Details are given of several morphological characters that separate the Vietnamese endemic Begonia balansana from the more widespread south Asian B. handelii, with which it is often confused. Begonia prostrata is reduced to a variety of B. handelii. Descriptions are provided for B. balansana and for B. handelii and the closely affiliated and poorly known B. burkillii. Begonia balansana is illustrated. Begonia handelii var. prostrata is recorded as new to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand and B. burkillii as new to Myanmar.

Hitherto the genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) was thought to be represented by eight species in Arabia. While preparing the account of Limonium for Volume 1 of the Flora of Oman, one of the present authors (S.A.G.) identified two new species from Oman, in addition to the three already known. The new species, L. sarcophyllum Ghaz. & J.R. Edm. and L. milleri Ghaz. & J.R. Edm., are described and illustrated, and the new combination L. paulayanum (Vierh.) J.R. Edm. & Ghaz. based on Statice paulayana Vierh. from Soqotra is published. A key is provided for all 10 species in Arabia.

Nine new species of Ruprechtia (Polygonaceae) are described. Ruprechtia nicaraguensis Pendry and R. costaricensis Pendry are from Central America; R. carina Pendry and R. apurensis Pendry are from Venezuela; R. paranensis Pendry is from South Brazil; and R. peruviana Pendry, R. obovata Pendry, R. albida Pendry and R. aperta Pendry are from Peru.

Hedychium bordelonianum W.J. Kress & K.J. Williams (Zingiberaceae) is described and illustrated. Several characters make this species one of the most unusual in the genus; however, molecular phylogenetic data place it unequivocally in Hedychium. The similarities and relationships of this species to the anomalous taxa Nanochilus, Rhynchanthus, Stadiochilus, and Hedychium (Brachychilum) horsfieldii are discussed.

Two species-specific microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (UAKLly10a and UAKLla1) were used to distinguish Larix lyallii Parl. (subalpine larch) from L. occidentalis Nutt. (western larch) (Pinaceae). These markers can easily be used for rapid identification of the two species at any stage in the sporophyte phase of the life cycle. In the future, they should prove to be an invaluable tool for determining the possible occurrence and magnitude of introgressive hybridization in overlap zones between the two species. They are also expected to be useful in validating controlled crosses between L. lyallii and L. occidentalis and for certification purposes in reforestation and tree improvement programmes aimed at producing genetically improved hybrid stock.

An analysis was made of the floristic composition of 376 areas of cerrado and Amazonian savanna, encompassing most of the area of such vegetation in Brazil. A total of 951 species of trees and large shrubs was recorded for these areas, of which 334 (35%) occurred at only a single locality (unicates).