29 research outputs found
Aloestrela Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new alooid genus with A. Suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. As the only species
No full textSmith, Gideon F., Molteno, Steven (2019): Aloestrela Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new alooid genus with A. Suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. As the only species. Bradleya 37: 3-7, DOI: 10.25223/brad.n37.2019.a2, URL: https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/372e3fce-fd3a-39a6-a841-669dc65bb048
Aloestrela Molteno & Gideon F. Sm. 2019, gen. nov.
No full textAloestrela Molteno & Gideon F.Sm., gen. nov. Photographer unknown. ©The National Herbarium of South Africa (PRE), South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Reproduced with the permission of the Curator. Type: Aloestrela suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (≡ Aloe suzannae Decary). Number of species: one. Diagnosis: Solitary, very large, tall-growing, single-stemmed, aloe-like perennial, reaching a height of 4m. Leaves erect to gracefully curved upwards, glaucous-green (Figure 4); surface rough to the touch, margins dentate; apices blunt-rounded. Inflorescence araceme, to 3m tall. Flowers tubular, perigone apices recurved. Description: Perennial, solitary, very large, single-stemmed, leaf succulent. Stem to 3–4(– 7?)m tall, up to 25cm in diameter, brown, rough, usually unbranched, less frequently branched. Leaves 100 × 8–10cm, amplexicaul, succulent, nu-merous, erect to gracefully curved upwards, cymbiform in cross-section, remains of old leaves persistent for a short time; surface dull glaucous green, roughened, lacking spots and scattered teeth, leathery; margins armed with small, triangular teeth; apices blunt- to obtuse-rounded, small-toothed. Inflorescence asimple, erect, densely flowered, cylindrical, brush-like raceme, to 3m tall including peduncle; peduncle to 1m long; pedicels to 30mm long; bracts to 15mm long, not exceeding pedicels, ± elongated-deltoid. Flowers 30–40(–45)mm long, with aslight basal swelling, nocturnal; tepals spreading to strongly recurved apically, white to creamy white, orangey pink-infused; anthers well-exserted, spreading fan-like beyond mouth of flower; filaments pinkish orange; ovary cylindrical; ovules placed almost horizontally, 24–30 per locule (Steyn & Smith, 1998: 195). Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seed shortly winged. Chromosome number: 2 n = 14 (Brandham, 1971: 387). Genome size (2 C /pg) 33.3 picograms (Zonneveld, 2002: 8). . Distribution: Toliara Province (formerly Toliary or Tuléar), aformer province of Madagascar (endemic). Conservation: The species is of conservation concern (Smith & Swartz, 1997, 1999; Castillon & Castillon, 2010: 274) and is regarded as Critically Endangered (Rakotoarisoa et al., 2014: 89). Etymology:The genus Aloestrela is named for Professor Dr Estrela Figueiredo of the Department of Botany of the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa (Figure 1). Estrela has a longstanding interest in succulent plants and authored or co-authored over 100 scientific papers and several books on aloes alone. The specific epithet suzannae commemorates Mademoiselle Suzanne Decary, daughter of Raymond Decary. Decary first described the species as an aloe (Decary, 1921: 26, foot note no. 2).Published as part of Smith, Gideon F. & Molteno, Steven, 2019, Aloestrela Molteno & Gideon F. Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new alooid genus with A. Suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F. Sm. As the only species, pp. 3-7 in Bradleya 37 on pages 4-5, DOI: 10.25223/brad.n37.2019.a2, http://zenodo.org/record/787617
Aloestrela suzannae Molteno & Gideon F. Sm. 2019, comb. nov.
