[Botany • 2025] Herpetospermum motuoensis (Cucurbitaceae) • A New Species from Xizang, China

 

Herpetospermum motuoensis Y. S. Chen & B. Y. Zhang,

in Zhang, Liu, Xu, Song et Chen, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.697.3.8 

 Researchgate.net/publication/390876607

 

Abstract

Herpetospermum motuoensis (Cucurbitaceae: Schizopeponeae) is described and illustrated as a new species. It is similar to Herpetospermum operculatum but can be easily distinguished by the inconspicuous bracts of the male flowers (vs. bract of male flowers prominent), petals subrounded to elliptical (vs. petals ovate to obovate), ovules 6 per locule (vs. ovules 8 per locule), stigma subrounded to broadly elliptic (vs. stigma oblong–ovate), fruits are chartreuse, fusiform to ellipsoid–fusiform and glabrous (vs. oblong to ellipsoid–fusiform and pubescent), seeds are irregular oblong-hexagonal, margin with protrusion at each corner (vs. seed ± round, margin with irregular acute erose).

Eudicots, new species, Cucurbitaceae, taxonomic, Xizang

Herpetospermum motuoensis.
A. Habitat; B. Habit; C. Tendril; D. Leaves; E. Male inflorescence;
F. Top view of male flower; G. Back view of male flower; H. Longitudinal section of male flower;
I. Top view of female flower; J. Back view of female flower; K. Longitudinal section of female flower;
L. Fruits; M. Longitudinal section of fruit; N. Cross section of fruit; O. Seeds.

A-O: all photos by Bu-Yun Zhang based on the type, B. Y. Zhang, Y. D. Xu, G. F. Liu et X. R. Zheng JZ20231191 (IBSC).

Herpetospermum motuoensis Y. S. Chen & B. Y. Zhang, sp. nov.

Bu-Yun ZHANG, Hou-Zhou LIU, Ye-Chun XU, Zhu-Qiu SONG and You-Sheng CHEN. 2025. Herpetospermum motuoensis (Cucurbitaceae), A New Species from Xizang, China.  Phytotaxa. 697(3); 288-293. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.697.3.8 [2025-04-17]

  Researchgate.net/publication/390876607_Herpetospermum_motuoensis_a_new_species_from_Xizang_China

http://english.scib.ac.cn/news/202504/t20250418_1041501.html

https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research_news/life/202504/t20250418_1041512.shtml

[Entomology • 2022] Afromelittia gruschwitzi • A New Species of Afromelittia Gorbunov & Arita, 1997 (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae: Melittiini) from The Gambia

Afromelittia gruschwitzi

Bartsch & Weitzel, 2022 

DOI: doi.org/10.18476/2022.477144 

Abstract

A new species of Afrotropical Melittiini, Afromelittia gruschwitzi sp. n., is described. Attracted by synthetic pheromones, a single male was trapped 1992 in Abuko Nature Reserve, a gallery forest in The Gambia, West Africa. The female and the biology of the new species are unknown.

KEYWORDS: Afrotropical Region, clearwing moths, Cucurbitaceae, pheromones, taxonomy

Afromelittia gruschwitzi sp. n., holotype.

 Afromelittia gruschwitzi sp. n.

 

Diagnosis: Afromelittia gruschwitzi sp. n. resembles other species of the genus, particularly A. occidentalis, A. aenescens, A. natalensis, A. iridisquama and A. caerulea. All of these species, including the western extreme A. iridisquama, differ externally by the usually completely opaque fore-wings, which only rarely have one or two very small transparent cells near the tornus (external transparent area well developed and large in A. gruschwitzi), and the well-developed, specialized scale follicles of tergite eight (stunted in medial part in A. gruschwitzi). Afromelittia caerulea differs further by the bright blue, opaque hindwings. In the male genitalia, these species are hard to distinguish. Afromelittia gruschwitzi sp. n. has valva slightly broader and shorter with distal margin somewhat more concave, and saccus longer and narrower.

Etymology: The new species is named after Dr. Michael Gruschwitz, Weeze, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, who collected the holotype.

Daniel Bartsch amd Matthias Weitzel. 2022. A New Species of Afromelittia Gorbunov & Arita, 1997 (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae: Melittiini) from The Gambia. Integrative Systematics: Stuttgart Contributions to Natural History. 5(1); 49-52. DOI: doi.org/10.18476/2022.477144 

[Botany • 2022] Hodgsonia tsaii (Cucurbitaceae) • A New Species from Xizang, China

 

Hodgsonia tsaii J.Y.Shen, X.D.Ma, W.G.Wang & B.Pan bis,  

in Shen, Ma, Wang & Pan, 2022.

蔡氏油瓜   ||   taiwania.ntu.edu.tw

 facebook.com/TaiwaniaOffice

Abstract

Hodgsonia tsaii (Cucurbitaceae), a new species from Motuo, Xizang, China, is described. It is compared with H. macrocarpa and H. heteroclita, and differs from the two species by the entire or 3-lobed leaf, bigger and longer calyx lobes, 5-carpellate and 10-ovuled ovary, 5-lobed stigma, pepo with 20 deep grooves which are separated by 10 tall and 10 dwarf ribs. A comprehensive morphological description of H. tsaii, together with photographs, a conservation assessment, and a diagnostic key to 3 Hodgsonia species from Asia are provided. Distribution information of Hodgsonia is updated, and all the three species occur in China.

