ALBERT

Description: The author reports the discovery of the moss Rhodobryum roseum (Hedw.) Limpr. in the municipality of Wijlre in the extreme south of the Dutch province of Limburg. This is the first certain find from this area. See distribution map – fig. 2. Rhodobryum occurs on a steep part with a grade of about 30° of a north-facing hillside which borders the valley of the rivulet Geul. This steep part originated by specific land use for several centuries and it forms a part of a pasture which lies below it and is incidentally grazed by cattle. Above the locality a forest stretches towards the hill top. The habitat of Rhodobryum roseum receives no direct sunshine and the microclimatological situation can be defined as open shade. The air humidity is constantly rather high. The subsoil consists of calcareous deposits of Upper-Senone age. The pH measured at a depth of ca. 5 cm. in the soil is about 7-8. The altitude of the locality is about 125 m. above sea level.

Description: In a recent paper PIERROT (BIZOT, PIERROT & POCS 1974) described the new genus Bizotia based on Paraleucobryum densifolium Thér. (THÉRIOT 1939). However, ROBINSON (1967) already made the presumption that Paraleucobryum densifolium should belong to Campylopus, notably C. argyrocaulon (C.M.) Broth. His conception of C. argyrocaulon was apparently based on MUELLER’s original description (MUELLER 1874) only, which includes a detailed description of the cross section of the costa. We examined part of the type collection of C. argyrocaulon (Wallis s. n., Colombia, NY) but this material, although MUELLER’s description is correct, does not exactly match the type material of Paraleucobryum densifolium (Troll 2144-2145, Colombia, PC-TH). The type material of C. argyrocaulon is identical with one of the paratypes of C. leucognodes (C.M.) Par. (Germain s. n., Bryoth. Levier, Bolivia, NY). ROBINSON also mentions Campylopus pittieri Williams (1908) under the presumed synonymy of C. argyrocaulon. Examination of the type material of the former species (Pittier 1088, Colombia, NY) shows that this species is indeed identical with Paraleucobryum densifolium.

Description: The idea to establish a regional organization in order to improve the quality of education in South East Asia was conceived in a meeting of Ministers of Education and Culture in 1965. This idea took shape and was realized in an organization called the SEAMEO (South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization) which was officially inaugurated on February 7, 1968 by the signing of the SEAMEO Charter by seven Ministers of Education, representing the Governments of Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and South Vietnam. In 1971 the Republic of Khmer followed as the eighth member country, whereas in 1973 France became an associate member, followed by Australia and New Zealand in 1974.

Description: The structure of the top of the ascus in live and fixed Sarcoscypha coccinea has been studied with different methods of light microscopy. Electron micrographs have been made of median sections of asci first fixed in 1.5% KMnO4, then postfixed with OSO4. Light and electron microscopy give somewhat different but supplementary information on the lateral wall and the top of the ascus in Sarcoscypha. In the ascoplasm a funnel and a funiculus have been found. The ascus wall consists of three layers. (1) An outer layer, which after different stainings is visible with the light microscope, corresponds with the two outer strata of the stratified electron-transparent layer, and is very thin in the top. (2) A middle layer, which is formed by the inner stratum of the electron-transparent layer, continues with about the same thickness in the top. (3) An inner layer, which is anisotropic and electron-dense, is deposited on the inside of the wall after meiosis. This layer becomes very thick in the top. Its central part is separated by a conical boundary plane to form the basal part of the opercular plug. Former studies on the structure and dehiscence of the ascus are discussed. The view that the ascus is suboperculate and characterized by having an interrupted apical ring is refuted.

Description: The generic names for fungi used by Maratti in his ‘Flora romana’ must be accepted as validly published. Notes are given on the validly re-published names. Of these Agaricum and Coralloides may cause some difficulties. Conservation of Fomes (Fr.) Fr. against Agaricum [Mich.] Maratti is proposed. To the nomina rejicienda of the conserved name Ramaria (Fr.) Bon. Coralloides [Tourn.] Maratti should be added.

Description: In the course of investigations on the fungal flora of the salt-marsh soils of Kuwait, a Gilmaniella species was isolated twice in 1973. Its smooth vegetative mycelium and large conidia with relatively wide germ pores indicated that it is sufficiently different from the only known species in Gilmaniella, G. humicola Barron (1964), to warrant its description as a new species.

Description: Buergersiochloa was described by Pilger in 1914 with B. bambusoides as the only species. A second species was added by S. T. Blake in 1946. Very little is known about this genus; the plants appear to be very rare in lowland primary forests of New Guinea and only 11 collections are presently known, nine of which were directly available for this study, while of a tenth extensive descriptions and drawings have been published. As was already pointed out by Pilger Buergersiochloa is evidently related to Olyra Linné. Phytogeographically this is very interesting, as Olyra belongs to the Olyreae, a tribe of the Bambusoideae practically restricted to the forests of Central- and South America. Only O. latifolia Linné is found also in Africa and Madagascar (probably not in the Mascarenes as indicated by Hubbard, 1959). Some have included the genera Pharus Linné and Leptaspis R. Br. in the Olyreae (e.g. Pilger, 1954), the latter genus occurring in New Guinea also, but Hubbard (1959) and Jacques-Félix (1962) have convincingly demonstrated that these genera belong to a separate tribe, the Phareae. Calderón & Soderstrom (1973) have even excluded it from the Bambusoideae.

Description: In the course of studying the Asteraceae for a proposed Alpine Flora of New Guinea the first author selected the genus Cotula for this separate paper as it showed some variability that was not easily explained. While working on this, Dr. Lloyd’s paper on the genus in the New Zealand Journal of Botany 10 (1972) 277, came to his notice and on corresponding with him it turned out that he had studied the New Guinea species already to some extent but had nothing ready for publication. At the same time, Dr. J. Koster of Leiden, Netherlands, was known to work on a study of all Asteraceae of New Guinea and it soon transpired that when the manuscript was finished and a copy sent to her that very same day she had put down the first words of her manuscript on this genus. She generously allowed us to go ahead with our publication and after Dr. Lloyd had reviewed the first author’s manuscript the paper developed as presented here. This group of small, mat-forming species has been known in New Guinea to date only by C. leptoloba Mattfeld, described from the Wharton Ra. in Papua. Since then, however, it has been collected in several other regions ranging from the Carstensz Mts. in West New Guinea to Mt. Aniata in the southeastern tip of Papua. At first glance the material looked rather homogenous, but on closer look it turned out that at least one species, the material from Mt. Wilhelmina, had to be taken out as new. At this stage, various papers by Dr. Lloyd from Christchurch, New Zealand, drew attention to the group more forcibly and critically. The material available was studied by Dr. Lloyd and he came to the conclusion that at least 4 species should be distinguished, with which the senior author could concur. The differences between the 4 species recognised here are considerable, but the species limits are not well known and the descriptions may need revising when further material is available. Three new species are described below and C. leptoloba is redescribed to include the variation observed in specimens from new localities.

Description: A sheet of the BSIP collections, gathered in Vanikoro Island, Santa Cruz group, near the proper Solomon Is., had tentatively been identified as probably belonging to Euphorbiaceae, but was discarded by Airy Shaw in 1962 and now again in 1974. Closer examination showed it to belong to Melicytus, a suggestion made by Dr. R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr. This genus is distributed in the West Pacific Islands, from New Zealand to Samoa; it was mapped by Van Balgooy in Pacific Plant Areas (2, 1966, 103). Though the specimen is male, we assume it to belong to Melicytus, not Hymenanthera. This represents a considerable extension of the generic area. Comparing the floral structure it is distinctly different from the Samoan form and also from M. ramiflorus Forst. by the large, elongated, long-acuminate petals. It is a good match of the Fijian

Description: The purpose of the Nederlandse Groenland Expeditie 1975 was the study of Long-tailed Skua (de Korte, see page 6) and several species of waders (Bosman, see page 4) in the Scoresbysund region (East Greenland). In addition to skua’s and waders we studied breeding biology of geese in spring and growth and mortality of Arctic Tern chicks on Fame Øer in August. These studies were a continuation of previous work in the area (de Korte, 1973 and 1974). We choose another base than in 1973 and 1974 (Kap Stewart) and worked mainly near Kaerelv at the head of Hurry Inlet. Forty eight bird specimens belonging to 12 species were collected and skinned. The stomach contents have been preserved in spirits for subsequent examination.

Description: The present material has been collected at three occasions: during a stay on Curaçao and Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) in 1958/59, and again in 1973/74, and during a visit in 1963 to La Parguera, Puerto Rico. The copepods recorded here as associates of Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia (Asclerocorallia) all belong to the Cyclopoida. Two sections of these are represented: the Poecilostomata and the Siphonostomata. Members of other copepod groups were not found in the Antillean region on the hosts in question.

Description: This report is the seventh in a series of papers dealing with Mysidacea (Crustacea) from shallow water in the tropical and warm-temperate areas of the western Atlantic (BRATTEGARD 1969, 1970a, 1970b, 1973, 1974a, 1974b). Five of these are dealing with material collected by the author in southern Florida, the Bahamas, Colombia and Panamá. Another paper deals with shallow-water mysids gathered mainly in Mexico (Quintana Roo province) and the Antilles. Hitherto unpublished material of shallow-water mysids collected by various investigators working in near-shore water of the Lesser Antilles and other Caribbean regions is presented in this publication together with previously published records from the area. At least 20 species were collected; new and previous records are presented with short notes on geographical distribution and ecology.

