Pfeiffera is a genus of epiphytic, terrestrial and epilithic cacti. Its acceptance, circumscription and closest relatives have been debated. In the context of a phylogenetic survey of epiphytic cacti, we have studied relationships in Pfeiffera, sampling eight of nine species and using sequence data from three group II introns (trnK, rpl16, trnG), four intergenic spacers (psbA-trnH, trnQ-rpsl6, rps3-rpl16, trnS-trnG) and the rapidly evolving gene matK of the plastid genome. Phylogenetic analyses revealed Pfeiffera to be polyphyletic, comprising two unrelated lineages, both highly supported. One clade includes the type species, P. ianthothele; the second contains two Pfeiffera and an erstwhile Lepismium species. Our results justify generic status for this newly found clade. Since it includes the type species of the earlier-proposed monotypic genus Lymanbensonia, we suggest the reinstatement of the latter in an amplified circumscription. The necessary new combinations for Pfeiffera brevispina and Lepismium incachacanum are provided. Our results further support the establishment of a separate tribe Lymanbensonieae, formally proposed here, to contain Lymanbensonia and Calymmanthium. The phylogenetic results imply that epiphytism evolved more frequently in Cactaceae than hitherto assumed and further show that morphological convergences in the family can be extreme. An integrated approach using morphology and sequence data is therefore needed to establish sound generic limits in the Cactaceae.

Juncus dichotomus, a native of the Americas, is reported for the first time from Europe. It is more or less widely naturalised in northwestern Italy (provinces of Biella, Novara, Torino and Vercelli) and probably largely overlooked elsewhere as a result of confusion with J. tenuis. Diagnostic features of both species (and other members of the J. tenuis group currently found in Europe, viz. J. anthelatus and J. dudleyi) are critically assessed and an identification key is presented. Taxonomy and nomenclature of J. dichotomus are discussed, especially with regard to the status of J. platyphyllus, and notes on its present distribution in Italy and its ecology are provided. Like J. tenuis, it often grows in valuable natural and seminatural habitats and locally seems to behave like an invasive environmental weed.

Taraxacum veglianum, found on the Istrian peninsula and adjacent islands in the Adriatic part of the Mediterranean Sea, is described as a species new to science and illustrated, and its known distribution is given. It belongs to T. sect. Erythrosperma and has a chromosome number of 2n = 3x = 24.

Filago wagenitziana, discovered in 2008 in western Kriti (Crete), is described as a new species, illustrated and compared with similar species of the genus. This dwarf annual is a local endemic of the easternmost spurs of the Lefka Ori (White Mountains), growing between 700 and 800 m in altitude. It is restricted to open, shallow, semi-wet quartzite soil, chiefly in semi-shady conditions in or next to mixed mesophilous woodland with Platanus orientalis. The total known population of F. wagenitziana consists of very few subpopulations, comprising perhaps less than 1000 plants, in an area of about 1 km². This small area, which also harbours the only Sphagnum spring fen in Crete, lies only just outside the Natura 2000 site Asfendou-Kallikratis. The habitat of F. wagenitziana and its surroundings are endangered by water exploitation.

Greuter W. & Raus Th. (ed.): Med-Checklist Notulae, 29. — Willdenowia 40: 189–204. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2010 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.40.40205 (available via http://dx.doi.org/)

Continuing a series of miscellaneous contributions, by various authors, where hitherto unpublished data relevant to the Med-Checklist project are presented, this instalment deals with the families Bignoniaceae, Cactaceae, Callitrichaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Crassulaceae, Cruciferae, Leguminosae, Orobanchaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Tamaricaceae, Tropaeolaceae, Vitaceae; Gramineae and Juncaceae. It includes new country and area records, taxonomic and distributional considerations. New taxa are described in Bromus, Corispermum, Erigeron and Poa, and new combinations are proposed in Elytrigia, Patzkea, Pilosella and Triticum.

Siti Nurfazilah A. R., Ahmad Sofiman O., Mohd Fahmi A. B. & Boyce P. C.: Studies on Hanguana (Commelinales, Hanguanaceae) for Sunda II: Five new forest species from Peninsular Malaysia and recircumscription of Hanguana malayana. — Willdenowia 40: 205–219. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2010 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi: 10.3372/wi.40.40206 (available via http://dx.doi.org/)

Field work in Peninsular Malaysia as part of the first author's research into relationships and evolutionary polarity between Hanguana malayana, a widespread freshwater helophyte, and the numerous and mostly undescribed Sundaic forest species has to date resulted in the collection of five distinctive novel forest-dwelling Hanguana species. These are described here and figured in colour. Increased understanding of these and other forest species of Hanguana has enabled a concise delimitation of the taxonomically long-obfuscated colonial helophytic H. malayana, and this is here presented, and the species figured. The current taxonomy of Hanguana is summarised, and a key to the so-far described Peninsular Malaysian species is provided.

Sennikov A. N. & Lazkov G. A.: Typification of Eremostachys labiosa (Phlomoides labiosa, Lamiaceae) and its synonyms. - Willdenowia 40: 221–226. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2010 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi: 10.3372/wi.40.40207 (available via http://dx.doi.org/)

Phlomoides labiosa (based on Eremostachys labiosa) and its synonyms are typified from collections at LE and P. The history and dispersal of the little-known collections of Hieronymus Krause are discussed. The name of Alexander Petzholdt is added to the 19th century botanical collectors who worked in Central Asia.