No full textAloestrela suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm., comb. nov. ≡ Aloe suzannae Decary in Bull. Econ. Madag. 18 (1): 26 (1921). Type: MADAGASCAR. Ambovombe, 21 July [1923] 1924, [R.] Decary 2913, MNHN-P-P00413803 (neo-), here designated. Note on the type of the name Aloe suzannae, basionym of Aloestrela suzannae:The name Aloe suzannae was published on page 26 of Decary (1921). There is no citation of specimens in the protologueof thename, only mention of localities, as follows: “sud d’Ambaro [south of Ambaro], nord est du Faux Cap [northeast of Faux Cap], Anta-ramaitsy, suddu cirquede Malaimpioky[south of the ‘circus’; in ageological sense it means ahalfopen, steep-sided hollow at the head of avalley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion]”. Further, on page 10 of the text of Decary (1926), before starting his notes on plants, he states that he had an opportunity to record some observati-ons on a certain number of plants of the Tsihombe district, which he presented in the text that follo-wed [“Il m’a été donné de faire sur un certain nom-bre de plantes du district de Tsihombe quelques observations que je donne ci-après”.] Seven of the Decary specimens of Aloe suzannae that are held at Herb. P are databased. In one case the specimen does not have a collector’s num-ber, i.e., it is to be cited as Decary s.n.; the six other specimens are numbered. The six numbered specimens and the unnumbered one resolve as fol-lows, with an indication of the type-status labels that have been affixed to them: Decary 2913; MNHN-P-P00413800; 21 Juillet 1924; purple-stamped “ Ambovombe ”; red-labelled “ ISOTYPE ”. Decary 2913; MNHN-P-P00413801; 21 July 1924; specimen databased, but no image available online at P; “Verbatim locality Ambovombe ”. Decary 2913; MNHN-P-P00413802; 21 Juillet 1924 [“donné par M. Henri Perrier de la Bâthie en 1932”; purple-stamped “ Ambovombe ”; red-labelled “ ISOTYPE ”. Decary 2913; MNHN-P-P00413803; 21 Juillet 192 3;“ Ambovombe ” written by hand in black ink; red-labelled “ TYPE ”. This specimen was also seen by G.W. Reynolds, well-known student of Aloe,as he placed his signature on the specimen, and dated his signature to “ 18/8/55 ”. Decary 3450; MNHN-P-P00413806; 23 November 1924 [“Reçu le”, i.e., “Received on”, presumably at Herb. P] 1 octobre 1925; “ Ambovombe ” written by hand in black ink; Decary 9283; MNHN-P-P00413805; 2 October 1931, [“Reçu le”, i.e., “Received on”, presumably at Herb. P] 20 Mai 1932; red-stamped “ Ambovombe ”; envelope with fragments. Decary s.n.; MNHN-P-P00413804; no collecting date [“Reçu le”, i.e., “Received on”, presumably at Herb. P] 12 Novembre 1921; no locality given; envelope with fragments. Note that six of the seven specimens enumerated above unambiguously have collecting dates that postdate the publication of the name Aloe suzannae,so they cannot be regarded as the holo-type /isotypes. Furthermore, the seventh specimen, Decary s.n., does not have acollecting date (nor a collecting locality, for that matter), with only adate on which it was received, presumably at Herb. P. Since the collecting date of Decary s.n. (and the locality from which it was collected) are unknown, and because it consists of only an envelope with fragments, we did not consider this specimen as aviable option for typification purposes. In addition, since Decary (1926) did not mention any specimens in the protologue of the name A. suzannae, this name clearly does not have a holotype. We here neotypify the name Aloe suzannae, basionym of Aloestrela suzannae,with R. Decary 2913, MNHN-P-P00413803, the only one of the seven specimens listed above that is dated 21 July 192 3.However, the date (July 1923) is considered to be amistake as other collections of Decary that fall in the 2900s range were made in 1924. For example, Decary 2985, P P00508553, dates from 20 July 1924. The other three Decary 2913 specimens (1 to 3, above) are all dated 21 July 1924, and therefore isoneotypes, i.e., duplicates of the neotype designated here.Published as part of Smith, Gideon F. & Molteno, Steven, 2019, Aloestrela Molteno & Gideon F. Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new alooid genus with A. Suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F. Sm. As the only species, pp. 3-7 in Bradleya 37 on pages 5-6, DOI: 10.25223/brad.n37.2019.a2, http://zenodo.org/record/787617
Contributions to the systematics and ecology of Tulista Raf(Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae)
No full textThe subject of this study is the taxonomy, morphology, distribution and ecology of Tulista Raf. (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), a genus of succulent plants that are endemic to South Africa. A lack of clarity on the taxonomy of this genus, coupled with an incomplete understanding of the distribution, ecology and habitat preferences of the constituent species, risks hampering the conservation of Tulista species, two of which are endangered species. The purpose of this study is therefore to address the need for a more detailed and consistent treatment of Tulista taxonomy and morphology, complemented by a study of the plants’ distribution and ecology. The work first provides a review of the relevant taxonomy and nomenclature, concluding with the presentation of the validly published names referring to Tulista. A detailed morphometric study resulted in strong support for one species, Tulista marginata (Lam.) G.D.Rowley, as well as for a grouping comprising