The known occurrences of Austrocylindropuntiapachypus (K. Schumann) Backeberg in Peru are a series of isolated populations in the coastal valleys from the Rio Eulalia in the south of the range near to the type locality, to the Cordillera Blanca east of Casma. From recent observations, it is now possible to extend the distribution north into La Libertad where very extensive new populations have been found.

We show that the full and correct citation of the name Agave yuccaefolia should be Agave yuccifolia F.Delaroche. Liliac. (Redouté) 6 (55): tab. 328, 329, and two unnumbered accompanying text pages. 1811. Agave yuccifolia is a synonym of Agave spicata Cav.

Furcraea selloana K.Koch (Asparagaceae subfam. Agavoideae / Agavaceae), specifically its yellow leaf-margined form, is recorded for the first time as having become naturalised in South Africa in the mild climate of Eastern Cape Province. Illustrations and a description of this form in South Africa are provided. It is compared with Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. and F. tuberosa (Mill.) W.T.Aiton, the two other species of Furcraea Vent. naturalised in the country.

There is lack of historical information on dates and modes of introduction as well as colonization and invasion processes of exotic plants in Zimbabwe. Cylindropuntia fulgida (Engelm.) F.M.Knuth var. fulgida (chain-fruit cholla, family Cactaceae), a native of arid desert of the Guaymas region of Sonora in northwestern Mexico is here recorded as having become naturalised and invasive in south-western areas of Zimbabwe. Notes on residence status, ecology and habitat of C. fulgida var. fulgida in south-western Zimbabwe are provided. A description and dichotomous key that can be used to distinguish it from the closely related C. imbricata (Haw.) F.M.Knuth is provided. The latter species is commonly grown in Zimbabwe while C. fulgida var. fulgida is spreading and has become firmly established as part of the introduced flora of Zimbabwe.

A number of species of Yucca L. (Agavaceae) have gained considerable popularity in mild-climate horticulture the world over. Two such large-growing, arborescent species are especially popular in regions where they can be planted outdoors, for example in regions experiencing tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean, and even some temperate, climates, while one of them is also popular as an indoor plant in regions with a similar, or more severe, continental-type, climate. Three names, Yucca gigantea Lem. (1859), Yucca guatemalensis Baker (1872), and Yucca elephantipes Regel ex Trel. (1902) are applied to these two species. However, it has also been suggested that these three names all refer to a single entity. If so interpreted, the name that has priority, and must therefore be adopted, is Yucca gigantea, with Yucca elephantipes and Yucca guatemalensis being synonyms. We propose that the differences between Yucca guatemalensis, the publication date of which precedes that of Yucca elephantipes, and Yucca gigantea warrant their separate recognition, with Yucca elephantipes being synonymous with Y. guatemalensis.

The Brazilian state of Bahia is home to 98 out of 260 species of the country's native Cactaceae. The Floresta Nacional Contendas do Sincorá (FLONA Sincorá), in the Município de Contendas do Sincorá has vegetation, climate and temperatures typical of the Caatinga biome. The survey intended to increase the knowledge regarding the cacti of protected areas within the state of Bahia and was based on fieldwork carried out in April and July 2014 and February 2015, complemented by studies of herbarium material. The FLONA Sincorá harbours 11 genera and 14 species within its area: Arrojadoa penicillata (Gürke) Britton & Rose; Brasilicereus phaeacanthus (Gürke) Backeb; Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis (Willd.) A. Berger; Cereus jamacaru DC.; Espostoopsis dybowskii (Rol.-Goss.) Buxb; Hylocereus setaceus (Salm-Dyck) R. Bauer; Melocactus concinnus Buining & Brederoo; Pereskia aureiflora F. Ritter; Pereskia bahiensis Gürke; Pilosocereus catingicola (Gürke) Byles & G.D. Rowley ssp catingicola; Stephanocereus leucostele (Gürke) A. Berger; Tacinga inamoena (K. Schum.) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy; Tacinga funalis Britton & Rose; and Tacinga palmadora (Britton & Rose) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy. Of these, Espostoopsis dybowskii, Pereskia bahiensis and Stephanocereus leucostele are endemic to Bahia. The east Brazilian genus Tacinga was the largest, with three species. An identification key for all taxa, together with descriptions, illustrations, taxonomic and conservation and threat statements are presented.