Description: A survey is given of the assassin bugs (Reduviidae) collected on the six Netherlands Antilles. All together 22 species were sampled: 6 Emesinae, 1 Saicinae, 8 Harpactorinae, 1 Piratinae, 4 Stenopodinae, 1 Triatominae and 1 Phymatinae. Sixteen species were captured on the three islands of the Leeward Group, Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire; seven species were found on the three islands of the Windward Group, St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Martin; both groups of islands have only 1 species in common. The local distribution of the species represented (Table 1) does not fit with their known gross distribution in the neotropics. Curaçao harbours more than 70% of the total number of species; zoogeographical aspects have been discussed. Two species are described as new; Cosmoclopius curacavensis (Harpactorinae), living on Curaçao as a predator exclusively on the weed Cleome viscosa, and Oncerotrachelus sabensis (Saicinae) from Saba. The identity of some Emesinae and the single phimatine specimen captured remain unsettled for the present. Triatoma maculata. vector of a T. cruzi strain with low virulence, occurs in two colour forms; the dark one restricted to Aruba, the light-coloured form to Curaçao and Bonaire. Total drawings of most species are presented in addition to some 120 figures of structural details of eggs, larvae and adults. Features of eggs and genitalia are discussed on pages 17-28. Some points of general interest are: The egg of Sinea coronata appeared to be quite different from what is known from other Sinea spp. Eggs of Piratinae have movable slips with plastron function. The harpactorines Atrachelus fuscus and Sinea coronata lack parameres. Behavioural aspects concerned with utilizing sticky material have been summarized. Evidence is presented that the subrectal gland, occurring in many Harpactorinae, secretes the colleterial liquid for the egg-batch. The asymmetrical genitalia of the Piratinae and the endosomal brush zone and basal differentiation of the ductus ejaculatorius in some Stenopodinae are stressed.

Description: The mites listed in the present paper have been collected from July to October 1971 by the junior author and Drs. N. J. J. KOK during their stay in Surinam with financial aid of the Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO). Mites have been collected occasionally mainly from birds, found dead on the roads, and from captured birds which died in the pet shop “Tropical Wildlife”, Paramaribo. As in many instances the hosts were decayed, few mites could be prepared. The relation of formerly described species to new species clearly shows our poor knowledge of parasites on birds from this region. Most of the species have been described by the senior author (ČERNÝ, 1974a, b, 1975). This paper contains descriptions of new Trouessartia species and a survey of all species found. The taxa are arranged in alphabetical order.

Description: On Jamaica many of the endemic land birds are poorly known from an ecological and behavioral standpoint. Therefore, the following information on the food, foraging behavior, and habitats of the Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo Saurothera vetula), obtained while engaged in other studies, should be helpful in the future analyses of this species. To my knowledge the only references to its food habits are that of GOSSE (1847) who found invertebrates (caterpillars, locusts, and spiders) and vertebrates (Anolis lizards and a mouse) in the stomach of this species and of DANFORTH (1928) who found a large green lizard Anolis garmani) and beetles in the stomach of a bird he collected. The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo is widely distributed, occurring from lowland limestone scrub forest to montane forest. Throughout its distribution it prefers dense woodlands and thickets, although on occasion it is found in more open country.

Description: A qualitative benthos study was undertaken in the Western Baltic in order to find trends in the distribution patterns of the most common spp and taxonomic groups. The characteristics suiting spp and communities for use as indicators are discussed. The main environmental factors considered were the degree of sewage pollution, and the type of substrate. 3 ecological groups of organisms can be distinguished on the basis of their reactions to pollution. Sensitive spp should be investigated most closely in their preferred substrates, those favoured by pollution in the types of substrates in which they normally do not occur in great numbers. Sand bottom and, to a lesser degree, eelgrass assemblages are the best indicator communities.

Description: (1) The influence of organic sewage pollution on the macrobenthic community structure of a shallow inshoreregion was studied in the South of Kiel Bay (Baltic Sea). (2) The sandy bottom bears 3 associations withinthe pollution gradient. They can be characterized by: (a) Capitella capitata and Oligochaeta (50-100 m distancefrom the sewage outlet), (b) Pygospio elegans (200-ca. 700 m) and (c) Bathyporeia sarsi (〉700 m). They haveno distinct borders but resemble rather a continuum. (3) In the less affected reaches the influence of biologicalsubstrate structure becomes more evident. Distinct associations can be distinguished. (4) The combination oflife forms, number of spp, diversity and other community features depend on the degree of the substrate'sspatial heterogenity in a characteristic way. They are also strongly influenced by the extent of pollution. (5)The inshore benthic macrofauna provides an important contribution to the self purification of the wholeecosystem by transforming particulate organic matter to available fish food. Abundance and biomass aremultiplied due to sewage sedimentation. This process creates the danger of accumulation of poisonoussubstances in addition to the eutrophication problem. (6) More highly diverse systems (e.g. mussel beds)resist better those factors which directly influence the evenness of the community. The ecological bufferconsists of many specialized competitors and predators. Systems low in diversity (e.g. sand) react much morestrongly to disturbances of this type. (7) Faunal composition, evenness, species richness, population densityand biomass of the communities are suitable parameters of an ecological method for the early recognition ofenvironmental stress.

Description: The Scrophulariaceae, though chiefly a family of herbaceous plants, contain also a number of genera with trees ( Paulownia and Wightia) and genera with species of suffruticose and fruticose habit. My colleague Mr. A. M. Cleef, who is studying the vegetation of the high Andean parts of Colombia collected material of the small genus Aragoa, endemic in the paramos of the Colombian and Venezuelan Andes. Though this genus consists in the main of small broomlike shrubs, a new species, Aragoa perez-arbelaeziana Romero, discovered by him, is a small tree, of which the stem reaches a diameter of 8 cm. The wood of Aragoa of which the structure was so far unknown, proved to be noteworthy because of the complete absence of rays and parenchyma. There was no indication at all of growth rings, and the vessels can not be distinguished from the fibres as seen on a cross section, as both are of equal width. In longitudinal sections vessels become recognizable by their simple perforations, their spiral thickenings and the presence of a few simple pits; whereas the fibre tracheids lack the spiral thickenings, and possess numerous bordered pits on both the radial and tangential walls. The diameter of the vessels and fibres varies in the 5 species investigated by me between 16 and 24 μm; the length of the vessel members is on the average 260 (185-370) μm and that of the fibre tracheids 310 (220-450) μm. This unusual wood structure was found not only in the small stems with a diameter of 4-8 mm, but also in the stem of the only arboreous species.

Description: The epilithic macrolichen vegetation in the Angmagssalik District was studied in connection with phytosociological investigations. Based upon 32 vegetation analyses 5 vegetation units are distinguished according to the concepts of the French-Swiss School of Phytosociology: 1. the Alectoria pubescens sociation soc. nov., 2. the Umbilicarietum cylindricae, 3. the Parmelietum omphalodis sphaerophoretosum fragilis subass. nov., 4. the Umbilicarietum arcticae and 5. the community of Xanthoria elegans. Although the substrate in this case is not such an important ecological factor, a distinct relation with the habitat could be proved. Studies of the literature showed that phytosociological knowledge of epilithic lichens in Greenland and in other arctic and northern alpine areas is very scant. F. J. A. Daniëls Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht Instituut voor Systematische Plantkunde Heidelberglaan 2 Utrecht 2506 The Netherlands

Description: The authors report the discovery of Scheuchzeria palustris L. in the eastern part of the Belgian Kempen in the summer of 1974. This find is of importance a.o. from the viewpoint of plantgeography, since Scheuchzeria had not been found in Belgium after 1946, and therefore was considered extinct there. The species had never been reported earlier from the region where it was found in 1974 (fig. 1). In August 1974 14 plants in fruit were counted in a bog situated on a plateau consisting of fluvial sand and gravel deposits of pleistocene origin, about 90 m above sea level, in the municipality of Maasmechelen. The plants grew in a depression between a Sphagnum island and the gradually rising margin of the fen, together with Sphagnum cuspidatum, Juncus bulbosus, and Eriophorum angustifolium (fig. 2). According to the French – Swiss School of vegetation classification, the fytocoenosis of which Scheuchzeria palustris forms a part, belongs to the Rhynchosporion albae W. Koch 1926; class Scheuchzerietea Den Held, Barkman & Westhoff 1969. Scheuchzeria was found in an ombrotrofic bog the water level of which can vary a few tens of centimeters. Measurements of the pH at two different times gave values of 4,1 and 4,2. It is gratifying in the light of the rapidly decreasing number of stations of Scheuchzeria palustris in the Nortwestern European lowland that the newly discovered locality in Belgium is not under an immediate threat, so that its continued existence seems guaranteed for some time to come.

