Magnolia pajarito, a new species from the Andean slopes of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, is described and illustrated, and its morphological relationships with other similar Magnolia species are discussed. This new species is a tree between 9 and 30 m tall from montane forest remnants and pasture lands with dispersal trees (1500–1700 m), and it does not appear to be closely allied to any particular Magnolia species. This new species shares several features with four other species (M. arcabucoana, M. caricifragans, M. santanderiana, and M. virolinensis) in section Talauma. Morphologically it has some similarity to M. arcabucoana, but it differs in the length of the adaxial scar of the petiole, the size and shape of the leaf blade, the sepal and inner petal, and in the number of secondary veins, vaginal hypsophyl, and stamens. Additionally, habitat information, a distribution map, and data on Magnolia conservation status are included. An identification key of species of Magnolia found in Colombia is also provided. This new species elevates to 40 the number of Magnolia taxa for the flora of Colombia, of which 31 are endemic. Colombia has the highest diversity of the genus in the neotropics.

Magnolia pajarito una nueva especie de las vertientes de la Cordillera Oriental de los Andes de Colombia, es descrita, ilustrada y se discuten sus relaciones morfológicas con otras especies similares. Esta nueva especie es un árbol entre 9 y 30 m de altura, que se encuentra en remanentes de bosques montanos y con árboles dispersos (1500–1700 m) y aparentemente no esta cercanamente relacionada con ninguna especie en particular de Magnolia. M. pajarito comparte algunos caracteres con cuatro especies (M. arcabucoana, M. caricifragans, M. santanderiana y M. virolinensis) de la sección Talauma. Sin embargo, morfológicamente, tiene cierta similaridad con M. arcabucoana, de la cual difiere en el largo de la cicatriz adaxial del pecíolo, en el tamaño y forma de la hoja, sépalos y pétalos internos y en el número de las venas secundarias, hipsófilos vaginales y estambres. Adicionalmente, se incluye información del hábitat, un mapa de distribución, datos acerca del estado de conservación de Magnolia y una clave para la identificación de las especies de Magnolia presentes en Colombia. Esta nueva especie eleva actualmente en 40 el número de especies para la flora de Colombia, 31 son endémicas. Colombia es el país con la mayor diversidad del género en el neotropico.

A new species and two new records of Securidaca were found during the preparation of an updated checklist of Polygalaceae for the Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora de Venezuela and Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia. Securidaca aquae-nigrae from the upper Rio Negro (northern/northwestern Amazon basin) and part of the adjacent southwestern Orinoco basins of Colombia and Venezuela, is described and illustrated, and its morphological relationships with an allied species are discussed. This new species is similar to S. coriacea, but it differs by its leaves, the size and shape of the outer and lateral enlarged sepals, the inflorescence and fruit size, and the keel petal without a well-developed apical crest. Securidada fragilis and S. leiocarpa, two species previously known from Ecuador and Peru, are reported here as new country records for the flora of Colombia. A lectotypification of Securidaca schlimii is also proposed. In a geographical and taxonomical context, Securidaca amazonica is considered different from S. rivinifolia and S. volubilis, while S. densiflora is treated here as a synonym of S. pubescens, and S. dasycarpa as a synonym of S. diversifolia. An updated key to the Colombian and Venezuelan species of Securidaca is presented.

Una nueva especie y dos nuevos registros del género Securidaca se encontraron durante la actualización de las listas de la familia Polygalaceae para el Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora de Venezuela y el Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia. Securidaca aquae-nigrae de la región del alto río Negro (norte/noroeste de la cuenca Amazónica) y parte de sector souroeste de la cuenca del río Orinoco de Colombia and Venezuela, es descrita, ilustrada y sus relaciones morfológicas con su especie afín son discutidas. Esta nueva especie es similar a S. coriacea, sin embargo, difiere por poseer las hojas, los sépalos externos y laterales desiguales en tamaño y forma, las inflorescencias y frutos de tamaño diferentes y la quilla (el pétalo inferior) sin una cresta bien desarrollada. S. fragilis y S. leiocarpa, dos especies previamente conocidas para Ecuador y Perú, se registran para la flora de Colombia. Se propone la leptotipificación de Securidaca schlimii. En un contexto geográfico y taxonómico, S. amazonica es considerada como una especie diferente de S. rivinifolia y S. volubilis. Igualmente, S. densiflora es tratada como un sinónimo de S. pubescens y S. dasycarpa de S. diversifolia. Se presenta una clave actualizada para diferenciar las especies del género Securidaca presentes en Colombia y Venezuela.

