Two species new to Solanum sect. Basarthrum (Bitter) Bitter are described. Solanum perlongistylum G. J. Anderson, Martine, Prohens & Nuez and S. catilliflorum G. J. Anderson, Martine, Prohens & Nuez are narrowly distributed species from southern Peru in the group that includes the Andean domesticate S. muricatum Aiton and are very closely related to the widespread S. caripense Dunal. Solanum catilliflorum bears small, dish-shaped flowers (for which it is named) and is self-compatible and autogamous, with short styles like those that characterize all self-compatible species in this section. It also has a low pollen:ovule ratio, which is characteristic of self-compatible species in the group. On the other hand, the style of the self-incompatible S. perlongistylum is the longest in the group, and its flowers have a higher pollen:ovule ratio. Both species are diploid at n  =  12. We hypothesize that these two species may be peripheral isolates from the widespread and variable S. caripense.

In the light of morphological and molecular evidence that the genus Mascagnia is polyphyletic, eight segregate genera are described, discussed, and illustrated, the necessary new combinations are proposed, and five new species are described (Amorimia camporum, A. kariniana, A. septentrionalis, A. velutina, and Niedenzuella caracasana). Keys to genera and species are provided. The genera and species are: Adelphia W. R. Anderson [A. hiraea (Gaertner) W. R. Anderson, A. macrophylla (Rusby) W. R. Anderson, A. mirabilis (W. R. Anderson) W. R. Anderson, A. platyrachis (Triana & Planchon) W. R. Anderson]; Aenigmatanthera W. R. Anderson [A. doniana (Grisebach in Martius) W. R. Anderson, A. lasiandra (A. Jussieu) W. R. Anderson]; Alicia W. R. Anderson [A. anisopetala (A. Jussieu in A. St.-Hilaire) W. R. Anderson, A. macrodisca (Triana & Planchon) W. R. Anderson]; Amorimia W. R. Anderson [A. amazonica (Niedenzu) W. R. Anderson, A. camporum W. R. Anderson, A. concinna (C. V. Morton) W. R. Anderson, A. exotropica (Grisebach in Martius) W. R. Anderson, A. kariniana W. R. Anderson, A. maritima (A. Jussieu) W. R. Anderson, A. pubiflora (A. Jussieu in A. St.-Hilaire) W. R. Anderson, A. rigida (A. Jussieu in A. St.-Hilaire) W. R. Anderson, A. septentrionalis W. R. Anderson, A. velutina W. R. Anderson]; Carolus W. R. Anderson [C. anderssonii (W. R. Anderson) W. R. Anderson, C. chasei (W. R. Anderson) W. R. Anderson, C. chlorocarpus (A. Jussieu) W. R. Anderson, C. dukei (Cuatrecasas & Croat) W. R. Anderson, C. renidens (A. Jussieu) W. R. Anderson, C. sinemariensis (Aublet) W. R. Anderson]; Christianella W. R. Anderson [C. glandulifera (Cuatrecasas) W. R. Anderson, C. mesoamericana (W. R. Anderson) W. R. Anderson, C. multiglandulosa (Niedenzu in Chodat & Hassler) W. R. Anderson, C. paludicola (W. R. Anderson) W. R. Anderson, C. surinamensis (Kostermans) W. R. Anderson]; Malpighiodes Niedenzu [M. bracteosa (Grisebach in Martius) W. R. Anderson, M. guianensis (W. R. Anderson) W. R. Anderson, M. leucanthele (Grisebach in Martius) W. R. Anderson, M. liesneri (W. R. Anderson) W. R. Anderson]; and Niedenzuella W. R. Anderson [N. acutifolia (Cavanilles) W. R. Anderson, N. caracasana W. R. Anderson, N. castanea (Cuatrecasas) W. R. Anderson, N. glabra (Sprengel) W.

Manekia Trelease is recognized as an earlier name for Sarcorhachis Trelease (Piperaceae). After examination of available herbarium material, including appropriate type specimens, it is clear that Manekia and Sarcorhachis are taxonomic synonyms. New combinations are made for four species of Manekia originally described in the genus Sarcorhachis: Manekia incurva (Sieber ex Schultes) Arias, Callejas & Bornstein, Manekia obtusa (Miquel) Arias, Callejas & Bornstein, Manekia sydowii (Trelease) Arias, Callejas & Bornstein, and Manekia venezuelana (Steyermark) Arias, Callejas & Bornstein. The following names newly synonymize: Sarcorhachis obtusa (Miquel) Trelease var. cordata Yuncker and Sarcorhachis sydowii Trelease var. hirsuta Yuncker. Additionally, a lectotype is designated for Manekia sydowii (Trelease) Arias, Callejas & Bornstein.

