Two new species of gentian, Gentiana wangchukii E. Aitken & D.G. Long sp. nov., endemic to Bhutan, and Gentianella urnigera E. Aitken & D.G. Long sp. nov., from East Nepal, Sikkim, Central and Northern Bhutan and Yunnan, China, are described. Their generic placement and differences from allied species are discussed. The new combination Lomatogonium himalayense (Klotzsch) E. Aitken comb. nov. is made and this name is applied to plants previously ascribed to L. carinthiacum (Wulfen) Reichenbach from the East Himalaya; the basionym Pleurogyne himalayensis Klotzsch is lectotypified and epitypified. The genus Tripterospermum is reviewed in the Flora of Bhutan area and two species are recognized: T. volubile (D. Don) Hara and T. nigrobaccatum Hara. Within T. volubile, two subspecies are recognized: subsp. volubile and subsp. longipes E. Aitken & D.G. Long subsp. nov. T. luteoviride (C.B. Clarke) Murata, in the past treated as a distinct species, is placed in synonymy of subsp. volubile.

New taxa and records of Diplycosia (Ericaceae) from recent expeditions to Sulawesi are described. Diplycosia balgooyi Argent, D. gallowayana Argent, D. glaucicaulis Argent, D. hendriana Argent and D. supyanii Argent are described as new species. Diplycosia minutiflora Sleumer var. glandulifera Argent is described as a new variety and the new combination D. capitata Sleumer var. crassiramea (Sleumer) Argent is made. A key to all the known species of Diplycosia from this island is provided, together with short descriptions of the previously described species.

Eight Zingiber species (Z. densissimum S.Q.Tong & Y.M.Xia, Z. kerrii Craib, Z. ligulatum Roxb., Z. nudicarpum D.Fang, Z. orbiculatum S.Q.Tong, Z. parishii Hook.f. subsp. phuphanense Triboun & K.Larsen, Z. recurvatum S.Q.Tong & Y.M.Xia and Z. smilesianum Craib) are newly recorded for the flora of Laos, raising the total number of species to 25. Colour illustrations, notes on their distribution, and citations of the specimens supporting the new records are given, as well as vernacular names and uses. An updated checklist of Zingiber in Laos, with an indication of the current sectional placement of each species, is presented.

The seed coat morphology of 50 species of Campanulaceae sensu stricto, representing all 10 South African genera, was studied by scanning electron microscopy to gauge its usefulness in the diagnosis of genera or to support clades. Possible correlations with life form (annual, herbaceous and woody perennial) and ecological requirements such as fire response, rainfall requirements, bedrock and soil preferences, as well as habitat (e.g. fynbos, strandveld, renosterveld, grassland and karoo), were also investigated. Patterns of variation are described and interpreted as conforming to two seed coat types: reticulate (Type 1) and striate/wavy (Type 2). Type 1 seeds are further divided into eight subtypes. Some general trends emerged; for example, Type 1 seeds occur in all major clades of wahlenbergioids, Type 1A with a smooth coarsely reticulate surface being predominant in fynbos taxa, all of which are woody perennials. Several of the Type 1 seeds, together with Type 2 seeds, also occur in species with wider ecological amplitude, for example in karoo, strandveld or montane grasslands. In Siphocodon there is remarkable disparity in seed type between species. These variations in seed type generally appear to accord with current knowledge of climatic changes and soil evolution during the Tertiary of South Africa, and may be useful indicators of generic emergence and mosaic speciation in the major lineages of wahlenbergioids. However, it was concluded that seed coat types do not correlate closely enough with specific ecological requirements or life forms to be of unequivocal predictive value. Also, apart from Merciera and Treichelia, they are of limited use as a diagnostic character for genera, but are useful for distinguishing species.

Since the publication of the Gabon Checklist in 2006, intensive fieldwork activity has led to the discovery of many novelties. We document here 61 new records for the flora of Gabon, including nine new generic records. Five taxa are also removed from the Gabon flora.

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.

Lychnophora ericoides Mart. (Asteraceae), popularly known as arnica, is a plant species subjected to non-timber forest products extraction. Evidence is mounting that some local populations are on the brink of extinction. However, demographic studies of Lychnophora ericoides are rare. Therefore, as a step towards conservation, a remnant population of Lychnophora ericoides located in an area of the Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) in Central Brazil was evaluated from 2010 through 2014. Disturbances such as wildfires and harvesting of Lychnophora ericoides were randomly distributed throughout the study period in this area. Four annual transition matrices (A1, A2, A3 and A4) were constructed, based on life stages. The main results of studies of population dynamics for this species are as follows: 1) population growth rates (λ) with 95% confidence intervals indicated a declining population in all periods from 2010 to 2014; 2) stochastic population growth rate considering the four matrices was < 1 with value λ = 0.358 and CI95% = (0.354–0.362); 3) survival with permanence at the same stage of reproductive adult individuals (46–80%) contributed most to population growth rate, based on elasticity analysis; 4) the population is much less likely to have increases in density, compared with reduction, for all intervals from 2010 to 2014, based on transient indices; 5) the low value of λ in the high-mortality year was caused by lower stasis of individuals in the seedling or sapling and juvenile life stages, as well as fecundity in the 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 intervals, as shown by a life table response experiment; and 6) 100% of the population will probably be extinct within 15 years. There is evidence that the main cause for local extinction of Lychnophora ericoides could be the effects of frequent wildfires. Based on these results, it is suggested that the time has come for significant conservation efforts to rescue this population, including monitoring, protection and education as the first steps towards protection of this vulnerable plant species.

The new species Caulokaempferia larsenii (Zingiberaceae) from northern Thailand is described and illustrated.

