Elaphoglossum nimbaense J.P.Roux, sp. nov., a new epiphytic fern species which appears to be endemic to the Nimba Mountains in Liberia, West Africa is described and illustrated. Features separating E. nimbaense J.P.Roux, sp. nov. from other species in section Elaphoglossum Schott ex J.Sm. are the crustaceous, centrally dark and glossy, pseudopeltate rhizome scales, the conspicuous short stipe of the sterile fronds — the fertile frond stipes are significantly longer, the somewhat carnose, attenuate, long acuminate sterile laminae. The significantly larger adaxial epidermal cells of the fertile laminae in comparison with that of the sterile laminae and the reticulate (impresso-punctate) adaxial epidermis of the fertile laminae, perhaps caused by the collapse of bladder cells (enlarged moisture containing epidermal cells) with straight transverse walls is also characteristic of the species. The nomenclature of section Elaphoglossum and subsections therein are discussed.

Adiantum papilio Rakotondr. & Hemp, sp. nov. (Pteridophyta, Pteridaceae), a new endemic species from Madagascar.

A new species of Adiantum (A. papilio Rakotondr. & Hemp, sp. nov.) is described and illustrated from the Antsiranana region in northern Madagascar. Unlike the others Adiantum L. species from Madagascar, A. papilio Rakotondr. & Hemp, sp. nov. has 1-pinnate fronds with opposite to subopposite pinnae. Its morphology is similar to A. balfourii Baker from Erythrea but with an erect rhizome, obdeltoid pinnae with lobed not denticulate margin, and oblong to round not linear indusia.

A colony of a fern, Lygodium hians E.Fournier (Schizaeales), studied on the southwest Pacific Island of New Caledonia, displays a growth form unusual for any member of this genus. Other living species of the genus Lygodium Sw. are characterized by twining fronds, with indefinite growth, which climb extensively on the support provided by other nearby vegetation. These fronds can arise from as early as the sporeling stage and fulfil both vegetative and reproductive functions, with spores produced in lateral sorophores in the upper parts of the fronds. By contrast, in L. hians, climbing fronds are only rarely produced and these carry terminal to subterminal sorophores. The main vegetative growth is of a low-growing (here termed ‘ground-clothing') frond-type, of definite, rather than indefinite, growth and of unusual dichotomous blade structure. This life form has survived, in this rare and little known remote species, under conditions of considerable ecological, as well as geographic, isolation in the mountains of New Caledonia. Blade/pinnule abscission occurs in L. hians in both ground-clothing and climbing fronds, therefore shed foliar units in the fossil record do not imply that ancient Lygodium were climbers. The features of L. hians, uniquely within Lygodium, provide morphological links with Schizaea Sm. and Actinostachys Wall. The morphology considerably expands our concept of variation in the genus Lygodium and suggests that this life form today may represent an evolutionary phase near to the early stages of diversification of the genus. For these reasons L. hians is worthy of inclusion in future molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses and should be incorporated in comparative studies by palaeobotanists studying fossil ferns.

A distinctive new species, Pandanus bernardii H.St.John ex Callm., sp. nov., endemic from New Caledonia, is described. The new species differs from other members of the genus in by the ornamentation of its drupes and the arrangement and shape of its stigmas. The species was already recognized by both H.St. John and B.C. Stone but was never validly published. The monospecific section: Pandanus Parkinson sect. Bernardia B.C.Stone ex Callm., sect. nov., validated here, is required to accommodate the unique morphology of the new species. Line drawings are provided for the new species, along with discussions of its morphological affinities and preliminary assessment of extinction risk following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Lectotypification of Raphia sudanica A. Chev. (Arecaceae, Calamoideae), with notes on its biology and conservation.

During a botanical survey undertaken in Western Africa in 1905, Auguste Chevalier (1873–1956) collected a new palm species that he described and published in 1908 under the name of Raphia sudanica A. Chev. Two specimens are cited in the protologue, but the herbarium where they were deposited was not indicated. Research in the herbarium of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris (P), in France enabled us to locate the two specimens. Neither of them was designated as holotype and a lectotypification is required for a better definition of the taxon; this lectotypification is proposed in this study. The morphological description, distribution, ecology and socio-economic importance of the species are also provided.

