First report of the occurrence of Livia junci (Schrank, 1789) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on Juncus fontanesii J. Gay ex Laharpe (Juncaceae) from Portugal

“Witches’ brooms” is a disease or deformity in a plant where the natural structure of the plant is changed, i.e., a dense mass of shoots grows, usually from a single point, with the resulting structure resembling a broom. The specimens of Juncus fontanesii J. Gay ex Laharpe were collected on July 21, 2003, in Portugal (LISU 189105). We observed the larvae of the last (i.e., fifth) stadium of Livia junci (Schrank, 1789) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Many exuvia of the early larval stages from Livia junci were obtained from the galls. This confirmed that the parasites lived in its larval period on Juncus fontanesii. Additionally, J. fontanesii formed the galls as a result of response to feeding, similar to other representatives of the genus Juncus. Livia junci is the only representative of the genus Livia that feeds on Juncus species in the Western Palearctic area

Lectotypification of the name Stereodon nemoralis Mitt. (Plagiotheciaceae), a basionym of Plagiothecium nemorale (Mitt.) A. Jaeger

In 1859, William Mitten described Stereodon nemoralis (≡ Plagiothecium nemorale) based on the gathering of Sir J.D. Hooker from India. However, the protologue did not indicate any specific specimen or illustration. For the past 50 years, the original material (NY 913349) deposited at the NY Herbarium has been considered as the holotype. However, this assumption has since been found to be incorrect, because in the Herbarium of The Natural History Museum exists other original material of this species (BM 1030713), collected by Hooker. In addition, the specimen from NY Herbarium is in poor condition and its most important diagnostic characters are not visible. In contrast, the material from BM Herbarium is in very good condition, and therefore it is herein designated as the lectotype. Also, the paper describes the resolution of this type, a process complicated by changes that had occurred in the provisions of subsequent botanical Codes

<i>Juncus quartinianus</i> (Juncaceae, sect. <i>Ozophyllum</i>): A Neglected Species from the Horn of Africa and Its Re-Description Based on Morphological SEM Studies

<div><p><i>Juncus quartinianus</i> (Juncaceae sect. <i>Ozophyllum</i>) was described by Richard in 1851 from Ethiopia. Some authors have treated this species as a synonym of <i>J</i>. <i>fontanesii</i> and others as a synonym of <i>J</i>. <i>oxycarpus</i>. Based on morphological analyses of flowers, fruit and seeds, we propose to restore <i>J</i>. <i>quartinianus</i> as a distinct species from both these taxa. Its detailed re-description and an identification key to the morphologically similar species of <i>Juncus</i> sect. <i>Ozophyllum</i> are provided.</p></div

How many type specimens can be stored in old lesser-known herbaria with turbulent histories? – A Juncus case study reveals their importance in taxonomy and biodiversity research

Many herbarium sets in Europe are still being catalogued and it is likely that many old-type collections are yet to be discovered. This research has the potential to facilitate the study of the biodiversity of many regions, especially regions for which collections are extremely scarce. This has been confirmed by a case study using Juncus (Juncaceae) examining the turbulent history of botanical collections at the WRSL herbarium and the evaluation of its importance to the study of taxonomy and biodiversity since 1821. The analysis revealed that the WRSL collection is rich in types (ca. 3.6%) and we identified 76 (of 78) new, historically and nomenclaturally important specimens (types, original material and so-called “topotypes”). Some of these type specimens represent duplicates of these that were stored in Berlin and destroyed during World War II. Many of the type specimens are from the United States of America, South Africa, India, and Canada. The largest number of Juncus type specimens stored at WRSL originate from South Africa (42.3% of all type specimens), even though Juncus is rare in Africa. Our study highlights that uncatalogued old collections that are under-explored and under-exploited have the potential to facilitate the discovery of specimens important for the study of biodiversity, conservation, taxonomy and nomenclature

Means ± standard deviation of various characters of <i>Juncus oxycarpus</i>, <i>J</i>. quartinianus and <i>J</i>. <i>fontanesii</i> subsp. <i>pyramidatus</i> and results of one-way ANOVA (high value of F are given in bold).

<p>For abbreviations, see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0167838#pone.0167838.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.</p

Results of the principal component analysis for <i>Juncus oxycarpus</i>, <i>J</i>. quartinianus and <i>J</i>. <i>fontanesii</i> subsp. <i>pyramidatus</i> (values with the highest factor loadings (> 0.60) are given in bold).

<p>For abbreviations, see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0167838#pone.0167838.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.</p

Scatter plot of the component scores of principal component analysis loadings I and II of 184 specimens.

<p>Abbreviations: Jo–<i>Juncus oxycarpus</i>, Jq–<i>J</i>. <i>quartinianus</i>, Jf–<i>J</i>. <i>fontanesii</i> subsp. <i>pyramidatus</i>.</p

<i>Juncus quartinianus</i> (S 08–19215). (A) Flower head. (B) Flower with ripe fruit. (C) Capsule and stamens.

<p>Photo <i>P</i>. <i>Jarzembowski</i>.</p

Flower heads with capsules.

<p>(A) <i>Juncus oxycarpus</i>, (B) <i>J</i>. <i>quartinianus</i>, (C) <i>Juncus fontanesii</i> subsp. <i>pyramidatus</i>.</p