Two new species of Uvaria L. (Annonaceae), U. beccarii Attanayake, I. M. Turner & R. M. K. Saunders and U. curvistipitata Attanayake, I. M. Turner & R. M. K. Saunders, are described and illustrated from Borneo. Uvaria beccarii is closely allied to a Peninsular Malaysian species, U. curtisii King, from which it differs in having distinctively nonapiculate, obovoid monocarps with a blunt, irregularly muricate surface and fewer seeds per monocarp. Uvaria curvistipitata closely resembles U. javana Dunal from Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, as both species have a velutinous indument on many organs. Uvaria curvistipitata differs, however, in its red flowers and smaller, fewer-seeded globose to subglobose monocarps that are borne on longer, curved stipes. A new nomenclatural combination, U. clementis (Merr.) Attanayake, I. M. Turner & R. M. K. Saunders, is furthermore validated, based on the previously overlooked name Artabotrys clementis Merr., providing a legitimate name in Uvaria for the species. The names U. clementis and U. parviflora Hook. f. & Thomson are lectotypified here.

A new species of Euphorbiaceae from the Brazilian Amazon, Pera eiteniorum Bigio & Secco, is described and illustrated. This species is closely related to P. tomentosa (Benth.) Müll. Arg., P. membranacea Leal, and P. heteranthera (Schrank) I. M. Johnst., but can be distinguished from them by the following characteristics: the abaxial leaf surface with stellate trichomes and the blade midvein with stellate-lepidote trichomes, staminate flowers with the calyx glabrous or rarely with sparse, sericeous trichomes, and a well-developed rudimentary pistillate flower with a lageniform (flask-shaped) ovary, triangular stigma, and narrowly oblanceolate staminode. Affinities of the new taxon are discussed, and a key to morphologically similar species from Amazonian Brazil is presented.

During revisionary work on the genus Staurogyne Wall. (Acanthaceae) in the Neotropics, the need for typifications was apparent. Lectotypes are designated for S. anigozanthus (Nees) Kuntze, S. diantheroides Lindau, S. elegans (Nees) Kuntze, S. hirsuta (Nees) Kuntze, S. minarum (Nees) Kuntze, S. repens (Nees) Kuntze, and S. riedeliana (Nees) Kuntze. Neotypes are selected for S. eustachya Lindau, S. mandioccana (Nees) Kuntze, and S. veronicifolia (Nees) Kuntze.

A new species was detected while conducting a monographic study of Cohniella Pfitzer (Orchidaceae, Cymbideae, Oncidiinae). Cohniella croizatii Cetzal & Carnevali is newly described from material collected in the vicinity of Puerto Ayacucho and from the upper Orinoco, Amazonas State, Venezuela. The new species is illustrated and its affinities are discussed. The novelty is similar to C. cebolleta (Jacq.) Christenson from northern Venezuela and Colombia, but differs in the callus that consists of three large, apical teeth of more or less similar size that emerge directly from the labellum disk, with the two lateral teeth marginally serrate to dentate on the proximal half. In contrast, the callus in C. cebolleta is more complex, consisting of five teeth that emerge from a conspicuous central platform, and the central tooth is proportionately larger.

The new name Papaver setiferum Goldblatt (Papaveraceae) is proposed for P. pseudo-orientale (Fedde) Medw. (1918), which is a homonym for a plant of that name coined by E. G. Camus in 1898 for the hybrid P. orientale L. × P. lateritium K. Koch, described in detail but not named by J. R. Jungner in 1889.

The new species Bonamia jiviorum J. R. Grande (Convolvuloideae, Cresseae) is described and illustrated from northwestern Amazonas in Venezuela. This new taxon is morphologically similar to B. apurensis D. F. Austin. It is characterized by its relatively small, ovate-orbicular leaves that are densely rough-tomentulose over both surfaces and have a truncate to subcordate base and rounded to obtuse, mucronulate or minutely retuse apex; relatively lax, aphyllous infructescences with relatively short peduncles and relatively short, adpressed bracts; orbicular sepals; glabrous fruits crowned by copper-colored setose hairs; and densely pustulate, irregularly striate, conspicuously winged seeds. Bonamia jiviorum is known only from the vicinity of Puerto Ayacucho, over low-altitude granitic boulders known locally as lajas.

