TRI-OLOGY, Vol. 35, No. 1
Nancy C. Coile, Ph. D., Managing Editor
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1996
PI-96T-17
Wayne N. Dixon, Ph. D., Editor
| Botany Section | Entomology Section | Nematology Section | Plant Pathology Section |
BOTANY SECTION
Compiled by Carlos R. Artaud
For this period, 399 specimens were submitted for identification and/or name verification. Some of the samples are described below:
Abutilon permolle (Willd.) Sweet, Malvaceae, Indian mallow: Perennial shrub with slender velvety or glabrescent branches, to about 1.5 m tall. Leaves alternate; blades rounded-ovate, deeply cordate at base, obtuse to abruptly acuminate-attenuate at apex, crenulate*, white stellate-tomentulose and soft to the touch, to 15 cm long, nearly as broad. Flowers solitary and axillary or in subcorymbose terminal clusters; calyx 8-10 mm long, lobes ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, longer than tube; petals yellow, obovate, 1-1.5 cm long. Carpels 7 to 10, about 1 cm long, with short triangular awns less than 2 mm long; seeds 2 in each carpel, about 2 mm long, raised-puberulent. Coastal areas, disturbed sites; blooms throughout the year; South Florida, Florida Keys, West Indies, Mexico, and Central America. Dade County (B96-011, Lynn D. Howerton). (Correll and Correll 1982; Long and Lakela 1971).
Ibervillea lindheimeri (A. Gray) Greene ex Small, Cucurbitaceae, wild balsam, hierba de vibora (translates: viper's herb): Perennial vine; stems slender, 2-4 m long, little-branched. Leaves to 12 cm long, deeply 3-5-lobed, segments cuneate to rhombic-ovate, to 1 cm wide, margins toothed to lobed, scabrous; petiole 3.5 cm long. Male flowers yellow, 5-8 per raceme; calyx cylindric, 6-8 mm long, shortly 5-lobed, slightly puberulent; corolla with 5 oblong to linear lobes; stamens 3, inserted at throat of calyx tube, anthers straight; female flowers solitary, stigma trifid. Fruit globose, 25-35 mm in diameter, orange-red; seeds many, round, with thick margins, to 6 mm in diameter. Cultivated in Florida. Native from Texas to southern California, and northern Mexico. Martin County (B96-016, William R. Schirmer). (Bailey 1976; Huxley 1992).
Phleum pratense L., Gramineae, Timothy grass: Perennial to 1.5 m tall. Stems clumped, robust, ascending, swollen at base. Leaves to 45 cm long and 1 cm wide, glabrous; ligules* papery, blunt, to 0.6 cm long. Inflorescence compact, cylindric, to 30 cm long and 1 cm wide; spikelets oblong, compact, to 0.4 cm long, 1-flowered; glumes*narrow oblong, keel ciliate, awned; awn to 0.2 cm long. Common meadow grass, cultivated as forage and escaped throughout the U.S.A. Native to Eurasia. Duval County (B96-023, Flewellyn W. Podris, Jimmie R. Wigelsworth). (Bailey 1976; Huxley 1992).
Polanisia tenuifolia Torr. & A. Gray, Capparidaceae, slenderleaf clammyweed: Herb 2-8 dm tall. Leaves alternate, trifoliate; leaflets 1-4 cm long, narrowly linear or filiform-linear. Sepals 4, reflexed, 2-2.5 mm long; petals 4, white, unequal, the larger ones 6-8 mm long, the posterior pair barely clawed. Capsule 4-6 cm long. Scrub, dry pinelands, and sand hills. Coastal Plain from Florida to Mississippi, and Georgia. Highlands County (B96-005, James E. Bennett). (Small 1933).
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl, Verbenaceae, blue porterweed: Erect or spreading herb to 1 m tall, usually much smaller, essentially glabrous, stems terete or obscurely tetragonous. Leaves 3-10 cm long, to about 4.5 cm wide, broadly ovate to ovate-oblong, sometimes oblong-elliptic, obtuse or acute at apex, cuneate at base and usually long-decurrent, margins coarsely crenate-dentate. Flowers in spikes 1-7 dm long, glabrous, rigid, stout, the mature rachis 4-7 mm thick and deeply furrowed in fruit; bracts lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4-6 mm long, about 2 mm wide; calyx 5-7 mm long; corolla 8-10 mm long, usually blue or purple, rarely white, the limb about 9 mm wide. Fruit ellipsoid, brown, about 5 mm long. Moist or dry soil, shell mounds, beaches, disturbed sites, roadsides. South Florida, Florida Keys, West Indies, pantropical. Brevard County (B96-013, Karen L. Garrett-Kraus). (Correll and Correll 1982; Long and Lakela 1971).
