Prunus luxurians: A new species of Cherry from southwestern Ecuador.

The genus Prunus has a worldwide distribution and contains several important food crops (including Cherries, Almonds, and Plums), ornametal species (Blossom Cherries), timber souces (e.g. Black Cherry) and medicinal Plants (e.g. African Cherry). There are thought to be about 450 valid species in the genus, but the situation is complicated with about 1230 species described within the genus, and over 2000 more in other genera that have since been synonymised with it (i.e. genera which have had all their putative members moved into Prunus. 

Historically, it has been thought that the majority of Prunus species are found in the northern temperate belt, with a smaller number of species found at high altitudes in tropical and subtropical zones. However, recent research has discovered that the genus is much more widespread in lowland tropical forests than previously realised, particularly in the Americas, raising the possibility that the genus is more diverse in these regions than in the temperate zone.

In a paper published in the journal PhytoKeys on 4 April 2025, Álvaro Pérez of the Herbario QCA at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Jorge Andrés Pérez-Zabala of the Herbario Gabriel Gutiérrez Villegas at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Katya Romoleroux, also of the Herbario QCA at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, David Espinel-Ortiz, again of the Herbario QCA at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, and of the Bonn Institute of Organismic Biodiversity at the University of Bonn, and Chaquira Romoleroux and Natasha Albán-Vallejo, once again of the Herbario QCA at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, describe a new species of Prunus from southwestern Ecuador.

The new species is described from a small population of trees discovered in a cloud forest remnant in the Sambotambo Birón area of the Jocotoco Foundation-managed Reserve Buenaventura in El Oro Province, on the western flank of the Andes, between 1300 and 1400 m above sealevel. The new species is named Prunus luxurians, in reference to its 'profuse blooming and outstanding beauty', which makes it a conspicuous part of the lower and mid-strata of the forest.

Prunus luxurians: (A) Habit, (B branch with leaves and floriferous shoots, (C) flowers. Álvaro Pérez in Pérez et al. (2025).

Prunus luxurians forms trees up to 11 m high, with grooved dark brown bark with lighter lenticles (raised pores). Leaves are oblong-to-lance-shaped, waxy, and grow on alternating sides of leaf stems, they are 10–13.65 cm long and 3.5–4.65 cm wide. Flowers are white with light green centres, and born on floriferous shoots, which can have 14–27 individual flowers, clusetered together in groups of 3-4.

Only five living trees were found, in a fragment of montane evergreen forest, with high levels of bith diversity and endemism. The remaining forest fragments in this region are considered to be threatened by mining and farming activities, for which reason Pérez et al. recomend that Prunus luxurians be classified as Critically Endangered under the terms of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.

See also...

Echinoderes semprucciae: A new species of Kinorhynch from a macerating Neptune Grass environment in the eastern Mediterranean.

Kinorhynchs are tiny (generally less than 1 mm) worm like Animals largely found in marine sediments, for which reason they are sometimes known as 'Mud Dragons'. They appear to be ubiquitous members of the interstitial meiofauna (Animals that live between sediment grains) in shallow marine habitats, but have been studied in relatively few locations. However, not all Kinorhynchs are sediment-dwellers, with members of the group having been found living on a wide range of Algae, marine Plants, and Animals.

In a paper published in The Eutopean Zoological Journal on 3 February 2024, Adele Cocozza di Montanara of the Department of Science and Technology at the Parthenope University of Naples, Alberto González-Casurrubios of the Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution at the Complutense University of Madrid, and Diego Cepeda of the Centre for Research on Biodiversity and Global Change at the Autonomous University of Madrid, and the Department of Life Sciences at Alcalá University, describe a new species of Kinorhynch from a macerating Neptune Grass environment off the coast of Ischia Island in the western Mediterranean Sea.

Neptune Grass, Posidonia oceanica, is a form of Seagrass endemic to the Mediterranean, where it forms vast meadows in the photic parts of the sea (i.e. those areas where sufficient sunlight penetrates to allow photosynthesis). Seagrasses are important habitat-forming organisms, and a wide range of Animals, including Kinorhynchs are adapted to life in these meadows. However, as well as meadows, Seagrasses also form areas called 'macerating Seagrass detrital bottoms', where large volumes of decomposing leaves and rhizomes accumulate, typically below the photic zone, forming an important marine carbon sink. Whilst these environments have been known since the 1950s, very little attention has been paid to them or the fauna which live there, to which end Cocozza di Montanara et al. have begun a project to study the fauna of the macerating Seagrass detrital bottom environment of the Regno di Nettuno Marine Protected Area, along the coast of Ischia Island off the western coast of Italy.

Study area at 65–80 m depth along the northwestern area of Ischia Island (western Mediterranean Sea). Cocozza di Montanara et al. (2025).

