The genus Aloestrela Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) is formally described, with the Madagascan A. suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. the only species included in it. Hitherto the species has been known as Aloe suzannae Decary. The typification of the name A. suzannae, the basionym of Aloestrela suzannae, is discussed and clarified.

The SE Brazilian Discocactus pseudoinsignis N.P. Taylor & Zappi is reported from a new disjunct locality, c. 180km to the south of the type locality. It is morphologically more variable at the new locality, where the population is entirely within a protected area.

Pilosocereus vilaboensis subsp. pluricostatus N.P. Taylor et al., subsp. nov., is described from Pirenópolis, Goiás state, Brazil and a further heterotypic subspecies is added as P. vilaboensis subsp. rizzoanus (P.J. Braun & E. Esteves-Pereira) N.P. Taylor & Zappi, comb. et. stat. nov. A key to subspecies is provided.

The identity and circumscription of Cereus hexagonus (L.) Mill. is discussed and recommendations for further research suggested. Attention is drawn to the long-synonymized C. lepidotus Salm-Dyck as a possibly distinct taxon whose identity may have been confused with C. hexagonus.

The taxonomy of Aloe ×spinosissima Hort. ex A.Berger is discussed. The identity of this nothospecies is clarified, and the name is neotypified. Berger (1908), not Jahandiez (1933), was the first to validly publish the name.

Several names have been published for the common and horticulturally popular hybrid between Aloe arborescens Mill. and A. ferox Mill. (Asphodelaceae). Although inevitably a variable entity given its hybrid origin, this nothospecies can generally be recognised by being a strongly rosulate, multi-stemmed, robust shrub with glaucous to dark green leaves that are very much intermediate between those of A. arborescens and A. ferox. Plants are very floriferous with flower colour ranging from orange to red. The taxonomy and nomenclature of this nothospecies that has been known since the early 1700s, but was only described more than 100 years later, is reviewed. It is shown that the correct name to apply to it is Aloe ×caesia Salm-Dyck. The following names are typified here: Aloe africana Salm-Dyck non Mill., Aloe ×fulgens Tod., Aloe ×principis (Haw.) Stearn, Aloe ×salm-dyckiana Schult. & Schult.f., and Pachidendron ×principis Haw.

To date the eponymy of the name Aloe greenii Green ex Rob., and by implication that of the name A. viridiana Gideon F.Sm. & Figueiredo (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), which was recently published to replace the name A. greenii Baker (1880) non Green ex Rob. (1875a), has been open to speculation. We show that these names in all likelihood commemorate Mr Charles Green (c. 1826–1886), who at one time was the head gardener of Mr William W. Saunders' well-known succulent plant collection at Reigate, Surrey, United Kingdom.

The nomenclature associated with the name Aloe glauca Mill. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) is reviewed and analysed. It is shown that in 1768 Philip Miller unambiguously based this name on a plate of A. ferox Mill., and the names A. glauca and A. ferox are therefore synonymous. A previous neotypification of the name A. glauca was redundant as this name has an obligate lectotype. That neotypification is also in serious conflict with important aspects of the protologue. At species rank, A. rhodacantha DC. is the earliest name that was published for what is today widely known as A. glauca. However, we do not propose a change in the nomenclature of this species, pending the outcome of a proposal to conserve the name A. glauca with a conserved type. The names, and their types, included in the synonymy of A. glauca Haw. are clarified. Aloe glauca var. spinosior Haw. is included in the synonymy of A. glauca.

The history of the discovery of Aloe pluridens Haw. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) by the Kew collector James Bowie in 1822–23 in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and its subsequent description in 1824 is discussed. The surprising dearth of published illustrations of this long-known species is emphasised and the first known photograph dating from only 1900 is reproduced. It is also shown that a painting at Kew by George Bond that dates from 1829 does not qualify as having been associated with the species by the author of the name, Adrian Hardy Haworth and cannot supersede the specimen on which the name A. pluridens was previously effectively neotypified. The name A. pluridens Haw. var. beckeri Schönland is lectotypified and it is shown that the name Aloe atherstonei does not have a type as it was previously typified on an apparently non-existent specimen. Additionally the species is illustrated both in habitat and in cultivation. Observations on the ecology and cultivation of the species are also included.

