations along with an overlooked character of the labellum of this Indian endemic and vulnerable species of orchid are presented based on study of livespecimens collected in the wild for the first time from two Indian states. Further, the name Eulophia diffusiflora M.W. Chase, Kumar & Schuit. is synonymised under G. laxiflorum until Eulophia R. Br. is conserved against Geodorum Andrews.

Two new species from Iran was described in this study. Fritillaria shehbazii from Western Azerbaijan province in northwest Iran and F. selenica from Kurdistan province in western Iran. F. shehbazii is similar to F. chlororhabdota, F. pinardii, F. kordestanica and F. assyriaca in the F. caucasica group in general facies but differs mainly by the color and size of its lowest leaves, shape and colour of perianth segments. F. selenica is similar to F. avromanica and F. assyriaca in general facies but differs mainly by narrower leaves and color of perianth segments. Detailed taxonomic descriptions, diagnostic characteristics, illustrations, original photographs, geographical distributions, habitat, phenology and ecology, etymology, conservation status, and identification key of the new and the related species are presented in this study.

Saxifraga cataphracta, a new species of Saxifragaceae from Southwest China, is described and illustrated. Morphological and molecular evidence (matK, psbA-trnH, psaJ-rpl33) indicate that S. cataphracta belongs to S. sect. Irregulares, and closely related to S. geifolia and S. mengtzeana. The new species can be diagnosed by its leaf blade abaxially with white or virescent interveinal streaks, involucre and bracts conspicuous, capsule beaks winged when mature.

Moorlands dominated by Calluna vulgaris (hereafter Calluna) are globally rare and under increasing threat of wildfires due to climate change. The soil seed bank is important for community resilience, but research on its contribution to regenerating vegetation after moorland fires has to date focused on prescribed fire or on the short-term (≤ 2 year) impacts of wildfire. To address the role of the seed bank in long-term vegetation regeneration, we studied a chronosequence of six wildfire sites within a Scottish moorland catchment, ranging from 2 to 64 years since burning. We recorded vegetation composition and sampled the seed bank. Calluna and Erica spp. comprised 66 % and 27 % of germinated seeds, respectively, and the majority of vegetation species were not represented in the seed bank. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that time since fire was a strong predictor of vegetation species composition, but it had no effect on seed bank composition, suggesting that the same species dominate the seed bank regardless of burning. Whilst total seed density was marginally reduced after wildfire and slightly increased with time, the non-Calluna seed bank was more notably affected. The proportion of non-Calluna species decreased with time in both vegetation and seed bank as Calluna cover was re-established and the seed bank of other species became gradually depleted. Whilst relative non-Calluna cover in the vegetation was at a maximum at the start of the chronosequence and then declined, the proportion of non-Calluna in the seed bank followed a unimodal pattern after fire and reached a peak after around 35 years. Our results contribute to the knowledge of how moorland ecosystems regenerate after severe disturbances, which are likely to become more common as the climate changes.

Jurinea stenocarpa is described as a new species based on morphological characters. The new species is morphologically close to J. monocephala and J. sintenisii mainly by having semiglobose involucre and scapose stems but differs in plant indumentum, shape of phyllaries and features of achene and size of pappus rays. This species is a mountainous Irano-Turanian element distributed in north-west of Iran, Azarbaijan region. The specimens of this species were collected from Aqdagh Mountain in Ardabil Province (type locality) and Pir-Saqqa Mountain in Eastern Azarbaijan Province. Description, photos, distribution map and a diagnostic key to the new species and its close species are presented.

Indigofera jodhpurense sp. nov. (Fabaceae), which grows in arid places and wasteland near to the edge of Jodhpur in the direction of Pali, Rajasthan, India, is described. Although the species is similar to Indigofera cordifolia and I. jaisalmerica, it differs from these in having profusely hairy juvenile twigs, various types of trichomes on leaf surfaces, and sub-sessile flowers, straightened mucro at the tips of the leaves, and pods that are often single-seeded but can also be bi-seeded. The current communication includes a key to species, a comparative morphological analysis, and some photographs.

A new species of Cylindrolobus (Orchidaceae), C. gaoligongensis J. D. Ya & H. Jiang from Gongshan county, northwestern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to C. arunachalensis (A. N. Rao) A. N. Rao, but can be distinguished from it by having 5 veined lateral sepals, orange to pink and triangular-ovate lip mid-lobe and apex mucronate, yellow to white long hairs on the lip, 2 central calli and connected to a keel toward mid-lobe in the disk, 3 rows of white long hairs in the base of the disk. Additionally, a detailed description and illustration of its close species, C. arunachalensis, is also provided.

Crotalaria nicobarica F. Saleem, L.J. Singh, S. Subramaniam & A. K. Pandey is described and illustrated from tropical evergreen forest of Great Nicobar Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. This new species closely resembles Crotalaria lunulata Heyne ex Wight &Arn., Crotalaria paniculata Willd. and Crotalaria ramosissima Roxb. which occurs in the Western and Eastern peninsular India and occupies forest edges and cut-slopes of hillocks. The new species is distinguishable from the latter two based on morphological characters. An analysis shows that the new species differs from closely related species with respect to vegetative and reproductive characters. Based on the hairy surface of plants, persistent bracts and bracteoles, silky pubescence of vexillum and style, oblong stalked pods the species is hypothesized to be a new member of the Crotalaria section Crotalaria.