Recent studies of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) phylogeny using both plastid and nuclear DNA sequences have shown that a distinct clade comprising the members of Solanum sect. Geminata (G. Don) Walp. (woody, non-spiny solanums with simple or branched trichomes and usually leaf-opposed inflorescences) also includes a small Caribbean group of species known as section Diamonon (Raf.) A. Child, whose relationships have previously been obscure: S. acropterum Griseb., S. conocarpum Dunal, S. havanense Jacq., and S. troyanum Urb. Work on a monograph of section Holophylla (G. Don) Walp. (s.l.) has also revealed that several species previously excluded from section Geminata on morphological grounds belong to the more broadly circumscribed group recognized as the Geminata clade. In addition, since the publication of the monograph of Solanum sect. Geminata, seven new species of these rare, forest understory shrubs have been described (S. chalmersii S. Knapp, S. humboldtianum Granados-Tochoy & S. Knapp, S. monanthemon S. Knapp, S. naucinum S. Knapp, S. pseudodaphnopsis L. A. Mentz & Stehmann, S. sagittantherum Granados-Tochoy & C. I. Orozco, and S. sumacaspi S. Knapp). An additional new species from Ecuador, S. elvasioides S. Knapp, is described here. I review the status and circumscription of section Geminata in the New World and its relation to the Geminata clade, and provide descriptions for all the species of the Caribbean S. havanense species group and all species previously excluded from section Geminata. Lectotypes are selected for S. acropterum, S. hookerianum A. Spreng., S. myrtifolium Lodd., S. havanense Vell., S. troyanum, S. argentinum Bitter & Lillo, and S. evonymoides Sendtn., and a neotype is selected for S. havanense.

Trichocoleopsis S. Okamura and Neotrichocolea S. Hatt. are two water saccate liverwort genera endemic to East Asia whose systematic positions have been controversial. To address their phylogenetic positions and relationships within liverworts, two data sets were analyzed using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods: (1) four genes (psbA, rps4, 26S, and nad5) of 57 taxa, and (2) nine genes (chloroplast small subunit [SSU], large subunit [LSU], atpB, rbcL, psbA, and rps4; nuclear ribosomal 18S and 26S; mitochondrial nad5) of 24 taxa. All of our analyses suggested the sister relationship between Trichocoleopsis and Neotrichocolea, which is also supported by morphological characters, such as a lobed leaf with ciliate margins, water sacs, coelocaules, and interior capsule wall cells with thin walls. Traditional classifications usually considered Trichocoleopsis and Neotrichocolea as members of Lepidolaenaceae or Trichocoleaceae, whereas our results strongly suggested that the Trichocoleopsis–Neotrichocolea clade allied with Ptilidiaceae, which is supported by the similar ciliate and lobed leaves. However, considering many differences between them, such as in the perianth, sporeling type, water sacs, and rhizoids, we support a family rank for the Neotrichocoleaceae, containing Trichocoleopsis and Neotrichocolea, as previously suggested by Inoue in 1974.

The genus Arctopus L. is revised. It is an anomalous member of the family Apiaceae, with several unusual morphological characters such as the prostrate spiny leaves, thick resinous tuberous roots, sessile female flowers with a homochlamydeous perianth, and pseudanthia formed by distinctive bracteoles. The three species of Arctopus were found to differ mainly in their reproductive morphologies, being easily distinguishable by the large involucral bracteoles that surround the female pseudanthia. The anatomy of the petiole as well as the morphology of the inflexed spines and leaf margins were also found to be useful diagnostic characters and are illustrated and discussed. Possible phylogenetic relationships were explored using both morphological and DNA sequence data (ITS). A formal taxonomic treatment is presented, including a key to the species, correct nomenclature, typification, descriptions, illustrations, and distribution maps.