A checklist of Cactaceae found during the ascent of the Serra Geral, east of Monte Azul, Minas Gerais (Brazil) is presented, listing 17 species, the second most cactus-diverse area known in Eastern Brazil. Slightly below the crest of the serra, in Campo Rupestre, a white sand habitat for Cipocereus pusilliflorus is illustrated together with other cacti observed in the area and its conservation status is discussed.

The taxonomy of, and nomenclature applicable to, Kalanchoe millotii Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier (Crassulaceae) are discussed with special reference to the typification of this name. A previous claim that the name has a holotype is incorrect. The name K. millotii is [second-step] lectotypified on a specimen, [J.M.H.A.] Perrier [de la Bâthie] 11789, barcode P P00374225, held in Herb. P. An amplified description is provided for this distinctive Madagascan species. The early history of the cultivar Kalanchoe ‘Fern Leaf’ is also discussed and clarified. This cultivar was selected from hybrid offspring raised at Hummel's Exotic Gardens of southern California; the parent stock was given as K. beharensis Drake and K. millotii.

The taxonomy and nomenclature of Kalanchoe dinklagei Rauh and K. brevisepala (Humbert) L.Allorge (Crassulaceae), of which the basionym is K. millotii Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier subsp. brevisepala Humbert, are assessed and discussed. We concur with an earlier view that at species rank K. brevisepala should be included in the synonymy of K. dinklagei. We clarify and correct the nomenclature associated with these two species names, as well as that of K. millotii subsp. brevisepala. We also provide an overview of the possible introduction of K. dinklagei into various living plant collections in Europe.

Astroloba spirella (Haw.) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), which is based on Haworthia spirella Haw., is a small, compact species that occurs in shrubby vegetation on rocky slopes in the western Klein Karoo, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The taxonomy and identity of A. spirella is clarified; it is shown that this name should be applied to populations of Astroloba Uitewaal that can be distinguished from their relatives by their true-marginate leaf apices, by the lack of tubercles on their matte-surfaced leaves, and by their non-rugose, non-inflated perianths with whitish lobes. The designation ‘A. smutsiana’, was previously sometimes applied to this species.

The majority of the Kalanchoe species (Crassulaceae) that are indigenous to southern Africa have very wide natural geographical distribution ranges. Other kalanchoes from the subcontinent, such as the recently described K. winteri Gideon F.Sm., N.R.Crouch & Mich.Walters that was recorded from the Wolkberg Centre of Endemism, are narrow endemics. Kalanchoe crundallii I.Verd. is one of the species with a restricted distribution range. Although it was for the first time collected in the 1930s, and described in the mid-1940s, the species remains little known. We provide an amplified description for, and discuss and illustrate, the species. Based on available evidence we propose the retention of a conservation status of Rare (see  http://redlist.sanbi.org/redcat.php) for K. crundallii.

The taxonomy of the Madagascan Kalanchoe laxiflora Baker (Crassulaceae) is discussed and clarified. An amplified description is provided for the species, and differences between it and K. fedtschenkoi Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier, a close relative with which it has been confused in the past, are recorded. The synonymy and typification of names included under K. laxiflora are elucidated.

The taxonomy of the Madagascan Kalanchoe serrata Mannoni & Boiteau (Crassulaceae) is discussed. The species is illustrated and an amplified description is provided for it. A key to distinguish among the species included in the informal group Suffrutescentes is provided.

