Fig 1 - uploaded by L.V. Averyanov
Content may be subject to copyright.
Sciaphila arcuata Aver. a: Flowering and fruiting plant. b & c: Open female flower. d: Female flower with reflexed and flattened tepals. e: Young carpel (from flower bud). f: Ripe carpels (from open flower). g: Fruit with ripe seeds. h: Seed without pericarp (all drawn from the type by author).
Source publication
Two species of Sciaphila: S. arcuata and S. stellata (Triuridaceae) discovered in Vietnam are described as new taxa for the genus and one discovered species (S. nana) is first recorded for the country. The key for identification and illustrated descriptions are provided for all species of this genus in the flora of Vietnam.
Similar publications
Pacuvia Curtis, 1844 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Diplotaxini) is taxonomically reviewed. The genus includes two species that are endemic to Chile: Pacuvia castanea Curtis, 1844 and Pacuvia philippiana Gutiérrez, 1951. An identification key is presented for the two species along with detailed distributional data. The brachyptery (fligh...
All of the specimens placed in the genus Anaulacomera St&l, 1873 in the collection of the Museum d'histoire naturelle de Geneve had been on a long-term loan since the 1960s. The recent return of this loan allowed the identification of potential type specimens of eleven species. These are listed, the label data is given and the condition of the spec...
Four species of the genus Eudarcia are described as new from Crimea: E. ajpetrica sp. nov., E. kimmeriella sp. nov., E. rutjani sp. nov. and E. zagulajevi sp. nov. All newly discovered species belong to the palanfreella-species group. The identification key, based on external and genitalia characters for the Eudarcia species from Crimea, is provide...
Five new species of Caraipa endemic to the Venezuelan Guayana are here described and illustrated. Three species are endemic to the Amazonas state: Caraipa acutata, endemic to the Guainía river; Caraipa cordifolia, endemic to the Parú tepui; and Caraipa yutajensis, endemic to the Yutaje tepui. Two species are endemic to Bolívar state: Caraipa kubitz...
Bonnaya tenuifolia (Colsm.) Spreng. (Linderniaceae) collected from Srikakulam district, is reported here as a new
distributional record to the flora of Andhra Pradesh state. Detailed description, distribution, and notes on morphological
variations are provided along with photographs of the species for its easy identification
Citations
... Sciaphila Blume (1826: 514) is a genus of small achlorophyllous plants distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Averyanov 2007). Currently 46 species are accepted (POWO 2019) with another one only recently described (Suetsugu & Kinoshita 2020). ...
Sciaphila atra (Triuridaceae) from northern Borneo is described and illustrated. This species is similar to Sciaphila thaidanica from northern Thailand, but differs in distinctly darker stem and flowers, lower number of flowers, larger female flowers which usually have more tepals and wider tepals of male flowers. Taxonomy of Sciaphila secundiflora species complex is discussed in the paper. Key to currently accepted species of Sciaphila in Borneo is included.
... (Fig. 5). The androecium is the most variable part of the floral groundplan of these species: there are usually six stamens in male flowers of S. densiflora and three stamens in those of the other species (Van de Meerendonk, 1984;Averyanov, 2007). We discuss our results in the context of the floral diversity of the entire family and particularly compare them with available data on other species of Sciaphila and also Seychellaria Hemsl., according to their high morphological similarity and a nested position of Seychellaria within Sciaphila in the molecular phylogenetic reconstructions (Mennes et al., 2013). ...
... All the studied male flowers of this species possess 2-lobed (more precisely, 2-valved) anthers that strongly resemble 2-locular anthers, including the closed and dehisced ones. Most likely, it is the presence of two valves around a seemingly single cavity that led Averyanov (2007) to indicate the anther structure of S. stellata as unilocular. However, our investigation of the internal structure of an anther uncovered the presence of four locules. ...
... Taxonomic status of Sciaphila stellata Sciaphila stellata was described on the basis of two specimens collected in northern Vietnam (Averyanov, 2007). Since description, no more findings of this species have been reported, except for a specimen from Guangxi (China) (Jiang et al., 2011), which is very close geographically to the type location of the species, but the illustrations of this plant (along with the general taxonomic uncertainties regarding S. stellata) do not allow us to verify the identification. ...
