Reveal, J. L. (Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-5815; Honorary Curator, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458; mailing address: 18625 Spring Canyon Rd., Montrose, CO 81401-7906, U.S.A.; jr19@umail.umd.edu) & C. R. Björk (Stillinger Herbarium, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83854, U.S.A.; cbjork@onewest.net). Eriogonum soliceps (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae), a new species from east-central Idaho and southwestern Montana. Brittonia 56: 295–298. 2004.—Eriogonum soliceps, a new species of subg. Eucycla sect. Capitata, is described. It may be readily distinguished from all other taxa of the subgenus by its reduced inflorescence. From its presumed nearest relative, E. mancum, this new species differs in its solitary (vs. 2–5) involucre, presence of a peduncle but no scape, lack of bracts at the base of the involucre, and distinctly pustulose midribs of the mature flowers.

Reveal, J. L. (Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-5815, and Honorary Curator, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458; mailing address: 18625 Spring Canyon Road, Montrose, CO 81401-7906, U.S.A.; jr19@umail.umd.edu). Johanneshowellia (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae), a new genus from the Intermountain West. Brittonia 56: 299–306. 2004.—A new genus of Polygonaceae subfam. Eriogonoideae is established for what has long been known as Eriogonum puberulum. Named Johanneshowellia in honor of the late John Thomas Howell (1903–1994), a new combination, J. puberula, and a new species, J. crateriorum, are established. The common name Howell's-buckwheat is proposed for the group. The new genus differs from other members of the subfamily in having its involucral structure reduced to a spiral of four to seven bracts each of which is associated with a flower-bearing pedicel and a basal bractlet. In bud and early anthesis the outer two (rarely outer three) bracts may be partially connate, but typically become separate at full anthesis. The connate, ternate, foliar bracts at the base of the node act as a traditional Eriogonum-like involucre surrounding the branches of the inflorescence, the involucral bracts, and the flowers. Members of the new genus are found in the arid Intermountain West of the United States from Inyo Co., California, across Nevada to western Utah.

Endress, M. E. (Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland; mendress@systbot.unizh.ch). New species of Malouetia (Apocynaceae): A trio from Amazonia. Brittonia 56(4): 307– 313. 2004.—Three new species of Malouetia (Apocynaceae) are described and illustrated: M. amazonica and M. pumila from Brazil and M. gentryi from Peru. Malouetia amazonica grows in inundated igapó forest, whereas the other two are found in non-inundated habitats: M. pumila in campa fechada, and M. gentryi in upland forest.

Koehler, S. and Amaral, M.C.E. (Depto. Botânica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, C.P. 6109, Campinas, SP, 13083–970, Brazil; skoehler@unicamp.br). A taxonomic study of the South American genus Bifrenaria Lindl. (Orchidaceae). Brittonia 56: 314–345. 2004.—A taxonomic study is presented for the South American orchid genus Bifrenaria Lindl., which is characterized, within the subtribe Maxillariinae, by four-angled, unifoliate pseudobulbs, plicate leaves, and by flowers bearing a conspicuous spur and a pollinarium usually with a forked stipe. We consider Bifrenaria a monophyletic group including Adipe (=Stenocoryne), Cydoniorchis, and Bifrenaria sensu stricto. The main goals of this study are to present a taxonomic synopsis of genus Bifrenaria, determining which taxa should be recognized, their distributions, and which characters traditionally used to discriminate species are taxonomically informative. Identification keys, descriptions, distribution maps, and line drawings are also provided.

Guerrero, A., W. S. Judd & A. B. Morris (Department of Botany, 220 Bartram Hall, P.O. Box 118526, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, U.S.A.; wjudd@botany.ufl.edu). A new species of Illicium subsection Parviflora (Illiciaceae) from the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti. Brittonia 56: 346–352. 2004.— Illicium hottense, a new species, is here described from the floristically diverse Massif de la Hotte of southern Haiti. It is compared to related species, especially I. ekmanii, with which it has previously been confused. Illicium hottense and I. ekmanii are members of Illicium subsection Parviflora, a group that comprises four species, all endemic to peninsular Florida (I. parviflorum) or the Greater Antilles: Cuba (I. cubense) and Hispaniola (I. ekmanii, and I. hottense). The subsection is characterized by its distinctive laminar-carnose, ovoid stamens; all have trisyncolpate pollen. Illicium hottense is similar to I. ekmanii and I. parviflorum in having flowers with ten to thirteen carpels and six to less commonly eight stamens, but differs from both in its strongly papillose outer tepals and consistently acute leaves. In addition, its leaves lack the strong anise fragrance of I. parviflorum. Finally, molecular data provide support for recognizing I. hottense as a species distinct from I. ekmanii.

Secco, R. S. (Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Cx. Postal 399, Belém, PA, Brazil; rsecco@museu-goeldi.br). Croton dissectistipulatus, a new species of Euphorbiaceae from Amazonian Brazil. Brittonia 56: 353–356. 2004.—A new species of Croton, C. dissectistipulatus, is described from Amazonian Brazil. This species is superficially similar to C. timandroides from northeastern and southeastern Brazil, but differs in having petiolate leaves with glandular margins, persistent stipules, conspicuous racemose inflorescences, staminate flowers having externally glabrous sepals and 3 stamens, and pedicellate pistillate flowers. The systematic position of C. dissectistipulatus relative to the sections of Croton is discussed.

