The morphological variability of Centaurea langei Nyman (Centaurea sect. Centaurea), an endemic to the north-central and north-west Iberian Peninsula, was studied. Seven subspecies with reasonably well-defined areas are recognized, of which C. langei subsp. dominguezii E. López, Devesa & Arnelas is described as new, and for the others the following combinations are proposed: C. langei subsp. exilis (Arènes) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas, C. langei subsp. coutinhoi (Franco) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas, C. langei subsp. geresensis (Arènes) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas, C. langei subsp. kheilii (Pau) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas, and C. langei subsp. rothmalerana (Arènes) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas. Nomenclatural and taxonomic synonyms are provided for each taxon, most of which are typified. For C. langei subsp. dominguezii, the chromosome number was also studied (2n = 18).

This study examined the Lotus tenuis seedling emergence from natural and artificial soil seed banks covered with cattle dung of different thicknesses. We tested the hypothesis that seedling emergence from soil seed banks covered with fresh cattle dung depended on seed weight, its dormancy and dung thickness. Two seed dormancy categories (low and high seed-coat impermeability to water) were obtained from a sample of hard seeds with and without scarification with sandpaper. Natural and artificial soil seed banks of Lotus tenuis were covered with 0.5, 2, 4 and 6 cm thick fresh dung pats; control seed banks were not covered. The results of this study showed that increasing dung thickness affected negatively the seedling emergence in different ways: (1) Seeds germinated under dung pats but seedling emergence was impeded with increasing dung thickness. Seedling emergence from heavy seeds was higher than from the light ones. (2) Moisture contained in the fresh dung was enough to trigger the germination of seeds on dry soil. Seedlings died because of dung desiccation. Seed dormancy prevented the germination under fresh dung. The amount of seeds recovered alive decreased with dung thickness. Seeds with high dormancy categories were more numerous than those with low dormancy categories. Cattle dung deposition on the soil seed bank of L. tenuis can negatively affect the seed survival and seedling emergence.

Apurimacia dolichocarpa (Fabaceae) is a narrow endemic species, restricted to Córdoba Hills, Argentina. At present, only two populations are known. In order to analyse the level and distribution of its genetic variability, allele frequencies in 16 loci coding for enzymes were estimated from starch gel electrophoresis patterns. The levels of genetic diversity (P_99% = 56.25, A = 1.81, H_e = 0.1125) are higher than the mean for endemic species reported in the literature. The low level of genetic differentiation between the two populations (θ = 0.04) may be the result of a recent fragmentation of an ancestral panmictic population. Apurimacia dolichocarpa does not appear as threatened from the genetic viewpoint, given that its populations preserve a moderate level of allozymic polymorphism. Artificial establishment of intermediate populations would facilitate pollen dispersal, a strategy that could favour the maintenance of the polymorphism levels.

Potentilla radiata Lehm., described from northern Iran, also occurs in the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and NE Turkey. It has been reported as P. svanetica Siegfr. & R. Keller, P. sommieri Siegfr. & R. Keller or P. armeniaca Siegfr. ex Th. Wolf by local authors. It was occasionally collected also in the N part of European Russia and in Romania, being described as P. × burduja Prodán & Ţopa, P. × leteae Prodán, P. × moeszii Jáv. ex Prodán, P. × porciusii Prodán and P. gordiaginii Juz. The name P. radiata Lehm., not used previously, has priority over all of the mentioned names. Potentilla radiata is interpreted as a hybrid between P. argentea L. and P. thuringiaca Bernh. ex Link.

The type specimen of Parasenecio subglaber (CC. Chang) Y.L. Chen (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) is conflicting with the protologue and belongs to the genus Ligularia. A new name and a new type are designated to accommodate the original protologue, and the distribution range of the species is widely extended.

One new genus, Tretomyces K.H. Larss., Kotir. & Saaren., and two new species, Tretomyces microsporus Kotir., Saaren. & K.H. Larss., and Byssocorticium caeruleum Kotir., Saaren. & K.H. Larss. are described and illustrated. Three new combinations, Tretomyces lutescens (J. Erikss. & Ryvarden) K.H. Larss., Kotir. & Saaren., Dendrothele minutissima (Höhn. & Litsch.) Kotir., K.H. Larss. & Saaren. and Pseudomerulius montanus (Burt) K.H. Larss., Kotir. & Kulju, are proposed.

