Details are given of several morphological characters that separate the Vietnamese endemic Begonia balansana from the more widespread south Asian B. handelii, with which it is often confused. Begonia prostrata is reduced to a variety of B. handelii. Descriptions are provided for B. balansana and for B. handelii and the closely affiliated and poorly known B. burkillii. Begonia balansana is illustrated. Begonia handelii var. prostrata is recorded as new to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand and B. burkillii as new to Myanmar.

Collections of Cyrtandra from the island of Palawan in the Philippines are reviewed. Twelve species are present, of which only five species are already described. A further three species and one variety are described here: C. cleopatrae H.J. Atkins & Cronk sp. nov., C. pulgarensis [Elmer ex] H.J. Atkins & Cronk sp. nov., C. hirtigera H.J. Atkins & Cronk sp. nov., and C. hirtigera var. chlorina H.J. Atkins & Cronk var. nov. Further material of the remaining four taxa (spp. B, C, D, E) will be needed before these can be formally named, although descriptions are provided here. All species are endemic except C. elatostemoides Elmer and C. hypochrysoides Kränzl., which also occur in Borneo and Luzon respectively. The pattern of narrow endemism shown by the cyrtandras of Palawan is commented on briefly.