Secco, R. S. (Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Cx. Postal 399, Belém, PA, Brazil; rsecco@museu-goeldi.br). Croton dissectistipulatus, uma nova Euphorbiaceae da Amazonia brasileira. Brittonia 56: 353–356. 2004.—Uma nova espécie de Croton da Amazônia brasileira, C. dissectistipulatus, é descrita. Essa espécie é superficialmente semelhante a C. timandroides, do nordeste e sudeste do Brasil, mas separa-se por apresentar folhas pecioladas, com as margens glandulosas, estípulas persistentes, inflorescências em racemos, conspícuas, flores estaminadas com sépalas glabras externamente, estames 3 e flores pistiladas pediceladas. A posição sistemática de C. dissectistipulatus em relação às seções de Croton é discutida.

Fiaschi, P. (Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 5422-970, C.P. 11461, São Paulo, Brazil; pedrofiaschi@hotmail.com). Schefflera aurata, a new species of Araliaceae from southern Bahia, Brazil. Brittonia 56: 357–360. 2004.—Schefflera aurata, a new species of Araliaceae endemic to the restinga forests of southern Bahia, Brazil, is described and illustrated. It is probably related to S. morototoni, but can be distinguished by leaflets with strongly coriaceous blades, cuspidate apices, golden-sericeous indument of the abaxial surfaces, partial inflorescences with 8–12 subsessile flowers, elongated ovaries, and distinctly larger fruits.

Fiaschi, P. (Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 5422-970, C.P. 11461, São Paulo, Brazil; pedrofiaschi@hotmail.com). Schefflera aurata, a new species of Araliaceae from southern Bahia (Brazil). Brittonia 56: 357–360. 2004.—Schefflera aurata, uma espécie nova de Araliaceae endêmica das Matas de Restinga do sul da Bahia, Brasil, é descrita e ilustrada. Possui provável relação filogenética com S. morototoni, da qual pode ser diferenciada pelos folíolos com a lâmina fortemente coriácea e o ápice cuspidado, o indumento dourado da superfície abaxial, as inflorescências parciais com 8–12 flores subsésseis, o ovário alongado e os frutos consideravelmente maiores.

Roitman, G. G. (Cátedra de Jardinería. Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453. 1417. Buenos Aires, Argentina; roitman@mail.agro.uba.ar) & A. Castillo (Jardín Botánico de Ezeiza, Jujuy 1037, 1804, Ezeiza, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina; ezeizabotgard@hotmail.com). A new species, Herbertia crosae (Iridaceae), from Uruguay. Brittonia 56: 361–364. 2004.—Herbertia crosae (Iridaceae) is described from the stony grasslands of northwestern Uruguay. The new species resembles Herbertia lahue but can be easily distinguished by the narrower leaves, slender habit, the smaller pale lilac flowers, the presence of yellow spots at the base of the tepals, the red, adpressed hairs along the filament column, the presence of filaments free at the apex, the channeled style arm, the recurved secondary divisions of the style arm, and the smaller fruits. A key to the species of the genus is provided in which five species are now recognized.

Williams, R. L. (1701 South 17th St., Laramie, WY 82070; Frenchcreek@wyoming.com). An intellectual biography of Elie-Abel Carrière (1818– 1896). Brittonia 56: 365–374. 2004.—An intellectual biography of Elie-Abel Carrière is presented, including a list of taxa named by him in the gymnosperms. He was the leading authority on gymnosperms in the middle years of the 19th century, and he was also the major French horticulturist of that era. He was also an active proponent of the reforestation of the mountains that began under Napoleon III after many decades of popular resistance.

Essig, F. B. & L. Litten (Institute for Systematic Botany, Department of Biology, SCA 110, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620-5200, U.S.A.; essig@chuma1.cas.usf.edu). A systematic histological analysis of palm fruits VII. The Cyrtostachydinae (Arecaceae). Brittonia 56: 375– 379. 2004.—Fruit specimens representing five taxa of the genus Cyrtostachys were examined histologically in order to characterize the pericarp anatomy of the monogeneric subtribe Cyrtostachydinae (tribe Areceae, subfamily Arecoideae), as part of an ongoing survey of the family. The pericarp in this genus can be characterized by a combination of papillate epidermis, heavy layer of tanniniferous/ pigmented cells below the epidermis, a system of vascular bundles with thick fibrous sheaths with purely fibrous bundles frequently above and below, absence of brachysclereids, and a very thin sclerified locular epidermis. On the basis of pericarp structure alone, the genus might be most closely related to the Gronophyllum alliance of the subtribe Arecinae. This diverges somewhat from the hypothesis of relationship with the Areca group of the Arecinae resulting from two DNA-based phylogenetic studies, and even further from the hypothesis of relationship with Iguanura suggested by another DNA-based phylogenetic study.