Onobrychis oshnaviyehensis sp. nov. (sect. Hymenobrychis, Fabaceae) from Iran

Onobrychis oshnaviyehensis (Fabaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species. This species, which belongs to the section Hymenobrychis , is confined to northwest Iran (Azarbaijan Province) and is only known from a single population close to the Turkish border.     

Aspalathus crewiana sp. nov. (Crotalarieae,Fabaceae) from the Western Cape Province,South Africa

A new species, Aspalathus crewiana is described and illustrated. It is closely similar to A. lenticula in the strongly rostrate keel petals and thorny leaflets, but differs in the subulate, spine‐tipped bracts, bracteoles and calyx lobes, presence of a pseudo‐peduncle and larger flowers. The new species, like A. lenticula, is placed in the Terminales group of A. subgenus Aspalathus. It is known from only two localities in the Western Cape where it was collected in Swartland Granite Renosterveld.     

Astragalus ansinii sp. nov. (Fabaceae) from Turkey, and a contribution to the sectional taxonomy

Astragalus ansinii A. Uzun, Terzioğlu & S. Palabaş-Uzun, a new species from northeast Anatolia is described and illustrated. It belongs to Astragalus sect. Hypoglottis Bunge, but the characters in combination do not match completely with this section because the legumes, leaves and calyces are glabrous. This local endemic is known from two adjacent localities with several individuals. Astragalus ansinii is morphologically most similar to A. viridissimus but differs mainly by indumentum, numbers of pairs of leaflets and seed shape together with metric data related to calyx, standard and peduncle. Nuclear ITS was analysed in both species and was found to be highly similar. In addition, the seed morphology, distribution, conservation status and ecology of both species are discussed.     

Astragalus sect. Trachycercis (Fabaceae) in Iran

A diagnostic key, and new data are provided for seven species of Astragalus sect. Trachycercis , which occur within the area covered by the Flora of Iran. Astragalus brevipedunculatus Ranjbar is described as new, and A. armeniacus Boiss. is reported as new for the flora of Iran. The micromorphology of the seed coat surface of ten Astragalus taxa has been studied by SEM. Considerably different types of sculpturing at species level and similarities between related taxa were observed. In addition, differences between A . sect. Trachycercis and the closely related sections A . sect. Erioceras and A. sect. Wettsteiniana are discussed. Astragalus durandianus , A. pseudoshebarensis and A. shebarensis , which all have strongly inflated pods, are transferred from A . sect. Erioceras to A. sect. Wettsteiniana. Astragalus brevipedunculatus sp. nov., described from a small region near Aras River in Iran, is the only geographically isolated species of the section. Members of the section prefer habitats from coastal dune climates of the Azarbaijan Sharqi Province to the Armenian and Azarbaijan frontiers, although possibly also growing in the adjacent southern parts of Armenia and Azarbaijan. Astragalus brevipedunculatus sp. nov. is the only species of the section in Iran and neighboring countries that has few pairs of leaflets and is completely glabrous. The new species should be considered as a 'Critically Endangered' (CR) following the IUCN criteria. A distribution map for A. brevipedunculatus and A. armeniacus is presented.     

Rhus neoglutinosa sp. nov. (Anacardiaceae) and Teclea borenensis sp. nov. (Rutaceae) from Ethiopia.

Two new species, Rhus neoglutinosa M. Gilbert (Anacardiaceae) and Teclea borenensis M. Gilbert (Rutaceae) are described in preparation for the forthcoming Flora of Ethiopia.     

Zingiberanamalayanum sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from India

Zingiber anamalayanum (Zingiberaceae), a new species from the southern western Ghats, India is described and illustrated. A phenetic analyses to assess the similarity indices and the uniqueness of the new species have been performed. A diagnostic key to Zingiber spp. in south India is provided.     

