Pioli, A. (2015). Contribution to the inventory of Corsican bryophytes: new data on the presence of some new, rare or uncommon species. Candollea 70: 101–107. In French, English and French abstracts.

A bryological study on Corsican wetlands near the Col de Verde, and several surveys of the bryoflora in different regions conducted between 2008 and 2014, allowed to collect rare, uncommon and new species for the island. We report about Barbilophozia attenuate (Mart.) Loeske, Jamesoniella autumnalis (DC.) Steph. (hepatics), Hygroamblystegium tenax (Hedw.) Jenn. and Thamnobryum alopecurum var. gracillimum (Bot.) Dull (mosses), all new for the island. In addition, new localities are added for 5 hepatics and 20 mosses that are rare or uncommon in Corsica. Including these new discoveries, the island's bryoflora now comprises 3 hornworts, 156 liverworts and 419 mosses, for a total of 578 species.

Jeanmonod, D. (ed.) (2015). Notes on Corsican flora, XXV. Candollea 70: 109–140. In French, English and French abstracts.

These “notes” deal with 110 noteworthy taxa amongst which 21 are new to the island's flora. One of these taxa is native: Reseda alba subsp. hookeri and 20 are introduced: Abies pinsapo, Acer ×coriaceum, Albizia julibrissin, Arundo micrantha, Azolla filiculoides, Bolboschoenus laticarpus, Digitaria ciliaris, Digitaria violascens, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. globulus, Genista januensis subsp. lydia, Hedera helix subsp. maroccana, Morus kagayamae, Oenothera rosea, Paspalum vaginatum, Puccinellia festuciformis subsp. lagascana, Silene fuscata, Solanum mauritianum, Veronica filiformis and Vitis riparia × V. rupestris. The presence of Aegilops ventricosa and Legousia speculum-veneris is presently confirmed. However Carex praecox, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Herniaria hirsuta subsp. cinerea, Juncus acutiflorus and Juncus compressus must be deleted from the Corsican Flora due to their confusion with other related taxa. New localities are given for 48 taxa considered as “very rare” (RR) out of which 10 become “rare” (R) on the one hand, and for 23 taxa considered to be “rare” (R) out of which 12 change their status from “rare” to “not common” (PF) or “localised” (LOC), on the other. Finally, the data published for the 12 remaining taxa (considered as “localised” (LOC) or “not common” (PF) constitute a considerable increase of our knowledge about their distribution. The new sites often correspond to new sectors for these taxa. Fourteen out of 110 taxa are endemic, 11 are part of the red list and 44 are xenophytic species. A distribution map is also provided for Carex extensa and Cerastium siculum.

Mcpherson, G. (2015). Observations on Madagascan Amyrea Leandri and Tannodia Baill. (Euphorbiaceae). Candollea 70: 141–144. In English, English and French abstracts.

Seven names for currently recognized taxa within Madagascan Amyrea Leandri and Tannodia Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) are discussed and reduced to synonymy, and in some cases in a different genus. Amyrea celastroides Radcl.-Sm. is synonymized under Amyrea humbertii Leandri, Amyrea eucleoides Radcl.-Sm. under Cleistanthus occidentalis (Leandri) Leandri, Amyrea maprouneifolia Radcl.-Sm. under Tannodia cordifolia Baill., Amyrea myrtifolia Radcl.-Sm. under Thecacoris perrieri Leandri, Amyrea stenocarpa Radcl.-Sm. under Amyrea humbertii Leandri, Tannodia grandiflora var. myrtifolia Radcl.-Sm. under Tannodia cordifolia Baill., and Tannodia nitida Radcl.-Sm. under Tannodia perrieri Baill.

Möller, M., K. Nishii, M. W. Callmander, P. B. Phillipson & O. Poncy (2015). Rearranging specimens on herbarium type sheets of Streptocarpus betsiliensis Humbert (Gesneriaceae). Candollea 70: 145–150. In English, English and French abstracts.

During recent herbarium research on the Malagasy species of Gesneriaceae, a hitherto undetected mixed collection of the type of Streptocarpus betsiliensis Humbert (Perrier de la Bâthie 12482), was observed at the Paris herbarium (P). Of the three sheets present, one, the holotype [P00088746], comprised only Streptocarpus betsiliensis specimens, while the two isotypes, [P00088747, P00088748], were found to comprise a mixture of this species and a closely related and easily confused species, Streptocarpus lanatus MacMaster. As a result of this, the specimens on the mixed sheets were physically separated and the collections were distinguished by the suffixes A and B. They were then remounted to form species-specific sheets, rescanned, and the databases at P updated accordingly.

