A revision of Rhynchoglossum (Gesneriaceae) in Malesia

The genus Rhynchoglossum in Malesia has been revised. Five species are included: R. borneense, R. capsulare, R. klugioides, R. obliquum and R. spumosum. Rhynchoglossum obliquum is a widespread and common species while the other four are endemic to Malesia. Morphological descriptions, nomenclature, distribution, ecological information and notes are provided for all species. An identification key and a list of examined specimens are included

THE GESNERIACEAE OF SULAWESI VI: THE SPECIES FROM MEKONGGA MTS. WITH A NEW SPECIES OF CYRTANDRA DESCRIBED

Field exploration of the flora of the Mekongga Mountainous area of Southeast Sulawesi was conducted from 2009 to 2011. Herbarium specimens collected during this exploration and additional collections from Herbarium Bogoriense (BO)  included  21 species in nine genera of the  family Gesneriaceae. These comprise one species of Aeschynanthus, four species of Agalmyla, one species of    Codonoboea, seven species of Cyrtandra, one species of Epithema, three species of Monophyllaea, two species of Rhynchoglossum, one species of Rhynchotechum and one species of Stauranthera. Twelve of these species are consider-ed endemic to Sulawesi while the rest are known to occur on neighbouring islands or are more widely distributed.    Monophyllaea merrilliana, previously known only from the Philippine Islands and Borneo, is newly recorded for     Sulawesi. A new species of Cyrtandra collected in the Mekongga area, C. widjajae, which resembles C. gorontaloensis from North Sulawesi but differs in having shorter pedicels and curved rather than straight fruits, is described.</p

FLORISTIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF SUBALPINE SUMMIT HABITATS ON MT. GEDE-PANGRANGO COMPLEX, CIBODAS BIOSPHERE RESERVE, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

SADILI, A., KARTAWINATA, K., KARTONEGORO, A., SOEDJITO, H. & SUMADIJAYA, A. 2009. Structure and composition of subalpine summit habitats on Mt. Gede-Pangrango complex, Cibodas Biosphere Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. Reinwardtia  12 (5): 391–404.  We undertook a phytosociological analysis of the subalpine herbaceous and shrubby vegetation at the Mandalawangi and Suryakencana meadows and the scrub at the Crater Side at the tops of Mt. Gede and Mt. Pangrango in the Cibodas Biosphere Reserve. We recorded 30 species of 18 families of saplings, shrubs, seedlings and herbs in 78 quadrats with a total area of 7,800 m2. Anaphalis javanica, a woody tall herb and long-lived pioneer was the dominant species in the sapling and shrub stratum, while Isachne pangerangensis, Tripogon exiguus and Carex verticillata were prevalent in the seedling and herb stratum at Mandalawangi and Suryakencana. Stunted shrub is Vaccinium varingaeifolium, dominant in the Crater Side scrub. Based on the importance values, the Mandalawangi meadow may be designated as the Anaphalis javanica-Isachne pangerangensis community type, the Suryakencana meadow as Anaphalis javanica-Tripogon exiguus community type and the Crater Side scrub as Vaccinium varingiaefolium-Seliguea feei community type. The similarity indices between Mandalawangi and Suryakencana community types were very high (>75 %) while those between the Crater Side and Mandalawangi and the Crater Side and Suryakencana were very low (<10 %). Poor soil conditions and fire seem responsible for the perpetual existence of A. javanica

ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF CYRTANDRA (GESNERIACEAE) OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA

WANG, Q. W., BRAMLEY, G. L. C., ATKINS, H. J. & KARTONEGORO, A. 2022. Annotated checklist of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) of Sumatra, Indonesia. Reinwardtia 21(2): 63‒80. — There are 53 species and three varieties of Sumatran Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) included in the checklist. Thirty-three lectotypes and four neotypes have been assigned, including for two excluded species. Two species are designated as incertae sedis due to a lack of type material or any associated specimens. A new name of C. jackii is proposed here to replace the illegitimate C. glabra Jack. Most of the species included in the checklist are endemic to Sumatra, with some species distributed in neighboring islands in Malesia. The next step for Cyrtandra in Sumatra is to carry out a full taxonomic revision to better understand distribution patterns and species limits and also to assign appropriate neotypes for those species still missing original material

A molecular phylogeny of Southeast Asian Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) supports an emerging paradigm for Malesian plant biogeography

The islands of Southeast Asia comprise one of the most geologically and biogeographically complex areas in the world and are a centre of exceptional floristic diversity, harbouring 45,000 species of flowering plants. Cyrtandra, with over 800 species of herbs and shrubs, is the largest genus in the family Gesneriaceae and is one of the most emblematic and species-rich genera of the Malesian rainforest understorey. The high number of species and tendency to narrow endemism make Cyrtandra an ideal genus for examining biogeographic patterns. We sampled 128 Cyrtandra taxa from key localities across Southeast Asia to evaluate the geo-temporal patterns and evolutionary dynamics of this clade. One nuclear and four chloroplast regions were used for phylogenetic reconstruction, molecular dating, and ancestral range estimation. Results from the dating analysis suggest that the great diversity of Cyrtandra seen in the Malesian region results from a recent radiation, with most speciation taking place in the last five million years. Borneo was recovered as the most likely ancestral range of the genus, with the current distribution of species resulting from a west to east migration across Malesia that corresponds with island emergence and mountain building. Lastly, our investigation into the biogeographic history of the genus indicates high levels of floristic exchange between the islands on the Sunda shelf and the important role of the Philippines as a stepping stone to Wallacea and New Guinea. These patterns underlie much of the plant diversity in the region and form an emerging paradigm in Southeast Asian plant biogeography

