Chromosome counts for 27 species plus one intersubsectional hybrid are presented from all seven subsections of section Vireya in the genus Rhododendron. Twenty-three are new, and five confirm previously published counts. The plants originate from a wide geographical and altitudinal range; all have a uniform somatic number of 2n=26.

A new species of Flacourtiaceae, Homalium palawanense, from Palawan, Philippines is described and illustrated.

Phylogenetic relationships are frequently inferred from rDNA ITS sequences obtained employing universal primers. Whereas in most cases phylogenetic topologies inferred from ITS data make good biological sense, caution has to be used when a number of taxa vary greatly in PCR yield. The phylogenetic implications of such a scenario are discussed.

Alpinia galanga is an important species cultivated as a culinary spice and is the type species of the genus. It is hence a member of sect. Alpinia subsect. Alpinia (with non-tubular bracteoles). However, molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that A. galanga is closely related to A. nigra in sect. Allughas (with tubular bracteoles). This clade, which includes A. conchigera, is strongly supported with a bootstrap value (BS) of 100% and a decay index (DI) of >+6. These results are based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the 18S–25S nuclear ribosomal DNA. The region (405–423bp) was sequenced from 17 accessions representing 16 taxa of Zingiberaceae, including 15 species of Alpinia and one outgroup. The sequence divergence ranged from 0.5 to 15.6% among the ingroup and from 10.1 to 13.3% between the ingroup and the outgroup. The results also strongly support the sister relationship of A. rafflesiana and A. javanica in section Allughas (BS=100%, DI=>+6), thus the whole section is paraphyletic. Section Alpinia subsect. Catimbium is monophyletic (BS=100%, DI=+5). On the other hand, sect. Alpinia subsect. Alpinia is paraphyletic (BS=100%, DI=>+6) with respect to sect. Alpinia subsect. Catimbium. The results from a phylogenetic analysis of a subset of the taxa using the spacer between trnL (UAA) 3′ exon and trnF (GAA) of chloroplast DNA confirmed the position of A. galanga in sect. Allughas. It appears that A. galanga has evolved within sect. Allughas and the absence of tubular bracteoles is a convergence with sect. Alpinia, possibly as a result of evolution under domestication.

As delimited here, Pegaeophyton is a Sino-Himalayan genus of six species of which three, P. angustiseptatum (China), P. watsonii (India, Sikkim) and P. sulphureum (Bhutan), are described as new. P. scapiflorum var. robustum is raised to subspecific rank. Keys, detailed descriptions, and distributions are given. The affinities of Pegaeophyton are discussed.

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA was sequenced from 21 accessions of Viguiera from South America, including 14 from Brazil. Overall there was only a small amount of sequence variation, less than 3.4% among South American samples and less than 4.5% between the South American samples and the Mexican V. flava. Phylogenetic analysis revealed little divergence among the Brazilian samples of Viguiera. The low level of ITS sequence variation was in striking contrast to the taxonomic diversity and chemical variability that have been reported for Viguiera in Brazil. The low level of sequence variation suggests that, despite its clear morphological and phytochemical adaptations to the cerrado, Viguiera is probably a relatively recent addition (less than 3 million years) to the flora of this area.

A phylogenetic study of Roscoea (Zingiberaceae), a high-altitude genus of an otherwise tropical plant family, was undertaken using sequence data from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Two species of Cautleya and two species of Curcuma were used as outgroups. This resulted in an aligned matrix of 436bp (ITS1, 203bp; ITS2, 233bp). Sequence divergence of ITS1 and ITS2 within the ingroup ranged from 0–13.9% and 0–7.6% respectively. The results suggest that Roscoea is monophyletic (BS=99%; DI=>3) with the genus Cautleya as sister group. Roscoea itself is divided into two sister clades which correlate with geography: a ‘Chinese’ clade (BS=67%; DI=+2) and a ‘Himalayan’ clade (BS=59%; DI=+1). These two groups are disjunct across the ‘Brahmaputra gap’, a region in which no Roscoea spp. have been recorded. The only species which occurs on both sides of the Brahmaputra gap is Roscoea tibetica. However, the western populations of Roscoea tibetica (from Bhutan) show numerous morphological differences. It is therefore possible that Bhutanese R. tibetica represents a distinct taxon, possibly more closely allied to Himalayan species.

