Flagellariaceae are grass relatives that climb using leaf-tip tendrils in palaeotropical rainforests. As the sister group to Joinvilleaceae, Ecdeiocoleaceae and Poaceae, they could be indicative of the ancestral habitat of the graminid clade. Although four species are usually accepted in this monogeneric family, Flagellaria has never been revised taxonomically and species delimitation is understood poorly, especially for the Pacific. Here, we document the morphological variation in the genus, and explore phylogenetic patterns by maximum likelihood analysis (GARLI) and Bayesian inference (MrBayes) of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal repeat and the plastid matK, psbA–trnH and rps16 regions. Ecological variation was inferred from climatic factors evaluated by MaxEnt analysis. We show that Flagellaria is more diverse than previously thought, and describe one new species in Fiji (Flagellaria collaris Wepfer & H.P.Linder) and three new varieties in F. indica (vars. australiensis, bifurcata, borneensis). Flagellaria is most diverse in the Pacific islands, where Fiji harbours three of the five species.

Bonnaya Link & Otto section Bonnaya (Linderniaceae) is revised on the basis of morphological evidence. Eleven species, including the new species B. sanpabloensis, are recognised. Several names are reduced to synonymy or excluded from the genus Bonnaya, and a lectotype is designated for Bonnaya cyanea. A key to the genus is also provided.

Recent molecular work on Olearia s.l. has not supported current generic or sectional concepts, instead identifying two major lineages loosely based on distribution. Further work is required to adequately circumscribe Olearia s.s. The present study aimed to determine the monophyly of Australian stellate-haired species of Olearia. Using four molecular regions (ITS, psbA–trnH, rpl32–trnL and matK) sequenced from 27 species, Australian stellate-haired taxa were confirmed as monophyletic. Accordingly, Olearia section Asterotriche is redefined here to include only Australian species. This section is one of the few confirmed natural groups in Olearia. Section Asterotriche is closely associated with, but does not include, the type species of Olearia, O. tomentosa (J.C.Wendl.) DC. Given this close association to the type, section Asterotriche should be retained within Olearia, pending further research that would justify any future changes. This manuscript concludes with a monograph of section Asterotriche, in it six new subspecies are described and nine taxa are lectotypified.