Triology Vol. 37, No. 1, DPI

TRI-OLOGY, Vol. 37, No. 1
Nancy C. Coile, Ph. D., Managing Editor
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1998

Wayne N. Dixon, Ph. D., Editor

BOTANY SECTION
Compiled by Carlos R. Artaud

Added to the herbarium collection during this period were 18 mounted specimens (total of 7550). Anthony N. Capitano (R2A1), Anthony N. Capitano & Tyson R. Emery (R2A1), Scott Shea & Dennis C. Clinton (R3A2), Julian L. Gutierrez, Jr. (OPS, R4), and Flewellyn W. Podris (R1A1) each submitted one specimen new to the herbarium. For this period, 37 specimens were submitted to Botany for identification, and 533 were received from other Sections for identification and/or name verification (for a total of 570). Some of the samples are described below:

Blechum pyramidatum (Lam.) Urban, Acanthaceae, wild shrimp plant, Brown's blechum: Long trailing much-branched herb with slender, ascending flowering shoots to 7 dm tall, rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves opposite; petioles slender, to about 2 cm long; blades ovate to lanceolate, acute to short-acuminate at apex, rounded to broadly cuneate and tapered at base, to 8 cm long, 4 cm wide, thin. Spikes dense, 4-sided, to 14 cm long, 2.5 cm thick, occasionally flowers are solitary in leaf axils. Floral bracts ovate to suborbicular-ovate, acute tips, broadly rounded at base, imbricate, 1-1.5 cm long and almost as wide, loosely strigose and long ciliate. Bracteoles linear-lanceolate, acute, to 1 cm long, ciliate with hairs 2 mm long or more; calyx 5-parted to below the middle, 3.5-4 mm long, the slightly unequal segments linear-subulate; corolla whitish to bluish-lavender, with a slender tube little expanded above and a spreading 5-lobed limb which is nearly equal, with the lobes rounded and a little longer to almost twice as long as the subtending bracts; stamens 4, didynamous, borne at or above the middle of the corolla tube; anthers oblong, their sacs parallel; style about 8 mm long, pubescent. Capsule ellipsoid, puberulent, 6-7 mm long; seeds 2, circular, brown, about 1.5 mm wide. Throughout tropical America, introduced into Pacific Islands. (=Blechum brownei Juss.). (Lee County; B98-004; Sheila Foe, OPS; 8 January 1998). (Correll and Correll 1982; Kartesz 1994).

Dracaena reflexa Lam., Liliaceae, Malaysian dracaena: Shrub or small tree, branched, erect, to 5 m tall in the wild, usually less in cultivation. Leaves to 20 cm long, 5 cm wide, narrow-lanceolate to elliptic, very variable, borne toward top of stem, spreading and recurved, tapering toward petiole, midrib inconspicuous above, convex beneath. Inflorescence paniculate, terminal, branches racemose; perianth to 2 cm long, green tinged outside, white within, tube to one quarter of total length. Fruit an orange-red berry. Native of Madagascar, and Mauritius. [=Pleomele reflexa (Lam.) N.E. Br.]. (Indian River County; B98-011; Richard H. 'Dick' Stoll; 22 January 1998). (Graf 1978; Huxley 1992).

Gendarussa vulgaris Nees, Acanthaceae, gendarussa: A glabrous small shrub to 80 cm tall; stems terete. Leaves short-petiolate, narrowly lanceolate, 6-10 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, the apex acuminate, the base cuneate, the margins subsinuate. Spikes 3-12 cm long, interrupted, terminal or axillary, often forming a leafy panicle; bracts small, linear, deciduous; bracteoles none; calyx up to 5 mm long, deeply 5-lobed, the lobes linear, subequal; corolla white, 1.2-1.5 mm long, the limb bilabiate, the upper lip triangular, with a style-channel, violet-blotched, the lower one cuneate-obovate, 3-lobed, the lobes short, rounded, basally violet-dotted; stamens 2, inserted at unequal levels, the lower one with a large basal spur; filaments 3-6 mm long, glabrous; staminodes none; ovary glaucous, cell 2-ovulate; style filiform, about 1 cm long, glabrous, the stigma very short 2-lobed. Capsule to 1.2 cm long, clavate, 4-seeded. Native from India to southern China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Java. (=Justicia gendarussa Burm. f.). (Broward County; B98-010; Brad McClane, nurseryman; 21 January 1998). (Backer and Bakhuizen Van Den Brink 1965; Huang 1978).