Rhododendron loranthiflorum was previously regarded as an archipelagic endemic, with known stations in the Solomon Islands and New Britain. An exploratory survey of the Lakekamu Basin has now established the plant's presence on the southern side of the New Guinea mainland. The Lakekamu provenance represents a geographical disjunction distinguishable as a separate subspecies, and is formally described as subsp. lakekamuensis.

Hylodesmum H. Ohashi & R.R. Mill (Leguminosae or Fabaceae, tribe Desmodieae), based on Desmodium sect. Podocarpium Benth. (=D. subgen. Podocarpium (Benth.) H. Ohashi), is a replacement name proposed here for Podocarpium (Benth.) Y.C. Yang & P.H. Huang published in 1979 for Chinese species belonging to the genus. The name it replaces, Podocarpium (Benth.) Y.C. Yang & P.H. Huang, is a later homonym of two earlier names, Podocarpium A. Braun ex Stizenb. (fossil Leguminosae or Fabaceae) and Podocarpium Unger (fossil Podocarpaceae) and it is also inadmissible under Art. 20.2. New combinations in Hylodesmum are proposed for 14 species and nine infraspecific taxa. A description of the genus is given as well as brief notes on the distribution of each taxon. Shuteria longipes Franch. and Desmodium duclouxii Pamp. are newly regarded as conspecific; the correct name for these in Hylodesmum is H. longipes. Notes on typification are given for several names.

Salsola cyrenaica subsp. antalyensis (Chenopodiaceae) from the S Anatolian coast near Finike is illustrated and described as a new subspecies. Its anatomy, relationships, ecology and phytogeography are discussed. The new subspecies differs from subsp. cyrenaica by the reduced number of flowers per leaf axil, very dense axillary hairs, the smaller size of most floral organs, mostly 3 instead of 2 stigmas and 5 not 3 wings on the fruit. The new taxon grows in a narrow coastal strip of c.2km only, in open dwarf-shrub communities on limestone rocks from sea level to c.40m. It is the first representative of the S. longifolia group, sect. Coccosalsola, from Turkey and from the northern shores of the Mediterranean.

A re-examination of the status of the monotypic genus Saniella Hilliard & Burtt (Hypoxidaceae) was inspired by the rediscovery of Empodium occidentale on Hantam Mountain in Calvinia Division, SW Cape. This plant does not belong to Empodium, and has critical features that show that it is better placed as a second species of Saniella, but at the same time it lessens the gap between Saniella and Spiloxene. It is concluded that the whole question of the interrelations of Saniella, Spiloxene and Pauridia needs to be studied in depth. In the interim these three genera should all be maintained. Empodium occidentale is accordingly transferred to Saniella.

Twenty-two species of Achillea sect. Santolinoidea (DC.) O. Hoffm., as currently understood, were analysed morphologically. Emphasis was put on clear definitions of characters and their states as were deduced from detailed graphical analysis. Major character sets include details of leaf structure and differentiation of leaflet lobes as well as of floral characters (form of flower heads, ligules, phyllaries, bracts). Character descriptions were compared with floristic literature and original diagnoses, but little consistency was observed in the applied terminology. There is little indication of unifying character states for sect. Santolinoidea, as a result of low frequencies of occurrence, although the section appears to be uniform on the basis of the general leaf structure. However, species-specificity of some character states (leaves, bracts, phyllaries) was observed that might prove useful for species delimitation.

