In the Mascarene Islands, Elaphoglossum coursii Tardieu (Dryopteridaceae) was only known in La Réunion. This species is also known to grow in Madagascar, the Comoro Islands and Zambia. In November 2007, this species was observed and collected for the first time in Mauritius. Based on these observations, a brief discussion is provided concerning the ecology and conservation status of this species in Mauritius.

Revision of the Aloe divaricata Berger group; correction of a synonymy, new combinations and description of a new hybrid.

A revision of the Aloe divaricata Berger group which currently contains three species (with A.deinacantha T.A.McCoy, Rakouth & Lavranos and A. tulearensis T.A.McCoy & Lavranos) is achieved here. The synonymy between A. deinacantha and A. divaricata is shown up, we propose the new combination A. divaricata subsp. tulearensis comb, nov., stat. nov. and rehabilitate the species A. vaotsohy Decorse & Poisson as a subspecies of A. divaricata. At last, the hybrid A. divaricata subsp. vaotsohy x A. helenae Danguy is described here under the name x A. anosyana J.-P. Castillon, hybr. nov.

Taxonomic and chorological notes on some Orchidaceae endemic to Atlantic Central Africa.

The paucity of distributional data on Orchidaceae Juss. of Central Atlantic Africa along with the severity of threats to humid forests in Africa and to their epiphytes, led us in 1997 to undertake an intensive sampling campaign in this region. Analysis of the new specimens generated and examination of historical collections have resulted in a number of taxonomic advances regarding several endemic species of Atlantic Central Africa, or previously considered as endemic, and have resulted in updates of their known ranges. The following taxonomic changes are made: Ancistrorhynchus constrictus Szlach. & Olszewski is placed in synonymy under Ancistrorhynchus capitatus (Lindl.) Summerh.; Bulbophyllum mayombeense Garay is placed in synonymy under Bulbophyllum schinzianum Kraenzl. var. schinzianum; and B. kupense P.J.Cribb & B.J.Pollard is placed in synonymy under B. teretifolium Schltr., for which a neotype is designated. The geographical distribution of several taxa is amended: Aerangis megaphylla Summerh. is shown to be endemic to the island of Annobon; Polystachya superposita Rchb.f. is recognized as endemic to Cameroon, and Liparis suborbicularis Summerh. is known only from Nigeria and Cameroon. Three new records are indicated: Aerangis bouarensis Chiron for Cameroon, Bulbophyllum schinzianum Kraenzl. var. schinzianum for the Republic of Congo, and Liparis goodyeroides Schltr. for Liberia. Conservation assessments based on IUCN categories and criteria are provided for each taxon.

Five new species of African Marantaceae are described and illustrated from two locations in Gabon, Marantochloa alba A. C. Ley, sp. nov., M. grandiflora A. C. Ley, sp. nov., M. montsdecristalii A. C. Ley, sp. nov. and Thaumatococcus flavus A. C. Ley, sp. nov. from the mountainous area of Monts de Cristal, north east of the capital Libreville, as well as Hypselodelphys lopei A. C. Ley, sp. nov. from the central part of Gabon in secondary forest near La Lope and Mikongo. New keys to the genera Marantochloa Brongn. & Gris., Thaumatococcus Benth. and Hypselodelphys (K. Schum.) Milne.-Redh. are provided.

Gigantochloa multifloscula H.N.Nguyen, N.Xia & V.T.Tran, sp. nov. is described and illustrated as a new plant species that was previously treated as Gigantochloa sp. Pham, but unnamed. Based on its vegetative, inflorescence, and basic spikelets structures, Gigantochloa multifloscula sp. nov. shares characters with most other Gigantochloa species but differs in the position of florets in pseudospikelet and branches. Investigating essentially these aspects for G. multifloscula sp. nov., we found many additional characters for this genus, which indeed has mid-culm branch complement with no dominant branch, culm wall thin and florets falling together.

Astragalus dilutuloides Maassoumi, F.Ghahrem. & Bagheri, sp. nov. and Astragalus montis-queydari F.Ghahrem., Maassoumi & Bagheri, sp. nov. are described as new species. Morphological evidence (bifurcated trichome, acaulescence, free stipules, bibracteolate, non-inflated calyx in fruit) supports taxonomic placement of the new taxa in Astragalus L. sect. Incani DC. These are endemic to the Zanjan province of western Iran. Astragalus dilutuloides is close to A. dilutulus Maassoumi, but it differs with having longer habit, longer stipules, longer leaves, in leaves indumentum, longer peduncle, and color of bract and bracteoles hairs. Astragalus montis-queydari is close to A. xiphidiopsis Bornm., but it differs from the first new species with having longer stipules, fewer leaflets, shorter peduncle, and inflorescence with fewer flowers (4–10 vs 10–20).

A new species belonging to the genus Argomuellera Pax from Madagascar is described. This species resembles A. danguyana (Leandri) J.Léonard but differs in being a treelet with nearly entire leaves and a slenderer inflorescence that bears smaller staminate and pistillate flowers.

A new species of the genus Hancea Seem, is described from the forested region of eastern Madagascar. It can be readily distinguished from the three species previously recognized on the island by the shape of its leaf apex and by its lack of domatia in the axils of the leaf veins. A key to the species of the genus in Madagascar is presented.

A new species of Pantadenia Gagnep. from Madagascar is described; it resembles the other previously known Madagascan species (Pantadenia chauvetiae (Leandri) G.L.Webster) in ovary and fruit morphology, but differs from it in its arborescent habit, narrower and less pubescent leaves, glabrous and minutely bracteate inflorescence, and glabrous and typically 4-merous calyx.

