A new classification proposal for the genus Grusonia is discussed and described. Three new sectional names are advanced following a recently published phylogenetic scheme derived from a five-plastid time-calibrated phylogeny. Two subgenera, Corynopuntia and Grusonia, and four sections, Radicaulenta, Xylocaulis, Grusonia and Spinicarpa are recognized, described, and discussed.

An obligatory cliff-dwelling Drosanthemum from the Aasvoelberg near Willowmore in the Eastern Cape bearing several unique features is named and tentatively included in subgenus Vespertina.

Drosanthemum aasvoelbergense wird vom Aasvoelberg bei Willowmore (Eastern Cape) beschrieben. Es handelt sich um eine obligatorisch klippenbewohnende Art mit mehreren einmaligen Merkmalen, die der Untergattung Vespertina zuzuordnen ist.

A new section, Kalanchoe sect. Rhombopilosae Gideon F.Sm., with the Malagasy K. rhombopilosa Mannoni and Boiteau the only species included in it, is described in the woody clade of K. subg. Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae).

William Taylor Marshall (1886–1957) was a leading researcher in cactus taxonomy over a 25-year period, notably based on fieldwork in Mexico and the deserts of southwest USA (1933–1957). His publication output is assessed and documented fully for the first time. Notable are the books Cactaceae (1941), co-authored and illustrated by T.M. Bock, and Succulent Plants (1945), co-authored with Rupert Leach and accompanied by a unique set of 3D slides. His journal articles were prolific, published in many C&S titles around the world. A major vehicle for his publications was Saguaroland Bulletin which he established in 1947. He was Cactus & Succulent Society of America President (1938–1941), then President Emeritus until his death, during which time he initiated the biennial CSSA conventions. As it stands today, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was Director (1947–1957), with its living collections, library and herbarium, is a major Marshall legacy.

Though they are morphologically very similar, the two unique mountain populations of miniature Melocactus from Puerto Rico and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic) have been treated as different species. After contrasting several living plants and their cultivated descendants from both island-sites over the years, it is concluded that the minor vegetative differences that separate them do not justify species recognition. As a result, the recently described Melocactus pygmaeus Hoxey, Gdaniec and Ackerman from the steep slopes of Sierra de Cayey, Puerto Rico is hereby treated as a subspecies of the previously described Melocactus praerupticola Areces from the rocky cliffs of Constanza, in the central mountains of the Dominican Republic. Likewise, based on vegetative and floral characters, no apparent similarities were found between this praerupticola–pygmaeus complex and M. guitartii León from Cuba.

A comprehensive treatment for the cactus family on Hispaniola is currently in preparation and will compile updated taxonomic, systematic, molecular phylogenetic, conservation and ethnobotanical information. To fill knowledge gaps and promote research in this Caribbean biodiversity hotspot, here we present a first step towards its completion by providing a checklist for the entire diversity of the family, including synonyms for all taxa and a key to the genera on Hispaniola. Additionally, this checklist provides details on the type specimens and notes on species distributions. We based this work on vouchered specimens from herbarium collections, review of the literature, including our own systematic work on the family, extensive fieldwork, and online databases with curated observations reported for the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Native (endemic or widespread) and non-native species are included. Future publications will treat genera individually, following a phylogenetic approach and providing insights into morphological and molecular phylogenetic data that has led to a better understanding of the natural history of Cactaceae across Hispaniola. Two new combinations and an epitype are proposed here.

Está en curso un primer tratamiento integral para la familia de los cactus en la isla Hispaniola. Este tratamiento va a recopilar información taxonómica, sistemática, molecular, filogenética, de conservación y etnobotánica actualizada. Con el fin de llenar los vacíos de conocimiento y promover la investigación en este hotspot de biodiversidad del Caribe, aquí presentamos una primera parte del mismo, introduciendo la diversidad de esta familia, una clave para los géneros que se encuentran en toda la isla y una lista verificada actualizada de especies con sus sinónimos. Además, esta lista de verificación proporciona detalles sobre los especímenes tipo y notas sobre la distribución de las especies. La información de este trabajo está basada en los registros especímenes depositados en las colecciones del herbario, revisiones de literatura, extenso trabajo de campo y algunas bases de datos en línea que tienen observaciones curadas reportadas para la República Dominicana y Haití. Se incluyen todas las categorías de distribución regularmente tratadas para la región (endémico, exótico, cultivado e invasivo). Las publicaciones posteriores tratarán los géneros, siguiendo un enfoque filogenético y brindando información sobre datos morfológicos y moleculares que conducen a una mejor comprensión de la historia natural en toda la familia Cactaceae en La Española. Aquí se proponen dos nuevas combinaciones y un epitipo.

Yon tretman konplè pou fanmi kaktis sou zile Ayiti ak Repiblik Dominikèn ap prepare kounye a, e li pral mete ansanm enfòmasyon taksonomik, sistematik, molekilè filogenetik, konsèvasyon ak etnobotanik ki ajou. Sepandan, pou ranpli vid nan konesans ak ankouraje rechèch nan pwen chò nan biodivèsite Karayib la, isit nou prezante yon premye etap sou wout pou fini li lòtòbòt ak yon lis pou tout divèsite fanmi a, ki gen ladan siyonim pou tout takson ak yon kle pou jenerasyon yo sou zile Ayiti ak Repiblik Dominikèn. Anplis, lis sa a bay detay sou espèy echantiyon yo ak nòt sou distribisyon espès yo. Nou baze travay sa a sou espèy echantiyon ki genyen nan koleksyon erberyòm yo, revizyon literati, travay sou teritwa a laj, ak baz done sou entènèt ki genyen rapò konstati korekte pou Repiblik Dominikèn ak Ayiti. Espès natif natal ak espès ki pa natif natal yo enkli (endemik, egzotik, kiltive, ak envazif) tou yo enkli. Piblikasyon kap vini yo ap trete jenerasyon yo chak, dapre yon apwòch filogenetik epi yo ap bay vizyon sou done filogenetik morfolojik ak molekilè yo ki te pote nan yon pi bon konpreyansyon sou listwa natirel Cactaceae sou zile Ayiti ak Repiblik Dominikèn. De nouvo konbinezo ak yon epitip non yo bay isit la.