A revision of Dissochaeta (Melastomataceae, Dissochaeteae)

Dissochaeta is a plant genus of woody climbers, classified in the tribe Dissochaeteae (Melastomataceae). The taxonomic history of the genus is complicated and includes some allied genera like Dalenia, Diplectria, Macrolenes and Omphalopus. Most of them are already regarded as synonyms of Dissochaeta except for Macrolenes which is considered a separate genus here as well. Dissochaeta is characterised by its scrambling habit, interpetiolar outgrowths, 4-merous flowers, dimorphic stamens and berry-like fruits. A taxonomic revision of Dissochaeta is presented, which includes references, a complete list of synonyms, detailed morphological descriptions of the species and an identification key, as well as information on the distribution, habitat and ecology, vernacular names, notes and lists of examined specimens. Fifty four species and two varieties of Dissochaeta are recognised. We designate several lectotypes, propose eleven new combinations and we describe one new species and one new variety

Biogeographic history of the pantropical family Gesneriaceae with a focus on the Indian plate and diversification through the Old World

The Gesneriaceae consists of around 150 genera and c. 3750 species with a predominantly tropical and subtropical distribution across all continents. Although previous studies have proposed an American origin of Gesneriaceae, the biogeographic history of this pantropical plant family is still unclear, particularly in the Old World. To address this, we assembled the most comprehensively sampled matrix of Gesneriaceae with 143 Gesneriaceae genera and 355 species, including key samples from Sri Lanka analysed here for the first time. We generated molecular phylogenies based on four plastid gene regions (ndhF, matK, rps16 and trnL-F), obtained fossil-calibrated trees, and reconstructed ancestral areas and dispersal routes using Bayesian methods. Our results confirm the origin for the family in the Early Palaeocene (67. Ma) in the region of present-day Central America &amp; Andean South America, and that diversity in the Old World originated from a long-distance dispersal event from South America around 59 Ma, most likely to the Indian plate, which was an island at the time. This lineage then dispersed to Malesia and later East Asia, which would ultimately become a major centre of diversity and source of many dispersals to other regions. Our results thus highlight the Indian plate as a likely key player in the early diversification of Old World Gesneriaceae, even though it is now more diverse elsewhere, and hence offer novel insights into this plant family’s dispersal routes and areas of diversification in the Old World

REVISION OF DISSOCHAETA (MELASTOMATACEAE) IN JAVA, INDONESIA

KARTONEGORO, A. &amp; VELDKAMP, J. F. 2010. A revision of Dissochaeta (Melastomataceae) in Java. Reinwardtia13(2): 125–145. There are 12 species of Dissochaeta (Melastomataceae) in Java, Indonesia: D. bakhuizenii, D. bracteata,D. decipiens, D. fallax, D. gracilis, D. inappendiculata, D. intermedia, D. leprosa, D. monticola, D. reticulata, D.sagittata and D. vacillans. Diplectria and Macrolenes are regarded as separate genera and species traditionally classifiedwithin the latter have not been included. Dissochaeta leprosa, D. reticulata, and D. sagittata are reinstated as species.Dissochaeta gracilis is the most common species of Dissochaeta and D. bracteata is the rarest one. There are noendemics for the island. Each taxon is provided with literature references, synonymy, morphological descriptions, distribution,ecological habitat, collector’s notes, and notes. An identification key and a list of collections seen are included

THE GESNERIACEAE OF SULAWESI VI: THE SPECIES FROM MEKONGGA MTS. WITH A NEW SPECIES OF CYRTANDRA DESCRIBED

Field exploration of the flora of the Mekongga Mountainous area of Southeast Sulawesi was conducted from 2009 to 2011. Herbarium specimens collected during this exploration and additional collections from Herbarium Bogoriense (BO) included 21 species in nine genera of the family Gesneriaceae. These comprise one species of Aeschynanthus, four species of Agalmyla, one species of Codonoboea, seven species of Cyrtandra, one species of Epithema, three species of Monophyllaea, two species of Rhynchoglossum, one species of Rhynchotechum and one species of Stauranthera. Twelve of these species are consider-ed endemic to Sulawesi while the rest are known to occur on neighbouring islands or are more widely distributed. Monophyllaea merrilliana, previously known only from the Philippine Islands and Borneo, is newly recorded for Sulawesi. A new species of Cyrtandra collected in the Mekongga area, C. widjajae, which resembles C. gorontaloensis from North Sulawesi but differs in having shorter pedicels and curved rather than straight fruits, is described