Ochna jabotapita L. et Ouratea plumieri Tiegh. (Ochnaceae).

Based on a botanical specimen perhaps from the Antilles by Plumier which would be used to describe the Antillan version of the prelinnean genus “Jabotapita”, Van Tieghem has described Ouratea plumieri Tiegh. After a historal recall on Ochna jabotapita L. and the synonymies of its various versions, the discussion tells on the validity of Ouratea plumieri comparing with the Plumiers drawings and with the Antillan species cited by some authors as possible synonyms of Jabotapita described by Plumier. After comparisons, we conclude that Ouratea plumieri does not have any similarities with the Antillan species, but have some with an Indian taxon: Ochna cf. obtusata DC. subsp. pumila (Buch.-Ham. ex DC.) Panigrahi & Murti (= var. pumila (Buch.-Ham. ex DC.) Kanis). This sample cannot belong to the Plumiers collection.

Two new species of Turraea L. are described from northern Madagascar, T. andriamiarisoana Callm., Phillipson & Lowry, sp. nov. and T. buerkii Callm., Phillipson & Lowry, sp. nov., both endemic to a region bounded by four relatively well-studied protected areas (Tsaratanana, Manongarivo, Marojejy and Anjanaharibe-Sud). The region harbors extensive low to high elevation humid forest that was botanically virtually unknown until recently. The new species differ from each other and from other members of the genus in Madagascar by leaf features, flower colour, length of the staminal appendices, and the shape and the pubescence of the ovary. Line drawings are provided for both of the new taxa, along with discussions of their morphological affinities and preliminary risk of extinction assessments.

Atractocarpus Schltr. & K.Krause is an Australian and Pacific genus of Gardenieae (Rubiaceae) which includes c. 40 species. The genus was initially described for a species bearing fusiform fruits, and occurring in the southern part of New Caledonia, viz. A. bracteatus Schltr. & K.Krause. Another species, A. heterophyllus (Montrouz.) Guillaumin & Beauvis. with oblong leaves and oblong ovoid fruits was described for New Caledonia, but initially under Gardenia Ellis and this for the North of the archipelago. During later revisions and supplementary descriptions of species in the genus, both species carrying heteromorphic leaves were reconsidered. The name A. bracteatus was placed in synonymy of A. heterophyllus; while keeping a delimitation of the species restricted to the southeastern populations. This situation ended in the re-description of the northern species, named A. balansaeanus Guillaumin. The results of the present work, based on the examination of herbarium specimens and literature, disentangles the collusion for A. heterophyllus vs A. bracteatus. Hence, the correct name typifying Atractocarpus is A. bracteatus. In regard to the destruction of the holotype for A. bracteatus in Berlin (B) and of two of the syntypes for A. heterophyllus in Lyon (LYJB), typifications for these species names are proposed. To clarify their taxonomy, complete descriptions, lists of specimens and illustrations are provided for both species.

A recent review of the Malagasy Bignoniaceae for the Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar has enabled us to discover new species in most genera in the family. We provide the description of two new species of Colea Bojer ex Meisn., a genus endemic to the Malagasy region (C. labatii Callm. & Phillipson, sp. nov and C. unifoliolata Callm. & Phillipson, sp. nov). The new species are provided with illustrations, a discussion of their morphological affinities and a conservation threat analysis based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

A new narrow endemic endangered species of Scaevola (Goodeniaceae) from New Caledonia. A new endemic species of the pantropical genus Scaevola L., S. barrierei A.S. Wulff & Munzinger, sp. nov. is described from New Caledonia. It grows in open shrub land on ultramafic substrate. It is characterized by its coriaceous and pubescent leafs on the abaxial side and its raised yellow flowers, pubescent on the exterior. This species is preliminarily assigned as “critically endangered” (CR) following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Echinops spinosissimus Turra subsp. neumayeri (Vis.) Kožuharov is reported for the first time in Greece, in the peripheral unit of Preveza, close to the Ionian Sea. A closest geographical proximity than previously thought between E. spinosissimus subsp. neumayeri and the other subspecies of E. spinosissimus Turra, subsp. spinosissimus and subsp. bithynicus (Boiss.) Greuter is brought to light. This implies that the eventuality of genetic contacts should be considered when deciphering the evolutionary history of these taxa.

The lectotype of Santolina oblongifolia Boiss. is examined and discussed. Santolina heterophylla Willk. & Cut., S. oblongifolia Boiss. var. obtusifolia Willk., S. oblongifolia var. ceratophylla Willk., and S. lobata Jord. & Fourr. are lectotypified. Santolina oblongifolia Boiss. f. intermedia Pau is neotypified. The current status of these names is discussed. A new species from the Iberian Peninsula, S. orocarpetana sp. nov., is described.

The Ruvubu National Park, the biggest protected area and biodiversity refuge of the country, is comparatively less studied than western Burundi near Bujumbura, the capital. This article reports the results of a botanical inventory of the vascular plants from the protected area, evidences species newly encountered and establishes a comparison of the floristic diversity with the Akagera National Park in Rwanda located in the same phytochorion, in the Lake Victoria regional mosaic. Records from the Ruvubu include 522 species (including infraspecific groups) from 96 families and 306 genera, representing nearly 17% of the known vascular plants of Burundi. The most common families were the Fabaceae, the Asteraceae and the Poaceae. 96 species or 18% of the flora were encountered for the first time in the park. Study of environmental determinants of Leguminosae abundance and floristic variability would provide more precisions.