Mandevilla (Apocynaceae) is a neotropical genus which is well represented in Brazil. A recent taxonomic revision of the Brazilian species of Mandevilla subgenus Mandevilla included eight new species, one of them from the State of Pernambuco. Nevertheless, while preparing a survey of Apocynaceae from the Brazilian semi-arid region, a new species of the subgenus was recognised. Mandevilla catimbauensis Souza-Silva, Rapini & J.F.Morales is here described and illustrated. It is a twining plant with elliptic, glabrous leaves and hypocrateriform, purple flowers, known only from the Vale do Catimbau National Park, in the State of Pernambuco.

Variation among 19 phenological features taken from 48 species of Vaccinium (Ericaceae), both in vivo and in vitro as well as from existing literature, were subjected to several clustering strategies. Our results suggest three distinct phenological clusters that reflect the ability of these taxa to tolerate frost, namely a ‘Tropical’ group of 16 taxa which tolerate no or very little frost; a ‘Temperate’ group whose 17 members tolerate some frost; and finally a ‘Boreal-Arctic’ group whose 15 taxa are winter hardy.

An Important Plant Area programme has been initiated for the Arabian region by the IUCN Arabian Plant Specialist Group. The aim of this programme is to assess hotspots of plant diversity in the region and designate the most important as Important Plant Areas. These assessments are conducted on the basis of specific criteria and this paper presents the criteria which have been adopted for the Arabian Peninsula countries of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. These Arabian criteria differ from those originally developed for Europe, and so they are presented here in full. This paper also discusses the context of the Important Plant Area programme and its ability to provide a framework for conservation planning.

Jabal Qaraqir in Saudi Arabia is the first site to be assessed for the Important Plant Area (IPA) programme in the Arabian Peninsula. This paper describes the geology, fauna and flora of the Qaraqir site and provides the first botanical checklist of the area. It designates the locality as an IPA due to the quality of the wadi vegetation and the presence of endemic and biogeographically relictual species. As well as assessments, this study also touches on the planning stage of conservation activity. Socio-economic issues and threats to the conservation of Qaraqir are discussed and suggestions for conservation action are provided.

Pedicularis oederi Vahl var. heteroglossa Prain (Orobanchaceae) is raised to species rank and lectotypified, and an emended description provided. This taxon has pink or purple-pink corollas rather than the yellow colour otherwise typical for the Pedicularis oederi group of taxa.

A new species of Riedelia (Zingiberaceae), Riedelia charontis M.F.Newman from Papua Province, Indonesia, is described and illustrated.

Study of additional collections of Selaginella chiquitana M.Kessler, A.R.Sm. & M.Lehnert shows it to be conspecific with S. arroyoana M.Kessler & A.R.Sm. The apparent relationships of Selaginella arroyoana, its ecology and conservation status are discussed more fully. Scanning electron micrographs of spores and a map of its distribution are provided.

Scaphochlamys Baker (Zingiberaceae – Zingibereae) is found in southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. In this treatment 31 species and six varieties are recognised. A new combination is made for Scaphochlamys anomala (Hallier f.) R.J.Searle; Scaphochlamys mat-kilau C.K.Lim, Scaphochlamys biloba (Ridl.) Holttum var. lanceolata (Ridl.) Holttum and Scaphochlamys longifolia Holttum are placed in synonymy. Included in this compendium is an analysis of the morphology of the genus, a brief historical review, a key to the species and a generic outline, as well as full generic and specific descriptions, maps, illustrations, and a full list of all names and types.

Begonia sect. Diploclinium (Begoniaceae) is revised for the Philippine island of Palawan. Five new species, Begonia acclivis C.Coyle, B. cleopatrae C.Coyle, B. gutierrezii C.Coyle, B. rubiteae M.Hughes and B. wilkiei C.Coyle, are described, giving a total of 10 species, nine of which are endemic. Of the 10 species, two are considered to belong to the IUCN category Endangered, five are Vulnerable, two are Least Concern and one is Data Deficient.

Adelocaryum Brand (Boraginaceae – Cynoglosseae) is shown to be the correct name for Paracaryopsis (H.Riedl) R.R.Mill, and the new combination Adelocaryum lambertianum (C.B.Clarke) R.R.Mill is made. The new species Adelocaryum nebulicola R.R.Mill is described from Oman and its affinities with the Indian species A. coelestinum (Lindl.) R.R.Mill are discussed. A synopsis of and revised key to the entire genus is provided as well as a revised description of Adelocaryum coelestinum. As circumscribed here Adelocaryum is restricted to tall mesophytic herbs lacking long glochidiate spinules on the wing-like margin of the nutlets. The desert annual or biennial Brandella erythraea is here excluded from Adelocaryum. The new combination Brandella erythraea forma subexalata (H.Riedl) R.R.Mill is made. Lindelofia spectabilis Lehm., for which the current correct name is L. longiflora (Benth.) Baill., is designated lectotype of the genus Lindelofia Lehm.

Two new species of Gentianaceae from Indo-China are described: Exacum darae Hul (Cambodia, Thailand) and Canscora bidoupensis Hul (Vietnam).

Litostigma, a new Chinese genus of Gesneriaceae, is described and illustrated. It is characterised by its large flowers in comparison to its small leaves; slightly revolute leaf margins; 1-flowered cymes; crateriform or disciform stigma; and long ovoid capsule. Rather surprisingly, Litostigma falls among the basal didymocarpoid Gesneriaceae. Two new species, Litostigma coriaceifolium Y.G.Wei, F.Wen & M.Möller and Litostigma crystallinum Y.M.Shui & W.H.Chen, are described.