The Saxifraga L. of the Luizet herbarium: databasing and digitization of the types and dissections.

The herbarium of Luizet is a collection of European Saxifraga L. of a specific interest, justified by the presence of a great number of floral dissections and the richness in hybrid specimens and nomenclatural types. The treatment of this singular herbarium required to adapt the standards of the GPI (« Global Plants Initiative ») protocol. The GPI team at Paris Herbarium proceeded to the digitization of both nomenclatural types and specimens presenting such floral dissections, which represents a total of 1169 specimens studied, among which 663 types and 82 different species, varieties and hybrids.

The tree species Cryptosepalum korupense Burgt, sp. nov. (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) is described and illustrated. Cryptosepalum korupense, sp. nov. is related to C. staudtii Harms. Cryptosepalum korupense, sp. nov. has (10-)14-21(-26) pairs of leaflets; C. staudtii has 10-14(-16) pairs of leaflets. The placement of the midvein of the small, emarginate leaflets of C. korupense, sp. nov. distinguishes the species from all other West and Central African Caesalpinioideae species. Cryptosepalum korupense, sp. nov. trees can grow to 44 m high and 88 cm trunk diameter. The new species presents ballistic seed dispersal and grows gregariously; a map of a group of 14 trees is presented. Cryptosepalum korupense, sp. nov. is endemic to the Southwest Region in Cameroon. In southern Korup National Park 18 trees over 10 cm trunk diameter were found during the mapping of c. 11.2 km² of forest. Of the trees over 50 cm trunk diameter, one tree out of c. 3100 trees is C. korupense, sp. nov. The new species was also found along the banks of the Idu River near the village Besingi, and in the lowland forests northwest of Mount Cameroon. Cryptosepalum korupense, sp. nov. is assessed as Endangered (EN) and C. staudtii as Least Concern (LC) under the criteria of the IUCN.

A synoptic revision of the Malagasy endemic genus Calantica Jaub. ex Tul. is presented. Ten species are recognized, of which seven are threatened. Three species are newly described: C. olivacea Appleq., Phillipson & G. E. Schatz, sp. nov., C. pseudobiseriata Appleq., Phillipson & G. E. Schatz, sp. nov., and C. sphaerocephala Appleq., Phillipson & G. E. Schatz, sp. nov. An identification key to the species of Calantica is provided.

As a result of the treatment of Protomegabaria (Phyllanthaceae) for the Flore du Gabon, some morphological features are highlighted. The two species of the original publication of the genus, Protomegabaria stapfiana (Beille) Hutch. and P. macrophylla Hutch., currently synonymised under the former name, are distinct which is illustrated and demonstrated in the key to the species. Protomegabaria stapfiana and P. macrophylla are lectotypified. Distribution maps of the species are presented and special attention is given to the disjunct area of the third species Protomegabaria meiocarpa J. Léonard.

While preparing a publication concerning some new Cola Schott & Endl. species for the Gabonese flora, it was discovered that the lectotype of Cola cauliflora Mast. does not fit the treatment of this species for the Flore du Gabon. As a consequence a new Cola species, C. elegans Pierre ex Breteler, sp. nov. is described which replaces Cola cauliflora occurring in Cameroon, neither in Gabon nor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Mann collection from Ambas Bay, Cameroon, to which the name Cola cauliflora was erroneously adhered at Kew, proves to represent Cola micrantha K.Schum.

Notes on the African genus Leptactina Hook.f. (Rubiaceae, Pavetteae).

A systematic revision of the genus Leptactina Hook.f. was conducted based on 1738 herbarium specimens from B, BM, BR, COI, G, K, LISC, MO, P, UPS, WAG, Z. Since 1871, 33 species have been described. We recognize 19 species, one of which is imperfectly known (L. petrophylax K.Schum.). Five more species are questionable due to the absence of nomenclatural types and one species (L. schubotziana K.Krause) is excluded. One subspecies, two varieties and three species are placed into synonymy. Two other species, previously considered as synonyms of L. platyphylla (Hiern) Wernham and L. laurentiana Dewèvre, are recognized at the rank of variety. An identification key is developed for the nineteen recognized species and, for each species a distribution map and a list of exsiccata is given.