A new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) is described from Khammouan Province in Laos. The new species, Begonia cladotricha M.Hughes, belongs in Begonia sect. Diploclinium, and is unusual amongst Asian Begonia in having basally branched hairs on all vegetative parts of the plant.

The assemblage of specimens from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and western Venezuela that had been determined as a variable species, Hiraea cephalotes Triana & Planch. (Malpighiaceae), was found to comprise seven species in addition to H. cephalotes (Colombia, Ecuador). Six are newly described: Hiraea amazonica C.E.Anderson (Brazil), H. angustipetala C.E.Anderson (Ecuador), H. breteleri C.E.Anderson (Venezuela), H. ecuadorensis C.E.Anderson (Ecuador), H. escobariae C.E.Anderson (Colombia), and H. peruviana C.E.Anderson (Peru). Hiraea spruceana var. mortoniana J.F.Macbr. is elevated to the rank of species as H. mortoniana (J.F.Macbr.) C.E.Anderson (Peru). The name Hiraea spruceana Nied. is confirmed as a synonym of H. cephalotes. All eight species are characterised by having the flowers borne in axillary, multiflowered umbels. All but one have styles with a blunt apex; in Hiraea amazonica the apex of the styles is drawn out into a short spur. All species are illustrated.

Two new infraspecific taxa of Begonia micranthera Griseb. are described. Begonia micranthera subsp. albonervia Tebbitt is described and illustrated as a new subspecies native to the Andes of southern Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz Departments). Begonia micranthera subsp. micranthera var. flava Andrada & Bulacio is newly described from Argentina's Jujuy Province. Begonia micranthera var. rhacophylla Irmsch. is raised to subspecies and newly recorded from Bolivia. Begonia micranthera var. hieronymi (Lindau) L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. is recognised as B. micranthera subsp. rhacophylla var. hieronymi (Lindau) L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. The type collection of Begonia micranthera var. foliosa L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. is newly recognised as a hybrid between B. micranthera Griseb. subsp. micranthera and B. micranthera subsp. rhacophylla (Irmsch.) Tebbitt. Begonia micranthera var. fimbriata L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. is newly synonymised with B. cinnabarina Hook. Begonia cinnabarina is newly recognised from Argentina and is lectotypified. Begonia micranthera subsp. micranthera var. nana L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. is also lectotypified. A key, diagnoses and illustrations are provided for all the recognised infraspecific taxa of Begonia micranthera.

Viscum sahyadricum (Santalaceae) from the Western Ghats of India is here described as a new species with description, illustrations and notes.

Campylanthus parviflorus Hjertson & Miller from Somalia is described. The status of Campylanthus incanus A.G. Miller and Campylanthus incanus var. anisotrichus A.G. Miller, also from Somalia, in relation to the new species is discussed, and it is concluded that a change in rank of the latter is necessary. The new combination Campylanthus anisotrichus (A.G. Miller) Hjertson & A.G. Miller is made, and an amplified description of this species is given.

Two new species of Paphiopedilum from Sumatra, Indonesia, are described and illustrated. These two species belong in Paphiopedilum section Barbata and are so far known only from Aceh Province in the north of Sumatra.

As part of ongoing molecular phylogenetic work on the large Gesneriaceae genus Cyrtandra, new insights into the taxonomy and relationships of the Cyrtandra of Japan, Taiwan and Batan Island in the northern Philippines have emerged. Cyrtandra umbellifera is confirmed as a species with a distribution that includes both Taiwan and Batan Island. Cyrtandra yaeyamae is found to be distinct from the widespread C. cumingii, with a distribution that includes both the Ryukyu Islands in Japan and Batan Island.

Begonia mayasiana L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. is shown to be synonymous with Begonia albomaculata C.DC. An emended description and lectotypification of Begonia albomaculata is provided, and the species is recorded from the Peruvian regions of Amazonas, Loreto, San Martín, Huánuco and Ucayali; the Brazilian state of Acre; and the Ecuadorian province of Pastaza. The use of the name Begonia albomaculata in the Flora of Ecuador and related publications is a misapplication, and the specimens cited there represent an undescribed taxon closely related to Begonia tiliifolia C.DC., described in a companion paper in this volume. Taxonomic study of Begonia albomaculata prompted a re-evaluation of related Andean species. As a result, two further new species were identified, and Begonia longimaculata Irmsch. and Begonia maynensis A.DC. were found to be conspecific. The two new species are described as Begonia chemillenensis Moonlight sp. nov. and Begonia scorpiocaulis Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov., and are known only from the Pasco and Huánuco regions and the Madre de Dios region of Peru, respectively. Begonia longimaculata Irmsch. is newly treated here as a synonym of B. maynensis A.DC.

A new species from Thailand, Begonia bella Phutthai (Begoniaceae), is described and illustrated. It belongs in Begonia sect. Parvibegonia and is a narrow endemic in Phangnga province. Its IUCN category is considered to be ‘Vulnerable’.

The new species Gyrocheilos orbiculatum D.J.Middleton (Gesneriaceae) is described and illustrated.

Scaligeria assyriaca Freyn. & Bornm. is reassessed and transferred to Korshinskya Lipsky (Umbelliferae), thus extending the distributional range of the genus westwards. Korshinskya is compared with allied genera Astomaea, Elaeosticta, Physospermum and Scaligeria.

Eighty one species of larger fungi are recorded from Mediterranean Turkey, many of which are noted for the first time either for Turkey as a whole or the southern region. Notes on the distribution, where appropriate, are added especially for the most significant collections. All the major families of agarics are included in addition to some gasteromycetes, members of the Polyporales, and a few ascomycetes.