The monocot family Triuridaceae is a morphological misfit with respect to several traits of floral morphology, including the uniformly apocarpous polymerous gynoecium and the famous inside-out flowers of Lacandonia. Although Triuridaceae are crucially important for understanding the floral evolution of Pandanales and angiosperms in general, significant knowledge gaps exist which hamper adequate morphological analysis of flowers in this family. The scarcity of morphological data is also reflected in numerous taxonomic inconsistencies. Here we provide a comprehensive study of reproductive organs of four species of Sciaphila occurring in Vietnam (S. arfakiana, S. densiflora, S. nana and S. stellata) including the first investigation of early floral development and gynoecium phyllotaxis. Our observations are mainly based on SEM images. We confirm the perianth (studied in male flowers) to be two-whorled and report a rare sequence of initiation of perianth parts: the outer tepals show a late congenital fusion, as their free lobes appear before the common perianth tube, whereas the inner tepals show an early congenital fusion, with their free lobes initiating on the tube rim. We interpret the stamen appendages as basal adaxial outgrowths of the stamen filaments. We discuss the number of thecae and locules in anthers of Sciaphila, and conclude that 3- and 4-, but not 2-locular anthers are characteristic of this genus. We describe the carpels as consisting of both ascidiate and plicate zones, the former being extremely short and completely obscured by anthesis. The single ovule is attached in the cross-zone. The style is non-plicate. We analyze gynoecium phyllotaxis by estimating its contact parastichies, and by investigating the number and arrangement of the outermost carpels. The carpel arrangement in a given gynoecium is a result of the balance between whorled and irregular (but not spiral) phyllotaxis. We recognize the following figures of gynoecium merism: 6, 9, 10, 10.5, 11 and 12, with the prevalence of those divisible by three. We discuss our results in the light of general diversity of floral structure of monocots. Our data allow to clarify several issues in taxonomy of Asian Sciaphila and indicate directions of further studies. We report a significant range extension for S. densiflora, which is newly recorded for the flora of Vietnam. We describe for the first time staminodes in female flowers of this species. We reveal two distinct morphs of S. nana in Vietnam. We highlight the need of a thorough revision of S. secundiflora species complex in order to verify the species boundaries and, in particular, to test the identity of the Vietnamese S. stellata.
... In taxonomic studies of the genus, species have been primarily discriminated on the basis of the following floral traits: bisexual or unisexual nature of flowers, number and shape of stamens and perianth segments, shape of apical perianth segments, and shape and length of styles (van de Meerendonk 1984;Hsieh et al. 2003;Chantanaorrapint & Thaithong 2004;Averyanov 2007;Ohashi et al. 2008;Xu et al. 2011, Suetsugu et al. 2016, 2019Suetsugu & Nishioka 2017;Suetsugu 2018). However, key characters of male flowers, which are crucial for precise identification, have not been documented for some species, especially if individual specimens were too young at the time of collection Tsukaya & Suetsugu 2014). ...
This paper presents a re-evaluation of the taxonomic identity of Sciaphila major described from Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia which has been considered conspecific with S. secundiflora. We revealed that S. major is clearly distinguishable from S. secundiflora s.s. by the arrangement of flowers on rachis (spirally and subdensely arranged vs. secundly and laxly arranged), rachis length in a fully developed inflorescence [(2-)3-6(-7) cm vs. 6-19 cm], tepal length of male flowers (2-2.3 mm vs. 3-4 mm) and the number of perianth segments (more than 6 vs. 6). By spirally-arranged and white flowers, S. major is most similar to S. alba, but is distinguishable by plant height (15-25 cm vs. 25-35 cm in S. alba), rachis length in a fully developed inflorescence [(2-)3-6(-7) cm vs. 8-14 cm)], the number of flowers (usually less than 20 vs. usually more than 20), the arrangement of flowers on rachis (subdensely arranged vs. laxly arranged), the number of male perianth segments (usually more than 6 vs. usually 6) and the condition of floral disc (flat vs. bowl-shaped). We also provide an updated key to the species of Sciaphila distributed in Borneo.
... In taxonomic studies of Sciaphila, species have been primarily discriminated on the basis of the following floral traits: bisexual or unisexual flowers, number and shape of stamens and perianth segments, shape of the apical perianth segments, and shape and length of the styles (van de Meerendonk 1984, Hsieh et al. 2003, Chantanaorrapint & Thaithong 2004, Averyanov 2007, Ohashi et al. 2008, Suetsugu et al. 2016, Suetsugu & Nishioka 2017. As with most other mycoheterotrophs, the plants are small, growing to a maximum height of 40 cm, are only recognizable during the reproductive season and usually occur in small populations. ...