Austrocylindropuntia vestita (Salm-Dyck) Backeb. (syn. Opuntia vestita Salm-Dyck) is for the first time recorded as naturalised in the Western Cape province in South Africa's Little Karoo, which is a recognised Centre of Endemism. This shrub-like species that has its branches densely enveloped in white, intertwined hairs is described and illustrated.

Aloe candelabrum A.Berger (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a stately, single-stemmed species from the KwaZulu-Natal province in eastern South Africa, which had been included in the synonymy of A. ferox Mill. for some years, is reinstated. The entire distribution range of A. candelabrum falls within the Maputoland-Pondoland Region of Endemism on the eastern seaboard of South Africa. In contrast, Aloe ferox occurs widely in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, the southern Free State province, as well as southern Lesotho. It does not occur in KwaZulu-Natal.

The presence of Kalanchoe leblanciae Raym.-Hamet (Crassulaceae) is confirmed in South Africa. We provide diagnostic characters to allow for the identification of a species which has previously been confused with K. sexangularis N.E.Br., K. paniculata Harv., K. rotundifolia (Haw.) Haw., K. longiflora Schltr. ex J.M.Wood, and K. brachyloba Welw. ex Britten.

A broad review of the history, discovery, characteristics, distribution, habitats and relationships of the shrubby Euphorbia mlanjeana is provided. On Mt. Mulanje (Malawi) where it was hitherto listed as endemic to mountain and country, E. mlanjeana occurs in four populations occupying similar habitats and sharing similar habitat conditions on granitic rocks: two foothill populations (The Crater and Ruo Gorge), one along the upper Likhubula/Lichenya path, and the highest-lying one on the Lichenya plateau. The trunk height and the length of the branches decreases with increasing altitude, which is related to the increasingly unfavourable climatic conditions. Recent molecular data (Bruyns et al., 2011) show E. mlanjeana to be closest to two other shrubby species (E. knuthii and E. waterbergensis) which are all three placed amongst arborescent species, suggesting that the shrubby habit may have evolved from arborescent ancestors. In addition, three localities in northeastern Mozambique recently discovered by P. V. Bruyns are reported, so that E. mlanjeana is no longer an endemic of Mt. Mulanje and can be enlisted for the Flora of Mozambique.

The taxonomy of Kalanchoe sexangularis N.E.Br. (Crassulaceae), a common southern Africa species, is clarified. We interpret K. sexangularis as consisting of two varieties, K. sexangularis var. sexangularis and K. sexangularis var. intermedia (R.Fern.) R.Fern. An amplified description is provided for the species and differences between the two varieties are noted. The type specimen, Thorncroft s.n. (K, holo-), which is to be associated with Kalanchoe sexangularis var. sexangularis, is established.

There are problems with previous attempts to define ‘cephalium’, such as via production of more hairs and spines, confluence of areoles, or periderm development at or underneath each areole after flowering. I propose using the term ‘cephalium’ only for a combination of these criteria, i.e. flowering parts of cacti that have confluent hairy or spiny areoles exterior to a thick periderm, where these hairs, spines, and periderms arise almost immediately below the shoot apical meristem, and with more hairs and spines on reproductive parts than on photosynthetic parts of the shoot. Periderm development and confluent areoles preclude photosynthesis of cephalia, which therefore lack or mostly lack stomata. There is almost always a discrete transition from photosynthetic vegetative tissues to a non-photosynthetic flower-bearing cephalium, both of which arise from the same shoot apical meristem. Cephalia have different phyllotaxy than vegetative parts of the shoot and appear to be on top of existing vegetative phyllotaxy. If flowering parts only have a subset of the above characteristics of cephalia, then I propose calling these structures ‘pseudocephalia’.

Tinospora fragosa is a succulentstemmed winter deciduous twiner from the dry savannah region of southern Africa. As found in most other Tinospora species when the plant becomes detached from the soil, it has the ability to grow a survival root (life line) during the growing season, re-establishing the plant. One of three South African species, it is at once distinguished by distinctly succulent branches up to 3–5cm in diameter with shortened lateral branches from which the abbreviated inflorescences appears. The others, T. caffra (Miers) Troupin and T. tenera Miers have much thinner stems, knobbly in T. caffra and striate in T. tenera. Both these species are confined to higher rainfall regions in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.

