Two African genera of the Gesneriaceae, Saintpaulia and Streptocarpus, are similar in many respects. Both genera have blue to purple flowers, pollen of similar shape and exine sculpting, embryos with one-celled, uninucleate chalazal haustoria, shared vegetative structures among some species, and are among the few genera in the Gesneriaceae which include species with chromosome counts of n = 15. The similarity of these features has indicated that the two genera are likely to be closely related.

Fitzroya cupressoides (Molina) Johnston (Cupressaceae), a threatened conifer native to southern South America, has been cultivated in a number of gardens and arboreta in the British Isles since its introduction in 1849. In order to assess the importance of these cultivated trees for ex situ conservation, foliar samples were collected from 48 trees from throughout the British Isles, including five of known wild origin (Chile). DNA was extracted from these samples and assessed using the RAPD technique, in order to examine the extent of genetic variation. All samples from the cultivated trees of unknown origin, with one exception, were found to be genetically identical. In contrast, the five samples of known wild origin revealed pronounced polymorphism, varying from 5.3% to 49.1% between individuals. These results suggest that virtually all of the F. cupressoides trees currently cultivated in the British Isles have been derived from a single individual by vegetative propagation. Their value for ex situ conservation is therefore likely to be extremely limited. The implications of these results for the genetic conservation of other taxa in gardens and arboreta is discussed.

Euphorbia sect. Tithymalopsis (Euphorbiaceae) comprises seven species of herbaceous perennials restricted to the south-eastern USA. The species of sect. Tithymalopsis are united and distinguished from other sections in Euphorbia by having a thick and cylindrical root system, a glabrous cyathium, five glands with petaloid appendages, one to three stems arising from the root, absence of vestigial sepals in pistillate flowers, rounded leaf apices, and pitted or smooth seeds without a caruncle. Cladistic analyses indicate that sect. Tithymalopsis consists of two subgroups: (1) E. corollata, E. discoidalis, E. pubentissima and E. polyphylla; and (2) E. curtisii, E. gracilior and E. mercurialina. Comparative data from vegetative morphology, pollen morphology, seed morphology, cytology, crossability, reproductive biology, habitat and distribution are presented. Keys and descriptions to the species are provided.

Teucrium (Lamiaceae) from NE tropical Africa is revised. Of the six species recognized, three new species are described and illustrated: T. clementiae Ryding from E Ethiopia and N Somalia, T. somalense Ryding from NW Somalia, and T. polioides Ryding from NE and C Somalia. Maps and a key to the species are also provided.

The following species of Corydalis (Fumariaceae) are described: C. enantiophylla, C. birmanica, C. leptophylla and C. farreri from Burma (Myanmar), C. leptantha from Bhutan, and C. uranoscopa from India (Kumaon).

The fruit of Davidsonia pruriens F. v. Muell. drying and splitting at maturity into two indehiscent mericarps is re-defined as a schizocarpic didrupe. The sclerified mesendocarpic construction of the whole pericarp supports its classification as a drupe. The peculiar fimbriate surface of the mericarp is caused by the destruction of parenchymatous exocarpic and mesocarpic tissues exposing radially elongated mesendocarpic osteosclereids. The seed coat is described as diffusive exotegmic with expanding pachychalaza substituting the two integuments in the chalazal half of the seed. The diffusive exotegmy of the spermoderm supports a close relationship with Cunoniaceae, but refutes any relationships with Saxifragales or with Staphyleaceae or any Hamamelidae. The seed-coat structure indicates advancement and specialization of Davidsonia among Cunoniales; its origin could trace back possibly to Rosales, but never to hamamelidalean stock.

It is shown that the monotypic genus Whitesloanea (Asclepiadaceae, Stapelieae) is closely allied to Duvalia and Huernia but nevertheless should remain separate from them. The basionym, Caralluma crassa N.E. Br., is lectotypified.

Three new tragacanthic representatives of the genus Astragalus L. are described. They are compared with their closest relatives. The line drawing illustrations of the floral parts and a distribution map are given for each species.

Twenty-six species and one subspecies are newly described (mainly from South Africa, two from Namibia, one species and one subspecies from Zimbabwe) and two new combinations are made (Zimbabwe).

