The taxonomic reference base Florical and characteristics of the native vascular flora of New Caledonia.

The floristic inventory presented here comprises the evolving computerised database Florical ( http://www.botanique.nc/herbier/florical). As of the date of publication, it lists all native vascular plant species (as well as infraspecific taxa) present in the territory of New Caledonia, whether validly published or in press, along with their basionym, organised according to the most recent classifications systems (APG III 2009 for the angiosperms, Smith et al. [2006] for the ferns and lycophytes, and Mabberley [2009] for the gymnosperms), accompanied by their status (native or endemic) and the various vegetation types in which they occur. After a brief historical review of our knowledge of New Caledonian botany, the characteristics (richness, composition and endemism) of the different taxonomic groups (ferns and lycophytes, gymnosperms and then angiosperms -mono- and dicotyledons) are analyzed, followed by an assessment of the distribution of these groups among the vegetation types. The vascular flora of New Caledonia is characterised by its high level of richness (3371 species, including 3099 for the flowering plants alone), despite the absence or under-representation of some taxa that areabundantly represented elsewhere in the tropics, and especially by its remarkable distinctiveness (with endemism at the species level reaching 74,7%, and 77.8% for the flowering plants). The flora stands out by the presence of several relictual taxa and a high level of speciation among certain groups, despite the fact that the island was re-colonised relatively recently following the total submersion of its much older basement during the Paleocene and the Oligocene. Details of the measures taken to conserve this extraordinary natural heritage show that only 3.4% of the territory's total surface area is effectively protected. Despite the undeniable progress made in recent years by the authorities concerned, significant work remains to be done, especially in the northern Province.

Four new species and one new variety in Thelypteridaceae from Madagascar — First record of the genus Pronephrium C.Presl in the Africano-Malagasy region.

Four new species and one new variety in Thelypteridaceae Pic. Serm. from Madagascar are described: 1) Christella darainensis Rakotondr., sp. nov., similar to C. gueinziana (Mett.) Holttum, but distinguished by sterile and fertile fronds dimorphous, proximal pinnae slightly reduced, never auricled, and ultimate segments wider and with an obtuse apex separated by narrower sinuses; 2) Pronephrium fidelei Rakotondr., sp. nov., resembling Pronephrium firmulum (Baker) Holttum but differing by pinnae not auricled, and broad persistent indusia; 3) Pronephrium marojejyensis Rakotondr., sp. nov., near to Pneumatopteris blastophora (Alston) Holttum, differing by non-gemmiferous fronds and the presence of spherical glands on lamina and sporangia; 4) Pseudocyclosorus pulcher (Bory ex Willd.) Holttum var. squamata Rakotondr., var. nov. differing from var. pulcher by the presence of some hairy scales on costae and costulae and by the nervation of the lamina and 5) Pseudophegopteris andringitrensis Rakotondr., sp. nov., resembling Pseudophegopteris henriquesii (Baker) Holttum but distinguished by linear fronds, median pinnae, 3.5–4.5 cm large, spaced more than their width, appressed acicular hairs, and absence of spherical glands on lamina and axes. The genus Pronephrium C.Presl is recorded for the first time in the Africano-Malagasy region.

In 1896, Paul Évariste Parmentier published a monograph on the systematic leaf and twig anatomy of a broadly defined Magnoliaceae. The Histoire des Magnoliacées includes description of some 34 new taxa. Most of these were based on herbarium specimens received from Ferdinand von Mueller in Melbourne that are now present in the Paris herbarium. The taxa described by Parmentier and their typification are reviewed. The types of some six taxa have yet to be found, but most names are now typified with one new lectotypification in the current paper. Drimys vascularis P.Parm. is reported as a new synonym of Cinnamodendron axillare (Nees) Endl. ex Walp. (Canellaceae).

A new endemic species, Phaius baolocensis N. V.Duy, T.Chen & D.X.Zhang, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. This new entity is similar to Phaius tankervilleae (Banks ex L'Hér.) Blume and P. australis var. bernaysii (F. Muller ex Bernays) Nicholls morphologically, from which it differs in having flowers rachis sparsely, lateral sepal narrow elliptic, petal narrow elliptic, lip apex bilobated, spur subcylindric and short.

A clambering bamboo endemic to Bidoup Mountain, southern Vietnam, represents a new monotypic endemic genus, Nianhochloa H.N.Nguyen & V.T.Tran, gen. nov. (Gramineae, Bambusoideae), which is described and illustrated. Nianhochloa, gen. nov. is distinguished from Kinabaluchloa K.M.Wong and Bambusa subg. Lingnania Chia & Fung by morphological synapomorphies: clambering culm habit and short rachilla internodes. Other diagnostic characters include a branch complement derived from single bud at a culm node developing into 3–4 subequal branches, these subequalling the main culm internode; short culm internodes; culm leaf blades erect; and lodicules protruding and glabrous.

In this account the genus Trichosanthes L. has 20 species occurring in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Since the treatments in Flore du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viêtnam (Keraudren-Aymonin 1975; 10 species), and in Flora of Thailand (De Wilde & Duyfjes 2008a; 17 species) more knowledge by fieldwork in Thailand has become available resulting in the inclusion for Thailand of the taxa T. baviensis Gagnep., T. pedata Merr. & Chun, T. tricuspidata Lour. subsp. rotundata W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes. For Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam of the species T. dunniana H. Lév., T. erosa Duyfjes & Pruesapan var. erosa, T. inthanonensis Duyfjes & Pruesapan, T. fissibracteata C.Y.Cheng & C.H. Yueh, T. tricuspidata Lour. subsp. rotundata W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes, and T. truncata C.B.Clarke. Two keys to the species are presented, one for male flowering specimens, and one for fruiting specimens, as well as for each species literature references, distribution and occasional other information.

