Based on flower and seed morphology, it is proposed to include the genus Sinia in Sauvagesia s.l. As a result, the new combination Sauvagesia rhodoleuca (Diels) M. C. E. Amaral becomes necessary.

Morphological, chemical, cytological, and genetic data have indicated that kava (Piper methysticum G. Forster, Piperaceae), a vegetatively propagated plant found only in cultivation, was derived from the wild P. wichmannii C. DC. through artificial selection, and that the two taxa remain similar enough to be considered conspecific. A previous attempt to recognize P. wichmannii (which may also be conspecific with P. subbullatum K. Schumann & Lauterbach) as a variety of P. methysticum was not validly published owing to failure to cite the place of publication of the basionym. The combination Piper methysticum var. wichmannii (C. DC.) Lebot is herein validated.

The systematic diversity within the esparto grass has produced controversy since the first century AD regarding the varying quality of this natural product as textile material. Investigated herein is Stipa subg. Macrochloa (Kunth) Barreña, D. Rivera, Alcaraz & Obón. Two species, Stipa antiatlantica and S. tenacissima, as well as two subspecies within S. tenacissima are recognized. Stipa kralifii is newly synonymized with S. tenacissima subsp. gabesensis. A dichotomous key is presented for identification of the taxa.

Cyrtopodium macedoi, a new species (Orchidaceae, Cymbidieae, Cyrtopodiinae) from the cerrado vegetation of central Brazil, is described and illustrated. The species was first collected in 1951 but was subsequently misidentified as C. vernum. The principal distinctive character for C. macedoi is the basal portion of the corolla lip and the region between the lateral lobes, which is strongly deflexed and almost parallel to the lip midlobe. Cyrtopodium macedoi appears to be rare and so far known only from two sites in the Triângulo Mineiro region of the western part of the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil.

The name Primula lactiflora Turkevicz is a later homonym for a previously described taxon in Primulaceae. The new name P. turkeviczii Byalt is proposed as a replacement.

Twenty-six new taxa (25 species and 1 variety) of Anthurium (Araceae) from Bajo Calima, Colombia, are described as new: Anthurium albertiae Croat & Bay, A. arenasense Croat & Bay, A. barreranum Croat & Bay, A. bayae Croat, A. calimense Croat & Bay, A. coleorrhiza Croat & Bay, A. cordobense Croat & Bay, A. cylindratum Croat & Bay, A. fragrans Croat & Bay, A. hinoideum Croat & Bay, A. holquinianum Croat & Bay, A. isidroense Croat & Bay, A. joaquinense Croat & Bay, A. langendoenii Croat & Bay, A. lautum Croat & Bay, A. lygrum R. E. Schultes ex Croat & Bay, A. malagaense Croat & Bay, A. monticola var. attenuatum Croat & Bay, A. oxyanthum Croat & Bay, A. perviride Croat & Bay, A. phyllobaris Croat & Bay, A. remotum Croat & Bay, A. rubrivellus Croat & Bay, A. verrucosum Croat & Bay, A. wattii Croat & Bay, and A. wintersii Croat & Bay.

Chaetanthera kalinae, a new annual species of Chaetanthera Ruiz & Pavón, has been discovered from the Cordillera de Doña Ana and the Sierra de Tatul del Medio in Chile. This yellow-flowered, pseudorosette-forming species from the subgenus Tylloma is described, illustrated, and discussed in the context of the morphologically most similar taxa: C. limbata (yellow-flowered, lax annual) and C. lanata (white-flowered, pseudorosette-forming perennial; subgenus Carmelita).

Three taxa found in the high mountains of East Africa are transferred from Philippia Klotzsch to Erica L., resulting in the following new combinations: Erica johnstonii (Schweinfurth ex Engler) Dorr, E. trimera subsp. abyssinica (Pichi-Sermolli & Heiniger) Dorr, and E. trimera subsp. meruensis (R. Ross) Dorr. A neotype is selected for Philippia johnstonii Schweinfurth ex Engler, which is the basionym of E. johnstonii. A key to the five subspecies of E. trimera (Engler) Beentje also is provided.