Keyword: China, Cucurbitaceae, Hodgsonia macrocarpa, H. heteroclita, Hse-Tao Tsai, new species, Xi-Tao Cai, Xizang

  

Hodgsonia tsaii J.Y.Shen, X.D.Ma, W.G.Wang & B.Pan bis,  
A. Plant bearing one young fruit. B. Plant with male inflorescence. C. Bud of a female flower. D. Female flower in bloom. E. Lateral view of male inflorescence. F. Back view of male flower G. Ovary cross section. H. Top view of the fruit. I. Cross section of the fruit showing ten seeds. J. Seed. K.Cross section of seed. L. Back view of calyx. M. Top view of stamens. N. Lateral view of the stigma.

(Photos taken by Jian-Yong Shen on 5 June 2022 in type locality)

   

Hodgsonia tsaii J.Y.Shen, X.D.Ma, W.G.Wang & B.Pan bis, sp. nov. 

蔡氏油瓜 

 Type: CHINA. Xizang, Motuo County, Beibeng town, along roadside, at the edge of forest, climbing on the trees, 95°11′02.01″E, 29°14′17.53″N, alt. 1415 m, 5 June 2022, J. Y. Shen, W. G. Wang & X. D. Ma 2701 (holotype: HITBC; isotype: HITBC, HIB). 

Diagnosis: Hodgsonia tsaii can be distinguished from its congeners, H. macrocarpa and H. heteroclita, by several morphological features (Figs.1 & S1, Table 1), H. tsaii has 10–20 mm long calyx lobes (vs. 2–4 mm long calyx lobes in H. macrocarpa and H. heteroclita), pericarp with 20 grooves, separated by 10 tall ribs and 10 dwarf ribs (vs. smooth in H. macrocarpa and shallowly 10–12 grooved in H. heteroclita), ovary with 5 carpels (vs. 3 carpels in H. macrocarpa and H. heteroclita) and 10 separate ovules (vs. 12 ovules, parietal with pairs of ovules attached on each side of carpel in H. macrocarpa and H. heteroclita), and 5-lobed stigma (vs. 3-lobed stigma in H. macrocarpa and H. heteroclita).

Etymology: The epithet is in honor of Prof. Xi-Tao Cai (or Hse-Tao Tsai (蔡希陶), 1911–1981), who founded Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in 1950s, and carried out botanical research of Hodgsonia in early 1960s.

Jian-Yong Shen, Xing-Da Ma, Wen-Guang Wang and Bo Pan. 2022. Hodgsonia tsaii (Cucurbitaceae), A New Species from Xizang, China. Taiwania. 67(4); 465-468. taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/1864

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[Botany • 2020] Zehneria grandibracteata (Cucurbitaceae ) • An overlooked New Species from western Kenyan Forests

Zehneria grandibracteata G.W. Hu, Neng Wei & Q.F. Wang

in Wei, Zhong, Melly, Kipkoech, ... et Wang, 2020. 

 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.165.57399 

Abstract

Zehneria grandibracteata, a new species of Cucurbitaceae from western Kenya, is described here, based on morphological and molecular data. It has long been misidentified as the widely-distributed species Z. scabra. However, it differs by its ovate leafy probract at the base of the inflorescences, subglabrous condition of the entire plant, shorter receptacle-tube and filaments, as well as denser and sessile inflorescences. Furthermore, the molecular phylogenetic analysis of Zehneria, based on nrITS sequences, further supports the argument that Z. grandibracteata should be segregated from Z. scabra.

Keywords: East Africa, Flora of Kenya, phylogeny, taxonomy, Zehneria scabra

Figure 3. Photographs showing vegetative characters of Zehneria grandibracteata
A climbing stem of female plant in habitat B adaxial lamina C creeping stem D abaxial lamina E probracts at different developing stages F tendril and probract at base of female inflorescence.

 Scale in picture E represents cm.

Figure 4. Photographs showing reproductive characters of Zehneria grandibracteata
A male inflorescence B male flower, side view C male flower, top view D dissected male flower showing disc and stamens
 E female inflorescence F female flower, side view G female flower, top view H dissected female flower showing staminodes 
I pistil and disc J infructescence K cross-section of fruit.

Scale bars: 2 mm (B–D, F–I); 1 cm (J, K).

Zehneria grandibracteata G.W. Hu, Neng Wei & Q.F. Wang, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: It is close to Z. scabra, but differs by its consistently ovate leafy probracts (linear minute or even absent in Z. scabra), subglabrous condition of the entire plant (puberulous in Z. scabra), shorter receptacle-tube (1.8–3 mm long vs. 2–5.5 mm in Z. scabra) and filaments (ca. 1.5 mm long vs. 1–2.5 mm in Z. scabra), as well as sessile and denser inflorescences (cluster of 8–30 in male, 6–22 in female vs. 2–60 in male, 1–16 in female in Z. scabra) (Table 2).

Distribution and ecology: Numerous populations of this new species have been documented in the western parts of Kenya’s forests, including Morongiot and Kobujoi areas of South Nandi Forest, Kapsasur area of Nandi Centre, Yale River Trail of Kakamega Forest, Timbilil and Sambret Catchment area of south-western Mau Forest. It usually climbs over tree trunks or twines around shrubs in moist forests or at forest margin at elevations of 1950–2230 m.

 

Etymology: The epithet “grandibracteata” refers to the fairly large leafy probract of this new species.

 Neng Wei, Zhi-Xiang Zhong, David Kimutai Melly, Solomon Kipkoech, Benjamin Muema Watuma, Veronicah Mutele Ngumbau, Peris Kamau, Guang-Wan Hu and Qing-Feng Wang. 2020. Zehneria grandibracteata (Cucurbitaceae), An overlooked New Species from western Kenyan Forests. PhytoKeys. 165: 85-98. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.165.57399