An analysis was made of the floristic composition of 98 areas of cerrado and Amazonian savanna, encompassing most of the area of such vegetation in Brazil. A total of 534 species of trees and large shrubs were recorded for these areas, of which 158 (30%) occurred at a single site only. Such unicates and taxa without determinations to specific level were excluded from the study since they provide no basis for comparison. The data were analysed by three techniques of multivariate analysis: (a) a divisive hierarchical classification by Two-way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN). (b) an agglomerative hierarchical classification by UPGMA (Unweighted Pair-Groups Method using Arithmetic Averages) using the Sørensen Coefficient of Community (CC) as a measure of similarity, and (c) an ordination by Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). The results from all three methods showed great similarity, demonstrating a strong geographic pattern in the distribution of the flora of the cerrado biome and allowing the recognition of southern (Sâo Paulo and S Minas Gerais), southeastern (largely Minas Gerais), central (Federal District, Goiás and parts of Minas Gerais), central-western (largely Mato Grosso, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul) and northern groups (principally Maranhão, Tocantins and Pará), as well as a disjunct group of Amazonian savannas. Soil type (mesotrophic or dystrophic) is an important factor in determining floristic composition. The study demonstrated that cerrado vegetation is extremely heterogeneous: none of the 534 species occurred at all sites and only 28 species were present at 50% or more.

Material from Afghanistan previously referred to Ferula lehmannii Boiss.

(Umbelliferae) is shown to belong to a closely related endemic species, F. hedgeana Pimenov & Kljuykov. sp. nov.

On morphological and anatomical evidence the Afghan endemic Scaligeria gongylotaxis Rech.f. is shown to be distinct from Scaligeria sens. str. and related geophytic genera. The taxon is considered to be best treated as a separate monotypic genus, here named Gongylotaxis Pimenov & Kljuykov, and the species renamed as Gongylotaxis rechingeri Pimenov & Kljuykov nom. nov.

Critical discussions are presented concerning two species complexes within Galium L. (Rubiaceae). the G. acutum Edgew. and G. asperifolium Wall, groups, with special reference to the E Himalayas. In the G. acutum group, two new species, G. megacyttarion R.R. Mill sp. nov. and G. rebae R.R. Mill sp. nov., are described and G. himalavense Klotzsch & Garcke is reduced to a variety of G. acutum, necessitating a new combination. Within the G. asperifolium group, G. craticulatum R.R. Mill sp. nov. is described, and G. asperifolium and G. sikkimense Gand. regarded as distinct species. The typification of several epithets (G. blinii Lev., G. bodinieri Lév., G. cavaleriei Lév., G. comari Lév. & Vaniot, and G. esquirolii Lév.), which all antedate G. sikkimense, is discussed. Only G. cavaleriei poses a potential threat but it is here maintained separate from G. sikkimense. Brief notes on G. asperifolium sensu stricto and supposedly allied plants of south India (G. asperifolium var. pilosissimum Cufod.) are given.

Selected old Taraxacum (Compositae) names, either neglected or commonly misinterpreted in the literature, are evaluated on the basis of authentic material. Taraxacum dissectum (Ledeb.) Ledeb. is shown to be confined to SC Siberia and conspecific with T. baicalense Schischk. T. lyratum (Ledeb.) DC. is confined to the Altai: it is absent from N America. T eriupodum DC. and T. wattii Hook.f. proved to belong to a single sexual widely distributed species. Taraxacum parvulum [Wall, ex] DC. is shown to be conspecific with T. himalaicum Soest.

Bulbostylis somaliensis Lye (Cyperaceae) is described from Somalia. It is closely related to B. hispidula (Vahl) R. Haines, but differs in its smaller achenes as well as in the shape and surface structure of the achenes. The major diagnostic characters are the non-triangular achene and the outermost cells to the pericarp, which have several papillae in each cell. Three subspecies are distinguished, viz. subsp. somaliensis, subsp. confusa Lye and subsp. microcarpa (Chiov.) Lye.

The typification of Rivca ornata (Roxb.) Choisy (Convolvulaceae), based on Lettsomia ornata Roxb., is discussed. R. ornata is shown to have been frequently (though not consistently) misapplied to a taxon from S India and Sri Lanka which has also been called Convolvulus candicans Roth ex Roem. & Schult., nom. illegit.; it is here newly described as R. wightiana R.R. Mill. Lettsomia ornata was based on a specimen of a plant introduced to Calcutta Botanic Garden from Uttar Pradesh. This is synonymous with Rivea ornata var. griffithii C.B. Clarke, not Clarke's ‘typical variety’ which Prain formally named var. typica. Lectotypifications are proposed for two species names in Argyreia Lour. Calystegia hederacea Wall., Convolvulus arvensis L. and Dichondra repens J.R. & G. Forst. are recorded from Bhutan for the first time.

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.

The synonymy of Asplenium unisodontum C.Presl (Aspleniaceae) in the Philippines is clarified. Asplenium anisodontum C.Presl. A. longissimum Blume and A. caudatum G.Forst. are different species. A. anisodontum C.Presl and A. longissimum Blume are both found in the Philippines. The presence of Asplenium cuudatum G.Forst. in the Philippines is doubtful. Asplenium acutiusculum Blume is the same as A. longissimum Blume and the latter name should be accepted.