Three new species of Juncus (Juncaceae) are described: Juncus funbristyloides from China (Yunnan), Juncus deosaicus from Pakistan and Juncus tobdenii from India (Sikkim).

Two new species of Aeschynanthus from Seram, A. intraflavus Mendum and A. roseoflorus Mendum, are described and illustrated. An expanded description and illustration is provided for A. amboinensis (Merr.) Mendum, comb. nov.

Two new species of Orobanche (Orobanchaceae) are described from the Arabian Peninsula: O. dhofarensis M.J.Y. Foley sp. nov. and O. hypertomentosa M.J.Y. Foley sp. nov., whilst O. abyssinica Richard is lectotypified.

Twelve species of Amomum (Zingiberaceae) are reported from Lambir Hills, Sarawak, with systematic and ecological notes based on field observations for more than one year. Five species, Amomum angustipetalum, A. bilabiatum, A. calyptratum, A. durum and A. somniculosum, are described as new to science. A key to all species of Amomum in Borneo is provided. The first report of andromonoecy and sexual dimorphism of inflorescence in Zingiberaceae is given for A. polycarpum.

The second and final part, in which Himalayan taxa in the genera Acronema, Angelica, Chamaesciadium, Chamaesium, Heracleum, Lalldhwojia, Oenanthe, Physospermopsis, Pimpinella, Pleurospermopsis, Pleurospermum, Schulzia, Selinum, Sinocarum, Tordyliopsis and Vicatia are typified with notes on some critical groups (notably Acronema, Selinum and Sinocarum). The new name Cnidium bhutanicum is established. A list of voucher specimens for the whole Flora account is appended.

The new species Sinojackia oblongicarpa C.T. Chen & T.R. Cao (Styracaceae) is described and illustrated.

The literature from 1794 to the present on the infrageneric classification of Hieracium L. sensu stricto is analysed. The 38 informal groups recognized in Flora Europaea by Sell & West (1976) are considered as sections, and the correct name for each at that rank is listed, with basionym and synonymy. The 38 names include three new combinations and four new sections.

The taxonomy of Cortinarius subgen. Phlegmacium sect. Phlegmacioides (= Variecolores) in Europe is emended to include 18 species, classified in three subsections: Subsect. Variecolores: C. variecolor (emended to include C. nemorensis sensu R. Henry, Mos.), C. violaceomaculatus, C. spadicellus (= C. amigochrous), C. largus (= C. nemorensis sensu J.E. Lange, C. lividoviolaceus), C. coalescens, C. patibilis var. patibilis, C. patibilis var. scoticus, C. kuehneri and C. russus; Subsect. Balteati: C. balteatus (= C. subbalteatus), C. durus var. durus, C. durus var. chamaesalicis, C. balteatotomentosus, C. balteatoalbus var. balteatoalbus (= C. crassus sensu J.E. Lange), C. balteatoalbus var. areni-silvae, C. vacciniophilus (= C. latus sensu Mos.), C. acidophilus, C. balteatocumatilis (=C. violaceocinctus), C. hysginus (=C. latobalteatus) and C. borgsjoeensis; Subsect. Serarii: C. serarius (= C. eulepistus). Nine taxa have not been previously included in taxonomic treatments of the group.

The species delimitations are discussed, and the diagnostic characters and their differentiation are studied. Species descriptions are provided. Two large species complexes were recognized, the C. variecolor and the C. balteatus complexes, the taxa of which had a large degree of overlapping character variation, frequently with only one, discontinuously varying character. The species have different and often less strict edaphic requirements than found elsewhere in the subgenus. Most species are rare and with a limited distribution, many of them belonging to a Picea or Betula-associated, ± northern, boreal element. A few species have a broad range of mycorrhizal hosts and a very wide distribution in Europe.

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.

Identification aids for Cicer (Leguminosae, Cicereae) taxa are presented. A DELTA format dataset was generated for 42 Cicer taxa, on the basis of observation of 214 herbarium specimens and information obtained from the literature. Using the programs key, explore and confor, a dichotomous key, a tabular key, an interactive key and brief descriptions were produced and are presented.