Nine species, i.e. C. fukuharae, C. geocarpa, C. gyrophylla, C. linjiangensis, C. lydica, C. ohii. C. ornata. C. podlechii, C. seisumsiana, 13 subspecies and 10 subdivisions of the genus Corydalis are described as new to science; nine combinations are formed as names new to science. A synopsis of the classification of the tuberous species of Corydalis is given.

Segregated from the genus Odontites (Scrophulariaceae, Rhinanthoideae) in its traditional, large sense, the four small genera Macrosyringion (with two species from Spain and S Balkans/Asia minor respectively), Odontitella (with one species from the Iberian Peninsula), Bornmuellerantha (with one species from Asia minor) and Bartsiella (with one species from Morocco) are recognized; of these, Bartsiella is described as genus new to science, based on Odontites rameauanus. Odontites s. str. is a natural but morphologically manifold taxon, which is characterized by its unique microreticulate pollen surface, representing an autapomorphy within the Rhinantheae. The genus is of W Mediterranean origin and comprises, in its revised circumscription, 26 species with 21 subspecies, which are mostly stenochoric endemics restricted to single islands or mountain massifs; only three species are widespread, their areas extending over several floristic regions: O. viscosus (from Morocco northeastwards to the Swiss Valais), O. luteus (Submediterranean-Central European-Pontic) and the Red Bartsia O. vernus (Eurasiatic). A taxonomic revision of the five genera is presented, including a general treatise of morphological and biological features, keys, synonymies, descriptions, distribution maps, notes on infraspecific variation, and illustrations of the species. Odontites citrinus from Tunisia is described as a species, O. viscosus subsp. lusitanicus as a subspecies new to science, and 10 names, i. e. Bartsiella rameauana, Odontites hispidulus, O. vulgaris subsp. mesatlanticus, O. vulgaris subsp. siculus, O. vulgaris subsp. himalayicus, O. linkii subsp. cyprius, O. maroccanus O. discolor subsp. ciliatus, O. squarrosus, and O. squarrosus subsp. foliosus, are formed as combinations new to science.

Aconitum pilipes is re-established as a separate species closely related to A. variegatum and A. degenii; its morphological differences, geographical distribution and chromosome number (2n = 16) are given, and the name A. pilipes is neotypified. By evidence from extensive studies of plants in the field and in cultivation, fertile hybrids of A. pilipes with A. variegatum and A. degenii, i. e. A. xaustriacum and A. xpilosiusculum, the latter name being neotypified, as well as sterile hybrids with A. napellus and A. tauricum are identified, and their morphological features and geographical distribution are presented.

Based on own extensive collections and field studies as well as on the material preserved in the relevant herbaria, the genus Festuca in the summit areas of two of the three districts of the N Apennines is revised. 16 species with three subspecies are recognized: of these, one species, F. riccerii, is described as new to science: F. halleri subsp. yvesii and F. billyi are reported for the first time from Italy, F. trichophylla subsp. asperifolia, F. cinerea, and F. gracilior for the first time from the N Apennines. A key to all taxa is provided; for each taxon a description and data on its distribution as well as ecology including phytosociology are given.

Dactylis metlesicsii, an endemic diploid species found in the Spartocytisus vegetation of Tenerife, is described as new to science; its differences to the Macaronesian endemic D. smithii, and to both the diploid W Mediterranean taxa of this genus and the widespread tetraploid Mediterranean D. hispanica are discussed.

In 1850, Parlatore named plants of Stipa sect. Leiostipa from both Greece and NW Africa S. fontanesii but actually two different species are involved. It is proposed to restrict the name S. fontanesii to the eastern species, which either may be included in S. holosericea as a synonym or may represent a subspecies, S. holosericea subsp. fontanesii, distributed from Greece to Asia Minor, whereas the NW African plants are described as a species new to science, named S. balansae. In addition, S. maroccana from Morocco is described as another species new to science.

Eragrostis rivalis, a riverside and coastal plant from the southwestern part of the former USSR, up to now wrongly identified with the Saharian E. aegyptiaca, is described as a species new to science. In desert regions of NE Africa E. aegyptiaca comprises two taxa, E. aegyptiaca subsp. aegyptiaca and subsp. humifusa; the latter subspecies is described as new to science.

Cyperus micropelophilus is described as a species new to science, illustrated, and compared to C. pelophilus and C. pseudohildebrandtii.