Verbena rigida Spreng., Verbenaceae, tuberous vervain: Erect perennial with elongate underground stolons. Stems 1-7 dm tall, branched above. Leaves 4-11 cm long and 0.7-3 cm wide, lanceolate to oblanceolate, mucronate, sessile, clasping, margins coarsely serrate. Spikes 3-17, stiff erect, 1-6 cm long, 1-3 cm in diameter, flowers and fruits imbricate; bracts equal to two times as long as the calyx. Calyx 3-5 mm long, lobes curved inward and connivent* in fruit; corolla purple to violet, lobes 4-6 mm long; bracts, calyx and corolla tube pubescent. Rachis stipitate-glandular. Mericarps* all well developed, loosely adhering, tan on the inner surface, warty, 1.7-1.9 mm long. Waste sites and roadsides. North Carolina to northern Florida, west to Mississippi. Introduced from South America. Dade County (B96-021, Lynn D. Howerton). (Clewell 1985; Radford et al. 1964).
GLOSSARY: crenulate: with small, broad rounded teeth separated by narrow open spaces; glume: a chaff-like bract, specifically one of the two empty chaffy bracts at the base of the spikelets in grasses; ligule: in the grasses, a membranaceous (usually) appendage between the leaf blade and the petiole; also, in the daisy family, the long spreading limb of ray flowers; mericarp: a one-seeded portion of a schizocarp fruit which splits at maturity, typical of borage and carrot families.
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. 1290 p.
- Clewell, A. F. 1985. Guide to the vascular plants of the Florida Panhandle. Florida State University Press, Tallahassee. 605 p.
- Correll, D. S. and H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama Archipelago. J. Cramer, Hirschberg, Germany. 1692 p.
- Huxley, A. J. (ed.) 1992. New Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening, 4 vols. Macmillan Press, London. 3240 p.
- Long, R. W. and O. Lakela. 1971. A flora of tropical Florida. University of Miami Press. 962 p.
- Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles and C. R. Bell. 1974. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 1183 p.
- Small, J. K. 1933. Manual of the southeastern flora. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 1554 p.
ENTOMOLOGY SECTION
Compiled by Susan E. Halbert, PhD
For the month of January, there were 503 samples consisting of 8003+ specimens. In February, there were 422 samples consisting of 12,178+ specimens. Some of the samples processed are listed below:
ORNAMENTALS, WOODY PLANTS AND PALMS: Chamaedorea sp. (a palm)-- Pretydeus sp., a mite: single exotic mite was found on foreign produce from Mexico (16 February 1996; Charles H. Webb, Debora A. Bivens and Jimmie R. Wiglesworth).
Orthosiphon aristatus (cat's whiskers)-- Asterolecanium sp., a pit scale: A severe infestation was found at a nursery in Tampa, Hillsborough County (1 February 1996; Rebecca H. Lemstrom and Cindy S. Kamelhair).
Palmae (a palm)-- Asterolecanium inlabefactum Russell, a pit scale: A slight infestation of this insect not known to occur in Florida was intercepted on plants from Mexico (8 February 1996; Jimmie Wigelsworth and M. `Janie' Echols).
Ravenea rivularis (majesty palm)-- Metamasius hemipterus (L.), silky cane weevil: A severe infestation involved 50% of 105 plants at a nursery in Delray Beach, Palm Beach County (24 January 1996; Ellen J. Tannehill).
ORNAMENTALS, FOLIAGE PLANTS: Cyperus papyrus (paper plant)-- Schizaphis rotundiventris (Signoret), an aphid: A severe infestation was found in a wetlands experiment at a University of Florida greenhouse (1 February 1996; Mark Otto, University of Florida). The aphid is native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. This is the first time this species has been positively identified in the Western Hemisphere. Among FSCA unknowns were two aphids collected from Cyperus papyrus in Tampa, Hillsborough County (27 April 1988; E. Simmons and H. Wallace) which proved to also be S. rotundiventris. (Susan E. Halbert). RECORD FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
Ilex `Nellie R. Stevens' (Nellie R. Stevens holly)-- Morganella longispina (Morgan), plumose scale: A severe infestation involved 75% of 100 plants at a nursery in Odessa, Hillsborough County (17 January 1996; Cindy S. Kamelhair). NEW DPI HOST RECORD.