The new species Aspidistra pingtangensis S. Z. He, W. F. Xu & Q. W. Sun (Ruscaceae) is described and illustrated from Pingtang County, Guizhou Province, China. The new species is characterized by an urceolate, milk-white perianth with five or six blunt keels externally, stamen filaments that are ca. 1.2 mm long with the stamens inserted in the top third of the perianth tube, and stigmas that are ca. 4 mm diam. This contrasts with the related species A. fenghuangensis K. Y. Lang and A. urceolata F. T. Wang & K. Y. Lang. The former is characterized by an urceolate, pale yellow perianth, stamen filaments that are ca. 0.5 mm with the stamens inserted at the middle of perianth tube, and stigmas that are ca. 6 mm diam.; the latter is characterized by an urceolate, pale violet-red perianth with many purple speckles, stamen filaments that are ca. 0.2 mm with the stamens inserted at the base of the perianth tube, and stigmas that are ca. 1.5 mm diam. The new species can be classified into Aspidistra Ker Gawl. sect. Aspidistra ser. Fimbriatae G. Z. Li.

Asarum longirhizomatosum, originally described from Guanxi Province in China by C. F. Liang and C. S. Yang in 1975, was invalidly published in the original publication, because two collections were cited as type. The name is validated here by designating the collection Chao-Liang Zhang 002 (IBK 00190377) as the holotype.

Se describe e ilustra Jatropha mirandana J. Jiménez Ram. & K. Vega (Euphorbiaceae), especie nueva y endémica a la Depresión del Río Balsas. El nuevo taxón es similar a J. ciliata Sessé ex Cerv., pero difiere en presentar pecíolo, lámina foliar, pedúnculo e inflorescencia de menor tamaño, además de tener diferencias en el tipo de corteza, la forma de la hoja, y en el color y forma de la corola pistilada.

Se describe el género Balsas J. Jiménez Ram. & K. Vega con una especie nueva, B. guerrerensis Cruz Durán & K. Vega (Paullinieae, Sapindaceae), de la Depresión del Río Balsas en el estado de Guerrero, México. Balsas se distingue de Paullinia L., por presentar cápsulas septífragas carnosas con alas proximales, dehiscencia que inicia proximalmente, semillas sin arilo y polen hemitrisincolporado.

Three species of Calathea G. Mey. with distichous bracts, assigned to Calathea sect. Calathea (Marantaceae), are described as new from Panama: C. carlae H. Kenn., C. chiriquensis H. Kenn., and C. fredgandersii H. Kenn. All three are found in montane wet or cloud forest habitats at middle to higher elevations, 800–1400 m. Calathea carlae also occurs in Costa Rica, while the other two are endemic to Panama. Calathea carlae differs from related species by the leaf length:width ratios of 1.7–2.13:1, cream-colored bracts, claviculate bracteoles, yellow corollas, and yellow or pink-purple staminodes. Calathea chiriquensis is distinguished by the light green bracts, leaf length:width ratios of 1.3–1.56:1, absence of bracteoles, flowers borne singly rather than in pairs, and yellow flowers. Calathea fredgandersii is distinguished by the subround leaf, leaf length:width ratios of 1.15–1.55:1, a purple band along the leaf margin, a deep purple leaf sheath, verruculose petioles, white bracts, membranous bracteoles, white corollas, and white or pale pink to lilac staminodes.

A new species of Elatostema J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. (Urticaceae), E. oppositum Q. Lin & Y. M. Shui, belonging to section Weddelia (H. Schroet.) W. T. Wang ser. Stipulosa W. T. Wang, is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province, China. The new species was found on limestone rocks at altitudes of 1700–1940 m and differs from the other species in series Stipulosa by its paired staminate inflorescences that are opposite one another at the stem nodes (staminate inflorescences are solitary in the other species of Elatostema ser. Stipulosa) and by its pistillate inflorescences in pairs at the leaf base or opposite one another at the stem nodes (pistillate inflorescences are solitary in the other species of this series). The new species is related to E. nasutum Hook. f., but can be distinguished by its stems that are longitudinally striate, the paired staminate inflorescences opposite one another at the stem nodes, the pistillate inflorescences in pairs or opposite one another at the stem nodes, and the staminate flowers that are 5-merous.

Astragalus baerlukensis L. R. Xu, Zhao Y. Chang & Xiao L. Liu, a new species of Leguminosae, is described from northwestern Xinjiang, China. The new species is similar to A. ellipsoideus Ledeb. but differs by its notably long and filiform calyx teeth 6–8(−9) mm, oblong capitate racemes 2.5–3.5 cm long, and linear bracts 8–10 mm long. The latter taxon has shorter, subulate calyx teeth only to 3–4 mm, obovate capitate racemes 3–6 cm, and shorter, subulate-lanceolate bracts 5–6 mm long.

