Maracá is a riverine island located in the Rio Uraricoera in Roraima State (Brazil) and has an area of about 100,000ha. A forest type dominated by Peltogyne gracilipes Ducke (Caesalpiniaceae) occurs on Maracá Island on a range of soil types. This study compares the structure, floristic composition and soils of the Peltogyne forest with the most widespread lowland forest type on Maracá. Three 0.25ha plots were set up in each of three forest types: Peltogyne-rich forest (PRF), Peltogyne-pooi forest (PPF) and forest without Peltogyne (FWP). Within each plot all trees (≤ 10cm dbh) were recorded. Seedlings and saplings were sampled in subplots of 2m × 1m (seedlings) and 4m × 4m (saplings). In the PPF and FWP, Sapotaceae were the most important family with the highest relative dominance and relative density values. Caesalpiniaceae showed high values in the PRF and PPF. Licania kunthiana, Pradosia surinamensis and Simarouba amara occurred in the canopy layer in all the forest types. Peltogyne dominated the canopy in the PRF and comprised 20% of stems and 53% of the total basal area of all trees ≥ 10cm dbh, and 91% of the stems and 97% of the total basal area of individuals ≥ 50cm dbh. In PPF, Lecythis corrugata and Tetragastris panamensis were the most abundant species, followed by Peltogyne. In the FWP the most abundant trees (≥ 10cm dbh) were Licania kunthiana and Pradosia surinamensis. In all forest types, the soils were sandy and acid with low concentrations of extractable phosphorus and exchangeable cations, but the soils under PRF were notably richer in magnesium.

Cyclopia is a papilionaceous genus endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. The 23 species recognized within the genus have rather subtle differences, but characters of the leaves, bracts and calyces, as well as the adaptations to survive recurrent fires, are useful to distinguish between the species. Variations in morphological, cytological and chemical characters are discussed. A phylogenetic analysis of 21 characters by means of cladistic methodology produced a cladogram with five distinct groups. These are described as sections in the taxonomic part of the paper. One new species, Cyclopia alopecuroides A.L. Schutte, is described. The nomenclature, synonymy and typification of the taxa are presented, as well as full descriptions, illustrations and distribution maps.

The classification of Schisandra Michx. sect. Sphaerostema (Blume) Nakai is revised, using multivariate statistical analyses as required. Only two species are recognized, viz. Schisandra plena A.C. Sm. and S. propinqua (Wall.) Baill., following reduction of S. axillaris (Blume) Hook.f. & Thorns, to a subspecies of the latter taxon. Four subspecies are recognized in S. propinqua, viz.: subsp. propinqua (N W India and Nepal); subsp. intermedia (A.C. Sm), stat. nov. (NE India, Burma and Yunnan); subsp. sinensis (Oliv.), stat. nov. (central and southern China); and subsp. axillaris (Blume), comb, et stat. nov. (Java and Bali). The biogeographical origin of the vicariant distribution of S. propinqua is discussed. A key is provided for the identification of taxa, with new taxonomic descriptions.

A biometric study of the flower, floral rewards (nectar and pollen) and pollen-ovule ratios in 14 taxa of Vicia (Fabaceae) from Extremadura (Spain) has been evaluated. Almost all floral characteristics are directly correlated and it has been found that flower size is a good indicator of the reward production, and the pollen-ovule ratios are positively correlated to seed size. A direct correlation between pollen size (volume) and style length has likewise been observed. This may show the importance of the pollen food reserves in sustaining the growth of its pollen tube along the style.

A new Fritillaria species, F. atrolineata, is described from Iran. The new species, an endemic to Western Azarbaijan, belongs to the F. caucasica group, sect. Olostyleae, subgenus Fritillaria. SEM studies of nectaries, stamen, pollen and styles are presented. Differences from other Iranian species in the Caucasica group are discussed. The chromosome number is 2n = 24.

