Results of the analysis of rDNA sequences based on 55 collections representative of 32 Drakaeinae orchid species and outgroups supported the monophyly of the subtribe, with weak support for the inclusion of Spiculaea, and revealed six strongly supported monophyletic, well defined morphological groups. Caleana is monophyletic. Chiloglottis s.lat. is monophyletic when Simpliglottis and Myrmechila are included. Our results also suggested that the segregate genus Phoringopsis is better treated as part of Arthrochilus.There is sufficient molecular and morphological support for recognition of the leafless, mycroheterotrophic Thynninorchis to be maintained as a separate genus. A taxonomic summary is provided, including reassignment of taxa at generic ranks and new combinations for Caleana alcockii (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem., Caleana brockmanii (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem., Caleana disjuncta (D.L.Jones) M.A.Clem., Caleana dixonii (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem., Caleana gracilicordata (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem., Caleana granitica (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem., Caleana hortiorum (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem., Caleana lyonsii (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem., Caleana parvula (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem., Caleana terminalis (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem. and Caleana triens (Hopper & A.P.Br.) M.A.Clem.

A revision of a group of ecorticate species of Chara is presented, on the basis of fresh, pressed and spirit-preserved material. The following seven species are recognised, characterised by a very simple morphology, with few or inconspicuous accessory cells (cortication, stipulodes, bract cells, bracteoles) and large gametangia: Chara australis R.Br., C. lucida (A.Braun) Casanova & Karol comb et. stat. nov., C. porteri Casanova, sp. nov., C. protocharoides Casanova & Karol, nom. nov. (=Protochara australis Womersley & Ophel) and C. stuartiana (Kütz.) Casanova & Karol comb. et. stat. nov. from Australia, and C. corallina Klein ex Willd. and C. wallichii A.Braun from Asia. A new section, Chara subg. Charopsis sect. Protochara (Womersley & Ophel) Casanova & Karol, comb. et stat. nov., is erected to accommodate these taxa, formerly placed in sect. Charopsis.

The lichen-forming fungal family Myeloconidaceae, with the single genus Myeloconis, has been suggested to share affinities with Porinaceae (Lecanoromycetes: Ostropales). We examined its position relative to this family by using molecular data from the mitochondrial small-subunit and nuclear large-subunit rDNA. Our results revealed that Myeloconis forms a monophyletic group nested within Porinaceae, closely related to Porina farinosa. Neither Porina s.str. nor Clathroporina sensu Harris form monophyletic groups; instead, two strongly supported clades were recovered, which differ in ascospore septation (septate v. muriform), with the clade producing muriform ascospores including Myeloconis. We therefore reduce Myeloconidaceae to synonymy with Porinaceae; however, because generic delimitations within Porinaceae remain unclear, we retain Myeloconis as a separate genus within the family. The species concept currently used in the genus, based largely on secondary metabolites and ascospore measurements, is supported by the phylogeny.

Aristolochia subgenus Pararistolochia is revised and 35 species, distributed in tropical Africa and Australasia, are recognised. Fourteen new combinations and two new names are presented, resulting from the transfer of all taxa of Pararistolochia to Aristolochia. Additionally, a neotype is designated for Aristolochia preussii.

The holly grevilleas are an informal grouping of 15 species (19 taxa) of woody shrubs from south-eastern Australia, with a centre of distribution in central to western Victoria. Many of the species are narrowly endemic. The present study is the first molecular-phylogenetic analysis of the group, with the aim of providing an evolutionary framework for assessing species-level taxonomy and conservation priorities. Analyses using the nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were complicated by the presence of divergent paralogues, including inferred pseudogenes; analyses restricted to presumed orthologous, functional ITS sequences were uninformative. Combined analyses of three chloroplast intergenic spacers (trnQ–5′rps16, trnL–trnF and rpoB–trnC) strongly support the monophyly of a core group of 16 taxa (the ‘southern holly grevilleas’) from Victoria and South Australia. However, nodes outside this group are poorly resolved and poorly supported, and the relationships of taxa from New South Wales and eastern Victoria (the ‘northern holly grevilleas’) are unclear. Among the southern holly grevilleas, the following four distinct and partly sympatric cpDNA clades are identified: the ‘Grevillea ilicifolia’, ‘G. aquifolium’, ‘G. dryophylla’ and ‘G. repens’ clades, among which the earliest and most strongly supported divergence is that of the western-most ‘G. ilicifolia’ clade. Variation in cpDNA is incongruent with current species-level taxonomy, especially for G. aquifolium (polyphyletic), G. montis-cole (polyphyletic, but the two subspecies each monophyletic) and G. microstegia (nested in G. aquifolium). The effects of incomplete chloroplast lineage sorting, gene flow through hybridisation or introgression, and inappropriate taxonomy are possible explanations for this incongruence. The formal conservation listing for some species within the holly grevillea group requires re-evaluation.

Sannantha is a genus of shrubs widely distributed in eastern Australia and New Caledonia. We added five taxa to a previously published molecular dataset, four from Australia and the fifth from New Caledonia, a total of 11 of the 16 species in the genus. One of the Australian taxa added is a new species apparently restricted to the Goonoowigall State Conservation Area near Inverell, New South Wales. The results of the molecular analysis are discussed in light of morphology and geographic distribution. The new species, Sannantha whitei Peter G.Wilson, is described.