Nine populations of Tilia dasystyla Steven (Tiliaceae) in the Crimean mountains (Krymskiye Gory), including the type locality at Kastel Dag, were studied in the field and sampled by collection of herbarium specimens. This material was compared with specimens referred to Tilia hegonifolia Steven collected in Crimea, the Caucasus and Iran. Measurements or scores of 21 morphological characters made on the dried material were analysed by principal components analysis and logistic regression. These analyses demonstrated that the majority of trees could be correctly allocated to either Crimea or the Caucasus and Iran on the basis of the shape of their leaves and the area of their bracts. In addition there are differences of leaf and bract texture and bract colour which can be observed in fresh material. Chromosome counts showed that Crimean trees and one Caucasian tree are tetraploid (2n = 164). It is proposed that the Crimean, Caucasian and Iranian trees be treated as a single species with at least two subspecies: Tilia dasystyla Steven subsp. dasystyla from Crimea and T. dasystyla Steven subsp. caucasica (V. Engl.) Pigott from the Caucasus and Iran.

Centaurea golestanica Akhani & Wagenitz (Compositae), Eriocycla ghafooriana Akhani (Umbelliferae), Plantago podlechii Akhani (Plantaginaceae,) and Seseli tortuosum L. subsp. kiabii Akhani (Umbelliferae) are described as new from Golestan National Park, NE Iran. The following species are new additions to the Iranian flora from that area: Allium vavilovii Popov & Vved., Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L., Atraphaxis seravschanica Pavlov, Carex pseudocyperus L., Ceratophyllum submersum L., Euphorbia humilis C.A. Mey. ex Ledeb., Gagea glacialis K. Koch, Lactuca georgica Grossh., Linosyris vulgaris Cass. ex Less., Myosotis alpestris F.W. Schmidt, Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill, Myosotis minutiflora Boiss. & Reuter, Potamogeton natans L., Rumex caucasicus Rech. f. and Vicia cassubica L. Details on the habitat and associated species are given based on field studies and phytosociological relevés. Maps of distribution within the Park of all species and illustrations or photographs are given for some of the taxa concerned.

The generic name Microsisymbrium O.E. Schulz was illegitimate when described because it included the type of Guillenia Greene. The monotypic Ianhedgea is proposed to include one of the 12 species previously assigned to Microsisymbrium, i.e. M. minutiflorum (Hook.f. & Thomson) O.E. Schulz. The proper generic placement of the remaining 11 species of Microsisymbrium is presented. The following new combinations are made: Ianhedgea minutiflora (Hook.f. & Thomson) Al-Shehbaz & O'Kane, I. minutiflora subsp. brevipedicellata (Hedge) Al-Shehbaz & O'Kane, and Neotorularia quingshuiheense (Ma & Z.Y. Zhu) Al-Shehbaz, O'Kane & G. Yang.

Dussia atropurpurea is a new species found in Costa Rica and Panamá. It differs from all other Dussia species in this region in its dark purple sarcotesta. The only other species of Dussia with a sarcotesta of this colour is the Amazonian D. tessmannii which is clearly distinct morphologically. Sarcotesta colour is an important character for species delimitation in Dussia, but is infrequently recorded.

To better understand the genus Tripterygium for the Flora of China, the history of the genus and its species is summarized and characters traditionally used to divide the genus re-examined. Because no reliable differentiating characters were found, all of the previously named taxa in the genus are reduced to the single species, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. The range of this monospecific genus is typical of many in the East Asian flora.

Geoffroea (Leguminosae–Papilionoideae) has traditionally comprised three species. In this revision the number of species is reduced to two because G. striata (Willd.) Morong is considered indistinct from G. spinosa Jacq. and is placed in synonymy. No significant morphological variation is found between the five isolated areas of distribution of G. spinosa, which occurs in the disjunct seasonally dry tropical forests of South America, and there is certainly no basis for recognizing separate taxa.

Two new Umbelliferae species from S Anatolia are described and illustrated: Chaerophyllum aksekiense A. Duran & Duman and Tordylium ketenoglui Duman & A. Duran.

The newly described white-flowered annual Sedum ince closely resembles S. eriocarpum and the annual forms of S. hispemicum (S. longibracteatum), but differs from the former by its alternate instead of verticillate leaves, and from the latter by the 5-merous instead of 6 9-merous flowers and the ripe follicles which are divergent instead of patent and lack the distinct lips along the ventral suture. Molecular phylogenelic analyses indicate that S. ince is but distantly related to S. eriocarpum as well as to S. hispemicum. It belongs to a cytological distinct lineage of Sedum subgenus Gormunia sporting a basic chromosome number of x = 7. Within this lineage, however, S. ince holds a unique position and consequently it is classified in the monotypic S. series Elegans.

Two new species of Potentilla L. (Rosaceae) from SW Anatolia are described and illustrated: Potentilla nerimaniae H. Duman and P. davisii R. R. Mill & H. Duman.

Two new species of Campanula L. (Campanulaceae) from SW Anatolia are described and illustrated: Campanula yaltirikii H. Duman (sect. Tracheliopsis) and C. koyuncui H. Duman (sect. Rupestres).

A new species of Passiflora is described from the Andes of Colombia. Passiflora formosa T. Ulmer is characterized by its densely tomentose ovary, the 5–7 petiolar glands and the large leaves which are up to 19cm long. It most closely resembles P. lanata and P. cuatrecasasii. The differences between these species are discussed.

