We present a new species of Meliaceae, Cedrela ngobe Köcke, T.D.Penn. & Muellner, from Panama and Costa Rica. A detailed description with illustrations and a distribution map are provided. Based on distribution data and climatic niche modelling, the species is classified as Vulnerable according to IUCN Red List categories.

Araucaria goroensis R.R.Mill & Ruhsam sp. nov., a new monkey puzzle species from New Caledonia, is described and illustrated with photographs from the field and from herbarium specimens. Previously confused with Araucaria muelleri, it is more similar to A. rulei. It is distinguished from the latter species by its larger leaves, microsporophylls without a shouldered base, and shorter female cone bracts. It occurs in a very limited area of south-east New Caledonia, where its existence is threatened by nickel mining. Using the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, we propose an assessment of Endangered for the new species and reassess Araucaria muelleri also as Endangered. A key to the seven species in the ‘large-leaved clade’ of New Caledonian species of Araucaria is given. The name Eutassa latifolia de Laub. is synonymised with Araucaria muelleri, and the recent typification of the latter name by Vieillard 1276 is rejected. Detailed reasoning is given for these nomenclatural acts.

Salvia daiguii Y.K.Wei & Y.B.Huang, a new species from China, is described. Salvia daiguii belongs to Salvia subg. Glutinaria (Raf.) G.X.Hu, C.L.Xiang & B.T.Drew, sect. Sobiso (Raf.) G.X.Hu, A.Takano & B.T.Drew, and is distinguished from morphologically similar species by differences in its habit, leaves, inflorescences and flowers. It has a narrow distribution in a karst region of Yongding District, Hunan Province, central China. A key to the Chinese species of section Sobiso is also presented.

The fruits of two anomalous African woody Apiaceae, Polemanniopsis marlothii and Steganotaenia araliacea, differ in structure when mature though the ovaries are very similar, both being heteromorphic in young flower stage. This unexpected heteromorphism in S. araliacea has important implications for future studies of basal genera and the interpretation of fruit characters in general. Both taxa also have unique ‘intrajugal cavities’ in the ovaries and fruits, which supports the idea that the two genera are closely related, sharing some characters with the Hydrocotyloideae and Saniculoideae. This provides morphological and anatomical evidence to support the previous hypotheses on their relationship with Saniculoideae. Their basal position is also supported by characters shared with other basal genera previously included in Hydrocotyloideae, such as the lateral wings and slightly lignified endocarp in Polemanniopsis and Steganotaenia.

Pinus halepensis and P. brutia hybridize extensively. The analysis of monoterpenoid and morphological variability of 122 pine trees at five sites showed that the within-site heterogeneity is high while the entire provenance diversity is comparable with that of a circum-Mediterranean scale. Four morphotypes and four chemotypes were recognized. The congruence between morphological and monoterpenoid classification of pines was high (coefficient of contingency 89%) while thirteen family groups of genetically closely related trees were found by means of a specifically designed sampling scheme of continuous classification – identification and re-sampling. Putative hybrids contributed substantially to the observed diversity and there is considerable heterogeneity between sites. Low-altitude sites, presumably susceptible to sea-level fluctuations, alluvial deposition and human influence, are in general more diverse at both levels of genetic complexity than inland sites. The hybrid phenotypes were not merely intermediate forms of parental taxa, and in a multivariate sense they are located on a parabola in the space of morphological properties. The arrangement of hybrids in the monoterpenoid space did not reveal any clear-cut pattern except that three major composite axes can summarize 98.9% of the entire monoterpenoid variation. The observed pattern of variation was interpreted as a result of waves of introgressive influence of eastern P. brutia population on P. halepensis, which was caused by marine transgressions in Pliocene and eustatic sea-level fluctuations in Pleistocene. The human influence on this introgression accelerated the process, and amplified the resulted pattern, although it blurred in many instances the biogeographic routes of germplasm mixing. Its bearing on the evolution of pines is discussed, and it was found that the ‘Eocene refugia hypothesis’ of C.I. Millar holds by analogy also in central Aegean pines.