Byng, J. W., P. B. Phillipson & N. Snow (2015). Nomenclatural notes on Malagasy Syzygium Gaertn. (Myrtaceae). Candollea 70: 151–155. In English, English and French abstracts.

Several nomenclature issues came to light whilst preparing a revision of Syzygium Gaertn. (Myrtaceae) for Madagascar, resulting in the new combinations Syzygium cuneifolium (Baker) Byng, N. Snow & Phillipson and Syzygium thouvenotii (Danguy) Byng, and a clarification of the taxonomic status of Eugenia tanalensis Baker.

Jeanmonod, D., Y. Naciri, A. Schlüssel & J. Gamisans (2015). Floristic analyses of the Corsican flora: biogeographical origin and endemism. Candollea 70: 21–41. In English. English and French abstracts.

This article discusses various aspects of the biogeographical origin and endemism of the Corsican flora based on data retrieved from “Flora Corsica” project. It focuses on species richness, taxonomy, life forms, taxa abundance, distribution in vegetation belts, habitats and substrate types. The results are compared to other geographic regions, particularly Mediterranean ones. These data show that in Corsica the species of Mediterranean origin are slightly more numerous than those of Holarctic origin. It is surprising that the Holarctic elements start to dominate at low altitude in the supramediterranean belt. The endemic flora (12.7%) shows distribution patterns often distinct from those of the non-endemic native flora, particularly regarding taxonomy, biological types and altitudinal distributions. The rates of hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes are for instance higher for the former compared to the latter while it is the reverse for therophytes. These rates are quite similar to those recorded in Sardinia, but rather different from those of other Mediterranean islands. More unexpected is the abundance pattern of endemic species which is quite similar to that of non-endemic ones. However, strictly endemic Corsican species are generally rarer than subendemics. The number of endemic species increases from the coast to the montane belt and then decreases in the upper belts. The percentage of endemic species, meanwhile, regularly increases from the thermomediterranean belt to the alpine one where it reachs a maximum of 43.1%. The endemic flora also shows a wider altitudinal spectrum than other native species. The distribution of endemic species in the different Corsican habitats is slightly different from the one recorded for the indigeneous taxa. Endemics are however preferentially found in rocky habitats, but without any preference for a particular substrate. In the endemic flora, the Mediterranean origin is predominant but this trend is more marked in subendemics. The strict Corsican endemics have a mostly Holarctic origin and are more often found at high altitudes. These results shed light on the specificity of the Corsican endemic flora and should help the management of endemic species.

Kollmann, L.J.-C., R. Da Silva Lopes & A. Luna Peixoto (2015) Begonia jaguarensis L. Kollmann, R. S. Lopes & Peixoto (Begoniaceae), a new species from North of Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Candollea 70: 43–48. In English, English abstract.

Begonia jaguarensis L. Kollmann, R. S. Lopes & Peixoto (Begoniaceae), a new species from North of Espírito Santo state, Brazil, is described and illustrated. This new species is related to Begonia thelmae L. B. Sm. & Wassh. with which it is compared. Diagnosis, description, conservation status, pictures, map and comments about geographic distribution are also provided.

Rakotondrainibe, F. & A. Jouy (2015). Novelties in the genus Huperzia Bernh. (Lycophytes, Lycopodiaceae) from Madagascar. Candollea 70:49–56. In French, English and French abstracts.

Within the context of the revision of Lycopodiaceae from Madagascar, two new species, Huperzia ambrensis Rakotondr. and Huperzia teretirigida Rakotondr., are described and illustrated. Two new synonyms are also proposed: Huperzia hildebrandtii (Herter) Tardieu is a synonym of Huperzia squarrosa (G. Forst.) Trevis. and Huperzia rubrica (Herter) Tardieu is a synonym of Huperzia ophioglossoides (Lam.) Rothm. A presumed hybrid, Huperzia megastachya (Baker) Tardieu × Huperzia squarrosa (G. Forst.) Trevis., is described and compared with its putative parents.

García Martínez, X. R. & F.J. Silva-Pando (2015). Narcissus ×dezanus García Mart. & Silva Pando (Amaryllidaceae), a new nothospecies from North West of Spain. Candollea 70: 5–7. In Spanish, English abstract.

A new nothospecies Narcissus ×dezanus García Mart. & Silva Pando (Narcissus asturiensis (Jord.) Pugsley × Narcissus cyclamineus DC.) (Amaryllidaceae) is described from North West of Spain.

Randrianasolo, A. & P. P. Lowry II (2015). A new species of Operculicarya H. Perrier (Anacardiaceae) from western dry forest of Madagascar. Candollea 70: 57–60. In English, English and French abstracts.

