Victor B. Amoroso

Melastoma dinagatense (Melastomataceae) from Dinagat Island, Caraga Region, Philippines, is here described and illustrated. The species is most similar to the widespread M. malabathricum but differs in its longer pedicels, larger hypanthium and calyx lobes, longer hypanthium scales, and a distinctive leaf indumentum composed of elongated crystalliferous cells with a branched base and emergent hairs, as well as leaf margins with spreading pilose-ciliate hairs. The new species is known only from the ultramafic elfin forest on Mount Redondo and is assessed as Critically Endangered. A dichotomous key to the Philippine species of Melastoma is provided.

Gaultheria rostrata, a new species of wintergreen endemic to Mindanao Island, Philippines, is here described and illustrated. It resembles Gaultheria bartolomei, endemic to Luzon Island, but differs by having a terrestrial habit, shorter petioles, longer pedicels, white or pale-pink corollas, coiled corolla lobes, longer anther tubules, and a longer style. The flowers of Gaultheria rostrata are unique among Asian species of Gaultheria on account of their coiled corolla lobes exposing the anthers and style at anthesis. This discovery raises the number of Gaultheria species in the Philippines to 16.

Plagiogyria longipinnata Coritico & Amoroso, a new species from Dinagat Island, Philippines, is formally described. This species is morphologically distinct from all other known members of the genus Plagiogyria by its consistently broadly lanceolate pinnae that are prominently long-stalked and entire. The discovery of P. longipinnata brings the total number of Plagiogyria species documented in the Philippines to eight. An updated key to the species of Plagiogyriaceae found in the Philippines is provided.

The Philippines and the Papuan archipelagos harbor a vast diversity of pygmy grasshoppers, including the pygmy devils of the genera Xistra and Tegotettix, as well as visually similar taxa reviewed in this study. A new tribe, two new genera, a new subgenus, three new species, and 24 new or resurrected taxonomic combinations are proposed in this study. A new colorful wingless genus and species, Almacris alleochroa gen. et sp. nov., is described from Mindanao. Taxonomic reshuffling of the genus Xistra is performed—a new subgenus is described, Tegoxistra subgen. nov., to include X. derijei, X. corniculata, and X. cristifera, while the nominotypical subgenus becomes restricted to X. gogorzae and X. sagittaria. All other species previously assigned to Xistra are herewith moved to Xistrella, resulting in 20 new combinations. The genus Ginixistra gen. nov. (Exanimini)—whose members show remarkable similarity to Fiji-endemic Fijixistra—is described for G. novaeguineae, G. davorkae sp. nov., and G. novaebritanniae sp. nov. from New Guinea and New Britain. The new tribe Xistrellini trib. nov. is established to accommodate Afrosystolederus, Bannatettix, Kanakacris, Phaesticus, Pseudoparatettix, Pseudosystolederus, Pseudoxistrella, Synalibas, Systolederus, Teredorus, and Xistrella. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have confirmed Xistrellini monophyly and suggested that the ancestor of this tribe may have originated during the Cretaceous period, approximately 127–100 million years ago (mya).

Nepenthes maagnawense sp. nov. (section Alatae), restricted in the shrublands at 2300–2700 m a.s.l. in Mt. Maagnaw (Range, Bukidnon, Philippines), is here described. It differs from N. kitanglad in having terete non-angular climbing stem (vs. angular), inconspicuous pennate veins (vs. distinct), aerial pitchers that are broadest in the upper 1/3rd (vs. broadest in the lower 1/3rd), and a triangular aerial pitcher lid central basal appendage (vs. absent). The species is assessed as Endangered according to IUCN criteria. The population size is estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals. Known only from the type locality and probably site endemic to Mt. Maagnaw, Kitanglad Range, Lantapan, Bukidnon, Central Mindanao, Philippines.

Nepenthes higaonon (section Alatae) is described as a new species from the gravel substrates of northern Mindanao, Philippines. It is morphologically similar to N. viridis from which differs in having a non-decurrent leaf-to-stem attachment (vs. slightly decurrent in N. viridis), rounded leaf apex (vs. acute), 3 longitudinal veins on each side of the midrib (vs. 1–2), monomorphic pitchers (vs. dimorphic) aerial pitchers cylindrical upper 1/3rd (vs. infundibular upper 1/3rd), aerial pitcher lid flattened, ovate, angled up to 90° completely exposing the opening (vs. domed, oval to cordate, angled up to ca. 60 ° covering the opening), aerial pitcher peristome anterior with shallow depression (vs. often raised), inflorescence 1-flowered (vs. 2-flowered), and by its climbing stems up to ca. 10 m (vs. up to ca. 4 m). The species described is assessed herein as Critically Endangered according to IUCN criteria, facing threats of poaching, shifting cultivation, without legislative protection and calls for immediate conservation efforts.

A new Philippine foliicolous species, Porina dolichoepiphylla, was discovered from the central part of Mindanao Island, and is described and illustrated here. This new species is characterized by conspicuously longer ascospores, a feature shared only with P. virescens within the Porina epiphylla subgroup but can be distinguished from the latter by its hairless surface, as well as rough thalli with primordia of perithecia. Porina dolichoepiphylla sp. nov. is known only from the type locality on Mt Kitanglad, growing along the frond of Asplenium vittaeforme in a shady lower montane forest. An updated checklist of Porina species in the Philippines with a taxonomic key to the foliicolous species of the Porina epiphylla subgroup is also provided. The discovery of the new lichen species highlights the importance of continued exploration and documentation efforts within the Philippine archipelago.