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The bamboos (Poaceae, Bambusoideae) are important ecological and economic resources distributed across five continents. Maps of the distribution of the four major bamboo clades are popular in the scientific and trade literature. To date, these global scale maps have been drawn manually through various means. Despite their general accuracy, previous maps lack the ability to repeatably reconstruct them as new data becomes available. This work develops a workflow and predicts potential and realised distribution maps for the four major bamboo clades using MaxEnt \"species\" distribution modelling, based on vetted natural history specimen records. The source data, scripts and resultant products are provided creating a Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) dataset and workflow.

Premise Species identification is vital to many disciplines. Digital technology has improved identification tools, but the direct use of characters with continuous states has yet to be fully realized. To achieve full use of continuous characters for identification, I propose a classifier that calculates a posterior probability (degree of belief) in possible name assignments and an estimate of the relative evidence for the candidate annotations. Methods A model for a species is defined using continuous morphological characters, and an algorithm for identification with a naive Bayesian classifier, using the model, is presented. A method of estimating the strength of evidence for candidate species is also described. Results The proposed method is applied in two example identifications: native vs. invasive Myriophyllum in North America and vegetative Rhipidocladum bamboos in Mexico. In each instance, the new method provides a probability and estimate of the strength of the probability to enhance the name assignment in situations where taxa are difficult to differentiate using discrete character states. Discussion Naive Bayesian classifiers take advantage of the predictive information inherent in continuous morphological characters. Application of this methodology to plant taxonomy advances our ability to leverage digital technology for improved interactive taxonomic identifications.

Arthrostylidium, a Neotropical genus of 31 mostly clambering woody bamboo species, is a member of subtribe Arthrostylidiinae, which is closely allied to subtribe Guaduinae. Arthrostylidium has long been a catchall for species within its subtribe that display unusual morphology. While attempting to clarify the circumscription of Arthrostylidium, we discovered three West Indian species (A. angustifolium, A. farctum, A. pinifolium) that possess putative Guaduinae features. We test the hypothesis that these three species should be classified within subtribe Guaduinae and revise their taxonomy. Phylogenetic inference based on sequences of four plastid markers (ndhF, trnC-rpoB, trnD-trnT, rps16-trnQ) recovered Arthrostylidium as polyphyletic, with A. angustifolium, A. farctum, and A. pinifolium forming a well-supported clade sister to the Guaduinae. Parametric bootstrap tests uphold this topology as significant. Detailed morphological and anatomical analyses revealed A. angustifolium, A. farctum, and A. pinifolium lack characteristics diagnostic for Arthrostylidiinae but conform to Guaduinae. Based on the morphological and molecular results, we erect the new genus Tibisia within subtribe Guaduinae, transfer Arthrostylidium angustifolium, A. farctum, and A. pinifolium to Tibisia as T. angustifolia, T. farcta, and T. pinifolia, and provide keys to the genera of Guaduinae and the species of Tibisia. These findings demonstrate convergent evolution in a number of macromorphological characters that have been important for generic identification, and reinforce the diagnostic value of leaf anatomy for subtribal determination among the Neotropical woody bamboos.

Premise Aquatic macrophyte species abundance and nutrient affinity are used in metrics to assess the trophic condition of lakes and rivers. The development of these indices is often regional, with inter‐regional comparisons being complicated by the lack of taxonomic overlap. Here, we use a traits‐based approach to expand the geographic scope of existing metrics. Methods We generalized European trophic affinity values using the response of plant growth form to the light–nutrient gradient, then applied these values to sites in Canada. We evaluated the method's performance against the measured total phosphorus concentration (TP). Results Free‐floating and emergent growth forms were associated with enriched waters (>0.2 mg/L TP), whereas rosette forms were associated with oligotrophic conditions (<0.05 mg/L TP). The responses were longitudinally consistent, and the site scores among indices were highly collinear. Growth form–based scores were more strongly correlated with TP than were species‐based scores (0.42–0.56 versus 0.008–0.25). Discussion We leveraged the ecological relationship between increased surface water nutrient enrichment and the dominance of particular aquatic plant growth forms to generalize aquatic plant trophic indices. We demonstrated an approach for adapting species‐based indices to plant traits to facilitate a broader geographic application and simpler data collection, which could be used to develop an easily applied trait‐based method of assessing water nutrient status.

