Genus Erica: An identification aid version 4.00.

Species identification is fundamental to all aspects of biology and conservation. The process can be challenging, particularly in groups including many closely related or similar species. The problem is confounded by the absence of an up-to-date taxonomic revision, but even with such a resource all but professional botanists may struggle to recognise key species, presenting a substantial barrier to vital work such as surveys, threat assessments, and seed collection for ex situ conservation. Genus Erica: An Identification Aid is a tool to help both amateurs and professionals identify (using a limited number of accessible characteristics) and find information about the 851 species and many subspecific taxa of the genus Erica. We present an updated version 4.00, with new features including integrating distribution data from GBIF and iNaturalist, links to taxonomic resources through World Flora Online, and a probability function for identifications, that is freely available for PCs. It remains a work in progress: We discuss routes forward for collaboratively improving this resource.

Re-evaluating monotypic Eleutherostylis from New Guinea and the Moluccas and its inclusion in Grewia (Malvaceae, Grewioideae).

Morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence indicate that Eleutherostylis Burret (Malvaceae, Grewioideae), a monotypic genus described from New Guinea, is best considered a synonym of Grewia L., a species-rich genus widespread across the Paleotropics and found in Africa, Arabia, Asia, Australia and the western Pacific. A new combination, based on E.renistipulata Burret, G.renistipulata (Burret) Dorr, comb. nov., is proposed. Original material of the basionym could not be located and a neotype is designated. A lectotype is designated for G.morotaiensis Kosterm., a synonym of G.renistipulata.

A new species of Hibiscus (Malvaceae, Malvoideae) from Guyana.

Hibiscusmarioniae Dorr, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. It evidently is restricted to central Guyana, northeast of the Kanuku Mountains near the Rewa River, a tributary of the Rupununi River. The new species is most similar morphologically to H.amazonicus Fryxell, which was described from Amazonas, Brazil.

Notes on Brazilian Pachira (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) II: Additional typifications and new synonymies.

The typification and status of the names of 14 species of Pachira (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae) found in Brazil are discussed, including type material from Brazil, the Guianas, Colombia, Venezuela, and cultivated in Algeria. We designate 11 lectotypes, three neotypes, and four epitypes for these names. Six names are newly considered to be synonyms of the species accepted here. The results support a forthcoming taxonomic treatment of Pachira for the Flora of Brazil.

A new species of Eriotheca (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in northeastern Brazil.

A new species of Eriotheca (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in the northeastern Brazilian states of Alagoas and Bahia is described and illustrated. Eriotheca alversonii inhabits Atlantic coastal forest and is found principally on sandy soils in restinga vegetation. It is most similar morphologically to E. parvifolia. Both species have 3-foliolate leaves and short petioles on fertile branches, but the new species has smaller flowers, truncate to crenulate calyces, and smaller globose to subglobose capsules. The affinities of E. alversonii to morphologically similar species and its phenology are discussed. A distribution map and preliminary assessment of its conservation status are provided.

Two new species of Dendrophthora (Viscaceae) from the Venezuelan Andes.

Two new species of Dendrophthora Eichler (Viscaceae) from northwestern Venezuela are described and illustrated. Both mistletoes, D. apiculata Canelón et al., sp. nov. and D. coronata Canelón et al., sp. nov., are confined to subpáramo and páramo ecosystems of the Venezuelan Andes and are, at present, only known from Guaramacal National Park (Portuguesa and Trujillo states). Ecological aspects and possible taxonomic affinities are discussed. A distribution map also is presented.

ResumenSe describen e ilustran dos nuevas especies de Dendrophthora Eichler (Viscaceae) del noroeste de Venezuela. Ambos muérdagos, D. apiculata Canelón et al., sp. nov. y D. coronata Canelón et al., sp. nov., se limitan a los ecosistemas subpáramo y páramo de los Andes venezolanos y, en la actualidad, solo se conocen en el Parque Nacional Guaramacal (estados Portuguesa y Trujillo). Se discuten aspectos ecológicos y posibles afinidades taxonómicas. También se presenta un mapa de distribución.

A new disjunct species of Eriolaena (Malvaceae, Dombeyoideae) from Continental Africa.

Eriolaenarulkensii Dorr, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. This attractive shrub is endemic to coastal Mozambique. The new species has apically winged seeds, which place it in a group of Malvaceae (Dombeyoideae) that is found in Asia and Madagascar and which had not previously been found in continental Africa.

A new large-flowered species of Andeimalva (Malvaceae, Malvoideae) from Peru.