In preparing the treatment of the Elaeocarpaceae for the Flora of China, lectotypification is indicated for Elaeocarpus decipiens Hemsley ex Forbes & Hemsley and further nomenclatural change is required regarding a related taxon from Taiwan. The name Elaeocarpus lanyuensis C. E. Chang is invalid because the type was not indicated in the protologue, and the combination E. sylvestris var. lanyuensis (C. E. Chang) C. E. Chang is therefore illegitimate. Elaeocarpus decipiens Hemsley ex Forbes & Hemsley var. changii Y. Tang is published as a new variety, replacing these earlier names.

The new species Cassipourea korupensis Kenfack & Sainge (Rhizophoraceae) from western Cameroon is described and illustrated, and its conservation status discussed. Unlike other species of subgenus Lasiosepalum Alston, in which it is provisionally placed, the new species has a distinctive glabrous ovary and a cupuliform calyx.

A new species of Drymonia Martius, D. rubripilosa, is described, illustrated, and compared to D. multiflora (Oersted ex Hanstein) Wiehler, its closest presumed relative. The new species is distinguished by its sparsely to densely red-pilose stem apices, petioles, pedicels, calyxes, corollas, and ovaries. Its bivalved, fleshy capsule with fleshy indehiscent endocarp concealing the seeds is unique for Costa Rican species, shared otherwise only with D. folsomii and D. multiflora. Taxonomic comparison with D. multiflora and keys to separate the latter from D. rubripilosa are discussed.

Thirteen combinations at subspecific rank are effected for North American Campanulaceae, in preparation for a forthcoming world checklist of the family. Twelve were recognized most recently at varietal rank within the same species to which they are here assigned: Diastatea virgata subsp. ciliata (McVaugh) Lammers, Githopsis diffusa subsp. guadalupensis (Morin) Lammers, Heterotoma lobelioides subsp. glabra (T. J. Ayers) Lammers, Lobelia assurgens subsp. santa-clarae (McVaugh) Lammers, Lobelia berlandieri subsp. brachypoda (A. Gray) Lammers, Lobelia ehrenbergii subsp. gracilens (A. Gray) Lammers, Lobelia flexuosa subsp. intermedia (Hemsley) Lammers, Lobelia gruina subsp. peduncularis (McVaugh) Lammers, Lobelia irasuensis subsp. fucata (McVaugh) Lammers, Lobelia irasuensis subsp. picta (B. L. Robinson & Seaton) Lammers, Palmerella debilis subsp. serrata (A. Gray) Lammers, and Triodanis perfoliata subsp. biflora (Ruiz & Pavón) Lammers. Downingia humilis Greene has been recognized as a distinct species or subsumed without recognition into D. pusilla (G. Don ex A. DC.) Torrey; however, its pattern of variation makes its recognition as Downingia pusilla subsp. humilis (Greene) Lammers more appropriate.

The new species Mimosa manomboensis Lefèvre & Labat (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae), known only from two populations in the Mikea Forest in southwestern Madagascar, is described, illustrated, and assigned a provisional IUCN conservation status of critically endangered.

A new species of Caesalpinia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) from China is described and illustrated as Caesalpinia yunnanensis S. J. Li, D. X. Zhang & Z. Y. Chen. The new taxon is known only from the type locality in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China, and resembles C. crista L., a species widely distributed in pantropical regions.

Bouvardia viticella Lorea-Hernández & Lozada-Pérez is described and illustrated. This new species is distinguished by its scandent habit, main stem thick suberose at base, plinerved leaves, white flowers, short corolla tube evenly pubescent within, and corolla lobes densely papillose adaxially. Partial inflorescences and exserted anthers in short-styled flowers place it in Bouvardia Salisbury subg. Bouvardiastrum Schlechtendal, but its relationships below this level are not so clear.

