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.

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.

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.

The genus Leontopodium (Pers.) R.Br. (Asteraceae, Compositae) is economically important for both pharmaceutical and horticultural purposes. This importance, however, has not led to a good understanding of species coherence and the delimitation of species. One fundamental aspect of a good understanding of a species is how many chromosomes it has and any possible indication of polyploidy. Here we present somatic chromosome numbers for 16 Leontopodium species, of which six are new for science. The results indicate basic chromosome numbers of x = 6, 8, 9 and 11, with x = 8 being most frequent among the species examined. While obviously including several distantly related lineages, the x = 8 species have distributions that are concentrated in the centre of diversity of the genus in southwest China. We identified two ‘species-pairs’ (Leontopodium dedekensii–L. sinense and L. souliei–L. calocephalum) in which the tetraploid species has more vigorous growth, but is confined geographically to the centre of diversity. The diploid species ascend to generally higher elevations and extend more towards the Tibetan Plateau. In contrast, our data also suggest range expansions in other polyploid species, such as the hexaploid Leontopodium ochroleucum extending into the mountains of Central Asia. Deviations from x = 8 are found at the edges of the wide Eurasian distribution of the genus. These may relate to subsequent range expansions into the Himalayas, northern Asia, the Far East, and a far disjunctive expansion to the mountains of Europe. This implies an increased ability of these species to colonise mountain floras and adapt to different environmental conditions. Thus, formation of higher ploidy levels in general might be significant for a successful radiation process.

The following new species are described from the E Himalaya: Poa pseudotibetica Noltie (Tibet, Sikkim); P. rohmooiana Noltie (Sikkim); P. chumbiensis Noltie (Tibet); P. dzongicola Noltie (Bhutan, Sikkim); P. cooperi Noltie (Sikkim); P. longii Noltie (Sikkim); P. lachenensis Noltie (Sikkim); P. rajbhandarii Noltie (India, Nepal, Bhutan). Poa himalayana Nees ex Steud. has been misunderstood and a new lectotype is chosen, replacing that of Bor; P. stewartii Bor is reduced to its synonymy.

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.

Cautleya (Royle ex Benth.) Hook.f. (Zingiberaceae) is revised. Two species are recognised, one of them with two varieties. They are found in northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam. A key is given and all taxa are described. Preliminary conservation assessments are made.

The Malesian species of five relatively unknown Euphorbiaceous genera are redescribed. Alphandia, Borneodendron, Cladogynos and Tapoïdes, each with one species in Malesia, are part of the Euphorbiaceae in the strict sense; Ashtonia (two species) is presently classified in the Phyllanthaceae. The descriptions have been completed by studying extra material, and high quality drawings are added.

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.

Seven new species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from Sulawesi are described and illustrated: C. gorontaloensis, C. fasciata, C. luteiflora, C. serratifolia, C. purpurea, C. tenuicarpa and C. roseiflora.

Twenty-seven species and two subspecies of Ficus are reported from one study site in central Africa. Characters for identification are explained. An identification key, illustrations, descriptions and habitats are provided. The species-level diversity of Ficus in tropical forests is discussed.

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Aeschynanthus mendumae D.J.Middleton, is described from Laos. The new combination Aeschynanthus membranifolius (Costantin) D.J.Middleton is made. An IUCN conservation assessment is provided.

Zingiber kelabitianum from Sarawak, Borneo is described. This new species belongs to section Zingiber, having radical, erect inflorescences. It is related to Z. pachysiphon B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. in the large size of the plant and the robust, cylindrical inflorescences with deflexed bracts. It differs in the dense, yellow-brown indumentum of the leaf sheath and ligules, the bright red bracts, the longer bracteole and the free, well-developed lateral lobes of the labellum. The traditional uses of the plant by the indigenous people, the Kelabits, are described.

Manulea derustiana is newly described, and a ditypic genus, Reyemia, is described with a new species, R. chasmanthiflora, as its type, and Zaluzianskya nemesioides is transferred to it.

Twenty-two species of Alpinia previously placed under the illegitimate name Psychanthus (K. Schum.) Ridley arc transferred to Pleuranthodium (K. Schum.) R. M. Smith.

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.

Rhododendron chilanshanense, a new species of Rhododendron subgenus Tsutsusi sect. Brachycalyx, is described from Taiwan. It is distinguished from closely related species by its leaves scattered along the upper branchlets and the stipitate glands on both the floral and vegetative parts.