M. Kessler (Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Abteilung für Systematische Botanik, Untere Karspüle 2, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany; 106606.464@compuserve.com), A. R. Smith (University Herbarium, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Bldg., #2465, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2465, U.S.A.; arsmith@uclink4.berkeley.edu) & M. Sundue (The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, U.S.A.; msundue@nybg.org). Notes on the genus Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae) in Bolivia, with descriptions of ten new species. Brittonia 57: 205–227. 2005.—We describe ten new species of Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae, Pteridophyta) from Bolivia, provide brief notes on the other eleven species of the genus in the country, and present a key to all species. New species are: P. albomarginatum, P. amboroense, P. bachii, P. chaparensis, P. congestum, P. giganteum, P. lepidotum, P. paramicola, P. rufum, and P. solomonii.

Lehnert, M. (Albrecht-von-Haller Institut, Abt. Systematische Botanik, Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; marlehnert@yahoo.com). Reconsideration of Alsophila odonelliana (Cyatheaceae), an Andean tree fern. Brittonia 57: 228–236. 2005.—Two Andean tree fern species formerly united are hereby distinguished: Alsophila incana from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and Alsophila odonelliana from southern Bolivia and northern Argentina. New descriptions of both species as well as illustrations of important characters are given. Vegetative reproduction by means of stolons is reported for an Andean species of the genus for the first time.

Moran, R. C. (The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, 10458-5126, U.S.A.; rmoran@nybg.org) & A. R. Smith (University Herbarium, Univ. of California, 1001 Valley Life Science Building, Berkeley, CA 94720-2465, U.S.A.; arsmith@berkeley.edu). Blechnum obtusum (Blechnaceae), a new species from western Venezuela. Brittonia 57:237–239. 2005.—Blechnum obtusum is described and illustrated as a new species. It grows in páramos of western Venezuela and most resembles B. werffii of Costa Rica and Panama.

Fiaschi, P. (Herbário André Maurício Vieira de Carvalho, CEPEC/CEPLAC, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km 22, Itabuna, Bahia, C.P. 7, 45600-970, Brazil; pedrofiaschi@hotmail.com). Three new species of Dendropanax (Araliaceae) from Bahia, Brazil. Brittonia 57: 240–247. 2005.—Three new species of Brazilian Dendropanax from the rain forests of Bahia state are described and illustrated. Dendropanax amorimii, endemic to the rain forests near Boa Nova, in southern Bahia, is characterized by compound umbellate inflorescences with elongated primary branches each having a proximal whorl of bracts, and by leaves with well- developed tertiary venation. Dendropanax bahiensis, endemic to the Atlantic rain forests of southern Bahia, is distinguished by its large and membranous leaves with reddish schizogenous glands on the abaxial surface and by the reduced and branched inflorescences with short-pedicellate flowers and large fruits. Dendropanax geniculatus, an endemic species from the “matas de grotão” of Serra da Chapadinha, Chapada Diamantina, is characterized by simple and usually geniculate inflorescences bearing long-pedicellate flowers and fruits.

Fiaschi, P. (Herbário André Maurício Vieira de Carvalho, CEPEC/CEPLAC, Km 22 da Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Itabuna, Bahia, C.P. 7, 45600–970, Brazil; pedrofiaschi@hotmail.com) I. Cordeiro (Instituto de Botânica de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, C.P. 4005, 01061–970, Brazil; isandona@uol.com.br) Discocarpus pedicellatus, a new species of Phyllanthaceae (Euphorbiaceae s.l.) from southern Bahia, Brazil. Brittonia 57: 248–251. 2005.—Discocarpus pedicellatus, a new species from semideciduous forests of southern Bahia, is here described and illustrated. Pistillate flowers with pedicels 8–10 mm long and styles usually connate into a column 2.5–3 mm long are diagnostic for this species.

Salazar, G. A. (Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70–367, 04510 México, D.F. México; gasc@servidor.unam.mx). A new species of Ponthieva (Orchidaceae, Cranichidinae) from Veracruz, Mexico. Brittonia 57: 252–254. 2005.— Ponthieva rinconii, a new orchid species from the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Veracruz, Mexico, is described and illustrated. It is similar in overall appearance to the wide-ranging upland species P. schaffneri, but differs from it in habitat preferences (tropical semi-evergreen forest at 650 m elevation), presence of a loose raceme, and three-lobed labellum with a basal cavity.

Xiaohua, J. (Kunming Institute of Botany of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Ciba, Yunnan, 650204, China; xiaohuajin@mail.kib.ac.cn). Bulbophyllum wuzhishanensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from Hainan, China. Brittonia 57: 255–257. 2005.—Bulbophyllum wuzhishanensis, a new species from Hainan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is probably related to Bulbophyllum ledungense, but differs from it by having a long inflorescence, a column without stelids, and a longer lip.