Mucuna urens (L.) DC., Leguminosae, sea bean: A large woody vine, glabrous or nearly so except in the inflorescence. Leaflets mostly elliptic, blackening when dried, lustrous, purplish below, green above, 7-12 cm long, abruptly short-acuminate. Peduncles usually elongate and pendent, the pedicels 1 cm long or in fruit much longer, 2-3 together on enlarged nodes; calyx 1 cm long and broad, densely sericeous, bearing a few bristly setae; petals violaceous, the standard 3.5 cm long. Legume sessile, oblong, 10-20 cm long, 5 cm wide, with numerous transverse cresta and with 2 longitudinal costae near the lower suture, pubescent and covered with irritant setae; seeds 1-4, compressed or subglobose, orbicular, almost surrounded by the linear hilum, brownish fuscous. The seeds of this and related species (excluding M. pruriens) are among the sea beans found commonly on tropical shores, and they are sometimes carried across the Atlantic by ocean currents. From Costa Rica and Panama to the West Indies, Guiana and Brazil. (Palm Beach County; B98-028; Ellen J. Tannehill; 4 February 1998). (Standley and Steyermark 1976).

Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb, Rosaceae, wild almond: Deciduous tree to 9 m tall, of bushy habit when old. Branchlets glabrous. Leaves to 13 cm long, 4 cm wide, lanceolate, apex long-acuminate, base broad-cuneate to round, light green above, glabrous, margins finely toothed; petiole to 2.5 cm long, glandular. Flowers before the leaves, to 5 cm across, solitary or paired; pedicel short; calyx tube campanulate, lobes 4 mm long, oblong, rounded, lanuginose near edges; petals rose or almost white. Fruit to 6.5 cm long, ovoid, velutinous^*-lanuginose, flesh dry; stone smooth, punctate. Native from Syria to North Africa. (Seminole County; B98-005; Leslie J. Wilber; 12 January 1998). (Bailey 1976; Huxley 1992).

Salvia koyamae Makino, Labiatae, shinago-akigiri: Perennial, sometimes with thickened narrowly fusiform roots; stems 20-40 cm long or taller, usually soft-pubescent, decumbent or ascending at base, becoming erect. Leaves hastate, 8-15 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, prominently pubescent on both sides. Spikes 10-20 cm long, densely long glandular-pubescent; calyx densely glandular-pubescent; corolla pale yellow, 2.5-3.5 cm long, bilabiate and bifid almost to the middle. Nutlets obovate-orbicular, obtusely 3-angled, slightly flattened, smooth, about 2 mm long. rare. Native of Japan. (Alachua County; B98-018; Gil Whitton, homeowner; 29 January 1998). (Ohwi 1965).

GLOSSARY: costa (costae pl.): a ridge or midrib of a frond or leaf, also, the marginal longitudinal vein of insect wings; didynamous: having stamens arranged in two pairs of unequal length; fuscous: dusky grayish brown; hilum: the scar at the point of attachment of the seed, the eye of a seed; lanuginose: covered with down or fine short hair, woolly, cottony; subsinuate: somewhat wavy-margined; terete: cylindrical and tapering.

REFERENCES

L. H. Bailey Hortorium Staff. 1976. Hortus third, a concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York. 1,290 p.
Backer, C. A. and R. C. Bakhuizen Van Den Brink. 1965. Flora of Java (Vol. II): 589-590.
Correll, D. S. and H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama Archipelago. J. Cramer, Hirschberg, Germany. 1,692 p.
Graf, A. B. 1978. Tropica, color cyclopedia of exotic plants and trees from the tropics and subtropics. Roehrs Company, NJ. 1,120 p.
Huang, Tseng-Chieng. 1978. Flora of Taiwan (Vol..IV): 632.
Huxley, A. J. (ed.) 1992. New Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening, 4 vols. Macmillan Press, London. 3,240 p.
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. Vol. 2. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 816 p.
Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. 1,067 p.
Standley, P. C. and J. A. Steyermark. 1976. Flora of Guatemala V (v.24): 304.

ENTOMOLOGY SECTION
Compiled by Susan E. Halbert, Ph.D.

For the month of January, there were 584 samples consisting of 6006+ specimens. In February, there were 1,035 samples consisting of 13996+ specimens. Some of the samples processed are listed below:

ORNAMENTALS, WOODY PLANTS AND PALMS: Bauhinia sp. (orchid tree)-- Neoclytus cordifer (Klug), Tetrapriocera longicornis Olivier, and Xylopsocus capucinus (Fabricius), wood-eating beetles: A severe infestation that destroyed a 15' tree was found at a residence in Sebring (Highlands County; E97-4154; James 'Jim' E. Bennett and Carrie S. Dees; 30 October 1997).