Helianthemum motae Sánchez-Gómez, J.F. Jiménez & J.B. Vera (Cistaceae) is described as a new species from southeastern Spain. It belongs to the section Lavandulaceum and appears to be close to H. syriacum. The diagnostic characters, a phylogenetic study as well as a full description, a dichotomic key, and illustrations are provided. Both macromorphological and micromorphological characters are discussed and compared with the morphologically related species. The conservational status of H. motae is discussed.

Impatiens parvisepala S.X. Yu & Y.T. Hou sp. nova (Balsaminaceae), from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It is closely related to I. claviger in having a raceme, yellow flowers and four lateral sepals, but differs by the sessile or subsessile leaves aggregated or subverticillate on the upper part of the stem, obovate or obovate-lanceolate leaf blades, lanceolate or subulate bracts, smaller outer lateral sepals, funnel-shaped lower sepal with a nearly straight spur and reddish patches, and the lateral united petals clawed. Pollen morphology and leaf epidermal characters also support recognition of I. parvisepala.

Three new species, Astragalus torbathaydariyehensis Ranjbar & Zarin, A. salehabadensis Ranjbar & Zarin and A. ilachchiensis Ranjbar & Ghahremani (Fabaceae) are described from Iran and illustrated. They belong to A. sect. Astragalus, which contains species with basifixed white and black hairs and yellow flowers.

A new hybrid combination Pilosella onegensis Norrl. × P. praealta (Vill. ex Gochn.) F. Schultz & Sch. Bip. is recognised on the basis of its intermediate morphological characters, and described under a new binomial name, P. × tambovica Sennikov. All old records of P. caespitosa (Dumort.) P.D. Sell & C. West and many such of “Hieracium nestleri Vill.” from the Tambov Region of European Russia are found referable to P. onegensis.

Dianthus goekayi Kaynak, Yilmaz & Daşkin sp. nova (Caryophyllaceae) is described and illustrated from northwest Anatolia, Turkey. It resembles especially D. erinaceus, but differs it by its longer stems, inflorescence with 2–7 flowers, and papillose calyx tube. The stem and calyx of both species were examined and compared using scanning electron microscopy. The geographical distribution of D. goekayi is mapped.

A new combination Pseudosasa nanningensis (Q.H. Dai) D.Z. Li & Y.X. Zhang is made, based on new collections with inflorescences from Guangxi, China. Additions are also made to the description of Indosasa hispida McClure, which is included in the key to species of Indosasa from the bamboo account of the Flora of China, following more comprehensive collections.

Astragalus pseudopinetorum Taeb, Özüdoğru & Erik sp. nova (Fabaceae), endemic to the Hakkâri province of E Turkey, is described and illustrated. It belongs to A. sect. Caprini and is morphologically related to A. kamelinii. A characteristic feature is the whole plant being glabrous, with just a few scattered white hairs on the rachis and pedicels.

Dendrobium hekouense Z.J. Liu & L.J. Chen sp. nova (Orchidaceae) is described from southeast Yunnan of China. It belongs in the section Dendrobium and is more or less akin to D. wangliangii, from which it differs by its dorsal sepal larger than petals, lateral sepals broader than long, cylindrical mentum 1.2–1.3 cm long, and a trilobed lip.

Examination of the type material showed that Hypoestes addisoniensis Elmer [‘as addisoniense’] is different from other Hypoestes in its solitary or few flowers clustered in leaf axils and bithecous anthers spurred on lower thecae and is a member of Justicia. Therefore, a new combination, Justicia addisoniensis (Elmer) C.M. Gao & Y.F. Deng, is proposed herein.

Elatostema xanthotrichum W.T. Wang & Y.G. Wei sp. nova and E. bamaense W.T. Wang & Y.G. Wei sp. nova (Urticaceae) from Guangxi Province, China, are described and illustrated. Elatostema xanthotrichum most closely resembles E. rupestre but differs in its appressed, yellow-pubescent and 1-branched stems, auriculate leaf base at the broad side of the leaf, 5-paired secondary nerves, 6–8 staminate bracts, and obovate to spatulate-linear staminate bracteoles, which are ciliolate at apex. Elatostema bamaense most closely resembles E. nanchuanense but differs in its glabrous stems and leaves, narrowly lanceolate and non-corniculate pistillate bracts, and verruculose, non-ribbed achenes.