The African genera Paropsiopsis Engl. and Smeathmannia R.Br. (Passifloraceae – Paropsieae) are revised. The two genera are well separated based on the presence or absence of a second, annuliform, corona, as well as the number of stamens and curvature of their filaments. An overview of important characters and a key to all genera of Paropsieae is provided. In Paropsiopsis all previously recognised species are united under P. decandra (Baill.) Sleumer. In addition one species, Paropsiopsis atrichogyna J.M.de Vos & Breteler, is newly described and illustrated. In Smeathmannia both previously recognised species are maintained, but infraspecific taxa are rejected. Descriptions of both genera and their species, keys to species, illustrations and distribution maps are provided.

This paper completes an account of the subfamily Alpinioideae (Zingiberaceae) of Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia, started in the first paper of this series (Sakai & Nagamasu, 1998), which lists 12 Amomum species from the park. Twenty-two species in the genera Alpinia, Elettaria, Elettariopsis, Etlingera, Hornstedtia and Plagiostachys (Zingiberaceae) are reported from Lambir Hills, Sarawak, with systematic and ecological notes. Four species, Etlingera baramensis, E. inundata, E. newmanii and Plagiostachys glandulosa, are described as new to science, and Hornstedtia leonurus is reported from Borneo for the first time. In Etlingera inundata floral dimorphism is reported. The informal grouping of Etlingera proposed by Smith (1986b) is re-examined. Synonymies of Etlingera coccinea, Hornstedtia minor, H. affinis and H. phaeochoana and the generic position and synonymies of H. sarawacensis and H. conica are discussed. Lectotypes of Achasma brevilabrum (=Etlingera brevilabrum), Alpinia ligulata, Elettaria coccinea (=Etlingera coccinea), Elettaria speciosa (=Etlingera elatior) and Hornstedtia alliacea (=H. conica) are designated. Keys are also provided to all Bornean genera and species of Alpinioideae.

Epiphytes are an important component of the diversity of tropical forests, and they also have several ecological functions. Vegetation heterogeneity is one of the features responsible for the high biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest, especially in the domain’s seasonal semideciduous forest (SSF). This biodiversity presents as high endemism and species richness. Owing to the seasonal nature of SSF, organisms that require high humidity (e.g. epiphytes) would be expected to show low species richness in these forests. The aims of this study were to conduct a survey of the vascular epiphytes in remnants of montane SSF in the Serra do Ibitipoca, Brazil, and to evaluate the importance of habitat heterogeneity for the richness and composition of species in these areas. We also evaluated whether the intrinsic characteristics of the SSF phytophysiognomy and fragmentation could result in low species richness and a high number of accidental epiphyte species. The study was conducted in the course of 18 expeditions undertaken between September 2013 and December 2016, covering five fragments of montane SSF (totalling 23.6 ha). We recorded 96 species (only one of which is an accidental epiphyte), distributed across 41 genera and 10 families. This is the highest epiphytic species richness recorded in Brazilian SSF to date. The results refuted the initial hypothesis and reinforce the importance to the epiphytic community of conservation of fragments with different structures.

Berlinia Sol. ex Hook.f. (Leguminosae – Caesalpinioideae) is under investigation with two main goals: (i) to delimit and describe the species, and (ii) to elucidate their relationships. Delimitation and description is now largely completed and is presented in this synopsis. The genus Berlinia is assessed as comprising 18 species. Keys to the species are presented and for each species a brief description, selected synonymy and specimen citations are given. A monograph of Berlinia including a full taxonomic treatment and the results of the phylogenetic investigation will be published later by the senior author.

Leaf cuticle micromorphology has been cited as an important set of taxonomic characters in gymnosperms, but previous studies have largely been based on small sample sizes. The premise of this study was to understand whether external factors affect cuticular micromorphology of Podocarpaceae. Two example species, Prumnopitys andina and Podocarpus salignus, were studied. Of 21 sampled characters, nine (c.43% of the total) were visually assessed as being moderately reliable or highly reliable for taxonomic discrimination for both species, with an additional six (c.29%) being moderately reliable or highly reliable for only one or other of the example species, and six characters (c.29%) unreliable for both. Seven of the most variable stomatal characters were selected for further analysis to establish whether environmental factors affect them. The relationship between these seven stomatal characters, the environment and climate was analysed using the R ‘vegan’ package and climate data gathered from WorldClim. Our results showed that both species had larger stomata in moist and shady conditions, and a higher density of (smaller) stomata in sunny and drier conditions. An additional novel finding was the presence of stomata on the adaxial leaf surface in 46% of samples of Prumnopitys andina: the first record of adaxial stomata in this species, highlighting the necessity of studying multiple samples of a given species. In conclusion, these results indicate that larger sample sizes than have hitherto been employed in cuticle micromorphological studies are necessary to fully document the amount of phenotypic variation that exists.