Se describe e ilustra una nueva especie del género Schwenckia (Solanaceae) encontrada en el Departamento del Caquetá, Cordillera Oriental de Colombia, Schwenckia alvaroana Benítez. La misma se distingue del resto de las especies de la sección Schwenckia por su hábito trepador y sus corolas de menor tamaño. También se proporciona una clave para separar las especies hasta ahora reconocidas de la sección Schwenckia.

Three new species of Eriocaulaceae belonging to genus Actinocephalus (Körnicke) Sano are recognized: Actinocephalus aggregatus F. N. Costa, A. deflexus F. N. Costa, and A. graminifolius F. N. Costa. These species are endemic to the Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil. They are placed in Actinocephalus based on the presence of the inflorescences composed of capitula in umbels, besides other floral and vegetative characteristics common to the genus. Comments about habitat and geographic distribution of the species are also presented.

Oresbia heterocarpa Cron & B. Nordenstam (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) is described as a new genus and species from South Africa. Until now the species has been known as Cineraria tomentosa Lessing, although first described as Senecio lanatus L. f. Both of these names are illegitimate. Characteristic features of Oresbia are the perennial habit with sessile, non-pinnatifid leaves, which are densely tomentose below, and the heteromorphic cypselae with four-winged ray-floret cypselae. The closest affinities of Oresbia may be with Phaneroglossa B. Nordenstam and possibly also Lamprocephalus B. Nordenstam, which have similar distribution ranges in the Western Cape mountains.

The genus Bolandia (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) comprises two known species, B. pedunculosa and B. argillacea, previously included in Cineraria. Distinguishing features of Bolandia include the fusiform shape of the cypselae and strong median rib on the glabrous inner surface of the ray and outer disc cypselae, solitary ecalyculate capitula on long peduncles, and a truncate style apex with a central tuft of sweeping hairs. Bolandia occurs in the mountains of the Western Cape in southern Africa, with a disjunct population of B. pedunculosa in the Witteberg of the Eastern Cape and the nearby Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho. Bolandia argillacea is endemic to the mountains near Worcester in the Western Cape. Two forms of B. pedunculosa are informally recognized, a tomentose and a glabrescent form, the latter including plants previously known as C. albomontana.

Spermacoce heteromorpha Dessein (Rubiaceae, Spermacoceae) is newly described and illustrated. It grows on the Marungu highlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R. Congo) at altitudes of 1800 to 1900 m. The species resembles the Tanzanian Spermacoce taylorii Verdcourt, from which it mainly differs in having terminal inflorescences, only slightly exserted anthers, and densely pubescent stems. Moreover, Spermacoce heteromorpha features marked heterophylly, with long leaves at the plant's base and much shorter cauline leaves, a type of heterophylly rarely observed in Spermacoce or in the Rubiaceae as a whole. The finding of this species exemplifies the unique floristic richness of this under-explored part of D.R. Congo.

Oxypetalum gyrophyllum Farinaccio & Mello-Silva and O. oblanceolatum Farinaccio & Mello-Silva, two new species of Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae) from Brazil, are described and illustrated. Both species may be included in the O. insigne (Decaisne) Malme group. Oxypetalum gyrophyllum is closely related to O. glabrum (Decaisne) Malme, differing mainly by bigger and more circular leaves, a smaller corpusculum, and smaller teeth, which are curved inward and included versus curved outward and free. Oxypetalum oblanceolatum is immediately distinguished from all species of this group by oblanceolate leaves, an uncommon character state in the genus. A key for the species of the Oxypetalum insigne group is provided.

Amorphophallus xiei H. Li & Z. L. Dao (Araceae), described here as new, is endemic to Yunnan Province, China, where it is locally esteemed as a food plant. The new species is illustrated and distinguished from A. yuloensis H. Li and A. muelleri Blume, to which it is most closely related.

A new species of Camellia (Theaceae) endemic to the Dalat Plateau in southern Vietnam is described and illustrated: Camellia dongnaiensis. The newly described species has large pendulous, narrowly obovate leaves; two whorled, waxy, pendulous flowers exhibiting emarginate, graduated yellow-apricot to intensely pink petals; peduncles distinctly wider at the proximal end; a compound style consisting of six parts that are fused at the base for one third of their length; persistent bracteoles; and a superior five-chambered ovary. The morphological evidence supports taxonomic placement in Camellia sect. Piquetia (Pierre) Sealy.

Two new Peruvian species of Cybianthus Martius (Myrsinaceae), C. tayoensis Pipoly & Ricketson, of subgenus Cybianthus, from Amazonas, and C. candamoensis Pipoly & Ricketson, of subgenus Weigeltia A. DC., from Puno, are described and illustrated. Cybianthus tayoensis may be recognized by its terete branchlets; leaf blades 6–7 cm wide with adaxial surface showing prominulous secondary veins; and reddish flowers with calyx 1–1.2 mm long, widely ovate lobes, and entire margins. Cybianthus candamoensis is easily recognized by its chartaceous, elliptic leaf blades with acuminate apices; petioles 2–2.5 cm long; staminate flower pedicels 1–1.2 mm long; and calyx unequally divided, lobes deltate to subdeltate or widely ovate, 0.7–1 × 0.7–1.2 mm, margins irregular to somewhat erose apically, corolla lobes 1–1.5 × 1–1.3 mm, with margins entire. Formal conservation assessments are reported for each.