Aspects of the nomenclature of Kalanchoe rosea C.B.Clarke (1889), K. bouvieri Raym.- Hamet & H.Perrier (1912), K. rosei Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier (1914), and K. rosea A.Chev. (1920) (Crassulaceae) are discussed and clarified. We argue that Kalanchoe rosea C.B.Clarke is a little known Indian species and that the name is not of unresolved application; that K. rosea A.Chev. (1920) that was published for a North African species is of unresolved application; and that the two validly published names K. bouvieri and K. rosei apply to the same Madagascan species, with the latter being a heterotypic synonym of the former. The name Kalanchoe rosea C.B.Clarke is lecto- and epitypified, and we show that the conditions for valid publication were met in the protologue of the later homonym K. rosea A.Chev.

The nothospecies Kalanchoe ×gunniae Gideon F.Sm & Figueiredo (Crassulaceae), a hybrid between Kalanchoe paniculata Harv. and Kalanchoe sexangularis N.E.Br., is described from Pretoria, South Africa.

Sedum morganianum E.Walther from Veracruz, Mexico, and S. burrito Moran, which is of unknown wild provenance, are two of the most commonly cultivated species of Sedum L. (Crassulaceae) globally. Although it was recently suggested that S. burrito is a vegetative sport derived from S. morganianum, with its treatment as a cultivar, S. morganianum ‘Burrito’, proposed, it is argued that this is unlikely. The best option is to treat the two species as distinct. Amplified descriptions are provided for both species, their vegetative and reproductive morphologies are compared, and differences between them noted.

Since its discovery in 1965, little research has taken place to ascertain the extent of the range of Sedum sexangulare in Bulgaria. The author has, through fieldwork, extended the known habitat considerably.

A new cultivar of Echeveria DC. (Crassulaceae), E. ‘African Sunset’ Gideon F.Sm. & Figueiredo, is described from cultivation in South Africa. It is a small, rosulate to short-stemmed plant of unknown echeveria parentage. Echeveria ‘African Sunset’ has striking, light olive green foliage and its flowers are uniformly bright crimson red. Plants very slowly branch from the base, with the branches remaining leaning to creeping. The boat-shaped leaves of this cultivar are borne densely in apical rosettes. The combination of these characters clearly separates this cultivar from other Echeveria cultivars.

Gasteria disticha var. langebergensis van Jaarsv. is raised to species level on account of the nuclear DNA content, as measured by flow symmetry. This investigation revealed a closer relationship to the diverse G. carinata complex and G. retusa. The habitat and ecology of this and other related species are also discussed.

Cotyledon flanaganii Schönl. & Baker f. is re-instated, and a new subspecies Cotyledon flanaganii subsp. mzimvubuensis is described and illustrated from shale cliffs and steep banks along Mzimvubu and Msikaba rivers in the Eastern Cape. It differs from Cotyledon flanaganii subsp. flanaganii by its distinctly linear spathulate, dorsiventrally flattened, sparingly glandular hairy leaves, and dorsiventrally flattened leaf-like bracts on the peduncle becoming smaller upwards. It grows in Eastern Valley Bushveld which is part of the Savanna Biome.

Hybrid material of Aptenia N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae / Mesembryanthemaceae) that is in cultivation in many mild-climate parts of the world was previously described as a cultivar, A. ‘Red Apple’. The parents of the hybrid from which the cultivar was derived are Aptenia cordifolia (L.f.) Schwantes and A. haeckeliana (A.Berger) Bittrich ex Gerbaulet, both being endemic to southern Africa. The cultivar grows quickly, does extremely well in virtually any soil type, is reasonably cold-hardy, and its foliage and flowers are superior to those of both parents. Plants are multi-branched, with the branches remaining creeping, so making a useful groundcover. The bright green leaves, borne densely along the brittle stems and branches, are somewhat heart-shaped, but with bases that are more cuneate than those of A. cordifolia. The flowers are uniformly bright strawberry red. The combination of these characters easily establishes the identity of this cultivar. Aptenia ‘Red Apple’ is much more widely cultivated and distributed in gardens than its parent species.

