Cytisus sections Alburnoides DC., Spartopsis Dumort. and Verzinum (Raf.) Talavera (tribe Genisteae, Fabaceae) are revised. These comprise 10 species of the genus, of which two species are recognised in Cytisus section Alburnoides, four in Cytisus section Spartopsis (of which two species are divided into subspecies), and four in Cytisus section Verzinum (one with two subspecies). Three new combinations are made: Cytisus ardoinoi subsp. sauzeanus, C. grandiflorus subsp. maurus and C. scoparius subsp. insularis. Keys to the sections and to the species within each section are given. All taxa are described. Conservation assessments are made.

Arisaema madhuanum, a new species of Araceae from the southern Western Ghats, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically allied to Arisaema attenuatum, from which it differs in having subulate neuters on the male spadix, a wide-mouthed spathe tube with the margins dilated into broad auricular extensions, and an erect to arching, oblong-lanceolate spathe limb with a narrow constricted basal region. The new taxon belongs to Arisaema sect. Sinarisaema Nakai.

The so-called dithecous leaves with two sheaths (adaxial and abaxial) which occur at branching in species of subfamily Podostemoideae of the aquatic flowering plant family Podostemaceae are enigmatic structures. The fact that in many species the shoot axes and leaves are fused has previously prevented an understanding of the real nature of dithecous leaves. This study reports on the position of the dithecous leaf in Podostemum rutifolium subsp. ricciiforme, the simple shoot structure of which has revealed that the dithecous leaf is the first leaf of the branch and does not arise from the main shoot as previously believed. Accordingly, the two sheaths of the dithecous leaf are interpreted anew: the sheath towards the branch, and its flower bud, is the true (ventral, adaxial) sheath of the dithecous leaf (formerly viewed as an additional new structure), and the other (dorsal, abaxial) sheath towards the flower bud of the main shoot of the branch is a novel structure. Consequently, the branch does not develop from the reverse side of the dithecous leaf in a subfoliar position, but rather is axillary above its subtending leaf. A similar structure was described in a previous paper on Apinagia riedelii, and in both species, and thus in subfamily Podostemoideae, the ramification pattern conforms to the pattern in other angiosperms.

Eleven new species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from Sulawesi are described and illustrated: C. albiflora Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. boliohutensis Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. gambutensis Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. hekensis Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. hendrianii Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. hispidula Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. kinhoii Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. multinervis Karton. & R.Bone, C. nitida Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. rantemarioensis Karton. & R.Bone and C. rubribracteata Karton. & H.J.Atkins. Illustrations, maps and preliminary conservation assessments are provided for all the species.

Four new species of Alpinia are described; A. glacicaerulea, A. sandsii and A. maxii, all belonging to sect. Myriocrater K.Schum., and A. amentacea, which is placed in the small sect. Eubractea K. Schum.

Rechinger, in his 1968 Flora Iranica account, considered Sterigmostemum to contain nine species in Iran. In 1980 Léonard excluded S. purpurascens from Sterigmostemum and transferred it to the new genus Petiniotia as P. purpurascens. Subsequently, in 1988 Jacquemoud retained this species in Sterigmostemum, but as subgenus Petiniotia. In 2000 Sonboli et al. excluded S. laevicaule from Sterigmostemum and considered it to be a synonym of Erysimum crassicaule. Phenetic analysis of morphological and anatomical characters from herbarium and fresh specimens supports the recognition of five species in Sterigmostemum (S. incanum, S. sulphureum, S. acanthocarpum, S. ramosissimum and S. longistylum). The results of cluster analysis and ordination based on these characters confirm Léonard's exclusion of S. purpurascens and transfer to the genus Petiniotia as P. purpurascens. A key is provided to distinguish Petiniotia from Sterigmostemum, followed by descriptions of the two genera and a conspectus of species.

The Chiquibul Forest Reserve and National Park in Belize is a priority conservation area within the ‘Maya Forest’ in Central America. Although taxonomic data are essential for the development of conservation plans in the region, there is limited knowledge of the existing species in the area. Here we present a botanical species list of mostly woody taxa based on voucher specimens, with particular focus on the Raspaculo watershed in the eastern part of the National Park. Within the Raspaculo watershed, a comparison is made between 0.1 ha of valley floor and 0.1 ha of hilltop vegetation, sampling trees, shrubs, palms and lianas ≥2.5 cm diameter at breast height. Additionally, a 1 ha plot was established in the Upper Raspaculo watershed. Our study shows 38 new species records for the region, and important additions to the flora of Belize. New records were recorded from forests on both metamorphic and karstic substrate, including previously overlooked hilltop forest elements. Quantitative assessment of vegetation across elevation zones shows distinct elements dominating on valley floors and hilltops. Our results show that the Chiquibul contains at least 58% of Belize’s threatened plant species, and represent a source of information for the management and conservation of the area.

