Phylogenetic relationships are frequently inferred from rDNA ITS sequences obtained employing universal primers. Whereas in most cases phylogenetic topologies inferred from ITS data make good biological sense, caution has to be used when a number of taxa vary greatly in PCR yield. The phylogenetic implications of such a scenario are discussed.

As delimited here, Pegaeophyton is a Sino-Himalayan genus of six species of which three, P. angustiseptatum (China), P. watsonii (India, Sikkim) and P. sulphureum (Bhutan), are described as new. P. scapiflorum var. robustum is raised to subspecific rank. Keys, detailed descriptions, and distributions are given. The affinities of Pegaeophyton are discussed.

Hylodesmum H. Ohashi & R.R. Mill (Leguminosae or Fabaceae, tribe Desmodieae), based on Desmodium sect. Podocarpium Benth. (=D. subgen. Podocarpium (Benth.) H. Ohashi), is a replacement name proposed here for Podocarpium (Benth.) Y.C. Yang & P.H. Huang published in 1979 for Chinese species belonging to the genus. The name it replaces, Podocarpium (Benth.) Y.C. Yang & P.H. Huang, is a later homonym of two earlier names, Podocarpium A. Braun ex Stizenb. (fossil Leguminosae or Fabaceae) and Podocarpium Unger (fossil Podocarpaceae) and it is also inadmissible under Art. 20.2. New combinations in Hylodesmum are proposed for 14 species and nine infraspecific taxa. A description of the genus is given as well as brief notes on the distribution of each taxon. Shuteria longipes Franch. and Desmodium duclouxii Pamp. are newly regarded as conspecific; the correct name for these in Hylodesmum is H. longipes. Notes on typification are given for several names.

Twenty-two species of Achillea sect. Santolinoidea (DC.) O. Hoffm., as currently understood, were analysed morphologically. Emphasis was put on clear definitions of characters and their states as were deduced from detailed graphical analysis. Major character sets include details of leaf structure and differentiation of leaflet lobes as well as of floral characters (form of flower heads, ligules, phyllaries, bracts). Character descriptions were compared with floristic literature and original diagnoses, but little consistency was observed in the applied terminology. There is little indication of unifying character states for sect. Santolinoidea, as a result of low frequencies of occurrence, although the section appears to be uniform on the basis of the general leaf structure. However, species-specificity of some character states (leaves, bracts, phyllaries) was observed that might prove useful for species delimitation.

For the purpose of determining the origin of horticultural evergreen azalea cultivars, this study was focused on the natural populations of azalea in Kyushu (south main island of Japan). The Kirishima mountains, the volcanic mountain mass in Kyushu, are an important centre of diversity for the Japanese evergreen azaleas. Rhododendron kiusianum Makino grows above 1000m alt., whereas R. kaempferi Planch. is distributed below 600m alt. Putative natural hybrid populations of these two species are found in the intermediate region (1000–600m alt.). These two species have been clearly distinguished by their respective morphological features. Rhododendron kiusianum has small pink-purple flowers and small elliptical leaves, whereas R. kaempferi has larger red-orange flowers with dark blotches and large oblong leaves. Interspecific hybrids show phenotypes within the range of the two species, especially with regard to flower colour and leaf shape. A morphological cline of these characteristics corresponding to altitude has been observed between these two species. PCR-RFLP analysis of chloroplast DNA detected specific bands for the two species in the 16S rDNA region when digested with HhaI restriction enzyme. Populations of interspecific hybrids were composed of individuals that had a banding pattern of either R. kiusianum or R. kaempferi. This indicates that R. kiusianum and R. kaempferi are clearly distinct species. Furthermore, natural hybrid populations consist of individuals that have one of two cpDNA. Some individuals in the populations of R. kiusianum (T-1430 and T-1030) possess the cpDNA pattern of R. kaempferi, which suggests that cytoplasmic introgression has occurred in the populations of R. kiusianum from R. kaempferi.

Campylanthus parviflorus Hjertson & Miller from Somalia is described. The status of Campylanthus incanus A.G. Miller and Campylanthus incanus var. anisotrichus A.G. Miller, also from Somalia, in relation to the new species is discussed, and it is concluded that a change in rank of the latter is necessary. The new combination Campylanthus anisotrichus (A.G. Miller) Hjertson & A.G. Miller is made, and an amplified description of this species is given.