Description: Recently a 9-page report was issued as a first step to establish a modest but effective station for all kinds of field work, amid the Gunung Leuser Reserves, on the bank of the Alas River. Some details about these Reserves, which together cover 6500 sq. km, have been sketched on pages 2185 and 2186 of Flora Malesiana Bulletin no. 27. The whole area is exceedingly rich in plant and animal life, and is also geologically interesting and varied. It would be the first station of its kind in Sumatra, situated at about 300 m altitude, with tops of 3000 m and higher within reach. Little ecological work has been done yet, except on orangutans, but collections of identified material of plants and animals, and publications thereon, are in existence, which means that a basis for further work has been laid. The station will have elementary facilities, like working benches, a basic hand-library, electricity, and a dark-room, but workers should bring their own specific movable equipment.

Description: ABEYWICKRAMA, B.A. (ed.), A revised handbook to the Flora of Ceylon, Vol. 1, part 1 (1973) 107 pp., 12 fig. Local orders to Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Ceylon, Rupees 10. Orders outside Ceylon to Smithsonian Press, Publ. Distribution Section, 1242 124th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037, U.S.A., US$ 5 or £ 2. This is the first fascicle of a revised edition of Trimen’s excellent ’A handbook of the flora of Ceylon’. It is the result of a project sponsored jointly by the University of Ceylon, the Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya, the Ceylon Department of Agriculture, and the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, D.C. (Principal Investigator Dr. F.R. Fosberg; co-principal investigators: Prof. Dr. B.A. Abeywickrama, Dr. J.W.L. Peiris, Mr. D.M.A. Jayaweera, Prof. M.D. Dassanayake, and Mr. K.L.D. Amaratunga).

Description: The Botanical Survey of India is conducting field work in the districts of Kameng, Subansiri, and Lohit in NE. India, the western Himalayas, and the Andamans & Nicobars. During 1970-1973, field work in Goa by the Botanical Survey of India resulted in about 1500 specimens, 400 of them woody.

Description: The entries have been split into five categories: a) Algae – b) Fungi & Lichenes – c) Bryophytes – d) Pteridophytes – e) Spermatophytes & General subjects. — Books have been marked with an asterisk.

Description: Aponogetonaceae. Revised for Indo-China by Mr. H.W.E. van Bruggen (Heemskerk, Netherlands, associated with the Rijksherbarium). Araliaceae. For Malesia, all that is not Schefflera (of which Dr. D.G. Frodin, Port Moresby, is taking care) is under revision with Professor W.R. Philipson (Christchurch). He is making good progress.

Description: The cystidia of the genus Subulicystidium have been studied with the scanning electron microscope. Their ornamentation consists of two rows of ribbon-shaped structures, arranged crosswise to the main axis of the cystidia. The free ends of these structures are double-refractive and have formerly been described as ‘four rows of short crystals’. A key to the accepted three species is given; one new combination is proposed.

Description: A few types considered to be destroyed in Berlin appeared to be still existing. Consequently, a few alterations in I and II became necessary. Furthermore, the late Mr. L. J. Brass mentioned in a letter some mistakes in I to be corrected.

Description: As is the case with Tepualia stipularis for South America, Metrosideros angustifolia Sm., Trans. Linn. Soc. 3 (1797) 270, is the sole representative of the capsular Myrtaceae in Africa. It occurs as a shrub or small tree at lower elevations, often along river banks, in the south-west corner of South Africa.

Description: Dr. Jan Theodoor Henrard, former curator of the Gramineae at the Rijksherbarium, died at Leiden 28 August 1974, in his 93rd year. Among the staff-members of the Rijksherbarium there are only a few left who have known Dr. Henrard, as he retired in 1946 on reaching the age of 65. They will remember him as an enthusiastic taxonomist with a great love for the variation of living nature. He was always busy analyzing the often very slight differential characters of importance in the family to which he devoted a great part of his life, the Grasses.

Description: The leaf, twig, and nodal anatomy of Alzatea, Axinandra, Crypteronia, Dactylocladus, and Rhynchocalyx is described in detail. This family, as newly delimited by Van Beusekom-Osinga and Van Beusekom, appears to be very heterogeneous, a conclusion supported by the wood anatomical diversity reported in another paper. The nodes may be simply unilacunar, unilacunar with a complete girdling trace, of the common gap (or split lateral) plus median trace type, or trilacunar. Cortical bundles may be present in addition. Further diversity is present in e.g. cuticular texture, stomatal type, hypodermal development, arrangement of vascular bundles in petiole and midrib, mechanical support of the veins, the crystal complement, foliar sclereids, and cork origin. Anatomical evidence only supports the Myrtalean character of all genera, and a close mutual affinity of Axinandra and Crypteronia. These genera, together with Dactylocladus show several features characteristic for some Melastomataceae, which family with its wide anatomical range would also cover most of the anatomical diversity of Lythraceae, Sonneratiaceae, Oliniaceae, Alzatea, and Rhynchocalyx. Rhynchocalyx appears to be closer in its anatomy to some Lythraceae, Oliniaceae, and Melastomataceae than to the other members of Crypteroniaceae. Alzatea shows affinities with all families mentioned, but remains problematic with its trilacunar node not known to occur in the other families. The complex pattern of overlapping anatomical ranges of Crypteroniaceae s.l., Melastomataceae, Lythraceae, Oliniaceae, and Sonneratiaceae may be interpreted as evidence of intimate relationships between these families.

Description: The second part of this series on the Bulimulidae deals with the genera Plekocheilus Guilding and Naesiotus Albers, two and six species of which are recognized respectively. The following new synonymy is proposed: Bulimulus chrysaloides Pilsbry = Naesiotus chrysalis (Pfeiffer). Bulimulus (Protoglyptus) sanctaeluciae var. luciae Pilsbry is considered to be a valid species.

Description: 1. The original descriptions of Branchiostoma caribaeum are reviewed and the synonyms for the species mentioned. 2. A statistical analysis was carried out on twelve taxonomic characters of specimens of B. caribaeum from Kingston Harbour, Jamaica. The twelve characters were: total myotomes; preatriopore myotomes; postatriopore myotomes; myotomes between atriopore and anus; postanal myotomes; caudal fin length as a percentage of total body length; body depth as a percentage of total body length; dorsal fin ray chambers; ventral (preanal) fin ray chambers; gonads (on right side only); buccal cirri (on right side only). 3. The characters were ranked in order of increasing variation or decreasing taxonomic significance. The least variable and therefore the most important diagnostic character was found to be the number of preatriopore myotomes. This character cannot be used on its own to separate B. caribaeum from the other species of Branchiostoma of the Western Atlantic. 4. All the specimens of B. caribaeum found in Kingston Harbour show the origin of the upper lobe of the caudal fin considerably posterior to the lower lobe. The variability of the caudal fin shape within the species B. caribaeum is discussed. It is concluded that the shape of the caudal fin cannot be used as a diagnostic character to separate the species of Branchiostoma of the Western Atlantic. 5. The position of the anus in the majority (62 percent) of the specimens examined was behind the midpoint of the lower caudal lobe. The other 38 percent showed the anus at the midpoint of the lower caudal lobe. The variability of the position of the anus both within the species B. caribaeum and in the species of Branchiostoma of the Western Atlantic is discussed. It is also concluded that the position of the anus can no longer be used as a diagnostic character to separate the species of Branchiostoma of the Western Atlantic. This character does however, separate the Eastern Atlantic group of Branchiostoma species from those of the Western Atlantic, because in all the former groups the anus is located well in advance of the midpoint of the lower caudal lobe. 6. It is suggested here that B. platae may be a synonym for B. caribaeum. The main reason for this is that HUBBS (1922) stated that the two main characters by which B. platae differed from B. caribaeum were the shape of the caudal fin and the position of the anus behind the midpoint of the lower caudal lobe. It has been shown above that both these characters can no longer be used as distinguishing factors in determining whether a specimen is B. caribaeum or B. platae. 7. It is concluded that the species of Branchiostoma of the Western Atlantic are so similar that no one characteristic no matter how small the variation can be used to separate them unequivocally. Therefore statistical analysis of all populations of Branchiostoma are necessary for a complete diagnosis.

Description: Some 22 taxa of barnacles, including 19 Balanomorpha, are recorded from a large number of Caribbean localities, ranging from S. Florida to Trinidad, and from the Panama Canal Zone to Barbados. Balanus reticulatus Utinomi is recorded for the first time from the region and its morphology compared with B. amphitrite amphitrite Darwin, with which it has been confused. Chthamalus stellatus bisinuatus Pilsbry is raised to full specific rank and details given of the morphological differences between this species and the other common Caribbean chthamalid, C. angustitergum Pilsbry. Full discussion of the distribution of barnacles in the Caribbean is reserved to a later occasion, but some details are given of the relationship of the Chthamalus species to environmental factors. It is suggested that C. angustitergum in contrast to C. bisinuatus is especially adapted to life in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean, with their low standing crops of plankton and little detritus.