New records in the Flora of Laos are presented, along with a short history of botanical collection in the country. The records are given in two lists, one relating to the Flore du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viêtnam and the other relating to the older Flore générale de l'Indochine.

A review of the taxonomy and distribution of the European species of Damasonium Mill. has been carried out to provide background information for conservation. Damasonium alisma Mill., D. bourgaei Coss. and D. polyspermum Coss. are recognized as distinct species, and descriptions and a key are presented. Lectotypes are designated for D. bourgaei and D. polyspermum. Damasonium alisma is the most northerly taxon, predominantly occurring in France and England, but extending eastwards to Russia. Damasonium bourgaei is widespread around the Mediterranean eastwards at least to India. Damasonium polyspermum occurs mainly in the western Mediterranean.

Fifteen boletes (Basidiomycotina) distributed in the following genera: Afroboletus (1), Aureoboletus (1), Boletellus (1), Gyroporus (2), Phlebopus (1), Phylloporus (1), Pulveroboletus (5), Suillus (1) Tuboseta (1), and Veloporphyrellus (1) are recorded from Zambia. Four of these collections cannot be assigned to any formerly documented stirps. Two new combinations are proposed and full descriptions of the other collections are given. Afroboletus azureotinctus and Veloporphyrellus africanus are described as new; Tuboseta brunneosetosa var. retipes is recorded from Cameroon & Zimbabwe in addition to Zambia.

A new species of Barleria (Acanthaceae), Barleria samhanensis Knees, A.G.Mill. & A.Patzelt, is described from southern Oman and a provisional assessment of its conservation status is provided. Further support is given for the recognition of the summit of Jabal Samhan as a distinct floristic unit.

Twelve populations of six Lycium species were analysed for karyotypie characters and seed storage proteins using multivariate statistical methods. All reported chromosome numbers (mostly new) are 2n = 24 (x = 12). Karyotypes were symmetrical and placed in 1A and 2A classes of Stebbins karyotype classification. Cluster analysis of karyological and protein data revealed variations among the populations of L. depressum and L. ruthenicum, and supports close relationships of L. kopetdaghi and L. depressum with L. makranicum, and L. shawii with L. edgeworthii.

A revision of the seven species of Rhododendron sections Sciadorhodion, Viscidula and Rhodora (of subgenus Pentanthera; Ericaceae) is presented. A cladistic analysis of Rhododendron subgenus Pentanthera is provided, and results in the recognition of four sections: Sciadorhodion, Viscidula, Rhodora and Pentanthera. The species are delimited and compared, their distributions are mapped, and descriptions and practical keys are developed.

Englerophytum and Synsepalum are two closely related genera of trees and shrubs from the African tropics. Previous molecular studies have shown that these genera collectively form a clade within the subfamily Chrysophylloideae (Sapotaceae). However, little is known about the inter-relationships of the taxa within the Englerophytum–Synsepalum clade. In this study, nuclear ribosomal DNA and plastid trnH–psbA sequences were used to estimate the phylogeny within the clade. Results indicate that the clade consists of six major lineages, two composed solely of taxa from the genus Englerophytum and four composed of taxa from the genus Synsepalum. Each lineage can be distinguished by suites of vegetative and floral characters. Leaf venation patterns, calyx fusion, style length and staminodal structure were among the most useful characters for distinguishing clades. Some of the subclades within the Englerophytum–Synsepalum clade were also found to closely fit descriptions of former genera, most of which were described by Aubréville, that have since been placed in synonymy with Englerophytum and Synsepalum. The clade with the type species of Englerophytum also contains the type species of the genera Wildemaniodoxa and Zeyherella, which are confirmed as synonyms.

Two new species of Eriocaulon L. (Eriocaulaceae) from India, E. malabaricum Pradeep & Nampy and E. pykarense Nampy & Manudev, are described, illustrated and compared with E. sollyanum Royle and E. ansarii Pradeep & Sunil, respectively.

