Maracá is a riverine island located in the Rio Uraricoera in Roraima State (Brazil) and has an area of about 100,000ha. A forest type dominated by Peltogyne gracilipes Ducke (Caesalpiniaceae) occurs on Maracá Island on a range of soil types. This study compares the structure, floristic composition and soils of the Peltogyne forest with the most widespread lowland forest type on Maracá. Three 0.25ha plots were set up in each of three forest types: Peltogyne-rich forest (PRF), Peltogyne-pooi forest (PPF) and forest without Peltogyne (FWP). Within each plot all trees (≤ 10cm dbh) were recorded. Seedlings and saplings were sampled in subplots of 2m × 1m (seedlings) and 4m × 4m (saplings). In the PPF and FWP, Sapotaceae were the most important family with the highest relative dominance and relative density values. Caesalpiniaceae showed high values in the PRF and PPF. Licania kunthiana, Pradosia surinamensis and Simarouba amara occurred in the canopy layer in all the forest types. Peltogyne dominated the canopy in the PRF and comprised 20% of stems and 53% of the total basal area of all trees ≥ 10cm dbh, and 91% of the stems and 97% of the total basal area of individuals ≥ 50cm dbh. In PPF, Lecythis corrugata and Tetragastris panamensis were the most abundant species, followed by Peltogyne. In the FWP the most abundant trees (≥ 10cm dbh) were Licania kunthiana and Pradosia surinamensis. In all forest types, the soils were sandy and acid with low concentrations of extractable phosphorus and exchangeable cations, but the soils under PRF were notably richer in magnesium.

A biometric study of the flower, floral rewards (nectar and pollen) and pollen-ovule ratios in 14 taxa of Vicia (Fabaceae) from Extremadura (Spain) has been evaluated. Almost all floral characteristics are directly correlated and it has been found that flower size is a good indicator of the reward production, and the pollen-ovule ratios are positively correlated to seed size. A direct correlation between pollen size (volume) and style length has likewise been observed. This may show the importance of the pollen food reserves in sustaining the growth of its pollen tube along the style.

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

Names of the Old World tribes of Gesneriaceae are updated both nomenclaturally and taxonomically. The most important change is that Epithemateae (Meisn.) C.B. Clarke antedates, and therefore replaces, Klugieae Fritsch. All other suprageneric names known to have been validly published are quoted in synonymy of the appropriate tribe.

Armeria aspromontana is a new species described and illustrated from orophilous dwarf shrubs of Aspromonte (S Italy). Its taxonomic relationships with Armeria nebrodensis are examined.

Franchet (1894) described two species from Yunnan as Arracacha (= Arracacia) delavayi and A. peucedanifolia, respectively, in a genus hitherto known only from Mexico to Bolivia in the New World. Wolff (1925) made A. delavayi the type of his new genus Physospermopsis, but neither de Boissieu (1906), Wolff, nor Norman could find an appropriate generic home for A. peucedanifolia. In 1980, Sheh and Shan established the new genus Cyclorhiza with one species and a second taxon which became C. major (M.L. Sheh & R.H. Shan) M.L. Sheh in Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae. This work does not mention either A. peucedanifolia or Cenolophiwn chinense M. Hiroe (1958), which was based on similar material. The correct name for A. peucedanifolia is Cyclorhiza peucedanifolia (Franch.) Constance, comb. nov. and the genus Arracacia is to be excluded from Asia.