Description: In this publication the authors describe the grassland communities rich in species especially those which occur on basic soils. The investigation was done in the Belgian part as well as in the Dutch part of St. Pietersberg situated south of the Dutch town of Maastricht. See map – fig. 1. St. Pietersberg is a long and narrow remnant of a plateau which becomes larger going towards the south. On the east side St. Pietersberg is bordered by the river Maas and on the west side by the rivulet Jeker. The altitude of the area investigated varies from about 100 m above sea level in the north till about 150 m above sea level in the south. The vegetation relevees were made on the basis of the principles of the French-Swiss school of phytosociology (Braun-Blanquet, 1964). In the middle of every plot the pH was measured at a depth of ca. 5 cm in the soil by means of a pH-meter with color indicator solution (Hellige). The calcium carbonate content was determined by means of a 10% HCl-solution (Soil Survey Staff, 1954). These measurements are recorded at the top of the table of phanerogams (Table I). During some days in august 1970 the course of temperature was measured at different depth levels in the soil on two localities with different exposition. See fig. 8. The subsoil of St. Pietersberg consist of chalk deposits from the Upper-Cretaceous. On the slopes these chalk deposits reach the surface or come very near to it. At the moment the chalk is in exploitation in open quarries of gigantic sizes, which destroy the landscape and the scenery. On top of the chalk tertiary and quarternary sand and gravel deposits are to be found. The climate has continental caracteristics. The precipitation is relatively low compared with the rest of the Netherlands, namely ca. 650 mm a year. In July and August the amount of precipitation is rather high, ca. 145 mm, whereas the months of February, March, and April are rather dry with only 125 – 140 mm. The average number of hours of sunshine is 1500 a year. Botanists have been interested in St. Pietersberg for a long time; for instance already in 1821 Bory de St. Vincent published a list of 627 phanerogams and 18 ferns, all growing on St. Pietersberg. In the present paper the authors pay attention to the botanical data of former times in so far as they are related to plants which appear in grassland communities rich in species. From this it becomes clear that several species have decreased or even totally vanished, such as Antennaria dioica, Sesleria caerulea, Viburnum lantana, Juniperus communis, and especially many species of orchids, e.g. Himanthoglossum hircinum, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Orchis simia, and Ophrys apifera. Old data concerning the Bryophyta and Lichens are less numerous and because of this it is difficult to assess whether species have decreased or even have vanished. Phytosociological data about the chalk grasslands and other grasslands rich in species hardly ever occur in literature. A well detailed study of the vegetation of St. Pietersberg such as the one in this paper has not yet been published. During the investigation, the field work of which was carried out in the summer of 1970, most attention was paid to the grasslands on basic and neutral soils. In the system of vegetation classification according to the French-Swiss school of phytosociology these vegetation belong to the alliance Mesobromion (Br.-Bl. & Moor 1938) Oberd. 1957; order Brometalia (W. Koch 1926 n.n.) Br.-Bl. 1936; of the class Festuco – Brometea Br.-Bl. & R. Tüx. 1961. Three variants are to be distinguished within the Mesobrometum erecti Scherr. 1925 emend. Oberd. 1957, subassociation typicum: a. Melilotus albus-variant (relevees 1-10) This community occurs only near the western entrance of the Jekertunnel on a steep S.W. facing slope which originated artificially ca. sixty years ago when the tunnel was constructed. Locality F – fig. 1. Here the chalk comes to the surface and because of the steep slope there is a constant sliding down of the surface material of the soil, which prevents soil maturation. Consequently, species from the alliance Onopordion acanthii Br.-Bl. 1926 occur in addition to the chalk grassland vegetation of this locality. The Onopordion acanthii is typical for such situations. Character species are a.o. Verbascum nigrum and Melilotus albus. See Table I. This locality is the only one on St. Pietersberg where Bromus erectus is to be found in such large quantities. b. Viola hirta – Carex flaccavariant (relevees 11-24) This is the variant the richest in species within the Mesobrometum erecti of St. Pietersberg. This applies both for phanerogams and cryptogams. This community is met with on steep S.E. facing slopes (21 – 47°) of the erosion canyons and on very dry places with much wind exposure. Locality C and E – Fig. 1. The variant is a.o. characterised by species which can be considered as faithful for the whole N.W. European area of the Mesobromion, e.g. Anthyllis vulneraria, Cirsium acaulon, Epipactus atrorubens, and Helianthemum nummularium ssp. nummularium. See Table I. The richness of cryptogams is striking, especially of thermophytical and xerophytical species, such as Abietinella abietina, Campthothecium lutescens, Encalypta streptocarpa, Pleurochaete squarrosa, and Toninio coeruleonigricans. See Table II. Over thirty species of mosses and lichens have been found in this type. c. Inops – variant (relevees 25 – 41) A number of species which often occur in the previous variant are absent in this community. On the Dutch part of St. Pietersberg the Inops – variant is the only community belonging to the Mesobrometum erecti which is to be found there. See Fig. 1 – locality B, C, D, and E. Furthermore, in this variant several species preferring some degree of manuring and higher soil moisture are penetrating, e.g. Arrhenatherum elatius, Poa pratensis, and Elytrigia repens. The following plant community, the Rumex acetosa – Brachypodium pinnatum-vegetation, doesn’t belong to the Mesobrometum erecti, but to the association Arrhenatheretum elatioris Br.-Bl. 1919, alliance Arrhenatherion elatioris Br.-Bl. 1925, and class Molinio – Arrhenatheretea R. Tüx. 1937. This is based on the frequent presence of character species of the Arrhenatherion elatioris such as Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis, and Rumex acetosa. See Table I. Because of the occurrence of a number of characteristic species of the Mesobromion in this Rumex acetosa – Brachypodium pinnatum-vegetation this community has been taken into account in this study. Distribution: Fig. 1 – locality A, B, D, and E. It is for the same reason that also grasslands rich in species on acid gravel deposits of pleistocene origin on the plateau of St. Pietersberg have been investigated. A new association, the Brachypodio – Sieglingietum, has been distinguished. See relevees 54 – 72 on table I and II. The Brachypodio – Sieglingietum belongs to the alliance Violion caninae Schwick, (1941) 1944 em. Preising 1949, class Nardo – Callunetea Preising 1949. See Fig. 1 – locality D, F, and G. All the vegetation communities being described here are without treatment of manure. Until World War II they were pastured by sheep, afterwards they remained untouched. At the moment they burn down practically every year early in spring. See Fig. 4. The occurrence of Mesobromion character species on St. Pietersberg on moist soils most likely is due to the constant manegement of the grasslands for centuries in which no use was made of manure. In spite of the great culture-historical and biological value of the area, almost the entire St. Pietersberg is very seriously destroyed by the quarries mentioned above. This exploitation is carried out in the Belgian as well as in the Dutch part of St. Pietersberg. There is only one locality (B) mentioned in this publication, namely the Popelmondedal, which for the time being is protected by law. It can be said that the chalk grassland vegetation of St. Pietersberg, from a botanic-ecological and phytogeografical point of view, should be reckoned to the most interesting Mesobromion communities of N.W. Europe.

Description: The present study was initiated a few years ago by Dr. R. Grolle (Jena) who discovered that Acrolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. was probably the correct name for a tropical liverwort genus to which in this century the name Ptychocoleus Trev. was applied. Since replacing the name Ptychocoleus by Acrolejeunea would necessitate a considerable number of nomenclatural changes, I was asked to reexamine the taxonomy of the group. I soon found that Ptychocoleus as traditionally understood is heterogeneous and consists of two well-defined genera: Acrolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. and Schiffneriolejeunea Verd. (Gradstein 1974a). In order to determine their taxonomic affinities, I decided to review the generic subdivision of the subfamily Ptychanthoideae (Lejeuneaceae) to which they belong. The present work comprises the taxonomic monograph of Acrolejeunea and the review of the subfamily. The monograph of Schiffneriolejeunea will be published separately.

Description: In this paper we investigate the pattern of wood anatomical variation in some groups of Rubiaceae (i.e. Cinchoneae, Rondeletieae and Condamineae) by using a numerical pattern detection method which involves character weighing (Hogeweg 1975). In this method character weights are obtained iteratively on the basis of the distribution of character values in previously generated classes; these classes being generated by agglomerative cluster analysis, initially with characters weighed equally and subsequently with characters weighed differentially as indicated above. The result of such a study consists of a sequence of dendrograms together with the character weights by which these are produced. Our biological conclusions include: The so obtained results confirm the conclusions drawn by Koek-Noorman & Hogeweg (1974) that the pattern of variation in the wood anatomical structure of these taxa is consistent with the existing classifications at the genus level but does not warrant the higher level classification in Cinchoneae, Rondeletieae and Condamineae as each of these groups show two majorly different woodtypes (differing most conspicuously with respect to libriform fibres and fibre tracheids) while these wood types constitute the major pattern of variation in the sample. However, during the iteration, the Rondeletieae and Cinchoneae tend to be distinguished as separate groups on a level below this main bipartition. The Condamineae remain scattered. The genus Cinchona becomes sharply separated from the other groups during the iteration. Its intermediate position with respect to fibre tracheids and libriform fibres was noted prior to this analysis by Koek-Noorman (Koek-Noorman & Hogeweg 1974). Rather surprisingly, ambiguities (in the sense of being differently classified by different authors) in the existing classifications based mainly on flower morphology reoccur in our iteration based on wood anatomical data in the sense that these taxa change position in the later steps of the iteration. Finally we note that character weights obtained by our method do not spoil the grouping in genera as did character weights obtained by considering the literature on evolutionary trends in wood anatomy (Koek-Noorman & Hogeweg 1974), and that the character weights obtained by our method are not counter to intuition.