The focus of community ecology has shifted from the description of taxonomic composition towards an understanding of community assembly based on species’ ‘functional traits’. The functional trait approach is well developed for vascular plants, utilising variability of continuous phenotypic characters that affect ecological fitness, such as specific leaf area, tissue nitrogen concentration or seed mass, to explain community structure. In contrast, community assembly studies for poikilohydric cryptogamic plants and fungi, such as lichens, remain focused on broad categorical traits such as growth form difference: fruticose, foliose or crustose. This study examined intra- and interspecific variability for two highly promising continuous phenotypic measurements that affect lichen physiology and ecological fitness: water-holding capacity (WHC) and specific thallus mass (STM). Values for WHC and STM were compared within and among species, and within and among key macrolichen growth forms (fruticose and green-algal and cyanolichen foliose species), asking whether these widely used categories adequately differentiate the continuous variables (WHC and STM). We show large intra- and interspecific variability that does not map satisfactorily onto growth form categories, and on this basis provide recommendations and caveats in the future use of lichen functional traits.

Onosma mahabadensis Ranjbar & Almasi (Boraginaceae), a new species endemic to Iran, is described. This species belongs to Onosma sect. Aponosma DC. and is confined to the western part of Iran (West Azerbaijan Province). It is closely related to Onosma sericea Willd. and is distinguished by its subpatent-bristly indumentum (vs. appressed-sericeous) with sparse short hairs (vs. dense), and bracts 14–16 mm long (vs. 6–8 mm long). A cytogenetic analysis indicates that Onosma mahabadensis is a tetraploid species, 2n = 4x = 32, consistent with the proposed base number of x = 8 for Onosma sect. Aponosma.

The taxonomic status of each of the genera within the ‘Gaultheria group of genera’ of the tribe Andromedeae (Ericaceae) has been investigated. These genera are Gaultheria L. (including Pernettya Gaud. and Chiogenes Salisb.), Leucothoë Don, Zenobia Don, Diplycosia Bl., Pernettyopsis King & Gamble and Tepuia Camp. The morphological characters have been discussed.

Mitotic chromosome numbers and karyotypes of species in two sections of Lycium (Solanaceae) from the American continent were determined in 23 populations. Both species in the small South American section Schistocalyx were examined: Lycium ciliatum and three varieties of L. chilense had diploid (2n=24) as well as tetraploid (2n=48) populations. Lycium ameghinoi from the small American section Sclerocarpellum was diploid with 2n=24. The basic number x=12 for the genus was confirmed. The karyotypes of these taxa were highly symmetrical: the chromosomes were metacentric or submetacentric with the formula: 11 m + 1 sm. Microsatellites were present in chromosome pair no. 1 and were attached to the short arms. As in other Lycium taxa already investigated, karyotypic features suggest that morphological differentiation in the group has not been accompanied by karyotype divergence.

Chromosome counts are reported for the first time in Dicerandra Benth. (Labiatae), a genus endemic to the south-eastern United States. Representative taxa are tetraploid (n = 16) and hexaploid (n = 24). Diploids were not found. The systematic, phytogeographic and conservation implications of polyploidy in this genus are discussed. The monophyletic nature of the genus is upheld by the discovery that both sections have a presumed base number of x = 8. Hexaploidy has apparently evolved independently in all branches of sect. Dicerandra, but not in sect. Lecontea.

The species of Aeschynanthus Jack (Gesneriaceae) in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are revised. Eighteen species are recognised, keys to the species are given, all names are typified, and detailed descriptions of all species are provided. Conservation assessments are given for all species. Aeschynanthus cambodiensis D.J.Middleton, Aeschynanthus jouyi D.J.Middleton and Aeschynanthus pedunculatus D.J.Middleton are newly described.

Ten new species of Umbelliferae are described from Bhutan, Nepal and Sikkim: Cnidium atropurpureum M.F. Watson, Cortiella lamondiana Fullarton & M.F. Watson, Heracleum bhutanicum M.F. Watson, H. woodii M.F. Watson, Keraymonia pinnatifolia M.F. Watson, Schulzia bhutanica M.F. Watson, Sinocarum longii M.F. Watson, S. minus M.F. Watson, S. pulchellum M.F. Watson and S. woodii M.F. Watson. Two new combinations are made: Cortiella cortioides (C. Norman) M.F. Watson and Meeboldia digitata (Kljuykov) M.F. Watson.