Ferrufino-Acosta L.: Taxonomic revision of the genus Smilax (Smilacaceae) in Central America and the Caribbean Islands. — Willdenowia 40: 227–280. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2010 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.40.40208 (available via http://dx.doi.org/)

Smilax is a poorly understood genus, as the lack of agreement among the taxonomic treatments shows. Twenty-nine species of Smilax are recognised for Central America and the Caribbean region as the result of this study, much less than the total of c. 120 species described. Among the reasons leading to the recognition of an excessive number of species are a marked phenotypic variation, sexual dimorphism and the common occurrence of morphological intermediates. The treatment includes separate keys for the identification of flowering and fruiting material, synonymies with altogether 36 lectotypes and 5 neotypes designated here, one new combination published (Smilax compta), descriptions, drawings of 11 species, taxonomic notes, distribution maps and distributional data (including also the distribution area of the treated species beyond the actual study area) as well as common names and uses where known.

Calycogonium bissei from eastern Cuba is described as a species new to science and illustrated. C. bissei is closely related to C. revolutum, from which it can be distinguished by its elliptic to lanceolate leaves with two pairs of secondary veins, inflorescences of 3-flowered dichasia or 4–5-flowered fasciculate cymes and non-unguiculate petals.

Ruellia shaferiana, a seldom collected and incompletely known species, is described in detail and compared with two vegetatively similar Cuban endemics, Dyschoriste bayatensis and the recently described Hygrophila urquiolae, and with the two Cuban species of Apassalus (A. cubensis and A. parvulus). All are placed by Scotland and Vollesen, in their classification of Acanthaceae, in the newly circumscribed subtribe Ruelliinae. Contrary to Dyschoriste, the other taxa studied have anther thecae that lack basal awns. Absence of these awns is the single character distinguishing Apassalus from Dyschoriste, and it has been suggested that both be combined. Our results lend support to that suggestion and prompt the transfer of A. parvulus to Dyschoriste. Study of pollen by SEM confirms the generic placement of the species studied, again associating Apassalus with Dyschoriste. Seed indumentum was studied by LM and REM, complementing earlier studies of the remarkable hygroscopic mucilaginous hairs, which apparently characterise the subtribe. Hygrochastic capsule dehiscence was detected in all four species. Pre-dawn anthesis and flowers withering by noon were observed in R. shaferiana. H. urquiolae, only known from a small area in W Cuba, is newly reported from E Cuba, and conversely, W Cuban occurrences of R. shaferiana are put on record. For three of the names lectotypes are designated, as Urban's original material was destroyed in Berlin in World War II.

Stylosanthes is a predominantly New World genus of economic importance. After Brazil, Venezuela has the second highest Stylosanthes species richness. However, knowledge about the geographic distribution of most Stylosanthes species in Venezuela is scarce or not documented at all, and there has been no updated taxonomic revision of the genus. For the present revision, about 1000 herbarium specimens from 35 herbaria were examined, including 103 type specimens. Stylosanthes has a wide natural distribution in Venezuela and eleven species occur in the country: S. angustifolia, S. capitata, S. falconensis, S. gracilis, S. guianensis, S. hamata, S. humilis, S. scabra, S. sericeiceps, S. venezuelensis and S. viscosa, three of them being endemic. The present study clarifies the taxonomy of Stylosanthes in Venezuela and provides illustrations and a key to identify the species.

Eight species from Ecuador are described as new to science. Anthurium boekei, A. caldodsonii, A. kajekai, A. lynniae, A. mendietae, A. quinindense, A. werneri and Philodendron misahualiense. Four of these, A. boekei, A. caldodsonii, A. lynniae and A. quinindense, are from the western slopes of the Andes, while the remainder are from the eastern slopes.

Gymnanthes boticario, a new species of Gymnanthes sensu lato (formerly Sebastiania sect. Adenogyne), is described from the caatinga forests of northeastern Brazil. A key to the pubescent-fruited species of Gymnanthes sensu lato and related taxa is provided.

Djavadi S. B. & Attar E: New chromosome counts in the genus Cousinia (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Iran. — Willdenowia 40: 351–357. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2010 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.40.40214 (available via http://dx.doi.org/)

Meiotic chromosome counts are reported for 20 populations, representing 18 species of the genus Cousinia s.str. from Iran. Most of the populations counted are from the type localities of the corresponding species. Counts for fifteen species are new to science, two confirm previous reports, while one count, for C. hypopolia, opposes an early report. The chromosome number for the monotypic C. sect. Harazensis is reported for the first time.

Eighty-five lichens and lichenicolous fungi are recorded from Gran Canaria for the first time. Eighteen species are also new to the Canary Islands, including Buelliella heppiae, Polycoccum rinodinae, Sphaerellothecium giraltiae, Zwackhiomyces heppiae and Z. solenopsorae, which are described as species new to science.

Dickoré W. B. & Kasperek G. 2010: Species of Cotoneaster (Rosaceae, Maloideae) indigenous to, naturalising or commonly cultivated in Central Europe. — Willdenowia 40: 13–45. doi:10.3372/wi.40.40102