Allium daninianum, a member of the A. stamineum group, is described as a species new to science and illustrated. The new species is distributed in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Transjordan, where it grows mainly in shrub communities below c. 900 m. Up to date it has been mingled with A. stamineum s. str., a species from SW Turkey.

The known distribution area of Artemisia tournefortiana in Armenia is enlarged and the indigenousness of this species in Armenia concluded from its observed occurrence in associations of typical dry montane steppe elements. As an adventitous species, A. verlotiorum is reported for the first time from both Armenia and the Caucasus, and the chromosome number of Armenian plants (2n = 48) is given.

Elymus sect. Caespitosae and sect. Elytrigia in Iran are revised, a key to the taxa, synonymies, descriptions, quotation of selected collections, data on geographical distribution, and additional notes, where necessary, are presented. The genus is treated in a broad sense, as comprising the genera Elytrigia, Pseudoroegneria, Thinopyrum, Lophopyrum, and Trichopyrum. The combinations Elymus pertenuis, E. tauri var. kosaninii, E. elongatiformis, E. hispidus var. podperae and E. hispidus var. villosus are formed as names new to science. Elymus nodosus subsp. dorudicus and E. gentryi var. ciliatiglumis are described as subspecies and variety new to science, respectively.

The Australian taxon commonly treated as Pluchea tetranthera is revised and shown to represent a complex of three closely related endemic species, i. e. Pluchea tetranthera, P. ferdinandi-muelleri and P. dunlopii. P. dunlopii is described as a species new to science. A key to the three species, illustrations, descriptions and a distribution map are given and their chromosome numbers (2n = 10) are presented for the first time.

Morphological characters of fruits and seeds of 23 Cuban species are studied. The fruits consist of 1–5 small 1-seeded and modified follicles. The pericarp is made of a woody exocarp and a pergamentous to cartilaginous endocarp. Fruitlet dehiscence takes place slowly and the shiny dark seed persists in the dehisced follicle. In spite of some variability in the shape of fruitlets and seeds as well as in the mode of follicle dehiscence, fruitlets and seeds provide taxonomically relevant combinations of characters. There are differences in the mode of endocarp detachment (a full detachment in one group and a partial detachment in another one), and there are differences in the mode of dehiscence (“semivalvate” or “bivalvate”) as well as in the presentation of the seed (either hanging on the detached placenta and placentar bundle, or exposured by the exocarpic or endocarpic valves). These characters occur in combination with a specific shape of follicle and seed. For Cuban species five types are described. In the light of these results and in connection with the morphology of the gynoecia Engler's grouping system of the Zanthoxylum species with biseriate perianth is discussed.

The species richness of French Guiana is still imperfectly known. Based on an analysis of the entries in the ‘Flora of French Guiana database’, AUBLET, and the comparison with the checklist for the Guianas edited in 1992, its known flora grew richer within three years, from 1992 to 1994, by 308 new species and infraspecific taxa, i. e. at a rate of 5.9%. At present, the known flora of French Guiana consists of 5206 species and infraspecific taxa of higher plants (3662 dicotyledons, 1187 monocotyledons, 353 pteridophytes and 4 gymnosperms). The new records for French Guiana comprise 117 taxa already recorded from Surinam and/or Guyana, 92 taxa new for the three Guianas, 39 taxa new to science, 37 formerly doubtful and now confirmed records of taxa, and 23 new records of taxa of uncertain status. The vast majority of the new records is based on material collected within the last 30 years; two thirds come from the dense lowland forests, 60 % are trees, 30 % lianas and epiphytes, 10% terrestrial herbaceous plants.

A new locality of Arachnitis uniflora from a forest in the central Andes of Bolivia is described. Thus, the species, hitherto well known only from Patagonia, shows a remarkable disjunction probably caused by climatic changes at least 10–11 000 years BP. The different habitat conditions of the two populations are characterised. A first complete description, including micromorphological characters, of Bolivian specimens is given. A. uniflora has protandric bisexual flowers which show a considerable growth during anthesis. The morphological plasticity of A. uniflora is discussed in respect of the second species A. quetrihuensis, and attention is drawn to the position of Arachnitis within the Corsiaceae. A neotype of A. uniflora is designated.

More than 100 samples of East African non-marine waters of almost 100 years ago were rediscovered at B. They contain original material for the names of about 200 algal taxa, among them the diatom genera Gomphocymbella and Rhopatodia by O. Müller, the bluegreen genera Chondrogloea, Myxoderma as well as the green algal genera Botryomonas, Chaetonella and Characiella by W. Schmidle.