Diospyros korupensis sp. nov. and Diospyros onanae sp. nov. (Ebenaceae) from Cameroon

Diospyros korupensis Gosline is described as a new species endemic to the Korup National Park in Cameroon and neighbouring areas on the slopes of Mt Cameroon. Diospyros onanae Gosline is described as a new species from the South and Southwest Regions of Cameroon allied to the poorly known D. soyauxii Gürke & K. Schum. ex. Gürke.     

Coffeatoshii sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from Madagascar

A new species of Coffea from southern central Madagascar, C. toshii, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to C. buxifolia but differs due to its short, broad spreading habit (vs narrow habit), conspicuous domatia (vs inconspicuous), consistently red fruit (vs reddish purple to dull purple or red), longer fruiting pedicel (vs shorter), presence of bracts (vs absence) and occurrence at lower elevations (vs high elevation).     

Cheirostylis seidenfadeniana sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from India

Cheirostylis seidenfadeniana is described from Kerala in India. The new species appears to be related to C. parvifolia and shares some characteristics with C. thailandica and C. montana , but differs in floral characters.     

Vangueriopsis shimbaensis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from Kenya

A new species of Vangueriopsis from Kenya, V. shimbaensis, is described and illustrated. Notes on distribution, phenology and conservation are provided.     

Celastrus obovatifolius sp. nov. (Celastraceae) from China

A new bittersweet species, Celastrus obovatifolius X. Y. Mu & Z. X. Zhang (Celastraceae) is described from China. It is morphologically most similar to C. orbiculatus Thunb., but differs in having lamellate pith, obovate leaves, flower stalk with an articulation in its upper half, and terminal and axillary inflorescences. This is the first study using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to study the seed micromorphology of Celastrus L., which can provide valuable characters for species identification in the genus.     

Limonium cedrorum sp. nov. (Plumbaginaceae) from Lebanon

Limonium cedrorum Domina & Ramondo, a new species belonging to the L. palmare aggr., is described and illustrated from the inland near Becharre (Lebanon). Its relationships with morphologically close taxa are discussed. Limonium cedrorum differs from L. sieberi and L. postii mainly by looser inflorescences and larger flowers. It differs from L. galilaeum by longer outer bract and longer scale below the first inflorescence branch, few sterile branches, thicker base of the inflorescence and denser spikes, and from L. graecum by the shape of the inflorescence, longer basal internodes and the shape of the calyx.     

Phyllanthus brunelii sp.nov. (Euphorbiaceae) from Thailand

Phyllanthus brunelii Roux, a new shrubby species from Thailand is described. P. brunelii has apparently until now been confused with P. reticulatus Poir. Its pollen structure suggests affinities between the subgenera Kirganelia (A. Juss.) Webster and Gomphidium (Baill.) Webster.     

Hypericum scruglii sp. nov. (Guttiferae) from Sardinia

A new species of Hypericum (Guttiferae) from Sardinia, H. scruglii, is described and illustrated. It occurs on damp soil, near springs or streams with freshwater, where it grows with numerous hygrophytes. This diploid species (2n=16) belongs to the sect. Adenosepalum and is closely related to H. tomentosum, a species widespread in the west Mediterranean region.     

Raphiocarpus tamdaoensis sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from Vietnam

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Raphiocarpus tamdaoensis V. X. Phuong, D. T. Xuyen & Y. G. Wei, is described and illustrated from Vietnam. It is similar to R. asper (Drake) B. L. Burtt and R. evrardii (Pellegr.) B. L. Burtt, but is easily differentiated by leaf blades being ovate–elliptic or obovate, 4–10 × 1.5–3.5 cm, one cyme with only one flower, peduncle linear, 3.0–5.0 cm long, corolla light yellow, 3.0–4.5 cm long, and a pubescent ovary.     

Lysimachia huchimingii sp. nov. (Primulaceae) from China

A new species of Lysimachia (Primulaceae), L. huchimingii G. Hao & H. F. Yan from China is described and illustrated. It is morphologically compared to its most closely related species in Lysimachia subgen. Lysimachia sect. Nummularia ser. Paridiformes.