A taxonomic revision of Oreorchis is presented. A key to the species and synonymies, descriptions, illustrations and distributions for each taxon are provided. The status of the genera Kitigorchis F. Maek. and Diplolabellum F. Maek. are discussed. The former is redefined as a monotypic genus, with three of the four species included by Maekawa being returned to Oreorchis; the latter is considered congeneric with Oreorchis. Three species, O. angustata, O. aurantiaca and O. nepalensis, are newly described here and O. indica is reduced to varietal status within O. foliosa. Some outstanding problems in the taxonomy of the genus are noted.

Typhonium praetermissum and T. taylori (Araceae) are described as species new to science from the Northern Territory, Australia. The first is intermediate in character between Typhonium Schott and Lazarum A. Hay. Consequently, Lazarum is reduced to the synonymy of Typhonium and the new combination Typhonium mirabile is made. The new species are illustrated.

Twenty-nine new species of Corydalis (Fumariaceae) from China, mainly from Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan, are described.

The results of a detailed SEM study of nutlet morphology in 156 species of tribe Nepeteae (Labiatae) are presented. Two main types, smooth and sculptured, are described; within them such subgroups as reticulate, cellular, verrucose and tuberculate are defined. The taxonomic significance of these characters is discussed. Pericarp structure was investigated in 34 species. Mucilaginous tubercles were found on the surface of the nutlets in Nepeta, Drepanocaryum and Lophanthus, and their structure is described. In the 10 genera of this widespread tribe, three informal generic groups are recognized, based on a combination of nutlet morphology, pericarp structure and vegetative and floral features.

A recent study of Pinus subgen. Pinus for the Flora of China project recognized 10 native species with four new combinations, all at subspecies rank, and determined one new homonym, and six new synonyms. A neotype is designated for P. kesiya. Doubtful or little-known species are listed.

Names of the Old World tribes of Gesneriaceae are updated both nomenclaturally and taxonomically. The most important change is that Epithemateae (Meisn.) C.B. Clarke antedates, and therefore replaces, Klugieae Fritsch. All other suprageneric names known to have been validly published are quoted in synonymy of the appropriate tribe.

Chromosome counts are reported for the first time in Dicerandra Benth. (Labiatae), a genus endemic to the south-eastern United States. Representative taxa are tetraploid (n = 16) and hexaploid (n = 24). Diploids were not found. The systematic, phytogeographic and conservation implications of polyploidy in this genus are discussed. The monophyletic nature of the genus is upheld by the discovery that both sections have a presumed base number of x = 8. Hexaploidy has apparently evolved independently in all branches of sect. Dicerandra, but not in sect. Lecontea.

Nine species of tubulate and two species of lamellate boletes are recognized in the mycota of Paraná State, Brazil, of which five are considered introduced.

Gloeocantharellus corneri and a further genus of boletes are noted, the latter based on immature material. These records are new to South America, Brazil or Paraná State. Three new combinations are made in the genus Boletinellus for species previously placed in Gyrodon: Boletinellus exiguus, B. monticola and B. rompelii.

Armeria aspromontana is a new species described and illustrated from orophilous dwarf shrubs of Aspromonte (S Italy). Its taxonomic relationships with Armeria nebrodensis are examined.

Franchet (1894) described two species from Yunnan as Arracacha (= Arracacia) delavayi and A. peucedanifolia, respectively, in a genus hitherto known only from Mexico to Bolivia in the New World. Wolff (1925) made A. delavayi the type of his new genus Physospermopsis, but neither de Boissieu (1906), Wolff, nor Norman could find an appropriate generic home for A. peucedanifolia. In 1980, Sheh and Shan established the new genus Cyclorhiza with one species and a second taxon which became C. major (M.L. Sheh & R.H. Shan) M.L. Sheh in Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae. This work does not mention either A. peucedanifolia or Cenolophiwn chinense M. Hiroe (1958), which was based on similar material. The correct name for A. peucedanifolia is Cyclorhiza peucedanifolia (Franch.) Constance, comb. nov. and the genus Arracacia is to be excluded from Asia.