Homonyms, if based on different types and recognized at the same rank, may be created either unintentionally or deliberately. Identical infrageneric names of the same genus or identical infraspecific names of the same species may be homonyms, even if they differ in rank. Although later homonymy usually causes illegitimacy, the provisions on homonymy do not apply to infrafamilial names, such as tribes. Simultaneously published homonyms may be legitimate.

A nomenclatural revision of the vascular plant taxon Alocasia odora is presented. Issues associated with the valid publication of its basionym, Arum odorum, and the arguments for the accepted name are addressed here. The correct epithet of Caladium odoratum, a confusing synonym, is clarified and the name is lectotypified. A determined attempt is made to clarify the nomenclature of Alocasia odora and related nomenclatural entities and to provide the correct citations for them.

A lectotype for Carex aestivalis (Cyperaceae; sect. Hymenochlaenae), a sedge from the Appalachian Mountains, U.S.A., is designated. The authorship of the name, hitherto cited as M.A. Curtis ex A. Gray, is revised to show that M.A. Curtis, alone, is the author of the species name and the original description.

Continuing literature and herbarium studies of the Malesian orchid flora reveal the need for four transfers, viz. Aeridostachya bancana, Bryobium consanguineum, Phreatia microscopica, and Zeuxine zollingeri. Two taxa, Dendrobium lancifolium and Eria stellata are reinstated. Furthermore, aside from lectotypifications, nine new synonyms are proposed in the genera Bulbophyllum, Dendrobium, Eria, Gastrochilus, and Habenaria.

Nomenclatural and taxonomic notes are provided for some Indian orchids, with additional synonymy provided for Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Dendrobium tsangianum, and Vanda tessellata. The identities of Eria clarkei (= Pinalia rimannii) and Nephelaphyllum nudum are elucidated. Habenaria modesta is reinstated over H. ovalifolia due to nomenclatural priority. Two taxa are excluded from the Indian flora, namely Dendrobium fargesii (misidentified) and D. versicolor (= Philippine D. ionopus).

An overlooked binomial Henslowia rubiflora is found to be an earlier name for Crypteronia griffithii, thus requiring one new combination, viz. Crypteronia rubiflora.

Oenothera californica (S. Watson) S. Watson is here replaced by O. avita (W.M. Klein) W.M. Klein. Consequently, the associated taxa names O. californica (S. Watson) S. Watson subsp. californica, O. californica subsp. avita W.M. Klein, and O. californica subsp. eurekensis (Munz & J.C. Roos) W.M. Klein are replaced with O. avita (W.M. Klein) W.M. Klein subsp. avita, O. avita subsp. californica (S. Watson) W.L. Wagner & Gandhi, and O. avita subsp. eurekensis (Munz & J.C. Roos) W.M. Klein.

Pleurothallis subsection Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae is the most species-rich infrageneric grouping within this genus. Within this subsection, based on floral and vegetative morphology, we recognize the P. cardiostola-P. lilijae complex, an expansion of Luer's previously proposed subsection Cardiostolae. The nature of the two species P. cardiostola and P. lilijae is clarified here to allow comparison to an additional 24 possible members of the complex. Recognizing P. lanigera as distinct from P. cardiostola, and the other putative species as distinct from each other, brings the complex of previously described species to 26. In the process of reviewing living material and photographs of these species, as well as of the many plants misidentified as P. lilijae, it quickly became apparent that there are multiple undescribed species in this group. Six new species from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are described herein. Each species is typified, described and illustrated, in most cases with a drawing, a composite digital plate, photos to show floral variability, and a scanning electron micrograph of the lip. Including these additional 6 species brings the P. cardiostola-P. lilijae complex to 32 members, which is both more numerous and more widely distributed than the P. cardiothallis-P. titan complex. One characteristic of species in this group is the copious production of nectar-like liquid on the lip and a prominent glenion.

The genus Keraunea was recently described in the Convolvulaceae Juss. family. Two species are currently recognised, both from Brazil. Molecular sequence data using three commonly applied DNA markers (matK, rbcL and the nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer) show that neither species is correctly placed in Convolvulaceae but indicates that the type, K. brasiliensis, should be placed in Malpighiaceae despite several morphological anomalies. The second species, K. capixaba, should be placed in Ehretiaceae. Given the surprising nature of these results, further studies are recommended before formal reclassification of these two taxa is made.