The new species Drypetes bakembei D.J.Harris & Wortley (Putranjivaceae), from tropical forest in the south west Central African Republic, is described and illustrated.

Two new species of the South American genus Lessingianthus (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) are described and illustrated. One of these species, Lessingianthus arctatus, bears a resemblance to L. linearis (Spreng.) H.Rob. and L. rosmarinifolius (Less.) H.Rob., but can be separated from them by its almost glabrous phyllaries, solitary heads and longer internodes. The other new taxon, Lessingianthus longicuspis, can be easily separated from L. cataractarum (Hieron.) H.Rob. and L. bardanoides (Less.) H.Rob., and other taxa of the genus, by the combination of petiolate leaves, aristate phyllaries and inflorescence bracts alternate to the heads. Four other taxa previously included in Vernonia are transferred to the genus Lessingianthus.

The new species Aeschynanthus scottii D.J.Middleton & H.J.Atkins from Vietnam is described.

Recent trends in compilation of world consensus family classifications from existing floristic and monographic data, and demands for alpha-taxonomic and other traditional phenetic data for analysis with phylogenetic reconstructions derived from DNA sequences are discussed. Obstacles hindering the production of a meaningful, comprehensive data set for Apiaceae include: (1) the lack of comparable non-molecular phenetic data; (2) incomplete coverage of family accounts in recent Floras, particularly in the southern hemisphere; (3) large, artificial genera awaiting monographic treatment; and (4) the lack of database systems that handle differences in taxonomic opinion (alternative classifications). The use of electronic communication, particularly the Internet, can help to accelerate progress in these areas through promoting collaboration and information exchange. The contribution of the Apiales Resource Centre website (especially the umbellifer areas: www.umbellifers.com) is highlighted.

Murdannia assamica Nampy & A.Ancy, a new species of Murdannia (Commelinaceae) from India, is described and illustrated. It is similar to Murdannia nudiflora but differs in the cincinnus, antherode, capsule and seed characters.

The Indian Desmos viridiflorus (Annonaceae) was first described as Unona viridiflora by Beddome, but this was a later homonym of a species from South America. The correct citation of the species is therefore Desmos viridiflorus Saff. (1912). Unona viridiflora Bedd. is lectotypified.

The taxonomy and typification of Ehretia wallichiana Hook.f. & Thomson and allied species (Boraginaceae, subfamily Ehretioideae) are discussed. E. wallichiana is lectotypified; the species occurs from Nepal to Assam. The identity of Cordia acuminata Wall, is discussed and the name is lectotypified. Its type is here treated as Ehretia silvana R.R. Mill nom. nov. Three new species. E. exsoluta R.R. Mill sp. nov., E. psilosiphon R.R. Mill sp. nov., and E. dolichandra R.R. Mill sp. nov., are described and their affinities discussed. A key to all the species of the ‘E. wallichiana complex’, together with contusable species occurring from India to China, is given.

A new species, Tanacetum gilyiyii R. Khan, is described and the new name T. emodi R. Khan and the new combinations T. roylei (DC.) R. Khan and T. stoliczkae (C.B. Clarke) R. Khan are validated.

The new species Teucrium eburneum (Labiatae), from the limestone escarpment of north-east Somalia and belonging to sect. Teucrium, is described and illustrated.

When, in 1989, I wrote an account of Santalaceae for Flora Zambesiaca (which account will not be published for several more years), I had no hesitation in including Colpoon Berg, in Osyris L., as A. De Candolle (1857) had originally done. The morphology of stem and leaf is identical: distinctive flattened twigs, branchlets ribbed by vascular strands running out into the midrib of the leaf, and both leaf surfaces closely and minutely white-dotted (these dots are probably the ‘abundant cluster and sphaerocrystals noted in the mesophyll of Osyris abyssinica’ by Metcalfe & Chalk (1950, p. 1197)).

An account of Streptocarpus was written for inclusion in Flora of Southern Africa; now that that publication has been suspended, two new names are validated here. The plants were discussed under S. rimicola in Hilliard & Burtt, Streptocarpus. An African plant study, 240–241 (1971).

Didymocarpus koerperi B. L. Burtt is described from near Pajakumbuh, central Sumatra. It belongs to a group of species that is chiefly distinguished by having a single nectarial gland lying below the ovary, instead of the usual cupular disc.

The species of Gagnepainia K.Schum. and Hemiorchis Kurz are revised throughout their ranges. These genera are shown with evidence from morphological and molecular studies to be distinct, although closely related to each other. Two species of Gagnepainia and three of Hemiorchis are recognised. A key to the genera of Globbeae and keys to the species of Gagnepainia and Hemiorchis are given, all names are typified and descriptions are provided. Conservation assessments of all taxa are proposed.