Rechinger, in his 1968 Flora Iranica account, considered Sterigmostemum to contain nine species in Iran. In 1980 Léonard excluded S. purpurascens from Sterigmostemum and transferred it to the new genus Petiniotia as P. purpurascens. Subsequently, in 1988 Jacquemoud retained this species in Sterigmostemum, but as subgenus Petiniotia. In 2000 Sonboli et al. excluded S. laevicaule from Sterigmostemum and considered it to be a synonym of Erysimum crassicaule. Phenetic analysis of morphological and anatomical characters from herbarium and fresh specimens supports the recognition of five species in Sterigmostemum (S. incanum, S. sulphureum, S. acanthocarpum, S. ramosissimum and S. longistylum). The results of cluster analysis and ordination based on these characters confirm Léonard's exclusion of S. purpurascens and transfer to the genus Petiniotia as P. purpurascens. A key is provided to distinguish Petiniotia from Sterigmostemum, followed by descriptions of the two genera and a conspectus of species.

Locus-specific primers were designed to amplify the homologues LEGCYC1A and LEGCYC1B of the snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) floral symmetry gene CYCLOIDEA in the genistoid legumes Lupinus nanus and Cadia purpurea. These primers were tested successfully in a range of genistoid taxa. Sequence comparison between L. nanus and L. angustifolius revealed that these CYCLOIDEA-like genes provide up to four times as many variable characters as the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) at this taxonomic level. These genes are therefore potentially useful for studying evolutionary relationships between closely related species within the genistoid clade of legumes, which contains many large and diverse genera. Comparisons between L. nanus, Cadia purpurea and Calpurnia aurea LEGCYC sequences show that these genes may also be useful for phylogenetic studies between genera in this large clade of 1800 species.

Plethiandra (Melastomataceae–Melastomatoideae–Dissochaeteae) comprises seven species in Borneo and one (P. sessiliflora) in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia and central Sumatra. Plethiandra is easily recognized by its polystaminate androecium, having 16–40 stamens with short, straight, inappendiculate anthers. The closely related Medinilla has a diplostemonous androecium with 8–12 stamens and variously appendaged anthers. Ontogenetic studies in P. hookeri show that the increase in stamen number in Plethiandra results from subdivision of the stamen primordia into three or more subprimordia.

This paper provides a key, genus and species descriptions including diagnostic characters, distribution maps and ecological notes. One species, P. tomentosa, is newly described. During field observations on P. hookeri and P. cuneata pollination by bees and dispersal by birds and squirrels were observed.

Fourteen miscellaneous Bornean species of Cyrtandra are treated. Descriptions and discussion are provided for C. integerrima and C. neiothiantha, originally published with diagnoses only, and C. warburgiana is redescribed. Cyrtandra arachnoidea, C. asikii, C. banyingii, C. keithii, C. lineariloba, C. mendumae, C. palimasanica, C. parvifructa, C. sublanea, C. tubibractea and C. undata are newly described.

This is the first part of a taxonomic revision of section Hololobus of the paleotropical orchid genus Crepidium (Orchidaceae–Malaxidinae). Based on morphology and habit, the new subsection Maximowiczianae is established to include six species from India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The new combination Crepidium carinatum is published with C. benguetense as a synonym. A key is provided, and all species are described and illustrated.

A new species, Colchicum chlorobasis (Colchicaceae), endemic to S Turkey, is described. The species is related to C. boissieri but differs mainly in having a larger, more rounded corm with only short lobes, browner more evanescent tunics projecting along the cataphyll, and more leaves. Both have greenish filament bases. Comparisons are also made with C. sieheanum and C. baytopiorum. A key and illustrations are provided to distinguish these four species, and their distribution is shown on a map. Chromosome numbers have been determined for C. chlorobasis, C. boissieri and C. baytopiorum.