Bellevalia wendelboi Maassoumi & Jafari from western Iran (Kurdistan Province) is newly described. It is similar to Bellevalia macrobotrys from Bellevalia sect. Nutans subsect. Colorata but differs in having weakly canaliculate leaves, yellow anthers (not violet) and a cordate-ovoid, acuminate capsule (not ovoid and retuse). There are now 19 species of Bellevalia in four sections in Iran.

This work synthesises information about plant diversity of 37 sites of coastal and inland swamp forests of southeast and southern Brazil and investigates floristic similarities and differences among them. Swamp forests often show low species richness, diversity and evenness, which are associated with the selective character of oxygen deprivation caused by soil waterlogging. However, our results pointed out some degree of site-level variation (Sobs = 5 to 110; Sjack1 = 6 to 151; H′ = 0.82 to 3.98; J′ = 0.51 to 0.87) related to local ecological conditions. Two major phytogeographical patterns emerged from our work: the strong influence of the neighbouring non-flooded vegetation on the flora of swamp forests and its high spatial heterogeneity. At least 85.9% of the 518 species sampled are found in neighbouring non-flooded vegetation. A correspondence analysis consistently separated swamp forests of the coastal plain from those of the plateau. A Mantel test indicated a significant correlation between floristic and geographical distances among sites (r = 0.45; p = 0.001), and highlighted the main effect of regional-scale changes in the flora of swamp forests. We conclude that swamp forests of southeast and southern Brazil cannot be considered a distinguishable floristic unit.

Rigiolepis and Vaccinium of Borneo are revised, and their characteristics are discussed. Brief comments on distinguishing Vaccinium and Rigiolepis from related genera in the Ericaceae are made. Vaccinium sect. Bracteata is now considered the only section of Vaccinium occurring in Borneo. The chief reason for reinstating Rigiolepis as a genus is the distinctive 10-locular ovary whose structure has been overlooked in recent studies, while the supporting characters of multiple axillary flower buds, flower size, anther shape and fruit colour provide for easy recognition. New keys are provided to all 42 species, and all accepted taxa are described. Ten taxa are new to science and 17 new combinations are made. An addendum gives the combinations to be used for the two species of Rigiolepis presently known to occur outside Borneo.

Pleonotoma orientalis Sandwith (Bignoniaceae), a poorly known species, is lectotypified, illustrated for the first time and a distribution map is provided. Pleonotoma orientalis Sandwith var. ratteriana Proença & Farias from the Jalapão area (State of Tocantins, Central Brazil) is described and illustrated. The new variety is apparently identical to the typical variety in floral characters but distinct in its ternate-tripinnate leaves with numerous, minute, slightly thickened leaflets, and fruits with rounded or obtuse tips. The collections of this new variety increase its range c.400 km S from Northern Brazil (Maranhão and Pará) into Tocantins in Central Brazil.

Pinochia, a new neotropical genus of Apocynaceae, subfamily Apocynoideae, is segregated from Forsteronia, described and illustrated. Four new combinations and a key to the species are provided.

Specimens of Hiraea (Malpighiaceae) from the Brazilian states of eastern Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, and Santa Catarina that had been determined as H. cuneata Griseb. and H. wiedeana A.Juss. were found to include four undescribed species. The assemblage traditionally named Hiraea cuneata includes, in addition to H. cuneata (Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro), two novelties: H. hatschbachii C.E.Anderson (Paraná) and H. occhionii C.E.Anderson (Rio de Janeiro). The gatherings labelled Hiraea wiedeana comprise specimens of H. reitzii C.E.Anderson (Paraná, Santa Catarina) and H. restingae C.E.Anderson (Rio de Janeiro), here newly described, and of H. macrophylla (Colla) P.L.R.Moraes & Guglielmone (Rio de Janeiro), the earlier and correct name for the species also known as H. wiedeana. In all, the flowers are borne in a single 4-flowered umbel instead of a compound arrangement, as is often characteristic of other species of Hiraea. Specimens assigned to Hiraea cuneata have the laminas abaxially sericeous initially but glabrous at maturity. In those assigned to Hiraea wiedeana the laminas are abaxially velutinous (eventually glabrescent in H. restingae). Full descriptions and synonymies are supplied, and all species are illustrated.

