Boletus peltatus Comer is validated, based on two recent records from lowland dipterocarp forests near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

On morphological and anatomical evidence the Afghan endemic Scaligeria gongylotaxis Rech.f. is shown to be distinct from Scaligeria sens. str. and related geophytic genera. The taxon is considered to be best treated as a separate monotypic genus, here named Gongylotaxis Pimenov & Kljuykov, and the species renamed as Gongylotaxis rechingeri Pimenov & Kljuykov nom. nov.

Selected old Taraxacum (Compositae) names, either neglected or commonly misinterpreted in the literature, are evaluated on the basis of authentic material. Taraxacum dissectum (Ledeb.) Ledeb. is shown to be confined to SC Siberia and conspecific with T. baicalense Schischk. T. lyratum (Ledeb.) DC. is confined to the Altai: it is absent from N America. T eriupodum DC. and T. wattii Hook.f. proved to belong to a single sexual widely distributed species. Taraxacum parvulum [Wall, ex] DC. is shown to be conspecific with T. himalaicum Soest.

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.

The taxonomy and nomenclature of the Rubus species (sub)endemic to Madeira and the Azores are treated. Only three species names have to be retained: R. bollei Focke (synonyms: R. canariensis Focke, R. concolor Lowe, R. suspiciosus Menezes, R. vahlii Frid.), R. hochstetterorum Seub., and R. serrae Soldano (R. grandifolius Lowe). The last two species are described and illustrated. Three names are lectotypified. A key to Rubus of the Macaronesian region (five native species, one hybrid, one neophyte) is provided.

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.

Pedicularis L. series Curvipes (Prain) Hurus. (=Pedicularis [unranked] Curvipes Prain) in the Orobanchaceae (often included in the Scrophulariaceae s.l.) is revised. It is demonstrated that the correct name for the series is Pedicularis ser. Curvipes, not Pedicularis ser. Curvipedes as used by at least two previous authors. Arguments are presented for the retention of the three existing species, Pedicularis curvipes Prain, Pedicularis nagaensis H.L.Li and Pedicularis amplicollis T.Yamaz., and the taxonomic history of each is summarized. Pedicularis curvipes from Sikkim and Pedicularis nagaensis from NE India are very similar but can be distinguished on corolla and seed characters. Flowering material of Pedicularis curvipes collected from cultivated material of uncertain origin in 1900 is positively identified as that species for the first time. The known geographical range of Pedicularis nagaensis, which was previously believed to be endemic to a restricted area of Nagaland in NE India, is extended to include Manipur. Pedicularis amplicollis from Bhutan is distinct from both the other two and easily separable by its woolly, 4-lobed calyx. A key to the series and formal taxonomic accounts of each species are provided. The relationships of the series with related series, particularly Pedicularis ser. Furfuraceae, are discussed.

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.

A new species of Catasetum Rich. ex Kunth (Orchidaceae), Catasetum apolloi Benelli & Grade, from the municipality of Carlinda in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil is described and illustrated. The plant was discovered in a pasture near the Teles Pires River growing epiphytically under the palm Maximiliana regia Mart. A discussion and consideration of possible related species is presented.

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.

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.

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.

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 new species Baphia megaphylla Breteler (Leguminosae – Papilionoideae) from Gabon is described and illustrated. It is most closely related to Baphia maxima Baker. The differences between the two species are summarised in a key.

The status of Rivea bernoulliana (Convolvulaceae) is resolved.

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.

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.

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.