Impatiens baokangensis Q.L. Gan & X.W. Li, sp. nova (Balsaminaceae) is described from Baokang County, Hubei, China. It is similar to I. compta, but differs from it by distinct cristae on the abaxial surface of the dorsal petal (versus long rostrum at apex of dorsal petal), lower sepal that is concave at base (versus lower sepal protruding at base), and lower petal of lateral united petals being clawed (versus not clawed). Impatiens baokangensis is also somewhat similar to I. nasuta, and the distinguishing features include an abaxial midvein on dorsal petals with semi-circular cristae in I. baokangensis versus an arcuate, long rostrum in I. nasuta, wider upper petal of lateral united petals in I. nasuta, and longer capsules in I. baokangensis. Over 10 000 scattered individuals of I. baokangensis were found in a roadside ditch and at forest margins at the type locality.

Four new species of the orchid genus Telipogon, T. camargoi Szlach. & Kolan., T. cundinamarcae Szlach. & Kolan., T. salamancae Szlach. & Kolan., and T. rotundilabia Szlach. & Kolan. are described and illustrated based on Colombian material. Most of them are restricted to the high montane areas and only T. camargoi was found in the premontane region. All new species are distinguishable from the most similar taxa based on the petal shape and venation, lip shape and ornamentation and in some cases also on the gynostemium surface.

The polypore genera Antrodiella, Junghuhnia and Steccherinum have been proven polyphyletic, and are here partly revised based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence. The new genera Antella Miettinen, Austeria Miettinen, Butyrea Miettinen, Citripora Miettinen and Trulla Miettinen & Ryvarden are described, and the poroid-hydnoid Metuloidea re-introduced. Two new species are described: Citripora bannaensis Miettinen from subtropical China and Trulla meridae Miettinen & Ryvarden from the Venezuelan Andes. Twenty-one new combinations in the above-mentioned genera and Steccherinum are made. Lectotypes are selected for Physisporus flavicans P. Karst. (= Butyrea luteoalba) and P. variecolor P. Karst. (= Trechispora hymenocystis).

Saproxylic (dead-wood-associated) species of fungi are ecologically and functionally important forest-dwelling species but habitat and substrate associations of these species are still incompletely known. In particular, this applies to species that occur on less common host-tree species. We explored diversity and ecology of polypores and corticioids on the black alder (Alnus glutinosa), a little-studied substrate. In total, we collected 2528 records of 138 fungal species. We found 102 species only once or twice, and they comprised 3.8% of all the records, whereas five most numerous species comprised 59.5% of all the records. In total, 27 species were found solely on the black alder. Our results show that substrates of fungal species varied widely. Several species were restricted to specific alder substrates, while others had a remarkably wide substrate utilization, and we identified potentially at least six generalist and six specialist species. Many of the alder-associated species are rare. We conclude that also less common tree species in boreal forests can host diverse fungal assemblages. Thus, maintaining the black alder in forests enhances the diversity of saproxylic fungi.

Parthenocissus sichuanensis Y.F. Deng is proposed to replace the name P. chinensis C.L. Li, which is a later illegitimate homonym of P. sinensis Diels & Gilg.

Tricorniger Doweld (Lythrales), a new replacement name for fossil Schenkiella Wójcicki & Kvaček 2002 (non Schenckiella Hennings 1893) is proposed.

Classical theory predicts a high demographic vulnerability and diminished performance of peripheral plant populations, but recent studies highlight the fact that environmental factors may override that geographical pattern. In this study, we compare the density, population structure and population dynamics of the boreo-alpine Silene acaulis (Caryophyllaceae) in two locations at its southern European distribution limit, using matrix projection models. One population was close to the species' lower altitudinal limit, and thus exposed to more ecologically marginal conditions (higher intraspecific competition and temperature) than the population higher up. The low-altitude population was sparser and its members were older as a result of lower recruitment and survival of new individuals. Additionally, this population's growth rate was lower, mainly due to a shorter permanence of large plants. The contrasting demographic differences between two closely located, southern peripheral populations highlight the importance of distinguishing between geographical periphery and ecological marginality.

A novel species of ascomycetes is described from resin of Araucaria humboldtensis on Mont Humboldt in New Caledonia. The fungus is placed in the new genus Resinogalea Rikkinen & A.R. Schmidt, with the species name R. humboldtensis Rikkinen & A.R. Schmidt. It has only been found growing on semi-hardened resin flows on branches of its endemic and endangered conifer host. The morphology and anatomy of the new fungus are compared with those of ecologically similar taxa, including Bruceomyces castoris. The new family Bruceomycetaceae Rikkinen & A.R. Schmidt is described to accommodate Resinogalea and Bruceomyces.