A new species of Operculicarya H. Perrier (Anacardiaceae) is described from material collected in dry forest on karstic limestone in western Madagascar, bringing the total number of species in the genus to nine. Operculicarya calcicola Randrian. & Lowry is distinguished from the other members of the genus by the size and shape of its leaves and leaflets, the structure of its infructescence, and the size of its fruits. An illustration is provided along with a distribution map and preliminary assessment of its risk of extinction following the IUCN Red List criteria, which indicates a status of Least Concern.

Allorge, L., P. B. Phillipson & R. Razakamalala (2015). Catharanthus makayensis L. Allorge, Phillipson & Razakamal. (Apocynaceae), a new species from Madagascar. Candollea 70: 61–66. In English, English and French abstracts.

Catharanthus makayensis L. Allorge, Phillipson & Razakamal. (Apocynaceae), a species new to science from Madagascar is described and illustrated. It differs from all other species in the genus by the hexagonal cross-section of its stems, and by a combination of flowering and fruiting characters. Its 5–6 mm long filiform sepals are clearly much narrower and longer than all other species with the exception of Catharanthus coriaceus Markgr., but the latter species is highly distinct with its pendulous fruits, as opposed to erect fruits of Catharanthus makayensis and all other species of the genus. Catharanthus makayensis and Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don are the only species to have a magenta, rather than white to pale yellow eye. The corolla lobes and the flower buds of Catharanthus makayensis are pure white or tinted pale pink whereas Catharanthus roseus typically has pink lobes. The relationships of the new species with the eight other species of Catharanthus G. Don are discussed and an identification key to the Malagasy species of the genus is provided.

Pulvirenti S., M. M. Indriolo, P. Pavone & R. M. S. Costa (2015). Study of a pre-Linnaean Herbarium attributed to Francesco Cupani (1657–1710). Candollea 70: 67–99. In English, English abstract.

The aim of this work is the study of one of the two pre-Linnaean herbaria belonging to the University of Catania, attributed to Francesco Cupani, a 17th century Sicilian botanist, specifically the volume with the inventory number “VII f2 Hortus Botanicus Catinensis”. The two collections were previously unknown and found in 1992 as a result of reorganising the Herbarium of Catania University. The volume examined comprises 164 pages with 1–12 specimens on each sheet. Most likely, some samples come from the Misilmeri Garden of the Prince of Cattolica, to which Cupani dedicated great commitment in its creation, while others may have been acquired from exchanges with contemporary scientists; this is testified by the presence of non-Sicilian or extra-European species and by the extensive correspondence between the Sicilian friar and many contemporary botanists. The material in the herbarium comprises phanerogams (610 angiosperms and 5 gymnosperms), along with a small number of cryptogams (14 pteridophytes, 9 algae and 1 lichen), and 4 marine animals are also present. Unfortunately, some samples are partially or entirely damaged or even missing; nonetheless it has been possible to identify most of them. The Cupani's herbarium is compared with some pre-Linnaean herbaria in order to highlight their main similarities and differences.

Zizka, A., A. Thiombiano, S. Dressler, B. M. I. Nacoulma, A. Ouédraogo, I. Ouédraogo, O. ouédraogo, G. Zizka, K. Hahn & M. Schmidt (2015). The vascular plant diversity of Burkina Faso (West Africa) — a quantitative analysis and implications for conservation. Candollea 70: 9–20 In English, English and French abstracts.

Based on a species inventory and the related distribution dataset, the authors present a quantitative analysis of the vascular plant diversity of Burkina Faso (BFA) and its four phytogeographic zones. We analyzed species richness, higher taxon diversity, life forms, chorological types, introduced species, habitat preferences and the number of rare species. The flora of BFA comprises 1972 non-cultivated vascular plant species in 752 genera and 145 families. Species richness and plant family richness are highest in the South Sudanian zone in the South of the country. Fabaceae, Poaceae and Cyperaceae are the most species rich plant families. Only one species (Isoetes jaegeri Pitot) is endemic to the country, whereas the vast majority occurs throughout Africa. The flora is dominated by therophytes and phanerophytes. Our results show a good representation of the West African flora in BFA. The flora and vegetation of the four phytogeographic zones within BFA is determined by the latitudinal climatic gradient of the region. The relative number of phanerophytes and forest species decrease along the gradient, while the relative number of therophytes increase. Based on the specimen record we classified 38% of the plant species as “rare” to BFA. The analyses show that the south-west of BFA is a center of national biodiversity and a potential “hotspot” for conservation. In addition to its high species richness this area harbors the highest number of rare species (409 species, 29%) including the endemic species.