Two new species from the eastern Himalaya are described, one in Physospermopsis and one in Sinocarum. Additionally, new combinations are proposed for the Indian area in Bupleurum. Schulzia, Meeboldia, Sinocarum, Pimpinellu, and Angelica.

Twenty-nine new species of Corydalis (Fumariaceae) from China, mainly from Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan, are described.

The species of Podocarpus L’Hér. ex Pers. (Podocarpaceae) occurring in the Central America and Northern Mexico Bioregions are revised. Four species (Podocarpus costaricensis de Laub., P. guatemalensis Standl., P. matudae Lundell, P. oleifolius D.Don) occur in these bioregions as well as three infraspecific taxa, that are here all treated as subspecies [Podocarpus matudae subsp. matudae, P. matudae subsp. jaliscanus (de Laub. & Silba) Silba, P. oleifolius subsp. costaricensis (J.Buchholz & N.E.Gray) Silba]. A fifth species, Podocarpus magnifolius J.Buchholz & N.E.Gray, may also be present in Panama but this requires verification; a brief account is provided. Podocarpus monteverdeensis de Laub. is considered a synonym of P. oleifolius subsp. costaricensis, the concept of which is amplified to include all Central American material of P. oleifolius. Several previously recognised infraspecific taxa within both Podocarpus guatemalensis and P. matudae are reduced to synonymy. Within Podocarpus matudae, P. matudae subsp. matudae is regarded as including subsp. macrocarpus and subsp. reichei but P. matudae subsp. jaliscanus is regarded as a distinct, second subspecies disjunct in westernmost Mexico. Podocarpus costaricensis, P. matudae (both subspecies) and P. oleifolius subsp. costaricensis are endemic to these bioregions. A key is provided, all definitely recorded species are illustrated and the distributions of all definitely recorded taxa are mapped. The distributions are discussed in relation to the geology and geological history of the region as well as altitude and climate. New IUCN conservation assessments are proposed for Podocarpus matudae subsp. jaliscanus, P. matudae subsp. matudae and P. oleifolius subsp. costaricensis while details of the current assessments for the remaining taxa (including Podocarpus matudae as a whole) are given. Two appendices list all accepted names and synonyms, and give a list of exsiccatae.

Ormosolenia Tausch is shown to be a separate monotypic genus of the Umbelliferae, distinct from Peucedanum L. A new combination, O. alpina (Sieber ex Schultes) M. Pimenov is proposed for the only species of the genus which is endemic to the eastern part of the Mediterranean.

A taxonomic revision of Oreorchis is presented. A key to the species and synonymies, descriptions, illustrations and distributions for each taxon are provided. The status of the genera Kitigorchis F. Maek. and Diplolabellum F. Maek. are discussed. The former is redefined as a monotypic genus, with three of the four species included by Maekawa being returned to Oreorchis; the latter is considered congeneric with Oreorchis. Three species, O. angustata, O. aurantiaca and O. nepalensis, are newly described here and O. indica is reduced to varietal status within O. foliosa. Some outstanding problems in the taxonomy of the genus are noted.

A striking new species of Begonia, B. joshii, is described from Amazonas Region, Peru. The new species is unusual among the South American members of the genus both in its combination of tuberous habit with peltate leaves and in living in a seasonally dry tropical forest environment. A phylogeny of this and closely related species is presented, and its sectional affiliation and IUCN conservation status are discussed. A key to the peltate Peruvian species of Begonia is provided.

The neotropical species of Calycobolus (Convolvulaceae) are revised. Three species are recognised. A fourth species is here recognised as belonging to the genus Porana. All four species are described, keys for identification are provided, selected characters are illustrated, distributions are mapped, and an index to numbered herbarium specimens examined is included to aid herbarium curation.

A new monotypic genus, Tamijia (Zingiberaceae), and its species T. flagellaris are described from Sarawak, Borneo. T. flagellaris is quite unique with the lateral staminodes connate to the labellum, the plane of distichy of the leaf shoot transverse to the rhizome, long trailing inflorescences and ovary unilocular with parietal placentation. Although the species is placed in Alpineae based on the plane of distichy, it is quite distinctive from most of the species in the tribe in some other characters, and is important in considering the current system of tribes and genera of the family.

Two new genera, Stygiomyces (Coelomycetes) with type species S. galliformis on Pseudocyphellaria faveolata from Tasmania, and Pseudonitschkia (Dothideales) with type species P. parmotrematis on Parmotrema tinctorum and P. pseudotinctorum from South America (Paraguay, Venezuela), Africa (Ivory Coast, Malawi, South Africa) and Nepal, are described. Their placement and differences from similar genera are discussed.