Seven new species and one new subspecies in Scrophulariaceae from the Flora of Bhutan area are described. They include two new species of Euphrasia, E. chumbica R.R. Mill sp. nov. (Chumbi, Sikkim and C Bhutan) and E. melanosticta R.R. Mill sp. nov. (Sikkim, N Bhutan); one new species of Kickxia, K. papillosa R.R. Mill sp. nov. (E Bhutan); one new species of Lagotis, L. chumbica R.R. Mill sp. nov. (Chumbi); one new species of Neopicrorhiza, N. minima R.R. Mill sp. nov. (N Bhutan); two new species of Scrophularia, S. cooperi R.R. Mill sp. nov. (C Bhutan) and S. subsessilis R.R. Mill sp. nov. (N Bhutan); and a new subspecies of Ellisiophyllum pinnatum (Wall.) Makino, subsp. bhutanense R.R. Mill subsp. nov. (Bhutan). Alectra avensis (Benth.) Merr., Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, Scrophularia himalayensis Royle, Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze and S. densiflora Benth. are all recorded from Bhutan and/or Sikkim for the first time. A brief argument is given for the continued use of hyphenated fel-terrae as the correct spelling of that epithet in Picria.

A new species of Dubyaea (Asteraceae), D. forrestii Mamgain & R.R.Rao, from the Burma/China border is described, illustrated and compared with D. atropurpurea. The affinities of the new species to Dubyaea atropurpurea are discussed.

A new species, Roella uncinata Cupido (Campanulaceae), from Western Cape, South Africa, is described and illustrated, and its known distribution mapped. A proposed conservation assessment is provided, and its diagnostic characters and affinity are discussed.

Three new species of Rubiaceae from Central Africa are described and illustrated. Chassalia lutescens O.Lachenaud & D.J.Harris (widespread from Cameroon to Democratic Republic of Congo) is recognised inter alia by the T-shaped ventral furrow of the seeds and the orange-yellow discoloration of inflorescences in herbarium specimens. Psychotria nodiflora O.Lachenaud & D.J.Harris (Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville and Democratic Republic of Congo), belonging to Psychotria subgen. Psychotria sect. Involucratae, is unique among African species of the genus in having paired axillary inflorescences. Psychotria pteropus O.Lachenaud & D.J.Harris (Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo) belongs to Psychotria subgen. Tetramerae; it is closely related to P. leptophylla Hiern but differs in its narrow corolla tube and globose to ellipsoid fruits.

Two new species of Potentilla L. (Rosaceae) from SW Anatolia are described and illustrated: Potentilla nerimaniae H. Duman and P. davisii R. R. Mill & H. Duman.

Fifty-one species of basidiomycetes are recorded from the Southern Atlantic archipelago of the Falkland Islands. Several other fungi are discussed in the light of these findings. Some of these fungi are recorded for the first time from the Falklands and especially from some of the smaller islands of the group adjacent to West and East Falkland. The world distributions of the fungi dealt with in this compilation, particularly in the southern hemisphere, are given where they are known. Comments are made on the possible reasons for the occurrence of the species in the Falklands, especially the ectomycorrhizal taxa.

Species delimitation in Scaphium (Sterculioideae, Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae) has been problematic and has led to confusion in identification of species. The genus was last revised in 1953 and at that time comprised four species. Since then five new species have been published. This revision of Scaphium recognises eight species, with other names being accounted for in synonymy or by exclusion from the genus.

A new species, Rhododendron pseudomaddenii A.A.Mao & M.Bhaumik (Ericaceae), is described and illustrated from India.

Lloydia himalensis is confirmed as being synonymous with L. serotina; L. yunnanensis is reported for the first time from the E Himalaya; L. delicatula Noltie sp. nov. is described; L. mairei and L. serotina var. parva are discussed.

Study of relevant types has led to the conclusion that Gagea kunawurensis (Royle) Greuter (Liliaceae) is the correct name for what has recently been known as G. stipitata Merckl. ex Bunge; that G. gageoides (Zucc.) Vved. is the correct name for G. persica Boiss., and that G. kashmirensis Turrill should be reduced to synonymy of G. tenera Pascher. Anatomical and morphological data are presented for these and the related species Gagea dschungarica Regel and G. afghanica A.Terracc., and a key given to allow their discrimination.

New descriptions, followed by discussion, are given for the following species described by Kraenzlin: Cyrtandra cerea, C. foveolata, C. megalocrater, C. prostrata, C. quinquenotata, C. robusta, C. strictipes; C. populifolia, as enumerated by Kraenzlin, is a misdetermination. Cyrtandra paxiana and C. serratobracteata are also re-described, and one recently discovered new species, C. crockeriana, is established.

Dysoxylum middletonianum Takeuchi (Meliaceae) is described from previously unexplored habitats in the Southern Fold Mountains of Papua New Guinea. The new plant is the smallest Dysoxylum in eastern Malesia and one of only two species with whip infructescences.