Cycas revoluta (king sago)-- Chrysomphalus aonidum L., Florida red scale: A severe infestation involved 48 plants at a nursery in Homestead (Dade County; E98-428; Edward T. Putland; 17 February 1998).

Ficus neriifolia (fig)-- Coccus hesperidum L., brown soft scale: A severe infestation involved one of three plants at a nursery in Jacksonville (Duval County; E98-356; Flewellyn W. Podris; 9 February 1998).

Ligustrum lucidum (glossy privet)-- Morganella longispina (Morgan), plumose scale: A severe infestation involved 25 plants at a nursery in Mims (Brevard County; E98-378; Karen L. Garrett-Kraus; 12 February 1998).

Murraya koenigii (curry-leaf tree)-- Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy), brown citrus aphid: A moderate infestation was found at a farm in Balm (Hillsborough County; E98-184; Katherine A. Macias and L. Wayne Clifton; 23 January 1998). NEW DPI HOST RECORD.

Viburnum suspensum (sandankwa viburnum)-- Parlatoria pergandii Comstock, chaff scale: A severe infestation was found on a plant at a nursery in Homosassa (Citrus County; E98-340; Robert W. Dudley; 5 February 1998).

Phoenix roebelenii (pygmy date palm)-- Phoenicococcus marlatti Cockerell, red date scale: A slight infestation involved 2% of 50 plants at a business in Melbourne (Brevard County; E98-461; David H. Faneuf; 20 February 1998). NEW DPI COUNTY RECORD.

Ravenea rivularis (majesty palm)-- Fiorinia fioriniae (Targ.-Tozz.), fiorinia scale: A severe infestation involved five of twenty plants at a residence in Hollywood (Broward County; E97-4559; Maria S. Quintanilla; 5 December 1997).

-- Metamasius hemipterus (L.), a palm weevil: A severe infestation was found at a nursery in Davie (Broward County; E98-282; William A. 'Bill' Thiel; 5 February 1998).

Veitchia merrillii (Manila palm)-- Heliothis zea (Boddie), corn earworm: An infestation involved all of 30 trees at a nursery in Fort Myers (Lee County; E98-160; Walter W. Golden; 19 January 1998). Larvae were eating the buds of the palms.

ORNAMENTALS, FOLIAGE PLANTS: Epipremnum pinnatum (pothos)-- Pseudococcus longispinus (Targ.-Tozz), longtailed mealybug: A severe infestation was found at a nursery in Apopka (Orange County; E97-4281; William B. Purvis; 7 November 1997).

Juniperus (juniper)-- Pentamerismus oregonensis McGregor, false spider mite: An infestation caused bunchy growth on a bonsai juniper from California growing at a residence in Ocala (Marion County; E98-297; Paul Rice, homeowner; 9 February 1998).

Schefflera arboricola (dwarf schefflera)-- Dialurodes sp., a whitefly: A moderate infestation of an undescribed whitefly was found on 500 plants at a nursery in Pembroke Pines (Broward County; E98-349; William A. 'Bill' Thiel; 11 February 1998).

Xanthosoma sagittifolium (melanga)-- Aleuroglandulus malangae Russell, a whitefly: A severe infestation was found at an amusement park in Lake Buena Vista (Orange County; E98-321; Yu-qing Fan; 5 February 1998).

ORNAMENTALS, FLOWERING PLANTS: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar (hibiscus)-- Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley), lesser snow scale: A moderate to severe infestation was found on six plants at a nursery in Homestead (Dade County; E98-268; Lynn D. Howerton; 4 February 1998).

Hamelia patens (firebush)-- Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell), striped mealybug: A severe infestation was found on a plant at a residence in Miami (Dade County; E97-4577; Edward T. Putland; 23 November 1997).

Nerium oleander (oleander)-- Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targ.-Tozz.), white peach scale: Severe infestations were found at a residence and a nursery in Miami (Dade County; E98-114, E98-127; Kevin Stokes, business owner, and Julian L. Gutierrez; 14, 16 January 1998).

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' (Bradford pear)-- Eriophyes nr. pseudoinsidiosus Wilson, an eriophyid mite: An infestation was found on 20 of 27 trees at a nursery in Orange Park (Clay County; E98-284; Flewellyn W. Podris and Yolanda I. Inguanzo; 5 February 1998).

Vriesea saundersii (bromeliad)-- Acutaspis aliena (Newstead), alien scale: A moderate infestation was found at a nursery in Longwood (Seminole County; E97-1284; Anne F. Weathers; 4 April 1997).