A putative natural hybrid in Ligularia Cass., which is morphologically intermediate between L. paradoxa Hand.-Mazz. and L. duciformis (C. Winkl.) Hand.-Mazz., was found on Mt. Maoniu in northwestern Yunnan, China. We employed analyses of morphology, seed vigor, somatic chromosome numbers, meiotic behavior of chromosomes, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers, and trnL-F sequencing to test the hypothesis that the unidentified taxon is a natural interspecific hybrid between L. paradoxa and L. duciformis. Examination of morphological characters demonstrated the intermediacy of the putative natural hybrid between L. paradoxa and L. duciformis. Seed germination of the putative natural hybrid was absent, and no embryo was found in seeds of the putative natural hybrid. The meiotic behavior of the putative natural hybrid was abnormal. Among 10 ISSR primers that we tested in all three taxa, four primers produced different ISSR markers between the putative parents. The putative natural hybrid shared all ISSR markers of the putative parents. However, no taxon-specific band existed in the samples of the putative natural hybrid. The data from ISSR markers are concordant with morphology in implicating L. paradoxa and L. duciformis as parents of the putative natural hybrid. Ligularia paradoxa was determined as the female parent of this natural hybrid by nucleotide sequence from the chloroplast trnL-F region. Therefore, this taxon is confirmed to be a natural hybrid between L. paradoxa and L. duciformis and is described herein.

Pyrostegia C. Presl is a genus of four species in the tribe Bignonieae. All the species are lianas with compound leaves with two leaflets and a terminal tendril, campanulate calyces, narrow corollas with lobes valvate basally in bud, four exserted stamens, compressed, linear capsules that dehisce parallel to the septum, and thin, bialate seeds. Three of the species are apparently hummingbird pollinated and have flowers that are very similar in appearance with red-orange (rarely yellow), narrow tubular-infundibular corollas. The fourth species, which is probably moth pollinated, has strongly fragrant, white, salverform corollas. All four species are native to South America. Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers, a popular ornamental, is cultivated throughout the tropics. Lectotypes are designated for Bignonia ignea Vell., B. tecomiflora Rusby, P. cinerea Bureau ex K. Schum., P. dichotoma Miers ex K. Schum., P. venusta var. villosa Hassl., and Tynanthus igneus Barb. Rodr. A key to the species, species descriptions, and a species distribution map are provided, and the relationships of the species are discussed.

This paper constitutes the first report of the chemical nature, and histochemical localization of secretions in Brazilian species of Panicum L. sect. Lorea Zuloaga (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paniceae); the study also includes an anatomical analysis. Lipid secretions were found in leaf sheaths and ligular regions. Lipids accumulate in specialized epidermal cells, at times surrounding the bases of the macrohairs, and in the mesophyll. Viscous secretions have been previously reported for P. vaginiviscosum Renvoize & Zuloaga and P. acicularifolium Renvoize & Zuloaga, species in section Lorea that are analyzed anatomically here. Lipid secretions are now also reported for the first time in eight other species of section Lorea: P. bahiense Renvoize, P. chnoodes Trin., P. cipoense Renvoize & Send., P. durifolium Renvoize & Zuloaga, P. euprepes Renvoize, P. molinioides Trin., P. poliophyllum Renvoize & Zuloaga, and P. trinii Kunth.

Sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and the chloroplast trnL-F were used to examine the generic delimitations of Solms-laubachia Muschl., Christolea Cambess., Desideria Pamp., Leiospora (C. A. Mey.) F. Dvořák, and Phaeonychium O. E. Schulz. Solms-laubachia, Desideria, and P. jafrii Al-Shehbaz formed a well-supported monophyletic clade, with Christolea as sister group. However, both Solms-laubachia and Desideria were polyphyletic, as they appeared in more than two positions in that clade, within which P. jafrii was embedded. The results are consistent with those based on sequences of plastid maturase (matK) and the nuclear chalcone synthase (Chs). SEM survey further reveals that the seed epidermis micromorphology of D. baiogoinensis (K. C. Kuan & C. H. An) Al-Shehbaz is most similar to that of S. lanata Botsch. Based on these findings, a comprehensive synopsis of an expanded Solms-laubachia with 26 species is presented; all species of Desideria and P. jafrii are transferred to Solms-laubachia resulting in 12 new combinations: S. baiogoinensis (K. C. Kuan & C. H. An) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. flabellata (Regel) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. haranensis (Al-Shehbaz) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. himalayensis (Cambess.) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. incana (Ovcz.) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. jafrii (Al-Shehbaz) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. linearis (N. Busch) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. mieheorum (Al-Shehbaz) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. mirabilis (Pamp.) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. nepalensis (H. Hara) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. prolifera (Maxim.) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, and S. stewartii (T. Anderson) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun. Furthermore, four new species of Solms-laubachia are described from western China: S. angustifolia J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, S. grandiflora J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, and S. sunhangiana J. P. Yue & Al-Shehbaz (all from Sichuan Province), and S. calcicola J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun (from Xizang). Both S. linearifolia (W. W. Sm.) O. E. Schulz and S. mirabilis are lectotypified.