For the purpose of determining the origin of horticultural evergreen azalea cultivars, this study was focused on the natural populations of azalea in Kyushu (south main island of Japan). The Kirishima mountains, the volcanic mountain mass in Kyushu, are an important centre of diversity for the Japanese evergreen azaleas. Rhododendron kiusianum Makino grows above 1000m alt., whereas R. kaempferi Planch. is distributed below 600m alt. Putative natural hybrid populations of these two species are found in the intermediate region (1000–600m alt.). These two species have been clearly distinguished by their respective morphological features. Rhododendron kiusianum has small pink-purple flowers and small elliptical leaves, whereas R. kaempferi has larger red-orange flowers with dark blotches and large oblong leaves. Interspecific hybrids show phenotypes within the range of the two species, especially with regard to flower colour and leaf shape. A morphological cline of these characteristics corresponding to altitude has been observed between these two species. PCR-RFLP analysis of chloroplast DNA detected specific bands for the two species in the 16S rDNA region when digested with HhaI restriction enzyme. Populations of interspecific hybrids were composed of individuals that had a banding pattern of either R. kiusianum or R. kaempferi. This indicates that R. kiusianum and R. kaempferi are clearly distinct species. Furthermore, natural hybrid populations consist of individuals that have one of two cpDNA. Some individuals in the populations of R. kiusianum (T-1430 and T-1030) possess the cpDNA pattern of R. kaempferi, which suggests that cytoplasmic introgression has occurred in the populations of R. kiusianum from R. kaempferi.

Pinus halepensis and P. brutia hybridize extensively. The analysis of monoterpenoid and morphological variability of 122 pine trees at five sites showed that the within-site heterogeneity is high while the entire provenance diversity is comparable with that of a circum-Mediterranean scale. Four morphotypes and four chemotypes were recognized. The congruence between morphological and monoterpenoid classification of pines was high (coefficient of contingency 89%) while thirteen family groups of genetically closely related trees were found by means of a specifically designed sampling scheme of continuous classification – identification and re-sampling. Putative hybrids contributed substantially to the observed diversity and there is considerable heterogeneity between sites. Low-altitude sites, presumably susceptible to sea-level fluctuations, alluvial deposition and human influence, are in general more diverse at both levels of genetic complexity than inland sites. The hybrid phenotypes were not merely intermediate forms of parental taxa, and in a multivariate sense they are located on a parabola in the space of morphological properties. The arrangement of hybrids in the monoterpenoid space did not reveal any clear-cut pattern except that three major composite axes can summarize 98.9% of the entire monoterpenoid variation. The observed pattern of variation was interpreted as a result of waves of introgressive influence of eastern P. brutia population on P. halepensis, which was caused by marine transgressions in Pliocene and eustatic sea-level fluctuations in Pleistocene. The human influence on this introgression accelerated the process, and amplified the resulted pattern, although it blurred in many instances the biogeographic routes of germplasm mixing. Its bearing on the evolution of pines is discussed, and it was found that the ‘Eocene refugia hypothesis’ of C.I. Millar holds by analogy also in central Aegean pines.

Cystopteris dickieana R.Sim is a rare fern protected in Britain under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. Most current floras treat it as a distinct species but ever since it was first discovered in Scotland in the 1830s, there has been considerable debate about its taxonomic status within the C. fragilis complex. This debate centres on the relative importance of two characters, the architecture of the fronds and the surface sculpturing of the spores, in delimiting C. dickieana from other taxa in the C. fragilis complex. The type specimens of C. dickieana have distinctive fronds. Plants with similar frond architecture have, to date, been recorded growing naturally only at the site in Scotland from which the type specimens were collected and at one other site nearby. The type specimens of C. dickieana also have mature spores with surface sculpturing often described as ‘rugose’. These are distinctive and unusual in the genus Cystopteris, in which most taxa have ‘echinate’ spores. However, rugose-spored plants have been recorded not only at, and near, the type locality in Scotland but also at many other sites in the northern hemisphere in populations of plants defined largely on the basis of frond architecture as C. fragilis or C. baenitzii. This indicates that spore sculpturing should not be used alone to delimit C. dickieana from other taxa within the C. fragilis complex but, despite this, the literature on ‘C. dickieana’ contains many reports of studies on material identified as C. dickieana solely on the basis of spore sculpturing. This, combined with the fact that most comparative studies have also failed to include material known to have come from the type locality, has resulted in considerable and continuing uncertainty over the taxonomic status and distribution of C. dickieana.