Description: A Weed Flora of Samoa has been started by Mr. Art Whistler at Honolulu, where he is also revising Christophersen’s Flora of Samoa. These manuscripts will be concluded before long; Mr. Whistler hopes to continue his work on Samoa, and to produce a few things for popular use, to be illustrated with photographs. The island will remain a focus of interest for the Bishop Museum in the next years. Monographia Cormophytarum Sinicarum. A project to publish an iconography of Chinese Cormophyta in 5 volumes. Vols. 1 to 2 contains descriptions of nearly 4000 species. The complete work will deal with some 10,000 species. The text is in Chinese and Latin. The illustrations are of excellent quality. They are simple but very effective and often very artistically drawn line drawings of the general habit of the plants, with additional analytical details. The pictures are very useful for rapid identification. Vol. 1: Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnosperma, and the archilamydaceous families Casuarinaceae to Hernandiaceae in Engler’s system. The second volume has the sequence Papaveraceae through Cornaceae. Standing orders DM 320 are invited by Otto Koeltz Antiquariat, P.O. Box 129, D-624 Koenigstein-Ts., West Germany.

Description: Mr. H.K. Airy Shaw of Kew made a study trip to East Australia for study of Euphorbiaceae in the field and in the herbaria, visiting Darwin, Atherton, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne, September 9 to end 1974. Dr. G. Argent has been appointed on 1 January 1974 on the staff of the Edinburgh Herbarium. He formerly worked on mosses, mainly from Africa, and spent 3 years in Papua New Guinea doing field work on bananas. He intends to work on Ericaceae of Malesia.

Description: Tree architecture, the growth form of woody tropical plants, from lofty ’pagoda’ trees to low understorey pachycauls, has captured the imagination of professor and student alike. Previously many attempts had been made to study the growth form of limited plant groups,, but only recently has it been possible to see the wood from the trees as a result of the excellent work by Hallé & Oldeman (1970). This small book is crammed full with a wealth of information and profusely illustrated with clear schematic line drawings, supplemented here and there with photos of the habit of selected plants. The presentation, the clear style, and the excellent drawings offset any problems one might have with the language. The growth form is analysed into a number of architectural models all of which are illustrated. Numerous lists of examples of each model are given; from necessity the lists mainly contain African and South American species, but many families and genera also occur in Malesia. Recently Hallé has visited New Guinea and has published a short account of a selection of his observations (Hallé, 1974). It is regretted that more extensive lists of Malesian examples of each architectural model were not included in this paper. No new architectural models were found so one can, in principle, interpret the architecture of Malesian trees using the models discussed in his book.

Description: Material of several species, including types specimens, have been studied. The following new genera are described: Conohypha (type: Corticium albocremeum Höhn. & Litsch.), Membranomyces (type: Corticium spurium Bourd.), and Parvobasidium (type: Gloeocystidium cretatum Bourd. & Galz.). Twelve new combinations are proposed.

Description: In this paper some further African localities are recorded for Gloeodontia discolor, Flavodon flavus, and Stecchericium seriatum. In the genus Steccherinum five new species are described (S. confragosum, S. labeosum, S. russum, S. scalare, and S. scruposum), while three more are provisionally recognized, one of which being an unnamed member of the S. ochraceum group. A key to all species of Steccherinum thus far known from Africa is provided. For a number of the species their cultural and mycelial characteristics are given.

Description: A new species of Torula Pers. per Fr., collected at Hyderabad, India, is described as T. rhombica Rao & de Hoog. It forms chains of reddish brown, regularly rhomboid conidia. A key to the accepted species of Torula is given. All CBS strains maintained under the name Torula are discussed; they can be assigned to six different genera. New combinations are proposed in Polypaecilum Smith and Moniliella Stolk & Dakin, and a new species of Scytalidium Pesante is described.

Description: The developmental types within the family Agaricaceae vary considerably but it looks as if the ontogenetic pattern is not without regularity. About 20 species have been examined. On one side the stipitocarpous genera Cystoderma, Phaeolepiota, and Chamaemyces, on the other side genera with highly concentrated primordia like Macrolepiota and Agaricus (isocarpous, pileocarpous or hymenocarpous). Lepiota, Leucocoprinus and Leucoagaricus with a more concentrated development may occupy an intermediate position. Some remarks are made on developmental problems in Squamanita. In Chamaemyces fracidus the radiating elements on the cap are not a palisadodermium sensu stricto but they belong to the universal veil. However this structure is limited to the pileus-surface, so we have to suppose that an ontogenetic factor affects in some way the formation of the pileus and that of these radiating elements. In other species a layer of tightly packed, erect elements forming part of the universal veil envelops also the pileus-margin and the upper part of the stem (with Lepiota clypeolaria at the outside and with Lepiota ignipes as an emanating veil at the inside of the universal veil). A trichodermium which is afterwards changed into a paradermium is to be found in Leucocoprinus whereas a true palisadodermium occurs in Macrolepiota.

Description: In the course of investigations on fungi occurring on bark of deciduous trees, an unknown dematiaceous fungus was encountered. Because of its long, septate conidia, arising from the apex of dark conidiophores, the specimen was thought to represent an undescribed species of the genus Corynespora Güssow. This identification was kindly confirmed by Dr. M. B. Ellis, C. M. I., Kew.

Description: The pollen morphology of the genera Crypteronia, Dactylocladus, Axinandra, Alzatea and Rhynchocalyx is compared in view of a proposal to unite these genera in Crypteroniaceae. Three pollen types are recognized, differing in aperture and shape symmetry, but showing distinct similarities in exine and aperture structure. It is argued that the heterocolpate type found in Dactylocladus, Axinandra, and Rhynchocalyx and the bisyncolporate type characterizing Crypteronia, may both have been derived from a less-specialized tricolpate ancestral type which has been retained in Alzatea. The wider affinities of Crypteroniaceae are discussed and thought to be with Lythraceae and Melastomataceae, although a more remote relationship with Cunoniaceae s also possible.

Description: A new delimitation and subdivision of the Crypteroniaceae (Myrtales) is given; no less than five genera, Crypteronia, Dactylocladus, Axinandra (all SE. Asia), Alzatea (S. America), and Rhynchocalyx (S. Africa) are included. Traditionally the Crypteroniaceae were considered to be a monotypic family. The family is subdivided into two subfamilies, Crypteronioideae and Alzateoideae, the subfamilies each into two tribes, and some of the genera into sections. Of these taxa descriptions, synonymy, references, and notes on distribution and ecology are given, as well as a key for their identification. Of the species recognized only names, typification, synonyms, and distribution are briefly mentioned. In Crypteronia one new species, C. macrophylla, is described. Argumentation for the present taxonomical treatment is given in a separate article in the next issue (Van Beusekom, 1975).

Description: Het huidige verspreidingsgebied van Symplocos, het enige geslacht van de familie, is Oost Azië (Mandsjoerije en Japan tot Oost Australië en enige eilanden in de West Pacific) en in de Nieuwe Wereld. Dit verspreidingsgebied wordt aangevuld met de verspreiding van fossielen uit het Eoceen, Oligoceen, Mioceen en Plioceen van Europa en uit het Plioceen van Japan. De structuur van deze fossielen (voornamelijk vruchtstenen) komt sterk overeen met die van recente soorten. Drie pliocene soorten uit Japan zijn zelfs synonym met recente soorten. In ca 80% van de Aziatisch-Maleise en in al de Amerikaanse soorten zijn zaad en embryo recht, in de overige soorten zijn zij één of tweemaal gebogen. Aangenomen wordt dat een recht zaad primitief is. De zaden van het ondergeslacht Symplocos zijn alle recht. Het is opmerkelijk dat alle fossiele vruchten uit Europa een recht zaad hebben bezeten, doch de drie fossiele soorten uit Japan, die synonym zijn met recente soorten, bezaten gebogen zaden. Het is de moeite van het vermelden waard dat de 20% Aziatische soorten met een gebogen zaad, wat het aantal individuen betreft veruit in de meerderheid zijn vergeleken bij de overige soorten. Het is een kenmerk dat zich kennelijk verspreidt in enorme aantallen individuen. Het geslacht Symplocos wordt onderverdeeld in twee ondergeslachten. Het ondergeslacht Hopea heeft een verspreiding over het grootste aantal breedtegraden; in Azië wordt het gevonden tot in de gematigde streken (45°—46° N.B.), in Amerika tot 37° N.B. Het ondergeslacht Symplocos is beperkt tot de tropische zone van beide halfronden. Uit dit verspreidingsgebied blijkt de hoge ouderdom van het geslacht. De verspreiding van het geheel tot de tropen beperkte ondergeslacht Symplocos (en waarschijnlijk ook van Hopea) heeft hoogstwaarschijnlijk plaats gehad in een tijd waarin Noord Amerika nog aan Europa vastzat en in het zuiden van dit gebied een tropisch of warm subtropisch klimaat heerste. Een onderzoek is gedaan op het gebied van de palynologie (285 collecties van 40 soorten van de oude wereld en 38 niet in de revisie betrokken soorten van de nieuwe wereld), gevolgd door een discussie van de toepassing van de pollenkenmerken voor het onderscheiden van de soorten. In goed af te grenzen en weinig variabele soorten komt gewoonlijk slechts één pollentype voor. In variabele, moeilijk af te grenzen soorten worden gewoonlijk meerdere pollentypes gevonden. Soms zijn deze kenmerkend voor infraspecifieke taxa. Verder zijn van een aantal soorten de chromosomen geteld, en is een opsomming gegeven van deze en van door anderen gedane tellingen. Het basis getal blijkt 11 te zijn. Alle soorten van het ondergeslacht Hopea die geteld zijn waren diploid. Van het ondergeslacht Symplocos is slechts één soort geteld, deze was oktoploid. Een samenvatting is gegeven van de phytochemie, de anatomie, het kiemen der zaailingen, en een overzicht van de morphologische kenmerken en hun bruikbaarheid voor de taxonomie. Vele van deze gegevens zijn gebruikt om een inzicht te krijgen in de verwantschap van de Symplocaceae binnen de Angiospermen. De conclusie is dat de Symplocaceae niet tot de Ebenales behoren, zij tonen meer verwantschap met de Cornaceae en mogelijk ook met de Theaceae. In het taxonomische deel worden 111 soorten onderscheiden, 21 daarvan zijn nieuw. Het is niet mogelijk gebleken een verdere onderverdeling te geven van de ondergeslachten. Binnen het ondergeslacht Hopea vormen de soorten een vrij massief blok. Hun verwantschappen zijn hoogstwaarschijnlijk netvormig. Eén soort is met vele andere soorten nauw verwant zonder dat een hiërarchie is te onderscheiden. Verscheidene soorten zijn uitermate variabel. Dit heeft geleid tot een sterke reductie in namen (Het totaal aantal soortsnamen onder de genusnaam Symplocos dat geevalueerd is bedraagt ca 600). De structuur van de variabiliteit wordt zo goed mogelijk tot uitdrukking gebracht door het onderscheiden van ondersoorten en variëteiten. Verschillende tabellen zijn gemaakt voor het determineren van de soorten. Naast een algemene tabel worden voor het ondergeslacht Hopea ook tabellen gegeven voor een groot aantal verspreidingsgebieden. Aangezien de tabellen zijn gemaakt met behulp van een computer kon er meer dan gewoonlijk rekening gehouden worden met de variabiliteit. Toch zal het niet mogelijk zijn alle collecties te determineren. Daarvoor is de variabiliteit te groot. Als oorzaak van deze variabiliteit kan gedacht worden aan hybridisatie. Aanwijzingen hiervoor worden gevonden in het pollen. Getracht is een volledig overzicht van de synonymie van elke soort te geven en een uitvoerige beschrijving. Voor de infraspecifieke taxa worden determineertabellen gegeven.