In continental Portugal, Sedum mucizonia (Ortega) Raym.-Hamet (Crassulaceae), a miniature, annual succulent, is known to occur especially in southern and central-western coastal areas, as well as along the central- and southeastern border between Portugal and Spain. Current records indicate that its northwestern-most limit in central Portugal is in the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros, in the province of Estremadura. With at least 35% of the Crassulaceae species known from Portugal having been recorded from this region, it is established as a significant present-day centre of diversity for the family in the country. In addition to a distribution map for S. mucizonia in central continental Portugal, illustrations of the species are provided for the various locations from which the species has been collected in that part of the country. We also establish beyond doubt the location of the type locality of S. mucizonia, which is at San Sebastian, near Puertollano in the province of Ciudad Real, in Spain.

During work for several current publication projects dealing with succulent plants, we encountered a nomenclatural problem in one case, and inconsistencies in the classification in some other cases. We take the liberty to offer brief notes to rectify the situations here.

Since Haworth 1803 and N.E. Brown 1928 the white flowers of Nelia have been described as permanent open (“Aduncainclaudentia”, “Sterropetalum”). They open only once and stay open. Petals and staminodes show special morphological characteristics that have not been found in other members of Aizoaceae and are obviously responsible for this special flower state.

The history of the genus Cleistocactus Lem. (Cactaceae) is reviewed and significant eras outlined. A conservative species concept has been employed to group the over 300 published names into 24 species and 3 heterotypic subspecies. A complete synonymy is given for each of the accepted species along with an expanded description, distribution maps, ecological region associations and a brief commentary. The descriptions are expanded from the respective protologues to include additional data observed both in the field and in ex-situ culture.

The valley of the Río Sandia (approx. 14° 20′S, 69° 30′W) on the eastern side of the Andes in the department of Puno, Peru is one of several valleys that descend from the high altiplano to the tropic lowlands of the Amazon basin. The cactus flora of the valley is poorly known, generally inconspicuous, yet significant for a number of reasons. It is the type and only known location for Lymanbensonia micrantha (Vaup.) Kimnach and a second locality for the recently described Echinopsis serpentinaM.Lowry & M.Mend. A further Echinopsis species encountered in the valley is herein described as new. Historical records of the cactus flora from the valley are outlined together with contemporary observations based on two visits by the author in 2008 and 2013.

A broad review of the history, discovery, introduction, taxonomy, nomenclature, distribution, habitats, ecology, and characteristics of Agave mitis (syn. A. celsii) is provided. A revised taxonomic concept is introduced: The invalidly published A. mitis var. albidior shows broad overlap in its diagnostic features (leaf colour and length of the tepal lobes) with A. mitis var. mitis and is therefore referred to the synonymy; no infraspecific taxa are recognized. A. ehrenbergii and A. goeppertiana are established as new synonyms. A neotype is designated for A. albicans. A. mitis is more widespread than previously known and occurs in the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo and Puebla; a distribution map is given.

A new Kalanchoe species, K. winteri Gideon F.Sm., N.R.Crouch & Mich.Walters, is described from rocky grasslands of the Wolkberg region of Limpopo province, South Africa. The species is closely allied to both K. thyrsiflora Harv. and K. luciae Raym.-Hamet, from which it is readily separable on vegetative and reproductive characteristics.

Up to now the Swiss botanist Peter Bally was considered to have discovered this very popular Sansevieria. However, the field journals from 1960 provided on the Internet within the framework of the “Werner Rauh Heritage Project” prove that today's S. ballyi had already been discovered three years earlier by Werner Rauh during an expedition through Kenya. Collections are kept at the Herbarium Heidelberg (HEID).

Dracaena transvaalensis is a lesser known arborescent succulent species endemic to the dolomite formation of the southern portion of Limpopo Province and a northern outlier of the Drakensberg Range. In the past it was regarded as a synonym of the widespread forest species D. aletriformis (Bos, 1992), commonly found in the eastern coastal portions of South Africa from the Eastern Cape to Limpopo Province of South Africa, but differences in habitat, vegetative and floral characteristics strongly support the reinstatement of D. transvaalensis as a distinct species.

Tylecodon florentii is described as a new distinctive obligate cliff dwelling species endemic to the upper south-facing reddish sandstone cliffs of the Kookrivier, NW of Eksteenfontein. It belongs to a group of Tylecodon species with tuberous roots and extended phyllopodia that occur in the northern Namaqualand (North Cape) parts of South Africa, confined to winter rainfall.