FOOD OR CROP PLANTS: Psidium guajava (guava)-- Metaleurodicus cardini (Back), cardin's whitefly and Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis (Green), trilobe scale: A severe infestation was found at a residence in Princeton (Dade County; E98-1; Edward T. Putland; 30 December 1997).

CITRUS: Citrus x paradisi (grapefruit)-- Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman), purple scale: A severe infestation was found at a residence in Apopka (Orange County; E98-191; William B. Purvis; 20 January 1998).

-- Parlatoria pergandii Comstock, chaff scale: A severe infestation was found at a residence in Homosassa (Citrus County; E98-323; Robert W. Dudley; February 1998). NEW DPI COUNTY RECORD.

WEEDS AND GRASSES: Amaranthus spinosus (spiny amaranthus, a weedy species)-- Conotrachelus cervinus Hustache, a weevil: An infestation was found at an University of Florida unit in Homestead (Dade County; E97-1646; Adrian G. Hunsberger, University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center; 10 April 1997). NEW CONTINENTAL RECORD.

At approximately the same time period, about 100,000 plants of Amaranthus caudatus (Jamaican-spinach) in a large screenhouse planting in Homestead were severely damaged by this South American weevil and had to be destroyed. Amaranthus caudatus is used both as a cut-flower and as an edible vegetable. This weevil has apparently established in Dade County (Dr. Michael C. Thomas and Ms. Adrian G. Hunsberger).

NATIVE AND NATURALIZED PLANTS: Krugiodendron ferreum (black ironwood, a native species)-- Coccus hesperidum L., brown soft scale: An infestation was found in a natural area maintained by the Department of Environmental Resources in Ft. Lauderdale (Broward County; E98-411; Dr. Forrest W. 'Bill' Howard, University of Florida's Ft. Lauderdale Research & Extension Center; 5 February 1998).

Hypericum sp. (hypericum)-- Pulvinaria ericicola McConnell, cottony azalea scale: An infestation was found in a natural area (Duval County; E98-225; Flewellyn W. Podris; 29 January 1998). NEW DPI COUNTY RECORD.

Prunus angustifolia (chickasaw plum, a native species)-- Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targ.-Tozz), white peach scale: A severe infestation involved 25% of 300 plants at a nursery in Brooksville (Hernando County; E98-235; Robert W. Dudley; 2 February 1998).

Zamia pumila (coontie, a native species)-- Saissetia coffeae (Walker), hemispherical scale: A severe infestation involved 20 of 30 plants at a nursery in Eustis (Lake County; E98-451; Christine M. Murphy; 20 February 1998).

BENEFICIAL INSECTS: Aleurodicus dugesii Cockerell (giant whitefly)-- Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani, an aphelinid wasp: Several specimens were collected in Ft. Pierce (St. Lucie County; E98-104; Robert C. Bullock; 22 October 1997). NEW STATE RECORD (Dr. Gregory A. Evans).

-- Ocyptamus parvicornis (Loew), a syrphid fly: An adult emerged from a pupa taken on whitefly infested hibiscus in Ft. Pierce (St. Lucie County; E97-4123; Dr. Robert C. Bullock, University of Florida's Indian River Research and Education Center; 22 October 1997).

ARTHROPODS OF MEDICAL AND VETERINARY IMPORTANCE: Rhicephalus sanquineus (Latreille), brown dog tick: A severe infestation was found at a residence in Miami (Dade County; E98-76; Beth Morris, homeowner; 6 January 1998). Ticks were both inside and outside the house, crawling up the outside walls by the thousands.

INSECT DETECTION: Aphis amaranthi Holman, a pigweed aphid: A specimen was collected in a suction trap at Belle Glade (Palm Beach County; E98-111; Dr. Gregg S. Nuessly, University of Florida's Everglades Research and Education Center; 14 January 1998). NEW DPI COUNTY RECORD.

Osmopleura chamaeropis (Horn), a longhorn beetle: This very rare beetle was found in North Palm Beach (Palm Beach County; E97-1884; Peter Girr, USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Plant Protection and Quarantine; 5 April 1997). The beetle feeds in cabbage palm (Dr. Michael C. Thomas).

Rhizoecus hibisci Kawai & Takagi, a root mealybug: Specimens were found in a soil sample from a nursery in Miami (Dade County; E97-3100; Ping Qiao and Dr. Robert P. Esser; 24 July 1997).

Botany Section

Entomology Section

Nematology Section

Plant Pathology Section

NEMATOLOGY SECTION
Compiled by Renato N. Inserra, Ph.D.

