Plathymenia (Leguminosae–Mimosoideae) has been variously regarded as comprising one to three species and one variety. The genus is here considered to be monospecific, containing only Plathymenia reticulata. This is in agreement with the conclusion of Ducke in 1925. A full description is given of P. reticulata in its emended sense, with notes on ecology, uses, vernacular names and a list of herbarium specimens examined.

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.

Previous analyses of macromorphological and molecular data on the continental African species Begonia iucunda (Begoniaceae) suggest that it occupies an isolated phylogenetic position within a clade consisting otherwise of species in sections Cristasemen, Filicibegonia, Loasibegonia and Scutobegonia. Accordingly, the new monotypic section Chasmophila is here described. Its taxonomic position and relationship to other African sections are discussed and data on its distribution and ecology are presented.

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 fruits of two anomalous African woody Apiaceae, Polemanniopsis marlothii and Steganotaenia araliacea, differ in structure when mature though the ovaries are very similar, both being heteromorphic in young flower stage. This unexpected heteromorphism in S. araliacea has important implications for future studies of basal genera and the interpretation of fruit characters in general. Both taxa also have unique ‘intrajugal cavities’ in the ovaries and fruits, which supports the idea that the two genera are closely related, sharing some characters with the Hydrocotyloideae and Saniculoideae. This provides morphological and anatomical evidence to support the previous hypotheses on their relationship with Saniculoideae. Their basal position is also supported by characters shared with other basal genera previously included in Hydrocotyloideae, such as the lateral wings and slightly lignified endocarp in Polemanniopsis and Steganotaenia.

The genus Campylanthus (Scrophulariaceae) is revised and 15 species are recognized. The genus shows a markedly disjunct pattern of distribution, with two species in Macaronesia, 12 in northeastern Africa and Arabia, and one in western Pakistan. With few exceptions all have very restricted distributions. The position of the genus within the Scrophulariaceae is discussed, and it is concluded that Campylanthus is best placed as incertae sedis. Morphological aspects of the genus are discussed and a cladistic analysis including all species is presented. The analysis indicates a basal split between western and eastern species in the genus. A key, descriptions and distribution maps for all species are provided, and some lectotypes and neotypes are selected.

Nine new species of Ruprechtia (Polygonaceae) are described. Ruprechtia nicaraguensis Pendry and R. costaricensis Pendry are from Central America; R. carina Pendry and R. apurensis Pendry are from Venezuela; R. paranensis Pendry is from South Brazil; and R. peruviana Pendry, R. obovata Pendry, R. albida Pendry and R. aperta Pendry are from Peru.

The tribe Calenduleae of the Compositae (Asteraceae) has a pronounced centre of diversity in South Africa, particularly in Cape Province. The largest genus, Osteospermum L., contains c.50 species in Africa and southwestern Arabia, including about 40 in Cape Province. Two new species are described here, both narrowly endemic in southwestern Cape Province. Osteospermum australe is confined to lowland coastal limestone areas in Bredasdorp district, whereas Osteospermum burttianum has a restricted distribution in the Langebergen mountains in Heidelberg district.

The herbarium sheet cited as holotype of Betula bomiensis (Betulaceae) contains two distinct elements belonging to different subsections of the genus Betula. One of these elements is here designated as the lectotype.

Hedychium bordelonianum W.J. Kress & K.J. Williams (Zingiberaceae) is described and illustrated. Several characters make this species one of the most unusual in the genus; however, molecular phylogenetic data place it unequivocally in Hedychium. The similarities and relationships of this species to the anomalous taxa Nanochilus, Rhynchanthus, Stadiochilus, and Hedychium (Brachychilum) horsfieldii are discussed.

Two species-specific microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (UAKLly10a and UAKLla1) were used to distinguish Larix lyallii Parl. (subalpine larch) from L. occidentalis Nutt. (western larch) (Pinaceae). These markers can easily be used for rapid identification of the two species at any stage in the sporophyte phase of the life cycle. In the future, they should prove to be an invaluable tool for determining the possible occurrence and magnitude of introgressive hybridization in overlap zones between the two species. They are also expected to be useful in validating controlled crosses between L. lyallii and L. occidentalis and for certification purposes in reforestation and tree improvement programmes aimed at producing genetically improved hybrid stock.

