The Caryophyllales constitute a major lineage of flowering plants with approximately 12500 species in 39 families. A taxonomic backbone at the genus level is provided that reflects the current state of knowledge and accepts 749 genera for the order. A detailed review of the literature of the past two decades shows that enormous progress has been made in understanding overall phylogenetic relationships in Caryophyllales. The process of re-circumscribing families in order to be monophyletic appears to be largely complete and has led to the recognition of eight new families (Anacampserotaceae, Kewaceae, Limeaceae, Lophiocarpaceae, Macarthuriaceae, Microteaceae, Montiaceae and Talinaceae), while the phylogenetic evaluation of generic concepts is still well underway. As a result of this, the number of genera has increased by more than ten percent in comparison to the last complete treatments in the Families and genera of vascular plants” series. A checklist with all currently accepted genus names in Caryophyllales, as well as nomenclatural references, type names and synonymy is presented. Notes indicate how extensively the respective genera have been studied in a phylogenetic context. The most diverse families at the generic level are Cactaceae and Aizoaceae, but 28 families comprise only one to six genera. This synopsis represents a first step towards the aim of creating a global synthesis of the species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales integrating the work of numerous specialists around the world.

The typification of the Linnaean name Hieracium cerinthoides (Compositae) is discussed. Original material conserved in LINN is designated as the lectotype. An epitype is also designated here in order to avoid any ambiguity in the interpretation of the type specimen.

The three Isoetes species recorded from Thessalia (Thessaly) in N Greece by Haussknecht, in 1899, under the names I. setacea, I. heldreichii, and I. phrygia, were reassessed using megaspore and microspore ornamentation in addition to macromorphological features. “Isoetes setacea” is not the SW European I. delilei to which the name I. setacea was generally misapplied, nor “I. echinospora” as it has been called due to a misunderstanding, but a so far undescribed species here named I. haussknechtii; it has not been found again in Haussknecht's locality but has recently turned up in Peloponnisos and the E Aegean Islands. I. heldreichii, described from Haussknecht's gathering, is apparently extinct. The record of I. phrygia was based on misidentified I. gymnocarpa. Even so, contrary to prevailing opinion, Haussknecht was justified in raising Boissier's I. histrix var. phrygia to specific rank; genuine I. phrygia has recently been discovered in Kriti (Crete). The inventory of Greek Isoetes now comprises seven species, of which I. phrygia and I. todaroana are newly recorded here. Greek specimens studied are cited for all of them, and a key for their identification is presented. The names I. heldreichii and I. phrygia are typified.

Schismatoglottis prietoi P. C. Boyce, Medecilo & S. Y. Wong (Araceae: Schismatoglottideae), the first recorded aquatic species of Schismatoglottis Zoll. & Moritzi, is described and illustrated from Cebu and Luzon islands in the Philippines.

Rhaphidophora kinabaluensis Furtado (Araceae: Monstereae), described from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, has been recollected and revealed to be a species of Scindapsus Schott belonging to a species complex surrounding S. coriaceus Engl. The taxonomic transfer is made — S. kinabaluensis (Furtado) Kartini & P. C. Boyce, comb. nov. — and a description, colour illustrations and list of specimens are provided. Defining characteristics and current taxonomy of the Scindapsus Coriaceus Complex are summarized.

Lippert W. & Meierott : Kommentierte Artenliste der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Bayerns: Vorarbeiten zu einer neuen Flora von Bayern. — München: Bayerische Botanische Gesellschaft, 2014. — p., 29 colour photos, 1 map; hardcover. — Price: EUR 25.

Renner S. S.: Book review: Lippert W. & Meierott L.: Kommentierte Artenliste der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Bayerns: Vorarbeiten zu einer neuen Flora von Bayern. — Willdenowia 45: 415. 2015. — Version of record first published online on 12 October 2015 ahead of inclusion in December 2015 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2015 BGBM Berlin; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.45.45306

Sell P. & Murrell G.: Flora of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 2. Capparaceae — Rosaceae.— Cambridge: University Press, 2014. — ISBN 978-0-521-55336-0. — xxviii + 588 p., 25 plates with b/w drawings, 253 × 178 × 35 mm, 1.39 kg; hardback. — Price: GBP 125 ( http://www.cambridge.org).