Morales, J. Francisco (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Apartado Postal 22-3100, Santo Domingo, Heredia, Costa Rica, fmorales@inbio.ac.cr). Estudios en las Apocynaceae Neotropicales XV: Sinopsis del género Thoreauea (Apocynoideae, Echiteae), con una nueva especie de Veracruz, México. Brittonia 57: 258– 263. 2005.—Se presenta una sinopsis del género Thoreauea (Apocynoideae, Echiteae), incluyendo una clave para las dos taxa del género y la descripción de T. aberrans, una nueva especie de Veracruz, México. Se incluye una clave para los géneros neotropicales de la subfamilia Apocynoideae, tribu Echiteae con estructuras coronales.

Costea, M. (Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, ON, Canada, N2L 3C5; mcostea@wlu.ca), G. L. Nesom (Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 509 Pecan Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102-4060, U.S.A.; gnesom@brit.org) & F. J. Tardif (Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; ftardif@uoguelph.ca). Taxonomic status of Cuscuta nevadensis and C. veatchii (Convolvulaceae) in North America. Brittonia 57: 264–272. 2005.—The taxonomy of Cuscuta nevadensis and C. veatchii is investigated. Cuscuta nevadensis is more closely related to C. veatchii and C. denticulata than to C. salina, and the former two taxa are accepted as species. A summary of relevant taxonomic and biological information is provided, including synonymy, distribution and ecology, keys, and a comparison of the morphology of flowers and seeds are examined. The morphological basis of vivipary in C. nevadensis is discussed. The status of Cuscuta vivipara, an invalid name in recent use, is clarified.

Macklin, J. A. (The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103; macklin@acnatsci.org), G. Moore (Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11225; gerrymoore@bbg.org) & J. C. Lendemer (The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103; lendemer@acnatsci.org). Typification of seabeach amaranth, Amaranthus pumilus (Amaranthaceae). Brittonia 57: 273–275. 2005.—Amaranthus pumilus is known from coastal Massachusetts to South Carolina and from ballast in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is currently listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened species. Amaranthus pumilus was originally described by Rafinesque in 1808 from southern New Jersey, but he did not cite specimens. Here, the name A. pumilus is lectotypified using the only known original element, a Rafinesque specimen at the herbarium of The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (PH).

Carlquist, S. (Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, California 93105, U.S.A. s.carlquist@verizon.net) and Grant, J. R. (Laboratoire de Botanic évolutive, Université de Neuchâtel, Rue Émile-Argand 11, Case Postale 2, CH-2007 Neuchâtel, Switzerland. jason.grant@unine.ch). Wood anatomy of Gentianaceae, tribe Helieae, in relation to ecology, habit, systematics, and sample diameter. Brittonia 57: 276–291. 2005.— Twenty collections representing one species each of Symbolanthus and Tachia, and 17 species of Macrocarpaea were studied by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Wood details show that the three genera form a coherent group; Tachia differs from the others in only a few minor characters. Because the species studied form a natural group, wood variations within Helieae offer the basis for correlations and interpretations with respect to habit and ecology. Diameter of stems studied proves to be an important variable that must be taken into account. Correlations with stem diameter include wider vessels in outer wood of wider samples. This would correspond to deeper penetration of reliable water tables by roots of helioid trees or large shrubs. Ray height decreases with increase in stem diameter, an indication of paedomorphosis. Rays of all species are paedomorphic in histology by virtue of relative paucity or even absence of procumbent cells in multiseriate rays. Pseudoscalariform lateral wall pitting of vessels is also a feature characteristic of paedomorphosis. The assemblage of paedomorphic features correlates well with the conclusion, reached by authors who used cladistic methods, that Gentianaceae other than Gentianeae are derived from suffrutescent perennials. The Mesomorphy Ratio, which incorporates three vessel features, correlates with leaf length and with stem diameter. All Helieae are mesophytic, but to various degrees. Septate fiber-tracheids, where present, are typically near vessels and form a substitute for or an addendum to vasicentric axial parenchyma as a mechanism for photosynthate storage. Vestured pits occur on lateral wall pits of vessels of all Helieae, but not on the fiber-tracheids. Vestured pits show diversity within Macrocarpaea, a feature of possible systematic significance.

Santiago-Valentín, E. (Herbarium, University of Puerto Rico Botanical Garden, Box 364984 San Juan 00936-4984; goetzea@yahoo.com). Amos Arthur Heller's Puerto Rico plant collecting itineraries of 1900 and 1902–1903 and their utility for the historical study of endangered plants. Brittonia 57: 292–294. 2005.—This work reports the Puerto Rico plant collecting itineraries of 1900 and 1902–1903 of Amos Arthur Heller based on the original notebooks recently located at the Herbarium of the University of Washington-Seattle. The utility of historical data for understanding original distributions of rare species is demonstrated for two Puerto Rican species: Buxus vahlii Baill. and Daphnopsis helleriana Urb.