Jorge Brito hanging flower (Ceratostema jorgebritoi) and Siete Iglesias hanging flower (Ceratostema sieteiglesiana)

Jorge Brito hanging flower (Ceratostema jorgebritoi) dan Siete Iglesias hanging flower (Ceratostema sieteiglesiana)

NEWS - Ceratostema jorgebritoi has unique spirally arranged leaves and is the second species in the genus with tetrameric flowers. Ceratostema sieteiglesiana is distinguished by its spirally arranged leaves and distinctive five-winged hypanthium, further enhanced by conspicuous calyx branches. Both are new species.

Jorge Brito hanging flower (C. jorgebritoi) is similar to C. flexuosum (A.C. Sm.) J.F. Macbr., but has tetrameric flowers with oblong (vs. lanceolate) petal lobes, 5-9 acuminate (vs. 3-5 acuminate) and spirally arranged (vs. distichous).

Terminal inflorescence (vs. axillary), larger floral bracts (26.0×9.5 mm vs. 4.0-5.0×2.0 mm), longer hypanthium (3.4-10.1 mm vs. 3.0-4.0 mm), lanceolate-deltaic calyx lobes (vs. oblong) with a pointed apex (vs. acuminate) and narrow triangular corolla lobes (vs. lanceolate).

The species is found in Gualaquiza, Morona-Santiago, southeastern Ecuador. It grows in the eastern Andean foothills at elevations of 1600-1800 meters in primary forest and disturbed secondary areas. The researchers propose a conservation status of EN (Endangered). The name is dedicated to Jorge Brito-Molina, a biologist who has made significant contributions to terrestrial amphibians and micromammals.

Siete Iglesias hanging flower (C. sieteiglesiana) is similar to C. zamorana M.M.Jiménez & Vélez-abarca, but leaves are smaller (1.7-5.5×0.6-2.5 cm vs. 7.7-12.7×3.7-6.5 cm), inflorescences are short to very short-stalked (vs. long-stalked), flower parts are pubescent (vs. pruinose), flower stalks are shorter (1.92.7 cm vs. 2.2-4.1 cm) and subterete (vs. subquadrangular).

Bracteoles subulate (vs. ovate), calyx lobes longer (12.7-19.1 mm vs. 11.3-12.5 mm), sinus and apex pointed (vs. acuminate), corolla lobes longer (28-30 mm vs. 15-16 mm), outer black (vs. magenta) and filaments longer (9.5-13.1 mm vs. 4.5 mm).

C. sieteiglesiana is endemic to the forests around the city of San Juan Bosco, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador. The new species was found at 1500-1700 m elevation in a layered forest containing trees and saplings covered with moss. Conservation status EN (threatened). Named after the type location of this rare species, the Municipal Conservation ecological area Siete Iglesias.

Original research

Marco M. Jiménez, Gabriel A. Iturralde, J.R. Kuethe, Leisberth Vélez-Abarca & Henry X. Garzón-Suárez (2024). New species of Ceratostema (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae) from the southeast Andes of Ecuador-I. Phytotaxa 663 (3): 111-126, DOI:10.11646/phytotaxa.663.3.1

Dlium theDlium

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Devil's backbone (Euphorbia tithymaloides)

Pokok lipan or devil's-backbone or redbird flower or christmas candle or Pedilanthus tithymaloides ( Euphorbia tithymaloides ) are plant species in Euphorbiaceae, upright, evergreen, gummy shrubs, growing in tropical and subtropical regions. E. tithymaloides likes sandy soils especially with high concentrations of boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. This bush grows to 2.4 m high and 61 cm wide. Simple angiosperm leaves, arranged opposite to the stem where each leaf is sessile with a length of 3.6-7.6 cm. The stem has the tip of a handle that supports a group of flowers that are not scented. Bifid crown and ovoid. The involucral bracts are bright red, irregular in shape and length from 1.1 to 1.3 mm. Hairy male and female pedicels. Seed pods are 7.6 mm long, 8.9 mm wide and ovate with clipped ends. Devil's-backbone generally blooms in mid-spring in the subtropical region and in the dry season in the tropics. Pollination is carried out by ants and birds. ...

Blue pansy (Junonia orithya)

Blue pansy ( Junonia orithya ) is an animal species in Nymphalidae, butterflies with at least 23 subspecies, have a variety of hues and colors including blue, black, brown and white, sex dimorphism, live in open areas and agricultural land, larvae grow at the end dry season or early rainy season. J. orithya has a black body with thick hair, a brown head, large white eyes, a pair of long white antennae with a hammer tip and white legs. Males have top front wings are dominated by black and whitish brown. Each side has two circles in brown, black and blue. Three stripes are brown and white. The hind wing is predominantly blue. Each side has two circles in brown, black, white and blue. The margins are bordered by white ribbons with black stripes. The rear wing is predominantly blue. Each side has two circles in brown, black, white and blue. Three stripes are brown and white. The margins are bordered by white ribbons with black stripes. The underside of the forewings is dominated by brow...

Dlium