Verloove F.: Book review: Sell P. & Murrell G.: Flora of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 2. Capparaceae — Rosaceae. — Willdenowia 45: 417–418. 2015. — Version of record first published online on 12 October 2015 ahead of inclusion in December 2015 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2015 BGBM Berlin; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.45.45307

Three new geologically obligated species of Homalomena Schott are described from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Rheophytic H. gempal Kartini, P. C. Boyce & S. Y. Wong, sp. nov., restricted to rhyolite, belongs to the Chamaecladon clade and is compared to H. atrox P. C. Boyce & al. and H. paucinervia Ridl. Homalomena marasmiella Kartini, P. C. Boyce & S. Y. Wong, sp. nov., restricted to ultramafic substrates, forms an apparently natural grouping with H. stella P. C. Boyce & S. Y. Wong and H. vagans P. C. Boyce, and together these are termed the Vagans Complex. Homalomena simunii Kartini, P. C. Boyce & S. Y. Wong, sp. nov. is the third species of the Insignis clade to be described from Sabah and is restricted to basalt. All three species are illustrated from living plants.

Polygala turcica Dönmez & Uğurlu (Polygalaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Kars province in E Turkey. It is similar to P. peshmenii Eren & al., but is clearly isolated from the other species of Polygala sect. Polygala with respect to habit and morphological characters. Morphology, including that of pollen, is discussed with respect to taxonomic value. The conservation status of the new species is assessed. A new identification key is provided for all Polygala species known from Turkey.

Alchemilla cadinensis Aymerich & L. Sáez, sp. nov. (Rosaceae) is described, illustrated and compared to morphologically close species. The new species morphologically resembles A. demissa Buser, but it is easily distinguished by several qualitative and quantitative characters in leaf shape, indumentum and fruit. The conservation status of A. cadinensis is assessed as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN Red List categories and criteria

Malpighia meyeriana, a new species from the NE coastal fringe of Cuba, is described and compared with other species of the genus occurring in Cuba. Aspects of its distribution and conservation status are discussed.

This is the fifth of a series of miscellaneous contributions, by various authors, where hitherto unpublished data relevant to both the Med-Checklist and the Euro Med (or Sisyphus) projects are presented. This instalment deals with the families Amaranthaceae, Boraginaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Convolvulaceae, Crassulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Dipsacaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Labiatae, Leguminosae, Linaceae, Moraceae, Orobanchaceae, Portulacaceae, Valerianaceae, Violaceae; Cyperaceae and Gramineae. It includes new country and area records, taxonomic and distributional considerations for taxa in Alkanna, Amaranthus, Anchusa, Artemisia, Atocion, Bidens, Bromopsis, Bufonia, Carex, Cenchrus, Cucurbita, Cytisus, Euphorbia, Festuca, Ficus, Gnaphalium, Helictochloa, Ipomoea, Koeleria, Linum, Lolium, Orobanche, Otospermum, Oxybasis, Paspalum, Phleum, Poa, Portulaca, Stipa, Tagetes, Teucrium, Thymus, Trigonella, Valeriana and Viola, and the validation of names in Adenostyles, Aeonium, Aichryson, Cephalaria, Helichrysum, Hieracium, Jacobaea and Sixalix.

Akhani H.: Plants and vegetation of north-west Persian Gulf: The coasts and islands of Khore Musa, Mahshar and adjacent areas. — Maps and page design: Samadi N. — Tehran: University of Tehran Press, 2015. - ISBN 978-9-64-03-6739-1. — 507 p., many dot maps, more than 1600 colour photos, bilingual Persian/English; 24 cm, hardcover. — Price: EUR 60.

Deil U.: Book review: Akhani H.: Plants and vegetation of north-west Persian Gulf: The coasts and islands of Khore Musa, Mahshar and adjacent areas. — Willdenowia 45: 465–466. 2015. — Version of record first published online on 23 November 2015 ahead of inclusion in December 2015 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2015 BGBM Berlin; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.45.45313