Anthemis sheilae A. Ghafoor & T. A. Al-Turki (Asteraceae: Anthemideae), an endemic species closely related to A. scrobicularis Yavin, A. haussknechtii Boiss. & Reut. and A. dicksoniae A. Ghafoor, is described along with an illustration and distribution map.

Nonea pallens was recently collected by the authors in the Yildiz mountain region in Turkey-in-Europe. The species is new for the Turkish flora and the population marks the southern limit of the species range. Geographical and ecological details are given about the record locality, along with an original description and iconography of the Turkish specimens. Original material of N. pallens was traced in G, W and FI, allowing a lectotype to be selected. Finally, a karyological analysis provided new data about the systematic position of this poorly known species within the genus.

Studies on recent collections of mature fruiting material of Prangos bornmuelleri Hub.-Mor. & Reese have resolved the taxonomic placement of this enigmatic species. The new monotypic genus Ekimia H. Duman & M.F. Watson is proposed to include this taxon: E. bornmuelleri (Hub.-Mor. & Reese) H. Duman & M.F. Watson comb. nov. Two new Prangos taxa, P. platychloenae Boiss. ex Tchih. subsp. engizekensis H. Duman & M.F. Watson subsp. nov., and P. heyniae H. Duman & M.F. Watson sp. nov., are also described.

This paper summarizes conservation work carried out on Filago pyramidata L. (Asteraceae), broad-leaved cudweed, between 1993 and 1996 in Britain. It was formerly native in 125 10km squares in about 240 localities. In 1993–1996 it was recorded in eight 10km squares (94% decline) in eight localities (97% decline). Historically its main habitats were arable fields, road and track sides, and heaths, commons and quarries. It has declined in arable field habitats owing to changes in agricultural practices, and from tracks and roadsides because of reduced disturbance. The decline occurred gradually before the 1970s. Populations show marked variations from year to year and marked differences between sites, owing to climate and management. The best conservation management based on practical experience is annual digging or rotavation in early autumn. The plant is under severe threat in Britain; four sites are designated as SSSIs, but two of the four largest populations are unprotected.

I. Lenbrassia G.W. Gillett, which has a zygomorphic corolla and four didynamous stamens with anthers joined, is reduced to Fieldia A. Cunn., which has an actinomorphic corolla and four equal stamens with anthers free; the new combination, F. australiana, is made. II. Boea wallichii R.Br. is distinguished from B. hygrometrica (Bunge) R.Br. with which it has been confused. III. Cyrtandra oblongifolia sensu Kraenzlin is described as a new species, C. kalimantana, allied to C. oblongifolia (Blume) C.B.C1. but distinguished by its hairy leaves, fruits, calyx and corolla; the sterile specimens from Borneo quoted under Cyrtandra rufa Bakh.f. are tentatively referred to C. kalimantana. IV. A specimen of Cyrtandra from the Natuna Islands is identified with C. suffruticosa Ridley from Pulau Tioman and the Malay Peninsula; in contrast two other Gesneriaceae from these islands are of Bornean affinity. V. Didymocarpus pteronema is a new species from Tenasserim province of Burma (= Myanmar): it is anomalous in its campanulate corolla and filaments with unilateral membranous wing. VI. Streptocarpus huamboensis is a new species from Angola allied to S. rhodesianus S. Moore.

Rhododendron chilanshanense, a new species of Rhododendron subgenus Tsutsusi sect. Brachycalyx, is described from Taiwan. It is distinguished from closely related species by its leaves scattered along the upper branchlets and the stipitate glands on both the floral and vegetative parts.

Rhytidocaulon P.R.O. Bally is reviewed. The relationships with other genera are discussed in the light of the character assessment carried out and it is suggested that it is closest to Caralluma R. Br. subg. Caralluma and Echidnopsis Hook. f. Descriptions of the genus and the eight known species are provided.

Within Rhytidocaulon macrolobum Lavranos, which is a widespread stapeliad in Saudi Arabia and in the Yemen, the subspecies minimum Meve & Collenette is described as new. This taxon is restricted to SW Saudia Arabia; it can be easily recognized by its miniature flowers, which are conspicuously smaller than the diameter of the stems, and by its bright-coloured corona.

The following descriptions of new taxa, new combinations, lectotypifications, and nomenclatural notes are required for the forthcoming volume of the Flora of Bhutan (volume 3, part 2, Gramineae). New species: Agrostis ushae Noltie from India (Sikkim), Arundinella dagana Noltie and Cymbopogon bhutanicus Noltie from Bhutan. New subspecies: Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. sikkimensis Noltie from India (Sikkim) and China (Tibet). New combinations: Agrostis petelotii (Hitchc.) Noltie, Urochloa supervacua (C.B. Clarke) Noltie, Cymbopogon munroi (C.B. Clarke) Noltie, Urochloa villosa var. barbata (Bor) Noltie, Themeda triandra var. laxa (Andersson) Noltie. The following species are reported here for the first time from the following countries. Bhutan: Neyraudia curvipes Ohwi, Tripogon purpurascens Duthie, Elymus duthiei (Melderis) G. Singh, Urochloa panicoides P. Beauv., Spodiopogon lacei Hole, Microstegium falconeri (Hook.f.) Clayton. China (Yunnan): Agrostis zenkeri Trin. Bangladesh: Panicum laxum Sw.