The new species is placed in the genus Echinoderes, and given the specific name semprucciae, in honour of Federica Semprucci of the University of Urbino Carlo Bo, for acting as co-supervisor for Adele Cocozza di Montanara's PhD and supporting and guiding her research on meiofauna. The species is described from two specimens, both collected on 19 June 2020 near Ischia Island, an adult female, collected at a depth of 80 m, and an adult male collected at a depth of 70 m.

Line art illustrations of Echinoderes semprucciae. (a) Ventral view of a female based on holotype (NHMD-1177723). (b) Dorsal view of a female based on holotype (NHMD-1177723). (c) Dorsal view of segments 10–11 of a male based on paratype (NHMD-1177722). Abbreviations: ac, acicular spine; gcoI, type 1 glandular cell outlet; LA, lateral accessory; LD, laterodorsal; ltas, lateral terminal accessory spine; lts, lateral terminal spine; LV, lateroventral; MD, middorsal; ML. midlateral; ne, nephridiopore; pa. papilla; PD. paradorsal; ps, penile spines; SD, subdorsal; ss, sensory spot; t, tube; Vl, ventrolateral; VM, ventromedial; number in abbreviations indicates the corresponding segment. Cocozza di Montanara et al. (2025).

The two known specimens of Echinoderes semprucciae are 202 μm (female) and 193 μm (male) in length, with a retractable mouth cone surrounded by oral styles. This retractable mouth is mounted on an organ called the introvert, which has six concentric rings of scalids and 10 longitudinal sectors defined by the arrangement of primary spinoscalids. Behind the head is a neck section, then a trunk comprising eleven segments, with spines on segments four, six, eight, nine, and eleven; the two spines on segment eleven being elongated to form a pair of tail-like structures.

Light micrographs of female holotype (NHMD-1177723) (a)-(d), (g) and male paratype (NHMD-1177722) (e), (f) of Echinoderes semprucciae. (a) Ventral overview. (b) Head, dorsal view. (c) Head, ventral view. (d) Ventral view of segments 5–6. (e) Lateral view of segments 5–8. (f) Detail of penile spines. (g) Ventral view of segment 11. ltas, lateral terminal accessory spine; lts, lateral terminal spine; lvs, lateroventral spine; lvt, lateroventral tube; pa, papillae; ps, penile spines; te, tergal extension, number after abbreviation indicates the corresponding segment, sensory spots are marked with dashed circles and type 1 glandular cell outlets with closed circle. Cocozza di Montanara et al. (2025).

See also...

Boswellia hesperia: A new species of Dwarf Frankincense from Socotraa Island.

Frankincenses, Boswellia spp., are trees and small shrubs noted for the aromatic resin they produce, found in East Africa, Arabia, and parts of South Asia. In 1971 Frank Nigel Hepper of Kew Royal Botanic Gardens described a Dwarf Frnakincense, Boswellia nana, from the Yemeni island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean (a noted hotspot for botanical endemism). In 2004, botanists Anthony Miller and Miranda Morris reported a second species of Dwarf Frankincense from Socotra, something which several subsequent studies have also recorded, but which has not, to date, been formally described.

In a paper published in the Nordic Journal of Botany on 20 February 2025, Mats Thulin of the Department of Organismal Biology at Uppsala University, Michael Weber from Bad Berka in Germany, Sami Ali Mohammed Mubarak from Socotra Island, and Alain Rzepecky from São Brás de Alportel in Portugal, formally describe the second species of Socotran Dwarf Frankincense.

The new species is named Boswellia hesperia, where 'hesperia' means 'west', the species having been found exclusively at the western end of the Island of Socotra; this is in contrast to Boswellia nana, which is found exclusively at the eastern end of the island. Boswellia hesperia is an entirely prostrate dwarf species, found growing within holes and crevasses in limestone rock. This habit is also seen in Boswellia nana, although that species sometimes also produces dwarf shrubs up to 2 m high. Boswellia hesperiai also differs from Boswellia nana in its leaves, which are waxy above, but covered in white fur below, whereas those of Boswellia nana are waxy on both sides.

Boswellia hesperia from mountain ridge above Neet, 5–6 km from the coast, Socotra, 18 May 2021. (A) plant filling out crevice in limestone rock, leafless, showing reddish white flowers and fruits, (B) leafless plant with flowers and fruits. Alain Rzepecky in Thulm et al. (2025).

The total area over which Boswellia hesperia is found is about 63 km², however, the distribution of the species is patchy, and it probably is only found over an area of about 20 km². This limited distribution, along with the apparent risk of the species being overgrazed by Goats, leads Thulm et al. to recommend that Boswellia hesperia be classified as Critically Endangered under the terms of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.

Boswellia hesperia, seedling flowering after about one and a half year in cultivation. Alain Rzepecky in Thulm et al. (2025).

See also...

Plectranthias raki: A new species of Perchlet from the Maldives.