The new species Passiflora sandrae from Panama is described and illustrated from living and herbarium material. It is placed in subgenus Decaloba supersection Decaloba on the basis of the plicate operculum, cernuous shoot tip, transversely sulcate testa, and variegated bilobed leaves. This vine previously has been confused with P. biflora.

Since the publication of a monograph on Isolepis (Cyperaceae) in 2002, further data on the genus have been collected, necessitating additional nomenclatural change. Isolepis is a predominantly southern hemisphere genus with high species diversity in South Africa and Australia. A new combination is made here: Isolepis tenella (L.f.) Muasya & D. A. Simpson, transferring an aberrant annual previously named Cyperus tenellus.

Recent phylogenetic analyses of tribe Neillieae in Rosaceae, which comprises Neillia, Physocarpus, and Stephanandra, based on both nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences revealed that Neillia and Stephanandra together form a strongly supported monophyletic group and that species of Stephanandra are nested within Neillia. The close relationship between Neillia and Stephanandra is also supported by leaf morphology, inflorescence type, and carpel number. In order to better reflect the evolutionary relationships among species of Neillia and Stephanandra, based on molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence, Stephanandra is united with Neillia, and three traditionally recognized species and a hybrid of Stephanandra are transferred to Neillia. This treatment results in new combinations as follows: N. hanceana (Kuntze) S. Oh, N. incisa (Thunberg) S. Oh, and N.×nakatsu-riparia (H. Takahashi) S. Oh. Stephanandra incisa (Thunberg) Zabel var. macrophylla Hideo Takahashi is treated as a new synonym of Neillia incisa.

Conyza sumatrensis is recognized as distinct from C. bonariensis and C. canadensis. Conyza albida and C. floribunda are treated as synonyms of C. sumatrensis. Conyza sumatrensis includes two varieties, and the new combination C. sumatrensis var. leiotheca is made for the nontypical variety, which is restricted to the Americas. Conyza sumatrensis var. sumatrensis is newly reported and documented in the United States; it also is found widely elsewhere in the Americas and is the sole variety occurring in the Old World.

A terrestrial orchid, Palmorchis caxiuanensis, is described from the Amazonian rain forest of Pará State, northern Brazil. Flowers and habit are illustrated. This species is clearly allied to Palmorchis sobralioides, P. guianensis, and P. duckei, but is distinguished by the length of the petiole, lip, and column.

A new species of Phaseolus occurs on the eastern slope of Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico, in the state of Nuevo León, at the northeastern corner of the Chihuahuan desert. Because of its coriaceous leaflets, Phaseolus novoleonensis belongs to section Coriacei Freytag. Although morphologically related to P. maculatus subsp. maculatus and subsp. ritensis, it differs by its having trifoliolate leaves at first nodes, small rounded leaflets, few-noded racemes, and flattened cream-colored seeds.

Eight new species of Mandevilla Lindley are described and illustrated. The new species, six of them rare and endemic, occur in eastern Brazil. Three of the new species (M. fistulosa, M. grazielae, and M. harleyi) are shrubs growing on the upper slopes of granitic inselbergs in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil. Two species, M. semirii and M. rubra, are woody lianas growing on rock outcrops of quartzite in campo rupestre vegetation of Minas Gerais. Mandevilla hatschbachii, a distinctive shrub known only from three collections, occurs in the campo rupestre formations in eastern Brazil in Bahia. Mandevilla guanabarica, a suffrutescent liana generally misidentified as M. funiformis (Vellozo) K. Schumman, is found at the borders of the Atlantic rainforest in Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. Mandevilla dardanoi is a small shrub endemic to Maciço da Borborema, in northeastern Brazil.