A new South American species of Solidago L. (Asteraceae, Astereae) from Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia was identified within the subsection Junceae (Rydb.) G. L. Nesom. Using multivariate analyses on a matrix of 50 characteristics for 79 specimens, the distinctiveness of a South American S. missouriensis-like taxon was tested and determined to be statistically different from four morphologically similar North American species: S. gattingeri Chapm. ex A. Gray, S. juncea Aiton, S. missouriensis Nutt., and S. pinetorum Small. Therefore, a new South American species is proposed: S. argentinensis Lopez Laph. & Semple.

Seven new species are described in Dioclea Kunth (Fabaceae, Diocleinae). Dioclea ovalis R. H. Maxwell is described from Colombia and assigned to series Dioclea. Within subgenus Dioclea, the new series Virgatae R. H. Maxwell is created, with the new species D. vallensis R. H. Maxwell included from Colombia. Two sections established by Bentham are raised to subgenera status, as the new combinations Dioclea subg. Pachylobium (Benth.) R. H. Maxwell and Dioclea subg. Platylobium (Benth.) R. H. Maxwell. Within subgenus Platylobium, D. hispidimarginata R. H. Maxwell is described from Peru. Within subgenus Pachylobium, four new species are described: D. apiculata R. H. Maxwell from Bolivia, D. circinata R. H. Maxwell from Colombia, D. haughtii R. H. Maxwell from Colombia and Venezuela, and D. jamesonii R. H. Maxwell from Ecuador. Dioclea macrocarpa Huber is designated as lectotype for Dioclea sect. Macrocarpon Amshoff.

The new species Cestrum sotonunezii Mont.-Castro (Solanaceae) is described from central Mexico. Because of their overall similarity, specimens of the new species have been previously confused with C. flavescens Greenm., C. aurantiacum Lindl., C. oblongifolium Schltdl., and C. thyrsoideum Kunth, all of which also occur in central Mexico. The new species is most similar to C. flavescens, but is clearly separated by several characteristics, mainly differences in the androecium. The new species is described and illustrated, and a key to distinguish morphologically similar species in central Mexico (Guerrero, Michoacán) is provided.

Recent studies on South American Hybanthus Jacq. s.l. (Violaceae) revealed the need to select a neotype for the name H. longistylus Schulze-Menz, the holotype of which was destroyed in Berlin during World War II.

A new genus, Ananthura H. Rob. & Skvarla (Asteraceae, Vernonieae), is described for Vernonia pteropoda Oliv. & Hiern in Oliv. of Central Africa. The genus has broad median shields on the involucral bracts and lophate, strongly tricolporate pollen. It is placed in the subtribe Gymnantheminae. The name V. urophylla Muschl. is lectotypified.

Fagopyrum qiangcai D. Q. Bai and F. wenchuanense J. R. Shao, two new species of Polygonaceae from Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, China, are described and illustrated. Fagopyrum qiangcai is closely related to F. esculentum Moench based on its leafy base, triangular leaves, and terminal or axillary racemes. The new species differs in having congested nodes at the base of the plant, triangular to oval terminal leaves with bright red veins, dense inflorescences, white punctate adaxial leaf surfaces, and an articulate pedicel. Fagopyrum qiangcai is diploid, 2n = 2x = 16, with a karyotype of 12 metacentric and four submetacentric chromosomes. Fagopyrum wenchuanense is closely related to F. gracilipes (Hemsl.) Dammer ex Diels but differs in its caespitose habit, the plants often with prostrate stems. Its leaves vary from broadly cordate to ovate to hastate or long hastate, the pedicels are basally puberulent, the stamens and pistils are variable in length, and the capsules are ellipsoid-triangular or broadly ovoid-triangular, 3–3.5 × 2.5–3 mm. Fagopyrum wenchuanense is diploid, 2n = 2x = 16, with a karyotype of 16 metacentric chromosomes.

The new species Epimedium yinjiangense M. Y. Sheng & X. J. Tian (Berberidaceae) is described from Guizhou Province, China. It is similar to E. acuminatum Franch. but differs in its chromosome count of 4n = 24, as well as in its leaves, flowers, and inflorescences.