Brodiaea sierrae (Themidaceae), a new diploid species from the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, U.S.A., is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it is most similar to the tetraploid B. leptandra, from which it differs by having larger flowers, with perianth lobes up to 40 mm long (vs. 20–30 mm). The new species is also morphologically similar to B. californica but differs by the staminode morphology and by the lack of anther appendages. Although morphology and other data support a close relationship between the three species, they are geographically and edaphically disjunct in northern California.

Manglietia albistaminea Law, R. Z. Zhou & X. S. Qin, a new species from China, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to M. fordiana Oliver and M. hainanensis Dandy, from which it differs by fine short hairs on both leaf surfaces, white stamens, and white pilose carpels.

Gonocalyx lilliae (Ericaceae), a new species endemic to Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. This new species is somewhat similar to G. costaricensis, sharing similar shape and leaf size, racemose inflorescences, short rachis, inconspicuous bracteoles, and flowers with the hypanthium terete to subterete, with inconspicuous calyx lobes. However, G. costaricensis is separated by its glabrous leaves, flowers, and fruits; inconspicuous inflorescence bracts; and stamens with free filaments. A brief synopsis and a key to the species of the genus in Costa Rica are given.

A study of morphological characters based on a review of herbarium specimens from Yunnan Province, China, reveals that the following new combination is necessary. The previously recognized species Erythrina yunnanensis S. K. Lee (Leguminosae) is reduced in rank to variety as Erythrina stricta Roxburgh var. yunnanensis (S. K. Lee) R. Sa.

A new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Vietnam, Begonia brevipedunculata Y. M. Shui, is described and illustrated. It belongs to section Platycentrum (J. F. Klotzsch) A. DC., which is distinguished by having two persistent styles and two locules in every ovary. Its chief diagnostic characters are the dense clavate glandular pubescence on the abaxial leaf surface and the scape much shorter than the petiole. The characters distinguishing the new species from Begonia howii Merrill & Chun and B. psilophylla Irmscher are noted. In addition, a key to six similar species at the border of China and Vietnam is presented.

A new species of Croton (Euphorbiaceae) from the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador is described. Croton floccosus is a medium-sized tree that is common along streambeds and disturbed sites in the Pichincha and Imbabura provinces of Ecuador. This species appears most closely related to the Colombian species C. polycarpus Bentham, C. mutisianus Kunth, and C. magdalenensis Müller Argoviensis in section Cyclostigma Grisebach, but differs in having staminate flowers with gland-tipped petals, 15 or 16 stamens with pubescent filaments, and long pedicels (7–16 mm); small fruits (6.4–7.7 mm diameter); and entire to dentate stipule margins. Because of its apparent affinity with these Colombian species, I place Croton floccosus in section Cyclostigma.

Described and illustrated is Memecylon batekeanum R. D. Stone & G. M. Walters from the buffer zone of the Batéké Plateaux National Park in southeastern Gabon. This new species is closely related to M. amshoffiae Jacques-Félix of Cameroon, but is distinguished by its shrubby habit, quadrangular-alate young branchlets, fewer-flowered inflorescences, and calyptrate calyx. A provisional IUCN status of Vulnerable is assigned. Memecylon amshoffiae was treated earlier in section Mouririoidea Jacques-Félix, but this is contraindicated by evidence from ovary and anther morphology and by recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. Together, M. amshoffiae and M. batekeanum are provisionally placed next to M. diluviorum Exell in section Polyanthema Engler.

Phainantha shuariorum (Melastomataceae) from sandstone mountains of the Cordillera del Cóndor region in southeastern Ecuador is described and illustrated; it is a disjunct species in a genus that is otherwise known only from the Guayana Shield region of northeastern South America. It resembles P. laxiflora and P. maguirei, with which it shares the climbing, twining habit, adventitious roots at the stem nodes, and leaves alternate by abortion of one leaf per pair, but from which it differs in the tri-nerved venation.

Pedicularis yaoshanensis H. Wang from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species was found growing on wet cliffs, at high elevations in the Yaoshan Mountain. It is placed in Pedicularis series Longiflorae Prain. The main diagnostic features of P. yaoshanensis include its acaulescent habit, pinnatipartite leaves, calyx with 3 lobes (the posterior one smaller and tripartite), the deflexed galea beak pointing downward, and the two posterior filaments of the stamens glabrous. A key to similar species is given, and its relationships discussed.