Description: As part of the Cooperative Investigations of the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (Cicar-project) plankton sampling was executed from 1970 to 1973. The cruises 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 and 19 explored the area around Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, where the samples 1-98 (collected from 7 april to 21 july) and 200-214 (collected from 13 November to 18 December) were taken. (Fig.1) The area off the Guyana’s was explored by the cruises 15, 16 and 17 where the stations 99-199 (collected from 23 August to 3 November) were taken. (Fig.2) The net samples taken during cruise 10-19 are from 0 to 6 meters; only during cruise 13 and 14 also samples at 10, 18 and 27 meters were collected. During the cruises 22 and 23, in 1971, some additional net samples were taken. The nets used were open plankton nets of the Plymouth type, with 0,056 mm. diameter meshes. For the exact position of the stations and further information, one is refered to Van der Spoel and Koperdraat (1974). All samples were sorted. The fish eggs were counted and preserved in 4% formaline. The fish larvae were stained, mounted in 3486 slides and counted. All material collected is preserved in the Institute of Taxonomic Zoology of the University of Amsterdam.

Description: This paper is the first contribution to the knowledge of the freshwater sponges of Suriname. Four species have been identified up till now: Metania spinata (Carter, 1881), Trochospongilla paulula (Bowerbank, 1863), Radiospongilla crateriformis (Potts, 1882), and Drulia uruguayensis Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1969. Since in most instances slides were the only available source of data, details on external structure cannot be supplied. The author is indebted to Dr. D. C. GEIJSKES of the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden, who kindly provided a great deal of the material for study, as well as to Dr. W. VERVOORT, Leiden, and to Drs. P. LEENTVAAR, R.I.N., Leersum, who also sent specimens. The author also acknowledges the authorities and members of the staff of the Invertebrates Department of the British Museum. Special thanks are due to Miss SHIRLEY STONE who facilitated the study of South American material, and to Prof. J. BENOIT, Invertebrates Department of the Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, who provided African material of great interest.

Description: Quite a few endoparasitic copepods are known from Indo-Pacific stony corals, but not a single species has so far been recorded from the West Indies. Intensive search in the past few decades has even supported the prevailing opinion that West Indian stony corals are devoid of endoparasitic copepods, and that this absence could be related to the complicated zoogeographic past of the West Indian reef. However, during a 6-months stay (November 1973—April 1974) at the Caribbean Marine Biological Institute, in Curaçao (Netherlands’ Antilles), endoparasitic copepods have been found in not less than 14 species of stony corals. Some of these belong to a new family of curiously transformed animals, the CORALLOVEXIIDAE, of which the following forms were found during this study: Genus Corallovexia nov. (type-genus) C. brevibrachium n. sp. (type-species), from Diploria labyrinthiformis (Linnaeus). C. longibrachium n. sp., from Manicina areolata (Linnaeus) forma mayori (typical host), Colpophyllia natans (Müller), and Diploria strigosa (Dana). C. mediobrachium n. sp., from Diploria strigosa (Dana) (typical host), D. clivosa (Ellis & Solander), and possibly from Manicina areolata (Linnaeus) f. mayori. C. mixtibrachium n. sp., from Colpophyllia natans (Müller). C. kristenseni n. sp., from Colpophyllia natans (Müller). C. similis n. sp., from Acropora palmata (Lamarck). C. ventrospinosa n. sp., from Montastraea brasiliana (Verrill) (typical host) and M. cavernosa (Linnaeus). C. dorsospinosa n. sp., from Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus) (typical host) and M. brasiliana (Verrill). C. dorsospinosa var. minor nov., from Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus). C. spec., from Montastraea annularis (Ellis & Solander). Genus Corallonoxia nov. C. longicauda n. sp. (type-species), from Meandrina meandrites (Linnaeus) (typical host) and Dendrogyra cylindrus Ehrenberg. C. baki n. sp., from Eusmilia fastigiata (Pallas) (typical host), and Dendrogyra cylindrus Ehrenberg. C. spec., from Dichocoenia stokesii Milne Edwards & Haime.

Description: Students working at the Caribbean Marine Biological Institute (CARMABI) on the island of Curaçao asked the present author to provide them with a list of Cetacea occurring in the Caribbean. Until recently, compiling such a list was of little use as our knowledge concerning the cetaceans in the area was very poor indeed. During the last few years, however, mainly through the studies by D. K. CALDWELL, M. C. CALDWELL and their collaborators on the lesser cetaceans taken by the small whaling industry on the island of St. Vincent, so much information has become available that it may be now useful to publish a preliminary checklist and a selected bibliography. The preliminary character of this publication must be emphasized, however, and the paper must be seen as a short introduction to the subject for the use of local students. In connection with the last mentioned use, in addition to the Latin and English names, the Dutch names of the cetaceans are given. Because of inadequate knowledge, the northern part of the Caribbean (the area between Cuba, Jamaica, the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and the eastern side of Mexican Yucatán) has not been included.

Description: Pendant le mois d’Avril 1974 des prélèvements furent effectués dans la zone de marées le long de la côte Atlantique de l’Espagne et de la côte Portuguaise. Figure 1 donne un aperçu des espèces provenantes des stations visitées. Les tableaux II jusqu’à VI incl. montrent la nature du milieu, dans lequel les Gammares furent trouvés. Douze espèces furent rencontrées, dont Gammarus salinus est mentionné pour la première fois de l’Espagne et Chaetogammarus stoerensis de Portugal.

Description: The morphology and histology of the reproductive organs of Sagitta planctonis forma planctonis and of S. planctonis forma zetesios are described. No difference in number of oocytes was observed. The existence of a temporary oviduct is questionable. It may be possible that the so-called accessory fertilization cells are not actually participating in fertilization, but they may have a resorptive or secretory function.

Description: Ten species are represented by the 40 wood specimens collected in 1969 from the Angmagssalik District of S.E. Greenland. Information concerning collection localities, diameter of wood specimens, number and breadth of growth rings and eccentricity is given. A comparison of growth ring observations is made with those made by Kruuse (1912), in three species from the same area, in relation to their growth form and environment. An anatomical description of the wood of the 10 species has been made together with an evaluation of some of the anatomical characteristics. Trends towards a modification of the wood due to environmental factors are indicated, but the fact that caution must be exercised when carrying out such an investigation is stressed, with special emphasis on the need for more accurate information regarding environment, the size and age of specimens. H. J. Miller Institute for Systematic Botany State University, Utrecht Netherlands

Description: Conservation of Herberta Gray mut. Lindb. 1875 was rejected by the ‘General Committee’ because of the existence of Herbertia Sweet 1827, a legitimate name in common usage for an Iridaceae genus. Therefore the illegitimate Herberta Gray mut. Lindb. 1875 must be abandoned. The simplest solution seems to be the return to Herbertus Gray 1821, the original legitimate name fully in accordance with the ICBN. This is possible without any further action and avoids any new combination.