A new species of Peperomia Ruiz & Pav., P. rivulamans Silverst. (Piperacaeae), is described from the Cauca Valley, Colombia. The new species is saxicolous and inhabits forested creek banks. It differs from all other known peltate-leaved species of Peperomia in the following combination of characters: rhizome creeping, with internodes very short (less than 1 cm); petioles very long (to 22 cm); leaves ovate, white on abaxial surface; inflorescences simple (not paniculate) and axillary; floral bracts mucronate, butterfly-shaped, imbricate at their corners, forming a roof above the fertile rachis, with openings for the ovary and anthers, each opening surrounded by four bracts; ovary turbinate, stigma bifid, apical; and fruits sessile, subclavate, not rostrate. Based on its morphology, the new species is placed in Peperomia subg. Tildenia Miq., but a published study of chloroplast DNA has shown that subgenus Tildenia is polyphyletic.

Alpinia oui Y. H. Tseng & Chih C. Wang, a new species of Zingiberaceae from southeastern Taiwan, is described and illustrated. This new species belongs to subgenus Alpinia Roxb. sect. Alpinia subsect. Catimbium (Horan.) R. M. Sm. It resembles A. zerumbet (Pers.) B. L. Burtt & R. M. Sm. in the shape and size of the flowers, but differs in the denser inflorescences and the dense brown pubescence of the capsules. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, this species is assessed as Vulnerable (VU D1), because its wild populations number less than 1000 individuals and are so far known from only one locality in southeastern Taiwan.

Quercus delgadoana S. Valencia, Nixon & L. M. Kelly (Fagaceae), a new species from the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, and Veracruz in the Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico, is described and illustrated. We discuss its morphological similarity to Q. eugeniifolia Liebm., Q. sapotifolia Liebm., Q. salicifolia Née, Q. laurina Bonpl., and Q. affinis Scheidw., with which it shares narrowly lanceolate leaves and fasciculate stipitate trichomes in the axils of the secondary veins on the underside of the lamina. A dichotomous key is provided to distinguish these species.

Memecylon pendulum Chih C. Wang, Y. H. Tseng, Y. T. Chen & Kun C. Chang, a new species of Melastomataceae from Taiwan, is described and illustrated. This new species is allied to M. lanceolatum Blanco but is clearly distinguished by its pendulous branchlets, smaller leaves to 7 cm long, shallowly 4-lobed calyx, obtuse or rounded apices of flower buds, and yellowish green fruit at maturity.

A new species, Elatostema recurviramum W. T. Wang & Y. G. Wei (Urticaceae), from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated, and its affinities are discussed. It most closely resembles E. cyrtandrifolium (Zoll. & Moritzi) Miq., from which it differs in the recurved stems and branches, the denticulate margin of the leaf apex, the larger, ovate stipules, the presence of densely distributed cystoliths on the blade midrib, and the glabrous, lineolate achenes. The new taxon was collected from a limestone cave and is considered to be Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN Red List criteria.

Two new species of Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae), A. ledongensis Han Xu, Y. D. Li & H. J. Yang and A. jianfenglingensis Han Xu, Y. D. Li & H. Q. Chen, are described and illustrated from Hainan Island, China. Aristolochia ledongensis differs from the similar A. championii Merr. & Chun and A. bambusifolia C. F. Liang ex H. Q. Wen by having the exterior of the calyx yellow (vs. yellowish green), a smaller basal portion of the calyx tube (15–16 × 4.5–5 mm vs. 30–70 × 7–10 mm), a narrower calyx limb (0.5–0.7 cm vs. 1.5–6 cm wide), and a shorter peduncle (0.7–1 cm vs. 1.8–5 cm). Aristolochia jianfenglingensis differs from the similar A. championii and A. bambusifolia by having the stems glabrous (vs. densely villous), the exterior of the calyx light red-brown (vs. yellowish green), a smaller basal portion of the calyx tube (23–26 × 5–6 mm vs. 30–70 × 7–10 mm), and a narrower calyx limb (0.8–0.9 cm vs. 1.5–6 cm wide). Aristolochia championii and A. bambusifolia have densely villous stems; the exterior of the calyx is yellowish green, with a larger basal portion of the calyx tube (> 30 × ca. 10 mm); the calyx limb is discoid and more than 15 mm wide; and the peduncle is longer than 18 mm. Both new taxa are assessed as Vulnerable (VU D2) according to IUCN Red List criteria.

The results of morphological observation and principal component analysis indicate that Groutiella laxotorquata (Müll. Hal. ex Besch.) Wijk & Margad. is conspecific with G. tomentosa (Hornsch.) Wijk & Margad. Furthermore, the names G. tomentosa, G. laxotorquata, and G. pobeguinii (Paris & Broth.) Wijk & Margad. are lectotypified.