The term 'Perchlet' applies to a wide variety of small Perciform Fish. The genus Plectranthias is a member of the Serranidae, the family which also includes Sea Bass and Groupers, amongst other groups. It currently contains 66 described species from mesophotic reef environments in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Plectranthias are small Fish, typically 5-10 cm long with the largest species reaching about 20 cm, which live in holes or crevices, from where they ambush small, mobile invertebrates. The small size and cryptic nature of Plectranthias means that they are not well studied, with most species described from a very small number of specimens.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 16 January 2024, Bart Shepherd of the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences, Hudson Pinheiro of the Department of Ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences, and the Center for Marine Biology at the University of São Paulo, Ahmed Najeeb, also of the Department of Ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences, and of the Maldives Marine Research Institute, Claudia Rocha, again of the Department of Ichthyology and of the Department of Microbiology at the California Academy of Sciences, and Luiz Rocha, once again of the Department of Ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences, describe a new species of Plectranthias from the Kuramathi Outer Reef on Rasdhoo Atoll in the Maldives.

The new species is described from two specimens collected by hand-netting at a depth of 118 m, in December 2022, and confirmed as a new species by gene-sequencing. It is named Plectranthias raki, where 'raki' means 'feeling shy to confront people' in the Dhivehi language which is spoken in the Maldives.

Living specimen (not retained) of Plectranthias raki photographed at 110 m depth at Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives. Luiz Rocha in Shepherd et al.  (2025).

The two specimens of Plectranthias raki are 66.15 and 70.41 mm long, and pinkish white in colour with a series of irregular orange-red patches, these being more red towards the tail and more yellow towards the head. Both have dorsal fins with fifteen rays, anal fins with seven rays, pectoral fins with thirteen rays, and tail fins with nine upper rays and eight lower rays.

See also...

Petalidium hoarusibense: A new species of Petal-bush from Namibia.

Petal-bushes, Petalidium spp., are woody perinal shrubs in the Family Acanthaceae found in arid sandy or stoney areas of Africa, India, and the Mascarene Islands, although most species are found in areas of Southern Africa with summer rainfall and no frosts. There are currently 32 species recognised from Namibia, 13 from Angola, and six from South Africa. Despite the name 'bush', they are diverse in form, ranging from scrambling herbs to large, robust shrubs. Many species of Petalidium are fast-growing and produce attractive  flowers, leading to some species being cultivated by gardeners.

In a paper published in the journal Phytotaxa on 8 January 2025, Wessel Swanepoel of the H.G.W.J. Schweickerdt Herbarium at the University of Pretoria, and Abraham Van Wyk, also of the H.G.W.J. Schweickerdt Herbarium at the University of Pretoria, and of the South African National Biodiversity Institute, describe a new species of Petalidium from the Kaokoveld region of northwestern Namibia.

During a visit to the Okandjombo area of the Kaokoveld in November 2023, Wessel Swanepoel obseeved a number of distinctive Petalidium Plants, with a dwarf-shrubby habit, pealing white bark, and multiple stems arrising from just below the ground level. At this  time the Plant was not in flower, making it difficult  to confirm that it was not a previously described species, however, during a follow-up visit in May 2024, the plants were found to be producing distinctive pink flowers, confirming it as a  new species. This is named Petalidium hoarusibense, in reference to the Hoarusib River, as it was discovered within the catchment of this river.

Petalidium hoarusibense. Habitat and habit. (A) Mature plant about 800 mm high (greyish shrub in foreground), growing among dark grey sedimentary rocks of the Swakop Group along the banks of the Hoarusib River near Okandjombo, Namibia. (B) Base of plant showing several branches arising from the main stem just above ground level, each covered with rough, fissured, greyish white bark. Wessel Swanepoel in Swanepoel & Vak Wyk (2025).

To date, Petalidium hoarusibense, has only been found in m the mountainous area along the Hoarusib River and its tributaries to the east and south of Okandjombo, part of the Great Escarpment of northwestern Namibia, on on arid hillsides and along drainage lines at elevations of between 450 and 700 m above sealevel. This area recieves about 100 mm of rainfall in an average year, and additionally has about five foggy days, which might contribute to the available moisture slightly..

Petalidium hoarusibense. Morphology of leaves and flowers. (A) Shoot with flower and leaves, the latter with dense, greyish white indumentum. (B), (C) Flower in front (B) and side (C) view; note bracteoles (some of spent flowers) with cobwebby indumentum. (D), (E), (F), (G) Flowers in front view, each from a different plant to show variation. Note all corolla lobes of a flower being roughly similarly coloured in various shades of magenta, or lateral and upper lobes slightly darker shaded than the anterior lobe, sometimes, as in (D), (E), & (G) with darker magenta or maroon triangular nectar guides; anterior lobe adaxially with two narrowly triangular yellow nectar guides. Wessel Swanepoel in Swanepoel & Vak Wyk (2025).

All known specimens of Petalidium hoarusibense were found growing within an area of about 20 x 18 km, although within this area there were several areas where it was quite common. There were also a large number of dead Plants on the hillsides, possibly due to a prolonged drought in the area. For this reason, Swanepoel and Van Wyk reccomend that the species be listed as Vulnerable under the terms of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.

See also...