Andeimalvaperuviana Dorr & C.Romero, sp. nov., the third Peruvian endemic in a small genus of five species, is described and illustrated from a single collection made at high elevation on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal ITS sequence data resolve a group of northern species of Andeimalva found in Bolivia and Peru from the morphologically very different southern A.chilensis. The new species bears the largest flowers of any Andeimalva and is compared with Bolivian A.mandonii. A revised key to the genus is presented.

Applications of deep convolutional neural networks to digitized natural history collections.

Natural history collections contain data that are critical for many scientific endeavors. Recent efforts in mass digitization are generating large datasets from these collections that can provide unprecedented insight. Here, we present examples of how deep convolutional neural networks can be applied in analyses of imaged herbarium specimens. We first demonstrate that a convolutional neural network can detect mercury-stained specimens across a collection with 90% accuracy. We then show that such a network can correctly distinguish two morphologically similar plant families 96% of the time. Discarding the most challenging specimen images increases accuracy to 94% and 99%, respectively. These results highlight the importance of mass digitization and deep learning approaches and reveal how they can together deliver powerful new investigative tools.

A new combination and taxonomic notes in Pseudobombax Dugand (Malvaceae).

Taxonomic notes in the Neotropical genus Pseudobombax (Malvaceae) are presented. One new combination and two new heterotypic synonyms for taxa originally described from Brazil and Ecuador are proposed based on both morphological and previously published molecular evidence. The taxonomic changes will be adopted in a treatment of Pseudobombax for the upcoming Brazilian Flora 2020 and in a forthcoming revision of the genus throughout its range.

Four new species of Andean Pilea (Urticaceae), with additional notes on the genus in Venezuela.

Four new species of Pilea (Urticaceae) from the Andes of Venezuela are described and illustrated: Pileamatthewii sp. nov., Pileamiguelii sp. nov., Pileanicholasii sp. nov., and Pileanidiae sp. nov. The affinities of these species and their positions within the informal classifications of Pilea proposed by Weddell and Killip are discussed. Notes on other species of Pilea found in Venezuela also are presented.

A synopsis of Harperocallis (Tofieldiaceae, Alismatales) with ten new combinations.

Ten new combinations from Asagraea, Isidrogaliva, and Tofieldia are proposed in the previously monospecific genus Harperocallis (Tofieldiaceae, Alismatales). As circumscribed here, the genus is restricted to the Americas. The majority of species occur in the Andes or the Guayana region of northern South America; more than half have restricted distributions, and Harperocallis flava is narrowly endemic in the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. A key to species, synonymies, distributions, representative specimens, and salient notes are presented. Populations of the species are mapped and Harperocallis robustior is illustrated. A neotype is selected for Tofieldia frigida, here considered a synonym of Harperocallis falcata. Several recent records of Harperocallis longiflora, previously known only from the type collected in 1902, are reported.

ResúmenSe proponen diez nuevas combinaciones de Asagraea, Isidrogaliva, y Tofieldia en Harperocallis (Tofieldiaceae, Alismatales), un género previamente monoespecífico. Como se circunscribe aquí, el género se restringe a las Américas. La mayoría de las especies se encuentran en los Andes o en la región de Guayana en el norte de América del Sur. Más de la mitad tienen distribuciones restringidas, y Harperocallis flava es estrictamente endémica en la llanura costera del sudeste de los Estados Unidos. Se presenta una clave para distinguir las especies, sinonimias, distribuciones, muestras representativas y notas salientes. Se mapearon poblaciones de las especies y se ilustra Harperocallis robustior. Se seleccionó un neotipo para Tofieldia falcata, considerado aquí como un sinónimo de Harperocallis falcata. Se reportan algunos registros adicionales de Harperocallis longiflora, especie anteriormente conocida sólo con el tipo colectado en 1902.

Nesogordonia tricarpellata (Dombeyaceae), a new species from Madagascar that compels modification of the morphological circumscription of the genus.

Nesogordonia tricarpellata Skema & Dorr, sp. nov., a new species from southeastern Madagascar, is described and illustrated. It differs from all other species of Nesogordonia Baill. in having 6-9 stamens, 3 staminodes, a 3-carpellate ovary, and a 3-valved capsule. These androecial and gynoecial characters require modification of the long-standing circumscription of the genus. The new species also has the southernmost geographic range of any species in the genus.

Trichospermum lessertianum comb. n., the correct name for the Cuban species of Trichospermum (Malvaceae, Grewioideae) also found in Mexico and Central America.

The correct name for the Cuban species of Trichospermum Bl. (Malvaceae: Grewioideae) also found in Mexico and Central America is Trichospermum lessertianum (Hochr.) Dorr, comb. n. The name Trichospermum mexicanum (DC.) Baill., incorrectly applied to this Cuban species, should be restricted to a species endemic to western and southern Mexico.