Two new names and one new combination are created in the artificial Cynoglossum montanum group (Boraginaceae – Cynoglosseae): Cynoglossum natolicum (Bornm.) Sutorý and Cynoglossum brandii Sutorý from the Eastern Mediterranean, and Cynoglossum maghrebicum Sutorý from Morocco and Algeria. All taxa are discussed, their lectotypes are designated and their distributions are outlined.

Six new species of Syzygium Gaertn. from Sumatra are described and illustrated. Three are newly described, namely Syzygium abatakum Widodo, S. bengkulense Widodo and S. ketambense Widodo. The descriptions of the other three species, namely Syzygium angustovatum Widodo & Chikmawati, S. comosum Widodo and S. longipetiolatum Widodo are republished to validate their names. The conservation status of each species is proposed, following IUCN guidelines.

Freziera grandiflora (Pentaphylacaceae), a new species from western Ecuador with relatively large leaves, flowers and fruits, is described and illustrated. Its distribution, phenology, habitat and relationship to allied species are discussed. Its conservation status is tentatively considered Vulnerable.

The genus Donella Pierre ex Baill. is here reinstated and Austrogambeya Aubrév. is, for the first time, placed in synonymy based on the findings of recent combined molecular and morphological studies. Seventeen species are recognised, two of which, Donella ranirisonii L.Gaut. & Mackinder and D. humbertii Capuron ex Mackinder & L.Gaut., from Madagascar, are described here for the first time. The flowers of Donella ambrensis and D. delphinensis are described here for the first time, as are the fruits of D. guereliana. Two keys, to the species of Madagascar and tropical Africa, respectively, are presented. Ten species are endemic to Madagascar, six species are endemic to tropical Africa and one, Donella lanceolata, occurs from Madagascar to the Solomon Islands. For each species, the accepted name with synonymy is given, followed by a morphological description. Geographical range and details of habitat are provided, with taxonomic and/or nomenclatural notes as appropriate. Distribution maps are presented for all species, and preliminary conservation assessments are made. Five species qualify for a category of Threat, and three further species are assessed as Near Threatened. An index to species and a list of exsiccatae are included.

Five plant species (Apocynum hendersonii Hook.f. (Apocynaceae), Deyeuxia anthoxanthoides Munro ex Hook.f. (Gramineae), Hololachna shawiana Hook.f. (Tamaricaceae), Iphiona radiata Benth. (Compositae) and Saussurea ovata Benth. (Compositae)) were described from specimens collected by George Henderson on the political mission to Yarkand (now in Xinjiang Province of China) in 1870. The names, with accompanying descriptions and illustrations, appeared in Lahore to Yārkand by Henderson and A. O. Hume. An exact publication date of 1 April 1873 is established for this work of relevance to avian as well as plant taxonomy. The typification of the plant species names to specimens in the Kew herbarium is reviewed. Four new lectotypes are proposed.

The Cycadales are a group of significant global conservation concern and have the highest extinction risk of all seed plants. Understanding the synchronisation of reproductive phenology of Cycadales may be useful for conservation by enabling the targeting of pollen and seed collection from wild populations and identifying the window of fertilisation to aid in the cultivation of Cycadales. Phenological data for 11 species of Zamia were gathered from herbarium specimens. Four phenological characters were coded with monthly character states. DNA was isolated and sequenced for 26S, CAB, NEEDLY, matK and rbcL, and a simultaneous phylogenetic analysis of phenology and DNA sequence data was carried out. Three major clades were recovered: a Caribbean clade, a Central American clade and a South American clade. Eight species showed statistically significant synchronisation in microsporangiate and ovulate phenological phases, indicating the time of fertilisation. Close reproductive synchronisation was consistently observed throughout the Caribbean clade (statistically significant in four of five species) but was less consistent in the Central American clade (statistically significant in one of two species) and South American clade (statistically significant in three of four species). Ultimately, phenology is shown to be a potential driver of speciation in some clades of Zamia and in others to be a potential barrier to hybridisation.

Many papers submitted to the Edinburgh Journal of Botany are reviewed by members of the Editorial Board and Editorial Advisory Board. The members of both Boards wish to express their thanks to the following, who have also kindly reviewed papers during the preparation of this volume.

Note: main entries are emboldened; *signifies the page range of keywords; pages with illustrations (Fig.), maps, reviews (Rev.) and appendices (App.) are indicated, tables are not annotated separately.