Nolina recurvata (ponytail)-- Opuntiaspis carinata (Ckll.), carinate scale: A moderate infestation was found at a resort in Aventura, Dade County (11 January 1996; Donna M. Gruber).
ORNAMENTALS, FLOWERING PLANTS: Impatiens sp. (New Guinea impatiens)-- Tarsonemus nr. confusus Ewing, a mite: A severe infestation involved 10% of 300 plants at a nursery in Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County and caused cupping, dwarfing and twisting of plants (26 February 1996; Alan R. Haynes and Rebecca H. Lemstrom).
FOREST AND SHADE TREES: Juniperus conferta `Blue Pacific' (blue pacific juniper)-- Hylobius pales (Herbst), pales weevil: An infestation involved 25% of 500 plants at a nursery in Apopka, Orange County (30 January 1996; Barbara J. Wilder). The large white grubs entered stems at root level and caused plants to decline rapidly, turning stem wood to mush.
Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum, a native species)-- Morganella longispina (Morgan), plumose scale: A severe infestation involved 100% of 100 plants at a nursery in Odessa, Hillsborough County (17 January 1996; Cindy S. Kamelhair). NEW DPI HOST RECORD.
Quercus virginiana (live oak)-- Acanthococcus ?quercus (Comstock), oak eriococcin: A moderate infestation involved 25% of 1000 plants at a nursery in Odessa, Hillsborough County (17 January 1996; Cindy S. Kamelhair).
Quercus sp. (oak)-- Stenodontes dasytomus dasytomus (Say), oak heart wood borer: A severe infestation involved one plant at a home in Gainesville, Alachua County (13 February 1996; B. Gurney).
FOOD OR CROP PLANTS: Arachis hypogaea (peanut)-- Coccus hesperidum L., brown soft scale: An infestation was found in a greenhouse at an IFAS unit in Quincy, Gadsden County (28 February 1996; Daniel O. Chellemi, IFAS). Peanut is an unusual host for this insect (Avas B. Hamon).
Ficus carica (edible fig)-- Asterolecanium pustulans (Cockerell), oleander pit scale: A severe infestation involved 100% of 2 plants at a home in Odessa, Hillsborough County (30 January 1996; Cindy S. Kamelhair).
Laurus nobilis (bay leaf)-- Coccus viridis (Green), green scale: A severe infestation involved 100% of 8 plants at a nursery in Gainesville, Alachua County (14 December 1996; Marie E. Peacock, Flewellyn W. Podris and Hubert W. Collins, Jr.)
CITRUS: Citrus aurantifolia (lime)-- Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy), brown citrus aphid: Infestations were found in several commercial lime nurseries in south Miami and Homestead, Dade County (29 December 1995, 4 January 1996 and 26 January 1996; Yda Collera and Grisel Betancourt). This is the first time brown citrus aphid has been found in a commercial citrus setting in Florida (Susan E. Halbert).
Citrus sinensis (sweet orange)-- Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy), brown citrus aphid: A slight infestation was found on a plant in a dooryard at Boca Raton, Palm Beach County (5 February 1996; Ellen J. Tannehill). NEW DPI COUNTY RECORD.
Citrus sp. (citrus)-- Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky), a scolytid beetle: A slight infestation was found in a citrus grove in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County (3 February 1996; Clayton E. Hutcheson, IFAS). Adults were found tunneling inside reportedly whole fruit (not previously injured). Observers claim tunneling extended to the center of fruit.
WEEDS AND GRASSES: Amaranthus spinosus (spiny amaranth)-- Herpetogramma bipunctalis (Fab.), a moth: A severe infestation involved 100% of 50 plants at an IFAS unit in Homestead, Dade County (1 December 1995; Holly Glenn, IFAS).
Corydalis micrantha (smallflower fumewort)-- Aphis middletonii Thomas complex, an aphid: An infestation at the crowns of the plants near the soil line was found at an IFAS unit in Gainesville, Alachua County (27 February 1996; Robert P. Esser). NEW DPI HOST RECORD.
NATIVE OR NATURALIZED PLANTS: Persea borbonia (redbay)-- Brevipalpus floridanus DeLeon and Calepitrimerus sp., mites: A severe infestation involved 80% of one plant at Micco Scrub, Brevard County (Karen L. Garrett-Kraus and Nancy C. Coile).
