A new species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae), R. truncatovarium (subgen. Azaleastrum), from Yunnan, SW China, is described and illustrated. Details of its pollen morphology are also provided.

The new species Echidnopsis inconspicua (Apocynaceae–Asclepiadoideae) and Secamone cuneifolia (Apocynaceae–Secamonoideae) are described from Socotra. An account of Echidnopsis is provided for the island, where five species are now known to occur. The first species of Ceropegia is recorded for Socotra.

Comparisons of corolla morphology were made between plants of Conandron ramondioides (Gesneriaceae) from 23 localities in Japan and Taiwan. Lobe-length to tube-length ratios were found to correlate with geographical distribution and support the recognition of two previously described varieties: var. ramondioides in mainland Japan (lobe length less than twice tube length) and var. taiwanensis from Iriomote Island (Japan) and Taiwan (lobe length more than three times tube length). Mitotic chromosomes were also observed but no differences were seen between accessions, all of which had 2n=32.

Two new species of Euphorbiaceae (sensu stricto), Mallotus bicarpellatus (Acalyphoideae) and Croton nepalensis (Crotonoideae), are described from Nepal. Mallotus bicarpellatus is closely related to M. philippensis but differs in having 1 or 2 pairs of leaf glands distinctly separated from the petiole attachment, pistillate flowers with staminodes and longer pedicels, and fewer locules and stigmas. Croton nepalensis differs from C. tiglium in having leaves with truncate, subcordate or rounded base, smaller, broadly ovoid capsules, and smaller seeds. A table is provided showing how Croton nepalensis differs from other closely related species. Croton himalaicus is here regarded as a synonym of C. tiglium, though it has been treated variously as a distinct species or a synonym of C. tiglium or C. birmanicus by recent authors. Distribution maps and graphs of altitudinal distribution are given for the new species.

Five new combinations are made in the Boletales: Chroogomphus rutilus var. corallinus, Boletus declivitatum, B. immutatus, B. ripariellus and Buchwaldoboletus sphaerocephalus. Comments are made on other British poroid boletes.

Floristic and phytogeographical information is presented in the first of three papers on the flora of Lesvos (East Aegean, Greece). The taxa included here are dicotyledons and belong to families in alphabetical order from Aceraceae to Guttiferae. Of the 92 taxa (79 species, 12 subspecies and one variety) presented, two are new for Greece, five are new for the Aegean islands as a whole, four are new for the East Aegean Islands and 13 are new for Lesvos. New distribution localities on the island are also given for some interesting taxa. Furthermore, the presence of 13 taxa, reported by previous authors without specific collection data, is confirmed. Critical comments are made on 22 taxa whose presence needs confirmation or is considered doubtful or wrong. Chorological, ecological and taxonomic comments are made for the more interesting cases and distribution maps for certain taxa in Greece or Lesvos are given. Finally, the threats and conservation status of some rare and interesting taxa are briefly discussed.