Phytotaxa

Morphological and molecular insights into the hidden edible mushroom diversity in Sri Lanka

2024-03-03T03:39:50+13:00

With the increasing world population, identifying additional food sources is crucial. Mushrooms have long been considered a nutraceutical and are consumed globally, including in Sri Lanka. Due to its abundant biodiversity, there is a significant potential for diverse wild edible mushrooms in Sri Lanka. However, the identification of these mushrooms based on morphological characteristics can often be misleading. Molecular characterization ensures more accurate and reliable identification of mushrooms, yet it has not been conducted extensively in Sri Lanka. This study collected several wild edible mushroom samples from Colombo and Rathnapura Districts of Sri Lanka. The edibility of these wild edible mushrooms was confirmed based on traditional knowledge and later verified by published literature. Phylogenetic analyses based on maximum likelihood (ML) analyses of ITS rDNA sequence data and morphological characteristics were used to determine the identity of the collected mushrooms. In this study, six edible mushrooms, Calvatia candida, Pleurotus giganteus, Schizophyllum radiatum, Termitomyces heimii, T. microcarpus, and Volvariella volvacea were identified based on morphology and phylogeny. Calvatia candida and S. radiatum are reported as new records for Sri Lanka, while this is the first study conducted on molecular characterization of V. volvacea in Sri Lanka. Finally, this study aims to increase the research interest, cultivation, commercialization, and conservation of these identified edible mushrooms in Sri Lanka.

Bazzania calypogeoides (Marchantiophyta)—a peculiar new taxon from Eastern Hengduan (China)

2024-03-14T12:18:28+13:00

Bazzania calypogeoides is described from several localities on the eastern edge of the Hengduan mountain system in Sino-Himalaya. The species is characterized by shallowly emarginate underleaves, strongly convex leaves, curved to the ventral side and with a very short sinus resulting in two unequal lobes. The position of the species was assessed using morphological and molecular genetic analyses. A morphologically similar species, B. wooroonooran, is known from Australasia and eastern Melanesia, but differs in several features. A description of the species, illustrations and discussions on the ecology and geography of the new taxon are provided.

**Synopsis of Pavonia Cav. (Malvaceae) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil**

2024-04-24T10:08:13+12:00

Pavonia stands out as one of the most diverse genera within the Malvaceae, boasting 270 species with a widespread distribution throughout the Americas. The defining characteristics of the genus include the presence of an epicalyx, five carpels, 10 stigmas, and the absence of nectaries in the leaf and foliaceous bracts. This research focuses on presenting the Pavonia species in the state of Pernambuco, located in Northeastern Brazil, utilizing herbarium consultations. Among the 13 Pavonia species documented in Pernambuco, the majority are distributed across the Caatinga (7 species) and the Mata (5 species) phytogeographic zones. Notably, P. cancellata is found in all zones. This study unveils two new records for Pernambuco—P. hexaphylla and P. repens. Additionally, the distribution of P. ducke-limae, originally endemic to the Atlantic Forest, is expanded. Within the Caatinga, three species—P. glazioviana, P. repens, and P. varians are identified as endemic. Furthermore, lectotypification is performed for the names P. blanchetiana, P. glazioviana, and P. varians.

Annotated checklist of the Urticaceae of Timor

2024-01-19T21:39:10+13:00

A commented checklist of the Urticaceae of Timor is presented. The list includes 25 recorded taxa, among which, six (Elatostema strigosum Hassk., Laportea bulbifera (Siebold & Zucc.) Wedd., Laportea decumana (Roxb.) Wedd., Pilea melastomoides (Poir.) Wedd., Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm., and Pilea angulata (Blume) Blume) are, as far as we could check, recorded for the first time. Further, six taxa are uncertain or to be discarded. Overall, the list includes 10 confirmed genera (Boehmeria, Debregeasia, Dendrocnide, Elatostema, Girardinia, Laportea, Lecanthus, Pilea, Pipturus and Pouzolzia), among which the most diverse are Pouzolzia and Laportea, both with 5 taxa, and three more (Urera, Urtica and Procris) remain unconfirmed.

**Reinstatement and lectotypification of Phyllanthus rosellus (Phyllanthaceae), an endemic species from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil**

2024-02-08T04:26:47+13:00

Phyllanthus rosellus, an endemic species from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, was treated under Phyllanthus niruri subsp. lathyroides. After analyzing herbarium collections, including all types related to the names P. niruri and P. rosellus, we conclude that both species are morphologically distinguishable, and consequently we propose the reinstatement of P. rosellus. Additionally, as the latter is a species usually known from literature dating from the 19th century, where its description overlaps with that of some congeners, we provide its description, illustrations, preliminary conservation status, images in their habitat, as well as designate a lectotype for it.

Hymenocallis ruenesiana (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

2024-02-29T08:43:50+13:00

Hymenocallis ruenesiana is described and illustrated as a new species from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. When comparing the morphological characters of the leaf, inflorescence, fruit and pollen, as well as the environmental conditions of the habitat of H. ruenesiana, discontinuities were found with those of Hymenocallis littoralis. Hymenocallis ruenesiana is endemic to the Yucatan peninsula, inhabiting seasonal savannas with clayey and floodable soils, while H. littoralis naturally inhabits the coasts, on easily drained sandy soils and it is also widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.

**Two new species in Hieracium sect. Alpestria (Asteraceae) from Mt. Babia Góra, Western Carpathians, Poland**

2024-03-12T01:16:44+13:00

Two apomictic, tetraploid (x=9) species in Hieracium sect. Alpestria are described from Mt. Babia Góra, the northernmost mountain massif in the whole Carpathian chain with an alpine belt. Hieracium babiogorense combines the morphological features of H. prenanthoides s.lat. and H. bifidum s.lat., and H. besseri is of presumably hybrid origin between H. prenanthoides s.lat. and H. caesium s.lat. Both new species are illustrated with photos of the holotypes and live plants in the type localities.

**Lectotypification of four names in the genus Gymnosporia (Celastraceae)**

2023-12-11T18:16:22+13:00

While revising the genus Gymnosporia with respect to India, it was found that four names viz. G. emarginata, G. rufa, G. rufa var. latifolia and G. wallichiana required lectotypification and are typified here as per the recent rules of ICN.

Litsea vagamonica (Lauraceae): a new species from southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

2024-02-22T04:57:29+13:00

A new species in the family Lauraceae, Litsea vagamonica is described and illustrated from the Vagamon Hills, Kerala, India. The new species is similar to Litsea wightiana, from which it differs by its glabrous branchlets, thinly coriaceous leaves, glabrous on both surfaces, with acute to acuminate apex, glabrous petioles, densely puberulent brachyblasts, fulvous-tomentose involucral bracts, the inner ones with 6-nerves, stamens with stipitate glands, presence of a pistillode in male flowers, an ellipsoid, sparsely pubescent ovary in female flowers, and an ellipsoid fruit with puberulent fruit cupule on a glabrous, 0.9–1.2 cm long pedicel.