This paper completes an account of the subfamily Alpinioideae (Zingiberaceae) of Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia, started in the first paper of this series (Sakai & Nagamasu, 1998), which lists 12 Amomum species from the park. Twenty-two species in the genera Alpinia, Elettaria, Elettariopsis, Etlingera, Hornstedtia and Plagiostachys (Zingiberaceae) are reported from Lambir Hills, Sarawak, with systematic and ecological notes. Four species, Etlingera baramensis, E. inundata, E. newmanii and Plagiostachys glandulosa, are described as new to science, and Hornstedtia leonurus is reported from Borneo for the first time. In Etlingera inundata floral dimorphism is reported. The informal grouping of Etlingera proposed by Smith (1986b) is re-examined. Synonymies of Etlingera coccinea, Hornstedtia minor, H. affinis and H. phaeochoana and the generic position and synonymies of H. sarawacensis and H. conica are discussed. Lectotypes of Achasma brevilabrum (=Etlingera brevilabrum), Alpinia ligulata, Elettaria coccinea (=Etlingera coccinea), Elettaria speciosa (=Etlingera elatior) and Hornstedtia alliacea (=H. conica) are designated. Keys are also provided to all Bornean genera and species of Alpinioideae.

New species of Ericaceae recently collected in Papua New Guinea necessitate a re-evaluation of the status of Agapetes subgenus Paphia section Paphia. The combination of molecular and morphological data confirms that Agapetes, currently a genus of about 100 species from Fiji, New Caledonia and Queensland to mainland SE Asia, and most diverse in the latter area, cannot be maintained in its current circumscription. Various taxonomic solutions that do justice to our current knowledge of the morphology and relationships of the two main parts of the genus are discussed. The reinstatement of Paphia does least violence nomenclaturally. All 23 taxa recognized in Paphia are listed, 14 new combinations of Agapetes from the New Guinea–SW Pacific area are made in Paphia, three new species are described (P. megaphylla, P. vulcanicola and P. woodsii), and an incompletely known taxon is characterized. A key to all taxa is presented. In Dimorphanthera, five new species are described (D. angiliensis, D. anomala, D. antennifera, D. cratericola and D. inopinata), three reduced to synonymy, one reduced to a variety and one variety recognized as a species (D. continua). A key to the 87 taxa currently recognized in the genus is presented.

Natural cerrado vegetation in São Paulo State now covers less than 7% of its original area and exists only as isolated fragments. Eighty-six sites in these priority cerrado conservation areas were surveyed using a rapid assessment technique. A total of 554 species of vascular plants, belonging to 77 families, was recorded. The vegetation types encountered comprised: campo sujo, campo cerrado, cerrado sensu stricto, cerradão, wet campo, riparian forest, swamp forest, ecotone cerrado/forest and seasonal semi-deciduous forest. Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Unweighted Pair-Groups Method using Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) revealed a weak similarity pattern based on geography, but divided the sites into two main structural groups: (a) areas where more open forms of cerrado occur (cerrado sensu stricto, campo cerrado); (b) areas where only forest physiognomies occur (cerradão, ecotone cerradão/seasonal semi-deciduous forest, or riparian forest). The first group tends to be located in the east and the second in the west of São Paulo State. Cerradão was the most frequent vegetation type, observed in 70% of the sites. Cerrado sensu stricto was recorded in only 31% of the sites. Casearia sylvestris and Byrsonima intermedia were the most widespread species, recorded in 90% and 88% of the sites, respectively. Only 10% of the species were found in 50% or more of the sites, while 19% of species were recorded at a single site only. There was a considerable difference in species number between sites, from a minimum of 29 at Taubaté to a maximum of 185 in one of those at Campos Novos Paulista. As shown in other studies, species richness is directly correlated with diversity of vegetation types occurring at a site (beta diversity). As expected, the seven richest fragments contain ecotonal vegetation, which combines both forest and cerrado elements.

An analysis was made of the floristic composition of 376 areas of cerrado and Amazonian savanna, encompassing most of the area of such vegetation in Brazil. A total of 951 species of trees and large shrubs was recorded for these areas, of which 334 (35%) occurred at only a single locality (unicates).

Sulawesi (Celebes) is the largest island in the biogeographic region of Wallacea. The Gesneriaceae of the island are represented by 11 genera, some of which show a very high degree of endemism. Knowledge of the origin and affinities of the flora of this island is important for an understanding of the biogeography of the area. The Gesneriaceae promise to be excellent models for phytogeographic analysis, but before this, basic taxonomic studies must be carried out. A list of the currently known genera and species is provided, and descriptions of new taxa will be published over the coming months.

Seven new species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from Sulawesi are described and illustrated: C. gorontaloensis, C. fasciata, C. luteiflora, C. serratifolia, C. purpurea, C. tenuicarpa and C. roseiflora.