Contribution to the knowledge of Primulaceae (ex Myrsinaceae) of New Caledonia. III. Tapeinosperma Hook.f. and Mangenotiella gen. nov. genera.

The genus Tapeinosperma was created by Hooker f. The diagnosis has been resumed and developed by Mez. However it involves uncertainties and it is sometimes difficult to separate Tapeinosperma from other genera having similar distribution areas but not yet known from New Caledonia. Considering the new taxa described in this study, 79 species would have been recognised until now, 47 among them — all endemics — in New Caledonia, the others in the archipelagoes of the southwestern part of the tropical Pacific, in Insulindia (New Guinea, Borneo) and in Australia; but, certainly, the inventory is still incomplete. In the classification by groups and in the description of the species, emphasis is placed on the position of the inflorescences — terminal on normal or special branches — and the degree of their ramification, as well as on the size and shape of leaves and fruits — more or less globular, turbinate or discoid —, and finally on the vegetative apparatus, pachycaulous or leptocaulous. For a not yet described species, the creation of a new genus, Mangenotiella gen. nov., is needed, considering the unusual features of the inflorescence and fruit.

Two new species of Rhododendron L. section Schistanthe Schltr. (Ericaceae) from New Guinea.

Two new species of Rhododendron L. sect. Schistanthe Schltr. (= sect. Vireya), recently discovered in New Guinea, are described and illustrated. Rhododendron muscipulum Danet, sp. nov. is close to R. tuba Sleumer but is distinct by having a recurved corolla tube, a style almost completely indumented, anther cells that are rounded at the base, a puberulent pedicel and leaves that are persistent for a long time on 12–16 consecutive sympodial units. Furthermore, R. muscipulum sp. nov. is recognisable from all the species in the section Schistanthe in having glutinous twigs. Rhododendron andrineae Danet, sp. nov. is close to R. opulentum Sleumer, differing by its pedicel that is very short and robust, its sericeous gynoecium and its longer capsule. Furthermore, R. andrineae sp. nov. is recognisable from all the species in the section Schistanthe in having an ovary indumentum that consists of scales and stellate hairs. The latter had never been observed until now in the section Schistanthe and never in combination with scales in the genus Rhododendron.

During the process of completing the Rubiaceae Juss. treatment for the Flora of the Guianas, two little-known taxa described from material collected in French Guiana, Mussaenda glomerulata Lam. ex Poir. and Octavia sessiliflora DC, needed to be studied in order to establish their true identity. Mussaenda glomerulata was first studied by Lamarck and later published by Poiret (1797), based on specimens collected by L. C. Richard; a specimen of M. glomerulata was found in the Lamarck herbarium, which is here selected as lectotype. Mussaenda glomerulata was concluded to be synonymous with Amaioua corymbosa Kunth. Because M. glomerulata has priority over Amaioua corymbosa, the new combination Amaioua glomerulata (Lam. ex Poir.) Delprete & C. Persson, comb. nov. is here proposed. The obscure Octavia DC. was published by Candolle based on specimens with ovaries and fruits. After a detailed analysis of the type specimens, we inferred that the flowers of Octavia are always terminal, although sometimes they might appear axillary because of overtopping axillary shoots (pseudoaxillary). Additionally, what Candolle interpreted as 8-merous fruits is a misinterpretation, and they are instead fleshy berries with eight seeds. With these new observations in mind, we concluded that Octavia sessiliflora is synonymous with Cordiera triflora A.Rich in DC. Full synonymy, typification of the taxa involved and representative specimens of this species are here presented.

The new genus Streptoechites D.J. Middleton & Livsh., gen. nov. is described and the new combination Streptoechites chinensis (Merr.) D.J.Middleton & Livsh., comb. nov. is made. Analysis of chloroplast and nuclear loci leaves uncertain its phylogenetic position within tribe Apocyneae Rchb., but Templeton and winning sites tests reject with statistical significance its inclusion in Sindechites Oliv., Epigynum Wight or Cleghornia Wight, the three genera where it has been previously classified. In contrast, the monophyly of Urceola Roxb.and Epigynum is neither supported nor rejected, making any re-circumscription of these two genera premature. A close relationship between Urceola and the monotypic genus Aganonerion Pierre ex Spire, sampled for the first time in a molecular analysis, is supported.

Rehabilitation of Oxera pancheri Dubard (Lamiaceae), a threatened species from New Caledonia.

Oxera pancheri Dubard, a name placed in synonymy under Oxera sulfurea Dubard in the revision of the genus in 1999 and 2004, is rehabilitated. Newly collected specimens, especially the first material ever with fruits, supports the recognition of this species, first described in 1906. Morphologically, O. pancheri differs from O. sulfurea by its racemiform inflorescences, its stamens and style slightly exserted and its velutinous fruits. Oxera pancheri seems morphologically closer (based on inflorescence type, shape and characteristics of the mericarps, juvenile foliage) to O. microcalyx Guillaumin than to O. sulfurea. Oxera pancheri is endemic to the southern part of New Caledonia's main island “Grande-Terre”, growing on ultramafic substrates. The limited geographic distribution of this species and the threats to its remaining populations lead us to assign a provisional conservation status of Endangered using the IUCN Red List criteria.