A new species of Rhynchoglossum, R. capsulare Ohwi ex Karton. (Gesneriaceae), is described and illustrated. This species resembles the widespread Rhynchoglossum obliquum Blume. A new combination, Codonoboea kjellbergii (B.L.Burtt) Karton., is proposed to accommodate the former Henckelia kjellbergii B.L.Burtt.

Three new species of the Neotropical genus Barbacenia (Velloziaceae, Pandanales) from Tocantins, Brazil, are described and illustrated, based on morphology and leaf anatomy. The known species richness of the genus is mapped within the countries of South America and the states of Brazil.

Rhodothamnus sessilifolius P.H. Davis (Ericaceae) was until recently known only from two gatherings from NE Turkey, and had not been seen since 1960. The type locality was re-found in 2000, together with two new populations. An emended description of this rare species is provided, including details of the first fruiting material and seeds to have been collected, and notes on its ecology.

On the basis of previously published molecular data, and morphological observations, Carex nigra subsp. drukyulensis from the eastern Himalayas (Bhutan) is raised to specific rank as Carex drukyulensis.

Two new species of Malpighiaceae are proposed: Hiraea costaricensis C.E.Anderson and H. polyantha C.E.Anderson. Hiraea costaricensis is characterised by the presence of basifixed hairs on the stems and leaves; H. polyantha, of Colombia, is distinctive in its large inflorescences, composed of c.100 flowers. Collections of the novelties had been associated with Hiraea smilacina Standl., a species that traditionally had been thought conspecific with H. quapara (Aubl.) Sprague; they are immediately separated by their fruits. In Hiraea smilacina the schizocarps break into three butterfly-shaped samaras, as is typical for the genus. The fruit of Hiraea quapara is spherical, composed of three mericarps covered by a network of reduced winglets. Hiraea smilacina is found from southern Mexico through Central America, except El Salvador and Nicaragua, and has been collected also in Colombia and Ecuador. Hiraea quapara is known mainly from French Guiana, with one collection from adjacent Suriname and two from Amapá, Brazil. All taxa are fully described and illustrated.

The new species Clinopodium jacquelinae (Labiatae) is described from Peru. Distribution and morphological variability of Clinopodium cylindrostachys are examined and discussed.

The species of Gagnepainia K.Schum. and Hemiorchis Kurz are revised throughout their ranges. These genera are shown with evidence from morphological and molecular studies to be distinct, although closely related to each other. Two species of Gagnepainia and three of Hemiorchis are recognised. A key to the genera of Globbeae and keys to the species of Gagnepainia and Hemiorchis are given, all names are typified and descriptions are provided. Conservation assessments of all taxa are proposed.

Neottia dihangensis M.Bhaumik and N. confusa M.Bhaumik (Orchidaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India are described and illustrated.

Malus toringoides (Rehd.) Hughes, 1920, is shown to be the same as Pyrus bhutanica W.W. Smith, 1911, therefore requiring a new name, Malus bhutanica, which is hereby provided.

The Erich Werdermann collection ‘Plantae Chilenses’ held at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh constitutes an important set of herbarium specimens from the Chilean flora, and represents over 10% of preserved specimens from Chile in the herbarium. Duplicate sets of specimens were distributed from the Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem to a further 15 major international herbaria. Here we provide a description of this collection, highlighting aspects of Werdermann’s journey in Chile. Included are his itinerary and maps showing where the specimens were collected. An important aspect of the paper is to clarify ambiguities concerning label data in order to provide more accurate detail for researchers using Werdermann’s specimens.

Recent study of floral diversity within Australian Rhododendron (Ericaceae) has resulted in the recognition of two species, R. lochiae F. Muell. and R. notiale Craven, sp. nov. Both species are described and illustrated, and their distributions mapped. An identification key is provided.

Four Uromyces species are described as new, viz. U. astragali-alopecuri sp. nov. on Astragalus alopecurus from Turkey, U. astragali-atropilosuli sp. nov. on A. atropilosulus subsp. bequaertii var. bequaertii from Kenya, occurring also in Ethiopia and Tanzania, U. astragali-pseudoutrigeris sp. nov. on A. pseudoutriger from Turkey, and U. semnanensis sp. nov. on A. fridae from Iran. Several new hosts (marked *) are reported for U. punctatus. This rust is reported as new to S America (in Chile).

Hitherto the genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) was thought to be represented by eight species in Arabia. While preparing the account of Limonium for Volume 1 of the Flora of Oman, one of the present authors (S.A.G.) identified two new species from Oman, in addition to the three already known. The new species, L. sarcophyllum Ghaz. & J.R. Edm. and L. milleri Ghaz. & J.R. Edm., are described and illustrated, and the new combination L. paulayanum (Vierh.) J.R. Edm. & Ghaz. based on Statice paulayana Vierh. from Soqotra is published. A key is provided for all 10 species in Arabia.

The genus Endospermum (Euphorbiaceae) in the Malay Archipelago (Malesia) comprises eight rather than the 10 species recognised in the latest revision by Schaeffer in 1971. Endospermum banghamii and E. ronaldii are synonymised with E. quadriloculare. The diagnostic characters for the genus are briefly discussed with special emphasis given to the myrmecophytic characters. The phylogenetic analysis, based on morphological characters (11 vegetative and 12 reproductive), resulted in a single, most parsimonious cladogram with bootstrap support only for the genus. The historical biogeographic analysis, used to evaluate the cladogram, showed that two species are placed in an unexpected position in the phylogeny, which means that the morphology-based cladogram may be reliable to a large extent.

Descriptions of two sister species, Begonia wollnyi Herzog and Begonia arrogans Irmsch., are provided and their distributions mapped and discussed. Begonia wollnyi is newly recorded from Peru and Argentina. Begonia parodiana L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. is newly synonymised with B. wollnyi. Begonia arrogans Irmsch. and two existing synonyms of B. wollnyi Herzog, Begonia acrensis Irmsch. and Begonia williamsii Rusby & Nash, are lectotypified. Begonia wollnyi and B. arrogans are both assessed as Least Concern (LC), according to IUCN criteria.

Of the 25 species presently named in Henckelia sect. Loxocarpus (Gesneriaceae), 10 occur in Peninsular Malaysia (with one species extending into Peninsular Thailand), 12 in Borneo, two in Sumatra and one in Lingga (Indonesia). One species from Peninsular Malaysia is excluded from the section. A key to species in Peninsular Malaysia is provided, together with descriptions and distributions. Three new species are described: Henckelia anthonysamyi Banka, H. sekayuensis Banka & Kiew and H. sericiflava Kiew & Banka. All Peninsular Malaysian species are endemic, many narrowly so – eight are presently known from just one or two localities.

New combinations are proposed in Phanera (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) for two varieties of Bauhinia glabrifolia (Benth.) Baker.