We show that both Aptenia cordifolia (L.f.) Schwantes (Aizoaceae / Mesembryanthemaceae) and at least one cultivar derived from the hybrid between it and A. haeckeliana (A.Berger) Bittrich ex Gerbaulet have become naturalised in continental Portugal. The cultivar is widely known as A. ‘Red Apple’ and much more widely cultivated and distributed than the species. The history of the recording of Aptenia cordifolia in Portugal is provided. Aptenia ‘Red Apple’ is here for the first time recorded for Portugal.

Seventeen exsiccata discovered in Herbarium Mortolensis [HMGBH] collected by Joseph Nelson Rose on two different trips in the Caribbean region (1913) and in Peru (1914), were compared with those having the same collection numbers deposited at NY, US and K, making a total of 46 specimens together with the original photos and drawings of the material collected during the Rose field trips and with selected literature. Isotypes of Cylindropuntia caribaea (Britton & Rose) F.M. Knuth, Hylocereus antiguensis Britton & Rose, Opuntia antillana Britton & Rose, and Opuntia hattoniana Britton & Rose are identified.

The natural distribution range of Tulista minor (Aiton) Gideon F.Sm. & Molteno (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), and by implication of the genus Tulista Raf., is extended in a westerly direction to Botrivier in the Overberg in South Africa's Western Cape Province. We also raise the challenges of inferring the original natural distribution range of Tulista species in regions with very little remaining natural vegetation.

It is shown that the correct author citation of the name Kalanchoe marnieriana (Crassulaceae) is “H.Jacobsen ex L.Allorge”, which was published in P. Boiteau & L. Allorge-Boiteau, Kalanchoe (Crassulacées) de Madagascar (1995: 102), as this replacement name for the illegitimate K. humbertiiMannoni & Boiteau (1947), non Guillaumin (1939), was only validly published by L.Allorge in 1995, and not by Jacobsen in 1954. If treated as a species of Bryophyllum Salisb., the correct author citation is B. marnierianum (H.Jacobsen ex L.Allorge) Govaerts. This often overlooked new combination in Bryophyllum was published by Govaerts in 1996. We also provide notes on the nomenclature and taxonomy of Madagascan taxa of Kalanchoe Adans. described in Boiteau & Allorge-Boiteau in 1995.

We discuss and illustrate differences in the vegetative and reproductive morphology, and geographical distribution between Adromischus umbraticola C.A.Sm. subsp. umbraticola and the little known A. umbraticola subsp. ramosus Toelken (Crassulaceae). Both subspecies are endemic to South Africa, but neither is restricted to any of the recognised Regions or Centres of Endemism.

Following molecular and morphological study, four new species in Drosanthemum, belonging to the subgenera Drosanthemum, Necopina, and Speciosa, are described: D. nollothense, D. obibense, D. ecclesianum and D. brakfonteinense. In subgenus Quastea, a cryptic species imitating D. cymiferum is identified and discussed, but not formally described.

An updated infrageneric classification is provided for the genus Agave L. s.l., therefore including A. subg. Manfreda, i.e., the genera Manfreda Salisb., Polianthes L., and Prochnyanthes S.Watson (Asparagaceae: Agavoideae / Agavaceae), with emphasis on the rank of section. Nomenclatural assessments are provided for (1) all unranked infrageneric ‘group’ names introduced by Trelease (1913) for the Caribbean region, by (2) Gentry (1982) for continental North America, and (3) for all infrageneric taxa at sectional rank hitherto published in Agave by Salm-Dyck, Engelmann, Berger, Ullrich, Webb & Starr, Starr & Webb, and Hochstätter. We also show that Jacobi did not publish names at the rank of section. In addition, a revised infrageneric classification of Agave s.l. is provided, including new combinations and new names mainly at the rank of section, especially for those unranked group names used by Trelease (1913) and Gentry (1982) for which no corresponding formal name at sectional rank is available. Three new combinations are made in Agave for species recently described in Manfreda and Polianthes.