A total of 3,233 samples were processed in January and February. Details are shown below:

Certification and Regulatory Samples:

Multistate Certification for National and International Export 1,550
California Certification 1,199
Premovement 68
Burrowing Nematode 176
Site or Pit Approval 52

Other Samples:

Plant Problem 56
Identification (Invertebrate) 3
Intrastate Survey, Random 129

Nematodes of Special Interest During This Period and Not Previously Reported:

Anubias sp. (anubias)--Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal, 1989) Chitwood, 1949, root-knot nematode, was extracted from roots of this aquatic plant. Plant roots were severely galled by this nematode pest (Columbia County; N97-00138; M. 'Janie' Echols; 4 February 1997).

Anubias nana (anubias)--Radopholus similis (Cobb, 1893) Thorne, 1949, burrowing nematode, was extracted from roots of this aquatic plant. Like other foliage ornamentals in the Araceae, anubias are good hosts of this damaging nematode. Anubias nana is a new host for the burrowing nematode and should be included in the list of foliage ornamentals which are susceptible to this regulated nematode. (Broward County; N97-01362; Thomas L. Salisbury; 25 November 1997).

Asparagus virgatus (asparagus)--Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1949) Chitwood, 1949, southern root-knot nematode, was detected in roots of this ornamental plant. No obvious galls were observed in the nematode infected roots. Only large egg masses produced by the nematode females were present on the root surface. (Volusia County; N98-00038; M. Nolan; 14 January 1998).

Salvia officinalis (garden salvia)--Aphelenchoides besseyi Christie, 1942, rice white-tip nematode, was found in leaf tissues of this herb. Leaves of the infected plants were severely damaged by dark and necrotic spots induced by the nematode invasion of the leaf tissues. (Alachua County; N98-00060; S. Barker; 16 January 1998).

COLLECTORS SUBMITTING FIVE OR MORE SAMPLES THAT WERE PROCESSED FOR NEMATOLOGICAL ANALYSIS DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1998:

Baron, Osmond O. 57
Branch, Kenneth D. 14
Dees, Carrie S. 51
Esser, Dr. Robert P. 11
Fuller, Samuel A. 180
Harris, James K. 132
Harris, J. Keith 8
LeBoutillier, Karen W. 222
Qiao, Ping . 223
Robinson, William L. 'Robbie' 91
Salisbury, Thomas L. 184
Smith, W. Wayne 174

PLANT PATHOLOGY
Complied by John W. Miller, Ph.D.

For this period, the Plant Pathology Section received and processed 2,953 specimens. These included 495 pathology, 14 miscellaneous, 10 soil, 2,418 suspected canker samples as of 27 February 1998 in Dade County, and 16 suspect canker samples from Manatee County.

ORNAMENTALS, FOLIAGE PLANTS: Didymochlaena truncatula (mahogany fern)-- Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds, anthracnose: Collected at a nursery in Winter Garden (Orange County; P98-0060; Barbara J. Wilder; 8 January 1998). NEW HOST RECORD.

Drosera sp. (a sundew)-- Botrytis cinerea Per.:Fr., grey mold, blight: Collected at a nursery in in Apopka (Orange County; P98-0241; William M. Purvis; 3 February 1998). NEW HOST RECORD.

Ficus elastica (rubber plant)-- Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, blight: Collected at a nursery in Apopka (Orange County; P98-0104; Leslie J. Wilber; 15 January 1998). NEW HOST RECORD.

ORNAMENTALS, FLOWERING PLANTS: Breynia nivosa (snow bush)-- Phytophthora sp. de Bary, stem, leaf blight: Collected at a nursery in Grant Road (Brevard County; P98-0086; David H. Faneuf; 7 January 1998). NEW HOST RECORD.

Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor' (tricolor salvia)-- Peronospora lamii A. Braun, downy mildew: Collected at a nursery in Gainesville (Alachua County; P98-0113; Scott Baker; 16 January 1998). NEW STATE RECORD.

FOREST AND SHADE TREES: Magnolia virginiana (sweet bay, a native species)-- Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands and Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend.:Fr., root rot: Collected at a nursery in Odessa (Hillsborough County; P98-0189; Alan R. Haynes; 29 January 1998). NEW HOST RECORDS.

FOOD OR CROP PLANTS: Citrullus lanatus (watermelon)-- Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr.) E. Simmons, secondary pathogen: Collected at a nursery in Naples (Collier County; P98-0392; Matthew W. Brodie; 12 February 1998). NEW HOST RECORD.

Citrus aurantiifolia (key lime)-- Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, twig, flower blight: Collected at a Research Center in Apopka (Orange County; P98-0384; Jim Strandberg; 31 December 1997). NEW HOST RECORD.

Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner - Richard Gaskalla, Director