Borneo is known to harbor the greatest species diversity of the mycoheterotrophic genus Sciaphila (Triuridaceae) and is home to 11 species, including five endemics. Here, another undescribed Sciaphila species, S. lambirensis, which was discovered during a botanical survey in Lambir Hills National Park (Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia) is reported along with a detailed morphological account. Sciaphila lambirensis is similar to S. brevistyla in having six equal perianth segments with a swollen apex bearing long hairs in both staminate and carpellate flowers. However, it is easily distinguishable by the secund arrangement of the flowers and the pedicel slightly recurved at its apex. A key to the species of Sciaphila in Borneo is provided. © 2018, Japanese Society for Plant Systematics. All rights reserved.
... The absence of perianth indumentum was for a long time considered as a characteristic feature of the genus Seychellaria and used for its delimitation from its closest relative Sciaphila (Hemsley 1907, Giesen 1938, Perrier de la Bâthie 1946, Maas-Van de Kamer & Weustenfeld 1998. Indeed, many species of Sciaphila possess so-called "bearded" tepal tips, i.e. provided with dense tufts of multicellular soon-decaying hairs, only in male or in all flowers (Hemsley 1907, Van de Meerendonk 1984, Maas & Rübsamen 1986, Maas-van de Kamer & Maas 1994, Maas & Maas 2005, Averyanov 2007, Daniel 2010, Tsukaya & Okada 2013, Tsukaya & Suetsugu 2014. Our finding of hair tufts of exactly the same structure in Seychellaria barbata provides further evidence for the close relationship between Seychellaria and Sciaphila. ...
Seychellaria barbata, a new species of Triuridaceae, is described and illustrated. The species was discovered in 2015 during fieldwork in Marojejy National Park (Northern Madagascar). Seychellaria barbata possesses long hairs at the apex and margins of the larger tepals of male flowers, whereas all its congeners are characterized by glabrous perianths. This feature is also known in a closely related genus Sciaphila, which makes the newly discovered species crucial for reassessing generic delimitations within the tribe Sciaphileae. The new species is also characterized by 6–7 flowers per inflorescence, 1 fully developed flower per node, the presence of bracteoles free from bracts, absence of connective appendages, clavate staminodes slightly longer than the stamens, and ca. 40–50 carpels in the female flowers. Distribution of the genus Seychellaria in Madagascar is discussed. An updated key to all currently known species of Seychellaria is provided. Diversity of inflorescence architecture in Seychellaria is reviewed; S. barbata is reported to possess aborted flowers in bracteole axils; presence/absence of bracteoles is suggested as the most important feature of the inflorescence in this genus as it distinguishes thyrses from racemes. The uncertain morphological nature of the bracteoles, being fused to the bracts, is highlighted and their similarity to bi- or three-lobed bracts indicated.
We report three new localities of the mycoheterotrophic plant Sciaphila corniculata (Triuridaceae) from Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Previously, S. corniculata was reported only from Kolombangara Island (Solomon Islands), Waigeo Island (New Guinea) and Obi and Aru islands (the Moluccas). We also update a description of its morphology, in particular on stylar characteristics based on new materials. A key to the Japanese species of Sciaphila based on total flower and stylar characteristics is also provided for easy identification of these rare mycoheterotrophic plants. © 2018, Japanese Society for Plant Systematics. All rights reserved.
Borneo is known to have the greatest diversity of the mycoheterotrophic genus Sciaphila (Triuridaceae), harboring nine species, with three endemics. Here, we report two previously undescribed species of Sciaphila discovered during botanical surveys in Lambir Hills (Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia) and provide detailed morphological accounts of these new species: S. alba and S. inouei. We also provide a key to the species of Sciaphila in Sarawak.
Abstract—
Borneo is one of the richest areas for mycoheterotrophic plants, and six species including one endemic have been recorded for the genus Sciaphila Blume, Triuridaceae. Here, we recognize two previously undescribed species of Sciaphila from botanical
surveys in Betung Kerihun National Park, West Kalimantan, Borneo, and provide detailed morphological accounts of both new species,
S. betung-kerihunensis
and
S. brevistyla
. We also provide a key to the species of Sciaphila in Borneo.