Morphological examination of isotypes of Canthium elmeri revealed the absence of supra-axillary spines, which deviates from the current circumscription of Canthium s. stricto. The presence of persistent, basally connate and long-acuminate paired bracts in C. elmeri fits perfectly with the delimitation of Pyrostria. We lectotypify the name Canthium elmeri Merr. and propose the new combination Pyrostria elmeri (Merr.) Arriola, Meve & Alejandro.

Rungia daklakensis D.V. Hai, Y.F. Deng & Joongku Lee sp. nova (Acanthaceae) is described and illustrated from Vietnam. It is morphologically closely related to R. pierrei, from which it differs by the bifariously pubescent stem, shape and pubescence of leaves, smaller spikes, much bigger sterile bracts, glabrous calyx and glabrous capsules. Colour photographs, description and an identification key to Vietnamese species of Rungia are provided.

Chenopodium acerifolium Andrz. and C. karoi (Murr) Aellen have often been confused with each other and with similar taxa occurring in the northernmost parts of Russia. In particular their relationships with C. prostratum Bunge ex Herder nom. illeg. and C. jenissejense Aellen & Iljin have not been clear. The type material of C. jenissejense is heterogeneous and here we designate the lectotype for it so that C. jenissejense will be probably conspecific with C. prostratum, for which the lectotype is also designated here. We provisionally consider C. jenissejense, a Siberian riverside plant, to be conspecific with the mainly Central Asian C. karoi, but further studies are needed to confirm their relationships. Emended morphological descriptions are given of C. acerifolium and C. karoi and their types are discussed. Paul Aellen's role in the taxonomic treatment of C. karoi s. lato and in preparing the account of Chenopodium for the Flora of the USSR is clarified based on the correspondence between Aellen and M.M. Iljin.

Spiraea longifolia H.Y. Hu & X.J. He sp. nova (Rosaceae) from Sichuan Province, China is described and illustrated. The differences between S. longifolia and two morphologically related species, S. henryi and S. sargentiana, are elaborated.

We describe three new, seemingly-cryptic species in the lichen genus Caloplaca (Teloschistaceae) with black apothecia. Those species, separated in nrITS and β-tubulin DNA phylogenies, appeared to be phenotypically indistinguishable. We looked for their phenotypic differences using a two-phase method comprised of a preliminary examination in which diagnostic value of all available characters was evaluated using a small number of samples and potentially-diagnostic characters were selected, and a subsequent detailed study in which characters selected in the first phase were tested using more samples. We found 19 diagnostic characters (continuous and discrete) of which four continuous and three discrete characters could be considered “fully diagnostic”, i.e. allowing for correct identification of at least one species. Hence, the three species are not cryptic, but can be distinguished phenotypically. Here, they are formally described as Caloplaca micromarina Frolov, Khodos. & Vondrák sp. nova, C. micromontana Frolov, Wilk & Vondrák sp. nova and C. microstepposa Frolov, Nadyeina, Khodos. & Vondrák sp. nova.

Lasianthus honbaensis V.S. Dang, Tagane & H. Toyama sp. nova (Rubiaceae) is described and illustrated from Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Khanh Hoa Province, southern Vietnam. It resembles L. inodorus and L. inodorus subsp. pubescens in leaf morphology, but differs from them in having shorter stipules, calyx tubes and corolla, and orange fruits. It is also similar to L. latifolius and L. calycinus in deeply disected calyx lobes and orange fruits, but differs from them by having persistent bracts and shorter calyx tubes. A table comparing the new species with its closest allies is provided.

In angiosperm fertilization, the pollen tube enters the female gametophyte via one of two synergids, in which the pollen tube ceases elongation and releases its contents, including two sperm cells. Whether the entrance of the pollen tube into a synergid occurs at random or is determined in advance is currently unclear. We examined two dimorphic synergids of Allium tuberosum (Amaryllidaceae). The smaller of the two cells becomes a degenerative synergid; the pollen tube enters this smaller cell and gains access to the female gametophyte for sperm discharge. The larger cell becomes a persistent synergid, which can persist for up to four days after anthesis. We further confirmed the dimorphism of the two synergids of A. tuberosum by isolating the egg apparatus from living, dissected ovule. The size difference between synergids increased with development. We also examined the calcium distribution in developing synergids, finding that the small synergid accumulated more calcium precipitates than the large one, which may reflect the initiation of its degenerative process or attraction of the pollen tube. The dimorphism in morphology, structure and function between the two synergids in A. tuberosum provides an experimental platform for investigating the regulatory mechanisms underlying both the development and function of these structures.