Armeria aspromontana is a new species described and illustrated from orophilous dwarf shrubs of Aspromonte (S Italy). Its taxonomic relationships with Armeria nebrodensis are examined.

Fifty-one species of basidiomycetes are recorded from the Southern Atlantic archipelago of the Falkland Islands. Several other fungi are discussed in the light of these findings. Some of these fungi are recorded for the first time from the Falklands and especially from some of the smaller islands of the group adjacent to West and East Falkland. The world distributions of the fungi dealt with in this compilation, particularly in the southern hemisphere, are given where they are known. Comments are made on the possible reasons for the occurrence of the species in the Falklands, especially the ectomycorrhizal taxa.

Begonia albomaculata as circumscribed in the Flora of Ecuador and related publications is shown to be a misapplied name and represents an undescribed species. This is described as Begonia botryoides Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov., and is recorded from the Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Napo, Cotopaxi, Azuay and El Oro provinces in Ecuador, and the Antioquia and Chocó departments of Colombia. The taxonomic study of this species prompted a re-evaluation of related species. It was subsequently found that the Central American material previously included in Begonia tiliifolia C.DC. is distinct from the type and other South American material of this species and represents an undescribed species. This is described as Begonia boreoharlingii Tebbitt & Moonlight sp. nov., and is recorded from the Limón province in Costa Rica, and the Bocas del Toro and Coclé provinces in Panama. Four species, Begonia tiliifolia C.DC., Begonia harlingii L.B.Sm. & Wassh., B. botryoides and B. boreoharlingii, are placed in the informally named Begonia tiliifolia group. A key, descriptions, illustrations and distribution maps are provided for the members of the Begonia tiliifolia group, and its sectional classification is discussed.

A new species, Amomum vermanum from NE India, is described and illustrated.

Two new species of Aeschynanthus and one new Henckelia are described and illustrated. Trichosporum grandiflorum Elmer (non D. Don) is transferred to Aeschynanthus and renamed A. elmeri Mendum.

A new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae), Begonia gorgonea Tebbitt, is described from Cajamarca Province in northern Peru. This species is allied to a group of Andean species that are currently classified in Begonia sect. Knesebeckia. An identification key to this species group is provided, and the IUCN conservation category of VU D2 is proposed for the new species.

The new species Ornithoboea grandiflora D.J. Middleton and new variety Ornithoboea maxwellii var. minutiflora D.J. Middleton are described.

A new species of Diplycosia (Ericaceae), Diplycosia bartolomei Ferreras & Argent, presently known only from Mt. Mingan in the border region between Aurora and Nueva Ecija provinces in Luzon, Philippines, is described. Comments on possible relationships and differences from other Philippine species are given.

The state of systematics, for convenience here divided into taxonomy (the delimitation, description and inventory of species) and phylogeny reconstruction, is evaluated. Molecular systematics may seem overemphasized, but the resulting gains made in our understanding of relationships in a relatively short time are very considerable. Although morphological data currently play only a limited role in detecting large-scale phylogenetic pattern, the analysis by Wortley et al. of the role morphology has played in the past is not easily interpreted. At species level, it is unclear what effect molecular techniques will have on our understanding of species limits, but it is likely to be considerable. Although taxonomy is both essential and underfunded, there seems little point in asking for more money until we can justify the limits of the species we describe more clearly and until we have cleared up the impediments that so much slow the practice of taxonomy. Business cannot remain as usual if any of the grand inventory projects we have started are to be finished within a reasonable time, or even to be of much use when they are.

Recent studies in the palaeotropics indicate that Rapanea cannot be maintained as a separate genus from Myrsine (Myrsinaceae). Based on the latest evidence from comparative morphology, Papuasian Rapanea are thus transferred to Myrsine. The nomenclatural adjustment provides a foundation for future additions to the enlarged genus, previously represented by only three of the required binomials.

After the establishment of a complete set of Myrsine names for eastern Malesia, M. warrae W.N.Takeuchi & Pipoly is added to the redefined conspectus. The new plant is distinguished by large leaves, rostrate fruits, and an apparent restriction to ultrabasic substrates.

The species of Jasminum Tourn. ex L. (Oleaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia are revised. Eighteen species are recognised, of which eight are endemic. Five of these species have been recorded from Singapore. A key to species is provided, all names are typified, and all species are described. Conservation assessments are given for all species in Peninsular Malaysia. One species is Extinct in Peninsular Malaysia, eleven are Endangered and one is Data Deficient. Jasminum shahii Kiew is described as a new species. In Singapore, two species are certainly Extinct.

Two new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae), Begonia gambutensis Ardi & D.C.Thomas and Begonia siregarii Ardi & D.C.Thomas, are described from material collected on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Both species belong to Begonia section Petermannia. A key to the species in the provinces North Sulawesi and Gorontalo is provided.

Three new species of Bhutanese orchids, Aphyllorchis sanguinea, Cheirostylis sherriffii and Hetaeria pelota, and one new Sikkimese species, Lecanorchis sikkimensis, are newly described. Their generic placement and affinities are discussed. A new combination in Cheirostylis is made for the Taiwanese Zeuxine tabiyahanensis Hayata. Records of five orchid species new to Bhutan are also presented.

Eight species of Thesium are newly described, 3 apparently confined to Zambia, 3 to Zimbabwe and one to Mozambique, with another ranging from Zambia and Zimbabwe west to Botswana, Angola and Namibia.

Nineteen boletes (Basidiomycotina) are recorded from Zambia. They belong to the tylopiloid and xerocomoid elements. Three of these boletes are described as new: Tylopilus ochraceosquamosus Watling, T. perplexus Watling & Turnbull and T. zambianus Watling. Another four cannot be assigned to formally recognized taxa, and the provisional name Tylopilus conspicuocystidiata is adopted for one of them. Two new combinations are made: Tylopilus brunneirubens (Corner) Watling & Turnbull and T. nigropurpureus (Corner) Watling.

A new species of Gentiana (Gentianaceae), G. khammouanensis Hul, is described and illustrated.

Cyrtandra phoenicolasia, C. hottae and five new species constitute a group distinguished by a suite of characters including setose vegetative parts, deeply divided calyx, small white corolla marked on the lower lip with yellow to brown, unilateral disc, ovary constricted at base, and fruit small. All species are fully described and an identification key provided.