ARTHROPODS OF MEDICAL AND VETERINARY IMPORTANCE: Aix sponsa (wood duck)--Ornithocoris pallidus Usinger, a bed bug: A severe infestation was found at a waterfowl management facility in Tallahassee, Leon County (18 January 1996; Diane Roth Eggeman). Bugs were biting employees that service the nests, causing welts that itch for weeks to months.
Trichechus manatus (Florida manatee)-- Pangaeus bilineatus (Say), a burrower bug: The bug was found on a living manatee near Miami, Dade County (14 November 1995; Dr. E.C. Greiner, University of Florida Department of Pathobiology). These bugs are sometimes blown out to sea, and thus, the single individual was probably incidental on the animal (Joseph E. Eger, Dow Elanco).
Kukulcania hibernalis (Hentz), southern house spider: A single specimen was found in Cross City, Dixie County (26 February 1996; Allison Goodwin, homeowner). The spider bit the victim at night, causing a red area 7 mm in diameter, with a black central spot 3 mm in diameter within about 9 hours.
FEDERAL-STATE PLANT QUARANTINE PROGRAMS: Erica subdivaricata (persoluta heather)-- Helix aspersa Müller, brown garden snail: Moderate (unknown origin) and slight (origin in California) infestations were intercepted in Tampa, Hillsborough County in cut flowers (22 January 1996 and 25 January 1996, respectively; Rebecca H. Lemstrom).
Lehmannia poirieri (Mabille), a slug: One individual was intercepted on a pot in a shipment of plants from California in Seffner, Hillsborough County (23 January 1996; Samuel A. Fuller).
INSECT DETECTION: Sinoxylon anale Lesne, a false powder post beetle: An infestation was intercepted in wooden crates of manhole covers originating in India in Pensacola, Escambia County (9 February 1996; Russell E. Hill, USDA).
Sinoxylon conigerum Gerstaeker, a false powder post beetle: Infestations were intercepted in wooden crates of manhole covers originating in India in Pensacola, Escambia County (9, 17 February 1996; Russell E. Hill, USDA).
| Botany Section | Entomology Section | Nematology Section | Plant Pathology Section | Back to top |
NEMATOLOGY SECTION
Compiled by Robert P. Esser, Ph.D.
A total of 1,922 samples were processed in January and February. Details are shown below:
Certification and Regulatory Samples: Other Samples:
Multistate Certification for National and Identification
International Export . . . . . . . 897 (Invertebrate). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
California Certification. . . . . . . 539 Nematological Investigations . . . . 12
Premovement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Plant Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Site or Pit Approval . . . . . . . . 36 Intrastate Survey, Random . . . . . 313
Setaria magna (giant bristlegrass) -- The following nematodes were found for the first time in soil associated with this plant: Criconemoides citri Steiner, 1949; Helicotylenchus dihystera (Cobb, 1893) Sher, 1961; Meloidogyne spp.; Trichodorus rinae Vermneulin & Heyns, 1984; Xiphinema coxi Tarjan, 1964; Xenocriconemella macrodora; Aphelenchoides spp.; Ecphyodophora sp.; Eudorylainmus sp. ; and Prismatolamias sp. (Robert P. Esser and Gregory A. Brown; a biodiversity sample from the University of Florida "Natural Area"; 13 December 1995, N95-1949).
Washingtonia filifera (desert fan palm) -- Helicothylenchus canalis Sher, 1966 was found in abundant numbers in soil associated with this plant. This is the first detection of this nematode in Florida. Hemicycliophora thienemanni (Schneider, 1925) Foos, 1948 was also found in large numbers. Nematodes also found in this sample include Meloidogyne sp., Trichodorus sp., Tylenchus sp., Ecphyadophora sp., Bromus sp. and Trophurus sp., (Carrie S. Dees; 12 December 1995, N95-1930).
Schlumbergia truncata (a parent of Christmas cactus) -- Helicotylenchus dihystera (Cobb, 1893), Sher, 1961 was found abundant in soil associated with this plant. (Debora A. Bivens; 30 November 1995, N95-1909) .
COLLECTORS SUBMITTING FIVE OR MORE SAMPLES THAT WERE PROCESSED FOR NEMATOLOGICAL ANALYSIS DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1996:
Brodie, M.W. 5 Podris, F.W. 6
Dees, C. S. 43 Robinson, R.. 143
Dones, R.A. 89 Salisbury, T.L. 332
Fuller, S.A. 85 Smith, L.W. 18
LeBoutillier, K.W. 117 Smith, W.W. 68
Nelson, C.R. 81 Wigelsworth, J.R. 33
PLANT PATHOLOGY SECTION
Compiled by John W. Miller, Ph.D.