The alpha-emitter radium-223 ( 223Ra) is a bone-seeking radionuclide studied as a new treatment for patients with bone metastases from hormone-refractory prostate cancer. We aimed to study mature outcomes from a randomised, multicentre, phase II study of 223Ra. Patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and bone pain needing external-beam radiotherapy were assigned to four intravenous injections of 223Ra (50 kBq/kg, 33 patients) or placebo (31 patients), given every 4 weeks. Primary endpoints were change in bone-alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentration and time to skeletal-related events (SREs). Secondary endpoints included toxic effects, time to prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) progression, and overall survival. All tests were done at a 5% significance level, based on intention to treat. Median relative change in bone-ALP during treatment was −65·6% (95% CI −69·5 to −57·7) and 9·3% (3·8–60·9) in the 223Ra group and placebo groups, respectively (p<0·0001, Wilcoxon ranked-sums test). Hazard ratio for time to first SRE, adjusted for baseline covariates, was 1·75 (0·96–3·19, p=0·065, Cox regression). Haematological toxic effects did not differ significantly between two groups. No patient discontinued 223Ra because of treatment toxicity. Median time to PSA progression was 26 weeks (16–39) versus 8 weeks (4–12; p=0·048) for 223Ra versus placebo, respectively. Median overall survival was 65·3 weeks (48·7–∞) for 223Ra and 46·4 weeks (32·1–77·4) for placebo (p=0·066, log rank). The hazard ratio for overall survival, adjusted for baseline covariates was 2·12 (1·13–3·98, p=0·020, Cox regression). 223Ra was well tolerated with minimum myelotoxicity, and had a significant effect on bone-ALP concentrations. Larger clinical trials are warranted to study 223Ra on the prevention of SREs and on overall survival in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Bone-targeting properties of 223Ra could also potentially be used for treating skeletal metastasis from other primary cancers.

Background and aims – Rhipidocladum , a woody bamboo genus distributed from Mexico to Argentina, has raceme like synflorescences of multiple spikelets. Six of the 21 known species occur in Mexico. In this study, we present a full description, distribution map, illustrations, and photographs of an unusual new Rhipidocladum species endemic to Jalisco, Mexico. Additionally, we provide an updated key to the species of Rhipidocladum in Mexico. Material and methods – This study was based on fieldwork, literature, and herbarium specimens review. Specimens collected were analysed and photographed during fieldwork. The conservation assessment is based on spatial analyses, following the IUCN guidelines and criteria. Results – This is the first species in the genus Rhipidocladum that has synflorescences with only a single, terminal spikelet. Rhipidocladum singuliflorum occurs only in three localities in the municipality of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. This species inhabits the canyon slopes of rivers in subdeciduous and tropical dry forests, at 6–150 m a.s.l. According to our IUCN assessment, this new species should be considered Critically Endangered.

Georeferencing is the process of aligning a text description of a geographic location with a spatial location based on a geographic coordinate system. Training aids are commonly created around the georeferencing process to disseminate community standards and ideas, guide accurate georeferencing, inform users about new tools, and help users evaluate existing geospatial data. The Georeferencing for Research Use (GRU) workshop was implemented as a training aid that focused on the creation and research use of geospatial coordinates, and included both data researchers and data providers, to facilitate communication between the groups. The workshop included 23 participants with a wide background of expertise ranging from students (undergraduate and graduate), professors, researchers and educators, scientific data managers, natural history collections personnel, and spatial analyst specialists. The conversations and survey results from this workshop demonstrate that it is important to provide opportunities for biocollections data providers to interact directly with the researchers using the data they produce and vice versa.

Aulonemia yanachagensis is described from cloud forests at 2600- 3000m elevation in the Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén, Prov. Oxapampa, Dept. Pasco, Peru. It differs from all other congeners in its combination of prominent sheath auricles, with abundant radiate fimbriae, small foliage leaf blades, and awnless spikelets. /// Se describe Aulonemia yanachagensis, la cual crece en el bosque de nieblas del Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén, Prov. Oxapampa, Dep.. Pasco, Perú, a elevaciones entre 2600-3000 m. Esta especie se difiere de todos sus congéneres por la combinación de caracteres tales como aurículas prominentes, fimbrias radiales abundantes, láminas foliares pequefias, y espiguillas sin aristas.

Chasquea annagardneriae, a species of Chusquea sect. Verticillatae from Ecuador, is described as new. It is illustrated and compared and contrasted with Chusquea albilanata, the species to which it is most similar. Chusquea annagardneriae is distinguished from all other species of Chusquea by its auriculate foliage leaf blades, but it is also characterized by tuberculate internodes, more or less pseudopetiolate culm leaf blades, the presence of fibrillar branchlets in the branch complement, an open pyramidal synflorescence, dorsally compressed spikelets with glumes I and II both greatly reduced and scalelike, and glumes III and IV extending about half of the spikelet length. Chusquea annagardneriae is endemic to the province of Loja, Ecuador, and occurs in dry forest scrub and forest remnants at 2000 to 2250 m in elevation. Se describe Chusquea annagardneriae, una especie nueva de Ecuador que pertenece a Chusquea sección Verticillatae. Chusquea annagardneriae se ilustra y se compara con C. albilanata, la especie más parecida. Se distingue Chusquea annagardneriae de todas las otras especies del género por sus láminas foliares auriculadas, pero se le distingue además por sus entrenudos tuberculados, lámina de la hoja caulinar más o menos pseudopeciolada, la presencia de ramitas fibrilares en el complemento de ramas, una sinflorescencia abierta y piramidal, espiguillas comprimidas dorsalmente con glumas I y II fuertemente reducidas y escamosas, y glumas III y IV extendiéndose por la mitad de la longitud de la espiguilla. Chusquea annagardneriae es endémica a la provincia de Loja, Ecuador, y ocurre en vegetación secundaria de bosque seco y en restos de bosque a 2000 a 2250 m.s.n.m.