Elettaria (Zingiberaceae) of Sarawak are studied, and eight species are recognised including four new species: E. linearicrista, E. longipilosa, E. brachycalyx and E. kapitensis. Elettaria surculosa and E. stolonifera, which have previously been included in E. multiflora, are treated as independent species. Examination of recent collections reveal that characters such as anther dehiscence patterns, form of the labellum and anther crest are taxonomically important. A key to all species of Bornean Elettaria is provided.

A new monotypic genus, Tamijia (Zingiberaceae), and its species T. flagellaris are described from Sarawak, Borneo. T. flagellaris is quite unique with the lateral staminodes connate to the labellum, the plane of distichy of the leaf shoot transverse to the rhizome, long trailing inflorescences and ovary unilocular with parietal placentation. Although the species is placed in Alpineae based on the plane of distichy, it is quite distinctive from most of the species in the tribe in some other characters, and is important in considering the current system of tribes and genera of the family.

A new species, Amomum vermanum from NE India, is described and illustrated.

The phylogeny of Hedychium J. Koenig was estimated using sequence data of internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 (ITS1, ITS2) and 5.8S nuclear ribosomal DNA. Sequences were determined for 29 taxa, one interspecific hybrid of Hedychium and one species in each of 16 other genera of Zingiberaceae representing tribes Hedychieae, Globbeae, Zingibereae and Alpinieae. Cladistic analysis of these data strongly supports the monophyly of Hedychium, but relationships to other genera are poorly supported. Within Hedychium, four major clades are moderately supported. These clades are also distinguishable on the basis of number of flowers per bract and distribution. Stahlianthus, Curcuma, and Hitchenia also form a strongly supported clade. Based on this limited sample, the currently defined tribes of Zingiberoideae are not monophyletic. The Asiatic genera form a monophyletic group within this broadly defined Hedychieae. The taxonomy and biogeography of Hedychium are reviewed.

A new species of Roscoea from Bhutan and southern Tibet, R. bhutanica Ngamriab., formerly included in R. tibetica Batalin, is described and a new key to all species of Roscoea is provided. While studying the phylogeny of Roscoea, we discovered that there is a correspondence between phylogeny and biogeography (Ngamriabsakul et al., 2000). There are two distinct areas of distribution in Roscoea, namely the Himalaya and China. Only R. tibetica has been recorded in both areas. Cowley (1982) indicated that this species was very variable and suggested that it might be divided. We now propose to name a new species, R. bhutanica, based on observation of living and herbarium material at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and a molecular systematic study. A morphological table comparing R. tibetica with R. bhutanica is given, along with the ITS sequences of R. tibetica, R. bhutanica and R. auriculata. The identification key to Roscoea species largely follows our phylogenetic tree (Ngamriabsakul et al., 2000).

The following new species are described from the E Himalaya: Poa pseudotibetica Noltie (Tibet, Sikkim); P. rohmooiana Noltie (Sikkim); P. chumbiensis Noltie (Tibet); P. dzongicola Noltie (Bhutan, Sikkim); P. cooperi Noltie (Sikkim); P. longii Noltie (Sikkim); P. lachenensis Noltie (Sikkim); P. rajbhandarii Noltie (India, Nepal, Bhutan). Poa himalayana Nees ex Steud. has been misunderstood and a new lectotype is chosen, replacing that of Bor; P. stewartii Bor is reduced to its synonymy.

The phylogenetic relationship of species within the Hypopterygium ‘rotulatum’ (Hedw.) Brid. s.l. complex is analysed by sequencing the trnL intron of cp DNA. Furthermore, the divergence in variable New Zealand H. ‘rotulatum’ samples is investigated along a latitudinal gradient. The presented data strongly support the delimitation of at least two distinct species within Hypopterygium ‘rotulatum’ s.l. in New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania, which correspond with the morphological species H. muelleri Hampe (possibly conspecific with H. debile Reichardt) and H. didictyon Müll. Hal., a species known from Chile. The distribution patterns of these species are discussed on a regional (New Zealand) and global scale; indicating an australasian distribution pattern of H. muelleri and a palaeoaustral pattern of H. didictyon.