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nrDNA sequences of 42 accessions (representing 28 species) of Aframomum revealed an unusually low level of sequence variation, suggesting a recent radiation of the genus in Africa. The sample of species analysed includes all the main morphological variation and is based on wide geographical sampling. The Aframomum sequences varied from 187bp to 190bp (ITS 1) and 215bp to 216bp (ITS 2). Pair-wise sequence difference between accessions varied from 0% (e.g. A. luteoalbum and A. thonneri) to 2.74% (e.g. A. sp. nov. B to A. pseudostipulare). This contrasts with a comparable data set for the SE Asian genus Alpinia in the same tribe (Alpineae) in which maximum pair-wise difference is six times greater (range 0.5–15.6%). A parsimony analysis of the in-group and out-group taxa supports the monophyly of the genus Aframomum, but does not resolve the relationships between the in-group species. Four putative multi-species groups, however, have some jackknife support. The species sampled vary greatly in vegetative, floral and fruit characters. This morphological variation is not reflected in the ITS sequence data. This may be a result of rapid radiation under conditions of Pleistocene climatic change and effective dispersal of seeds by primates.

Campylanthus parviflorus Hjertson & Miller from Somalia is described. The status of Campylanthus incanus A.G. Miller and Campylanthus incanus var. anisotrichus A.G. Miller, also from Somalia, in relation to the new species is discussed, and it is concluded that a change in rank of the latter is necessary. The new combination Campylanthus anisotrichus (A.G. Miller) Hjertson & A.G. Miller is made, and an amplified description of this species is given.

Cystopteris dickieana R. Sim is a fern species that currently receives legal protection in Britain on the basis that it is endemic to Scotland and extremely rare. However, ever since it was first discovered in the 1830s, there has been considerable debate about its taxonomic status within the Cystopteris fragilis complex. This debate centres on the relative importance of two characters, the architecture of the fronds and the surface sculpturing of the spores, in delimiting C. dickieana from other taxa in the C. fragilis complex and is complicated by the fact that most comparative studies reputed to have included ‘C. dickieana’ have failed to include either the type material of C. dickieana or material from the ’type population‘ (i.e. the population of plants, of uniform and distinctive morphology, that still grows at the type locality for C. dickieana). The principal aim of this investigation was to generate some of the critical data and information currently missing from the debate concerning the taxonomic status of C. dickieana by including material from the ’type population‘ in an allozyme study of several Scottish Cystopteris populations. The frond architecture, spore sculpturing, and allozyme banding patterns were investigated in five natural and two cultivated populations of the C. fragilis complex. All plants from the ‘type population’ of C. dickieana had the distinctive frond architecture and rugose spores of the type material. Two populations comprised plants that had the frond architecture and echinate spores typical of C. fragilis. Also examined were two populations containing plants that had frond architecture typical of C. fragilis but rugose spores similar to those of the type material of C. dickieana. These plants occurred with typical C. fragilis in one of the populations and with typical C. dickieana in the other. In the latter population, situated close to the ‘type population’ for C. dickieana, a third, ‘smooth’ spore type occurred in nine out of 55 fertile plants. Consistent and analysable allozyme results were obtained for seven enzymes at ten loci: eight loci were polymorphic and all but the smallest population showed variation at one or more loci. In total, 22 allozyme phenotypes were recorded in 226 individuals. No consistent correlation was found between frond architecture, spore sculpturing and allozyme banding pattern. Our results provide no support for the recognition of C. dickieana as a distinct species related to C. fragilis.

The floristic and ecological aspects of the tree vegetation of a remnant forest in the Godoy Forest State Park were studied. Two hundred and six native species of the region occur in the park. Comments on ecological aspects, such as dispersion, structure of vegetation and succession of these species, are provided. An analysis of the ecological parameters indicated that the occurrence of late secondary and climax species (55.8%) was greater than that of pioneer (6.8%) and early secondary species (34.5%). This seems to indicate a predominant dependence of biotic factors on the abiotic factors and an advanced stage of succession.

Elettaria (Zingiberaceae) of Sarawak are studied, and eight species are recognised including four new species: E. linearicrista, E. longipilosa, E. brachycalyx and E. kapitensis. Elettaria surculosa and E. stolonifera, which have previously been included in E. multiflora, are treated as independent species. Examination of recent collections reveal that characters such as anther dehiscence patterns, form of the labellum and anther crest are taxonomically important. A key to all species of Bornean Elettaria is provided.