Description: A new locality of the rare Brazilian liverwort Myriocoleopsis puiggarii (Lejeuneaceae) the only species in the genus, was discovered in the river Pardo near Barra do Turvo, Sao Paulo State. Data on stem-anatomy, oil-bodies, sporophyte and ecology are provided here for the first time. The species grows on rocks and trunks of shrubs in or near running water. Sporophytes are developed only in plants growing on emerged substrates. Myriocoleopsis seems to be most closely related to Cololejeunea subg. Chlorolejeunea (type; C. madothecoides). The stem in Myriocoleopsis, consisting of c. 30 cortical cells surrounding 1 large medullary cell, is more complex than in all species of Cololejeunea except C. madothecoides. Striking variation in the stem-anatomy of the latter species was observed.

Description: The cover-photograph depicts a so-called golden chicken, which is the apical part of the trunk, without the leaves, of the tree fern Cibotium barametz (Cyatheaceae). It was made by Dr. O. Kranendonk, professor of Tropical Medicine of the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, who had received it from one of his students, presumably from Sumatra, in September 1972. He kept it in a dish with some water in his livingroom, where in January 1975 it was still in much the same shape as first. When I showed the pictures to Mr. E. Hennipman of the Rijksherbarium, he told me that he had seen the curious creatures offered for sale at the Sunday market at Bangkok in September 1965, and showed me a pamphlet in Thai and Chinese that was given to the buyer. The photographer of the Rijksherbarium, Mr. B. Kieft, printed a portion of the Thai text in the background, and Mr. Tem Smitinand, during his visit to Leiden, kindly translated the text into English, which reads thus: ”This plant is sacred. It should be kept in households for good omen. Besides great beauty it also brings great luck. If you are a merchant you will do good business; if you are lucky enough you can become a millionaire. The hair of this plant can be used for various remedies such as wounds caused by a knife, axe and nails, or even dog bites, and scurvy, placing the hair on; and in case of hemorrhage in women, boil the hair, and drink the decoction. If at childbirth the placenta comes out, cover the hair with a cloth and burn it, then let the woman inhale the smoke. If you got diarrhoea or coughing vomiting with blood, use an amount of hair and boil it in water, then drink the decoction. To prevent contagion from animals, such as pigs, dogs, cattle, fowl, steep the hair in water, and utter a wish before feeding the animals. Keeping the plant in the house will ward off witchcraft, and bring in charm and luck. If you want to grow this plant, put it in the sand and then say a cantation in Pali: ’Kukusanto Namobudhaya’. This is the heart of the chicken. You have to give it five different kinds of food, depending on what you have. Keeping the plant in a revered place will help protect your family against danger. Having been planted for one month the plant should be sprayed or rubbed with liquor; in spraying, don’t use the mouth, and then the hair will keep growing all the time, and it will become more sacred. When you have this plant in your house, if there will be any benefit, you will hear a crying noise. When you hdve heard this noise, you will get good luck, depending on what you have wished. Before using the plant as a remedy to illness, you have to make wishes every time. If a woman is difficult in labour you can wish and place the hair of this plant in water and let the woman drink it. This will have good result, which has happened many times.”

Description: Roscoe, William, Monandrian Plants of the Order Scitamineae, etc. Imper.fol., 112 handcol.pl. Add: Cf. J. Cullen, Not.R.Bot.Gard.Edinb. 32 (1973) 417- 421.

Description: A fine collection of portraits of botanists, each with a brief text giving the most important biographical details, is now being published in Taxon to fill the even-numbered pages. These have not been mentioned here. Since recently a Biographical Section has been added to the Rijksherbarium Library, reprints of biographical papers will be highly appreciated!

Description: Recent floristic and phytosociological survey-techniques used in the Netherlands are reviewed by the authors. The particular combination of techniques, used in the investigation of the province of Utrecht, is discussed. A floristic inventory is made of separate habitats in everyone of the kilometer squares; these separate lists are then combined to give a total inventory of 1 kilometer square comparable to the method of MENNEMA (1973). The frequency of each species in the various habitats is also given. Also a phytosociological inventory is made and a new system of mapping the vegetation-units is introduced.

Description: The anatomy of leaf, node, twig, and bark of Ilex, Nemopanthus, Oncotheca, Phelline, and Sphenostemon is described, together with the wood anatomy of the 4 latter genera. Several characters are recorded for the first time. The systematic value of some anatomical characters for judging the wider affinities of the genera involved is discussed. Considering these characters together with macromorphological and palynological data, it is concluded that Phelline and Sphenostemon each merit family status, and have affinities with Aquifoliaceae and Icacinaceae of the Celastrales. Oncotheca shows no affinities with the families of Celastrales, and may possibly have its closest relatives in Theales, but this problem has not been studied in great detail. The leaf anatomy of 95 Ilex species is described, and the great leaf anatomical diversity of Ilex is discussed with reference to Loesener’s infrageneric classification. In general, leaf anatomy cannot be used to support his elaborate subdivision of the genus. Infraspecific leaf anatomical variability is reported and discussed for 15 species of Ilex. Attention is paid to some geographical, ecological, and functional aspects of the leaf anatomical range of variation in Ilex. This range has a general significance for systematic leaf anatomy, because it shows the restricted value of several characters for the discussion of affinities above the genus level.

Description: Plesioneurott, originally published as a subgenus of Mesophlebion, is here raised to generic rank. New descriptions of both genera are provided, keys to all known species, and synonymy and description for each. Synonymy is reduced to basionyms except where other synonyms refer to important literature; in all cases published combinations in Thelypteris are recorded. Type material of all basionyms has been examined. An index of new names and of all basionyms cited is provided. Mesophlebion, as here arranged, is confined to Malesia (with a short extension northwards from Malaya) with Borneo as centre of distribution. It comprises 18 species, of which the following are new: M. dulitense, M. caroli, M. rufescens, and M. arenicola. The following basionyms are reduced to synonymy: Dryopteris paleata Copel., D. divergens Rosenst., D. subdimorpha Copel., Aspidium latum Mett., Syngramma angusta Copel. Mesophlebion is perhaps most nearly related to Cyclosorus sensu Holttum 1971. Plesioneuron is distributed mainly in New Guinea and the Pacific, with one species in North Borneo, two in the Moluccas, and two in the Philippines. It comprises 39 species, of which the following are here described as new: P. ctenolobum, P. doctersii, P. dryas, P. fuchsii, P. kundipense, P. platylobum, P. pullei, P. royenii, P. rigidilobum, P. subglabrum, P. subterminale, P. tahitense, P. translucens; also a new variety P. hopeanum (Bak.) Holttum var. acutilobum. The following basionyms are reduced to synonymy: Lastrea varievestita Copel., Dryopteris hunsteiniana Brause, D. ensipinna Brause, D. quadriaurita Copel., D. schlechteri Brause, D. schizophylla v.A.v.R., Aspidium brackenridgei Mett., Nephrodium inaequilaterale Baker. Plesioneuron appears to be most nearly related to Chingia Holttum.

Description: 1. The genus Crossonephelis Baill. (1874) is reduced to Glenniea Hook.f. (1862). The necessary new combinations have been made. 2. Crossotiephelis (Lepisanthes) palawanicus (Radlk.) Leenh. is reduced to Glenniea (Cnemidiscus) thorelii (Pierre) Leenh. 3. Melanodiscus sp. nov. Dale & Greenway, formerly placed under Crossotiephelis africanus Leenh., appears to represent a different genus, probably new, possibly near Eriocoelum of the Cupanieae.

Description: Arbor parva ramulis 3—5 mm diametro glabratis atrogriseis cortice lenticellato innovationibus perminute sparseque cinereo-stellato-puberulentis (trichomatibus paucibrachiatis). Folia 4.5—9.5 cm longa, 3.5—8.2 cm lata, subcircularia vel late obovata glabra coriacea basi obtusato minime cuneato, apice obtuse late retuso-emarginato (ad instar folii generis Coccoloba fam. Polygonaceae); petiolo 10—15 mm longo 2.5 mm diametro supra canaliculato; costa media utrinque leviter elevata; nervis lateralibus 4—5-paribus suboppositis, venulis subscalariformibus. Inflorescentia 1—3-flora vulgo bifurcata pedunculo 7—10 mm longo pedicellis 2—3 mm longis axibus omnibus sparseque cinereopuberulentis, bracteis non vidi (delapsis). Flores pentameri, calyce infundibuliforme 6x6 mm subdensiter cinereo-stellato-puberulente, lobis obtusis vix 0.5 mm altis; petalis lineari-lanceolatis c. 28 mm longis basi 4 mm lato, minute cinereo-stellato-puberulento in pagina abaxiale, intus in pagina adaxiale marginibus exceptis pubescenti trichomatibus simplicibus c. 0.2 mm longis; alabastris anguste obclavatis apice rotundato-obtuso; staminibus linearibus basi expanso interne excavato supra depressione umbonato deinde densiter hirsutulo (trichomatibus simplicibus), filamento supra partem basalem glabro compresse ligulato 10—11X1.6 mm; anthera 10—12 mm longa attenuata thecis separatis apice minute obtuso. Discus (apex ovarii) glaberrimus obscure 5-lobatus 4—5 mm latus 1.7 mm altus, stylo centrali columniforme 22—26 mm longo apice obtuso 4—5-canaliculato omnino (apice excepto) hirsutulo trichomatibus adscendenti-appressibus acicularibus usque ad I mm longis 1-cellularibus; stigma glabro circiter 0.9 mm longo; loculis 3 mm longis intus praecipue in basi hirsutulis. (Fructus ignotus). BORNEO. Sarawak: Kuching Dist., Bukit Siol, in disturbed primary forest, small tree 30 ft. high, fl. Oct. 1964, Saleh ak Nantah S. 24, 325 (SAR, holotype; A, BO, K, KEP, L, SAN, SING).