The new genus Guianodendron Schütz Rodrigues & A. M. G. Azevedo (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Sophoreae) from Guyana and the Brazilian state of Amazonas is described and illustrated, and a new combination, Guianodendron praeclarum (Sandwith) Schütz Rodrigues & A. M. G. Azevedo, is made. The genus is characterized by a radial corolla with auriculate petals; five stamens; reduced ovule number; a straight hypanthium; indehiscent, flattened, and sutural-winged fruits; persistent bracts and bracteoles; leaflets with a papillate abaxial epidermis; and ovate to ovate-elliptic markedly striate stipules.

A new species of Magnoliaceae, Magnolia amabilis Y. K. Sima & Y. H. Wang, from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species resembles Magnolia dianica Y. K. Sima & Figlar in the stipules adnate to the petiole and the petioles short, not exceeding 10 mm, and in the tepals 6 to more, 3- to 4-merous, subsimilar; it differs in its leaves oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, glaucous beneath, with nerves in 13 to 17 pairs, in its tepals contracted-acute at the apex, and in its mature carpels, glabrous, dark green, tawny-black when dry.

Four nomenclatural arrangements are proposed in Brazilian Myrtaceae: in Myrcia, one new name (M. neorostrata for Aulomyrcia rostrata) and two new combinations (M. densa for Calyptranthes densa and M. tenuifolia for Aulomyrcia tenuifolia), and one new combination in Myrciaria, M. glazioviana, based on Eugenia cabelludo var. glazioviana.

The new combination Arnica lanceolata subsp. prima (Maguire) Strother & S. J. Wolf is proposed as the correct name for Arnica lanceolata subsp. amplexicaulis (Nuttall) Gruezo.

Schumannianthus monophyllus Suksathan, Borchsenius & A. D. Poulsen, a new species of Marantaceae is described and illustrated. It differs from its closest relative S. dichotomus (Roxburgh) Gagnepain in having acaulescent vegetative shoots and shortly caulescent, unbranched fertile shoots (vs. with richly branched aerial stems), each shoot with only a single leaf, and in having a loosely capitate, branched inflorescence (vs. narrowly spiciform and usually unbranched in S. dichotomus).

Nine new Neotropical species of Psychotria subg. Psychotria (Rubiaceae, Psychotrieae) are described and illustrated here: P. areolata of montane western Colombia has previously been confused with P. rugulosa Kunth; P. ceronii of eastern Andean slopes in Ecuador and Peru has previously been confused with P. acreana K. Krause; P. convergens of montane Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru has previously been confused with P. sylvivaga Standley; P. cutucuana of montane Ecuador has previously been confused with Notopleura; P. esmeraldana of coastal Ecuador and Colombia has previously been confused with P. orosiana Standley; P. montivaga of montane Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru has previously been confused with P. alba Ruiz & Pavón and P. carthagenensis Jacquin, and replaces these species at higher elevations; P. paravillosa of Amazonian Ecuador and Peru has previously been confused with P. villosa Ruiz & Pavón; P. puyoana of eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador is notable for its subsessile, cordate, relatively large leaves; and P. ucumariana of montane Colombia and Ecuador has previously been confused with P. rimbachii Standley.

Eleocharis laeviglumis is a new species from the Brazilian flora. This species belongs to Eleocharis subg. Limnochloa (P. Beauvois ex T. Lestiboudois) Torrey and is very similar to Eleocharis elongata Chapman. The new species differs from all species of Eleocharis R. Brown by culms terete, not septate; lower scale fertile; upper scales cartilaginous, smooth, without prominent veins, with submarginal band vinaceous to brown, hyaline margin conspicuous and abruptly differentiated from the rest of scale; slender bristles; achenes trigonous, reticulate, and without a short neck on the apex. Morphological description, illustration, data on habitat, and comparison with the similar species are presented.

Rhamnus mongolica Y. Z. Zhao & L. Q. Zhao (Rhamnaceae) is described from Inner Mongolia, China. The new species is related to R. gilgiana Heppeler, but distinguished by its leaves oblanceolate or obovate-lanceolate and glabrous on both surfaces.