Tulista pumila (L.) G.D.Rowley and Tulista minor (Aiton) Gideon F.Sm. & Molteno, with further moderate support for the distinction between the latter two species. The fourth out of the currently recognised species, Tulista kingiana (Poelln.) Gideon F.Sm. & Molteno, was only weakly characterised by the morphometric results, which suggested that its closest morphological affinity may be with hybrid plants that are sometimes found near T. marginata populations. The characterisation of some more controversial taxa was not supported in the results. Some changes to the circumscription of currently recognised Tulista species are also suggested by the results. In addition, field work conducted during the course of the study resulted in an expanded set of distribution data for the genus, together with certain habitat variables identified as potentially significant for the distribution and ecology of Tulista species
×<i>Astrolista</i>Molteno & Figueiredo (Asphodelaceae): a new name for the South African endemic nothogenus ×<i>Astroworthia</i>
No full textNotes on morphological variation in, and the biogeography of, <i>Tulista kingiana</i> Gideon F.Sm. & Molteno (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) from the south-central Western Cape Province of South Africa
No full textAggressive behavior in adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
No full textIncludes bibliographical references.Behavioral studies of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have indicated that aggression is common amongst alcohol-exposed adolescents, and that it appears to become more prevalent with age in that population. Such studies have documented the presence of aggression as a behavioral outcome, but have not provided detailed information regarding its presentation, including whether it is proactive or reactive in nature and under which circumstances it arises. Consequently, there is a lack of a theoretical framework within which to understand aggression in FASD. The current research comprised two studies. In Study 1, comorbid developmental disorders that are typically associated with aggression were examined in alcohol-exposed and non-exposed boys and girls. The results indicated a higher prevalence of disruptive behavior disorders, and conduct disorder in particular, amongst the alcohol-exposed boys, and highlighted a significant association between prenatal alcohol exposure and an aggressive subtype of conduct disorder. Based on these findings, Study 2, a multiple-case study, examined the aggressive behaviors of 6 alcohol-exposed and nonexposed adolescents and their classmates
<i>Astroloba tenax</i> Molteno, Van Jaarsv. & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new species from the Groot Swartberg Mountain, South Africa
No full text<i>Astroloba robusta</i>P.Reinecke ex Molteno, Van Jaarsv. & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new species from the Great Karoo, South Africa
No full textShort Range Electric Vehicle Motor Controller
No full textThe recent and steady increase in fuel cost, climate change and pollution has created a public awareness for energy conservation. The Internal Com- bustion Engine (ICE) is known to be highly inefficient during stop/start (acceleration) and idle periods at intersections and traffic lights. These are areas where electric vehicles surpass the efficiency of any ICE powered ve- hicle. Historically public opinion has been that electric vehicles do not have a place in everyday transport needs due to that fact they are limited by range. However a government study recently released figures stating that the average distance travelled by New Zealanders every day was less than 50km. Recent advances in electronic motor control have seen three phase Brushless DC Hub Motors in E-bikes become more readily available. These motors are also being prototyped in four wheel passenger vehicles for mass production. These Brushless Hub Motors are simple compact devices that allow for a reduction in moving mechanical parts and therefore servicing costs. Because a large percentage of New Zealand’s electricity production is via renewable energy resources it was proposed that a short range electric vehicle could be a solution to reducing the average New Zealander’s daily commuting expenditure. This thesis is directed at producing a proof of concept short range electric vehicle that might suit the daily needs of the average New Zealander, promote the clean green image and reduce their carbon footprint. The project covers the design of a vehicle to be classified as a Land Transport New Zealand LB2 vehicle. This includes chassis de- sign, motor selection and motor controller design. The main focus of the thesis is the design of a three phase Brushless DC motor controller and the accompanying firmware required to control it. The design is specifically focused on reduction in motor controller size, reduced cost and component ii count. This includes designing the PCB so that no extra programming or debugging interface is required. The schematic, PCB and firmware will be produced as part of an Open-source project, therefore giving others the opportunity to learn from the author’s mistakes and discoveries. A major discovery made by the author is that motor control design requires effective interfacing techniques. Switching noise is a continuous problem especially induced noise on Hall effect sensor outputs. Therefore correct design practices must be adhered to to achieve the desired goal