Description: Of all plant families the Meliaceae is among the more useful to man, chiefly for its high quality timbers and for the ease with which some species can be grown in plantations. Almost confined to the tropics, its species nevertheless pervade them, and occur, often conspicuously, in a variety of habitats from rain forest to mangrove swamp and semidesert. For its size, the family probably contains a wider range of floral and fruit structures than any comparable group. In what other family is there such a diversity of primitive ‘arillate’5 seeds, side-by-side with such an array of derived fruits and seeds, and still connected by intermediates? Or, to take the flower, where else can be found such a diversity of forms, from the minute, but structurally complex, flowers of Aglaia, often no larger than a pin-head, to the moth-pollinated flowers of some Turraea, with their slender staminal tubes reaching a length of 12 cm or more?

Description: NEPOMORPHA OF THE GUYANA REGION The Nepomorpha of the Guyana Region are keyed out and described. In addition distributional, faunistical and comparative notes on the species are given. New species and subspecies: Ochterus aeneifrons surinamensis, O. tenebrosus; Limnocoris fittkaui surinamensis; Ranatra adelomorpha; Neoplea globoidea; Buenoa amnigenopsis; Tenagobia pseudoromani from Suriname and Ranatra ornitheia from Guyana. New synonyms (junior ones between parenthesis): Gelaslocorus flavus flavus Guér. (G. nebulosus nebulosus Guér.); Pelocoris impicticollis Stål (P. horváthi Mont.), P. poeyi (Guér.) not identical with P. femoratus (P.-B.) (P. convexus Nieser), P. procurrens White (P. minutus Mont.); Belostoma bicavum Lauck ( B. parvoculum Lauck); Ranatra doesburgi De Carlo (R. usingeri De C.), R. macrophthalma H.-S. (R. surinamensis De C.), R. mediana Mont. (R. williamsi Kuitert), R. obscura Mont. (R. annulipes White 1879 not Stål), R. sarmentoi De C. (R. ameghinoi De C.); Buenoa amnigenopsis n. sp. ( B. amnigenus Nieser 1968, 1970 not White), B. amnigenus (White) (B. amnigenoidea Nieser 1970), B. nitida Truxal (B. doesburgi Nieser); Heterocorixa surinamensis Nieser ( H. boliviensis Nieser 1970 not Hungerford); Tenagobia incerta Lundbl. ( T. signata and T. serrata in part, Nieser 1970 not White and Deay respectively), T. socialis (White) (T. serrata in part, Nieser 1970 not Deay).

Description: The construction of large reservoirs such as the man-made Brokopondo lake, is certainly not the result of proposals and conclusions of biological studies, but rather of political, technological and economical decisions without serious consideration of the biological implications. The biologist is faced with the results of a serious and hazardous intervention in the environment of man, animals and plants, which must be evaluated and if possible managed after planning and construction. Therefore it is a positive development that in recent years in more cases the ecological aspect of dam construction is integrated in the plans. In the case of Lake Brokopondo, officially called Prof. Dr. Ir. W. J. van Blommesteinmeer, long before the work was started the biological implication of the construction of a dam in the Suriname River was considered in a scientific study (SCHULZ 1954) sponsored by the Foundation for Scientific Research in Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles (STUDIEKRING), which study however, appeared to have no influence on the planning. The “barrage” was built by the Suriname Aluminium Company (SURALCO) for hydro-electric purposes and completed on February 1, 1964. In 1962 the Executive Board of the Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Research in Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles (WOSUNA) allocated funds for the carrying out of the Brokopondo Research Project and so in November 1963 the hydrobiological investigations in the future lake region could be started. Some months later also botanical and ichthyological research began.

Description: In 1969 the author’s attention was caught by the variability of some species of the genus Vermiliopsis, sensu lato, so extreme, that at the time it was impossible to distinguish the various species. The present review is the third in a series of revisionary studies on the former genus Vermiliopsis. The first one dealt with the genus Metavermilia Bush (ZIBROWIUS, 1971), the second with the genus Bathyvermilia Zibrowius (ZIBROWIUS, 1973a). A study on the genus Vermiliopsis, sensu stricto, is in preparation. The material was collected mainly by dr. P. WAGENAAR HUMMELINCK, when sampling on various islands, in a number of habitats from the tidal zone down to a depth of about 2 m (1930, 1948/49, 1955, 1963/64, 1967); by the “Onderzoekingen Continentaal Plat Suriname Expedities” in 1966 and 1969 (shelf of Surinam, 27—130 m); and by the author in 1970 in the Netherlands Antilles (down to a depth of 46 m). This material, as a rule, was preserved with formaldehyde and after a short period transferred to alcohol. These specimens are deposited for the greater part in the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden (RMNH) or in the author’s collection (tHU). As far as possible, small series have been presented to other museums, which sent material on loan; these are indicated with an exclamation mark in the acknowledgements below.

Description: This paper is a further contribution to the knowledge of the Heteroptera of the Netherlands Antilles continuing the series on bugs of this region (COBBEN, 1960a, b; DRAKE & COBBEN, 1960a, b; WYGODZINSKY, 1960; NIESER, 1967, 1969a, b; COBBEN & WYGODZINSKY, 1975). It is based on the material of berytinids collected by the second author while studying the bugs of these islands. The material collected contained a total number of 65 specimens of Berytinidae divided into 3 genera and 3 species: Pronotacantha armata Stusak, from Curaçao; Aknisus multispinus Ashmead, from Bonaire, Aruba and Curaçao; Jalysus reductus Barber, from Saba, St. Eustatius and Curaçao. Pronotacantha armata and Aknisus multispinus had not yet been recorded from the Antilles. Jalysus reductus is already known from the region studied; however, it is recorded here for the first time from the Lesser Antilles.

Description: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, is a 175 km² xeric island lying off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. The flat coral and limestone regions of the shore contrast with the rolling hills that rise in the east to elevations of 188 meters. Vegetation types are varied. The island has excellent maps (LENS 1910, MEUTER 1963), and its natural history has been surveyed and described by various scientists, e.g. MARTIN (1888), BAKER (1924), WESTERMANN (1932), WAGENAAR HUMMELINCK (1940a, 1953), Voous (1955, 1957, 1959), STOFFERS (1956), DE BUISONJÉ (1974), while herpetological data have been published by WAGENAAR HUMMELINCK (1940b) and BRONGERSMA (1940, 1948).

Description: The dimensions are given of three skulls of Lipotes vexillifer, the only specimens preserved in collections outside of China. At the same time drawings of the Lipotes vexillifer skull in the British Museum (Natural History) have been made and published with a photograph of the London specimen before it was dissected. Reasons are stated for refuting the affinity of Lipotes with Platanista, as postulated by Hinton & Pycraft (1922).

Description: In this paper, tadpoles belonging to three related groups of Malagasy frogs are described; both the Dyscophinae and the Cophylinae are subfamilies of the Microhylidae, while the Scaphiophryninae are alternatively assigned to this subfamily or to the Ranidae. The larvae were reared up to the juvenile stage in order to classify them. The tadpole of Dyscophus quinquelineatus (Dyscophinae), the first to be described within the genus, is of the microphagous microhylid type; it has a median spiracle, neither denticles nor beak or papillae, the nostrils do not appear until shortly before the metamorphosis, and the forelimbs develop behind the branchial chambers. The tadpole of Pseudohemisus granulosus (Scaphiophryninae), the first to be described within the genus with certainty, shows microhylid features, such as the absence of beak and denticles, the retarded appearance of the nostrils, and the development of the forelimbs behind the branchial chambers. However, the intermediate position of the spiracle, between median and sinistral, and the papillae around the mouth indicate affinities with other groups. The larval form of the Scaphiophryninae is just as difficult to classify as the adult. The systematic position of this subfamily is discussed and the assumption is made that it represents a relict of the ranoid stock from which the Microhylidae evolved. The larval development in the arboreal species Platyhyla grandis, Plethodontohyla notosticta and Anodonthyla boulengeri (Cophylinae) is similar. The large eggs are deposited separately in arboreal holes filled with water, mainly in the dry season. The larva hatches just before the limb buds occur; it has neither spiracle, nor anus, beak, denticles or papillae, and it is free-swimming. It completes its development on the large amount of yolk within the nesting site. It is demonstrated, that parental care occurs in this group. The male stayed with the developing spawn in all cases. Removal of the male caused a high mortality of the spawn, due to mould. The food items, recovered from species of Cophylinae, consisted mainly of ants.