For this period, the Plant Pathology Section received and processed 617 specimens. These included 590 pathology, 9 miscellaneous, and 18 soil samples. Also, 442+ properties in the Miami area were diagnosed positive for citrus canker. Some of the samples are listed below.
ORNAMENTALS, WOODY PLANTS AND PALMS: Aesculus pavia (red buckeye)-- Botryotinia fuckeliana (de Bary) Whetzel, a stem leaf blight: Collected at a nursery in Jacksonville, Duval County (18 February 1996, Flewellyn W. Podris, P96-0500). NEW HOST RECORD.
Eugenia brasiliensis (Brazil-cherry, or grumichama)-- Pseudocercospora sp., a leaf spot: Collected at a nursery in Ft. Lauderdale, Broward County (10 January 1996, Karolynne M. Vanyo, P96-0116). NEW HOST RECORD.
Galphimia gracilis (thryallis)-- Pseudomonas cichorii (Swingle) Stapp, a bacterial leaf spot: Collected at a dooryard in Naples, Collier County (16 February 1996, Matthew W. Brodie, P96-0492). NEW HOST RECORD.
Myrcianthes fragrans (Simpson stopper, or twinberry)-- Strigula sp., a leaf spot: Collected at a dooryard in Vero Beach, Indian River County (31 February 1996, Dale H. Habeck (IFAS), P96-0385).
Nandina domestica `Harbour Dwarf' (a nandina cultivar)-- Cylindrocladium scoparium Morgan, a root and a crown rot: Collected at a nursery in Apopka, Orange County (30 January 1996, Leslie J. Wilber, Charles A. `Zo' Cooper, P96-0310). NEW HOST RECORD.
Trachycarpus fortunei (windmill palm)-- Fusarium poae (Peck) Wollenweb., F. moniliforme J. Sheld., & F. oxysporum Schlechtend.:Fr., secondary pathogens: Collected at a dooryard in Newberry, Alachua County (22 February 1996, R. Brown (a homeowner), P96-0522). NEW HOST RECORDS.
Viburnum obovatum (Walter's viburnum, or small viburnum, or small black-haw)-- Sphaceloma viburni, a scab: Collected at a nursery in Tampa, Hillsborough County (15 February 1996, Cindy S. Kamelhair, P96-0481).
ORNAMENTALS, FOLIAGE PLANTS: Piper methysticum (kava)-- Pseudomonas cichorii (Swingle) Stapp, a bacterial leaf spot: Collected at a nursery in Titusville, Brevard County (17 January 1996, Karen L. Garrett-Kraus, P96-0170). NEW HOST RECORD.
ORNAMENTALS, FLOWERING PLANTS: Calotropis gigantea (bowstring-hemp, or giant milkweed, or mudar)-- Phaeoramularia calotropidis (Ell. & Everh.) Kamal, Moses & Chaudhary, a leaf spot: Collected at a nursery in Ft. Lauderdale, Broward County (13 February 1996, Scott Shea, Karolynne M. Vanyo, P96-0323 & Resubmission P93-0461). NEW US RECORD.
FOREST AND SHADE TREES: Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum, a native species)-- Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend.:Fr., a root rot: Collected at a nursery in Odessa, Hillsborough County (17 January 1996, Cindy S. Kamelhair, P96-0175). NEW HOST RECORD.
Quercus virginiana (live oak, a native species)-- Cronartium strobilinum Hedgc. & Hahn, southern cone rust: Location unknown, Manatee County (08 January 1996, William Schilling & Edward L. Barnard (Div. of Forestry), P96-0125). NEW HOST RECORD for DPI files. Heterocyclic on Pinus palustris Mill. (longleaf pine) and P. elliottii Engelm. (slash pine), which are the economic hosts of this rust (Edward L. Barnard, Divison of Forestry).
FOOD OR CROP PLANTS: Citrus sp. (a citrus)-- Sclerotinia sp., a stem blight: Collected at a nursery in Odessa, Hillsborough County (19 January 1996, Cindy S. Kamelhair, P96-0185). NEW HOST RECORD.
PORT INSPECTION SAMPLES: Daucus carota (carrot)-- Mycocentrospora acerina (R. Hartig) Deighton, licorice rot: Collected at a Road Guard Station, shipped from Canada (A05752), Columbia County (19 February 1996, Hubert W. Collins, Jr., P96-0495).
