The distribution pattern of the Alstroemeriaceae-Luzuriagaceae clade in the high-mountain regions of Central and South America is examined. This mountain region is divided into 23 geographic regions. The geographic regions are defined by geographic barriers, mostly stretches of lowland between mountains or deep valleys. The similarities of the species composition in the 23 geographic regions are analyzed using distance algorithm UPGMA. The geographic regions are treated like taxa, and the distributions of 143 species are treated as characters. The distribution pattern is compared with vegetation, climate, and geologic patterns. Several distribution boundaries are identified, some are ecological, others geographic. The two most important distribution boundaries are (1) between Brazilian coastal mountains and the Andes (geographic) and (2) between the Chilean/Argentinean Andes and the Andes north of Argentina (ecological—the axis of maximal dryness). The first two regions are dominated by Alstroemeria species, the last by Bomarea. In the Tepui region of Venezuela and Brazil almost no Alstroemeriaceae species occur. The center of species diversity for Bomarea is in southern Ecuador/northern Peru; a second small center of diversity is the cordilleras of Costa Rica and northern Panama. In the first region, the eastern mountains of Brazil and surrounding lowlands, around 39 Alstroemeria species and 1 Bomarea species occur. In the Chilean/Argentinean Andes, 37 Alstroemeria species can be found but only 2 Bomarea species. In the more northern Andes, around 115 Bomarea species occur, but only 3 Alstroemeria species. In the Andes, where six barriers can be identified, only two cannot be explained ecologically—one is geographic and one remains unexplained.

This paper supplements the treatment of the genus Potentilla in China beyond the Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (Yü and Li, 1985) and the partly revised English edition Flora of China (Li et al., 2003). The present remarks concern taxonomic problems of rather difficult groups of species; generic delimitation; the names of sections, species, and varieties, and their descriptions and distributions; and identification keys. Yü and Li (1985) dealt with 83 Chinese species of Potentilla. In the present paper, another 30 species growing in China are added. Most remarks and supplements here refer to the partly revised English edition by Li et al. (2003).

Abstract. The most ancient evidence of the existence of the avocado tree (Persea americana, Lauraceae) in Mesoamerica is about 10,000 years ago in Coaxcatlan, Puebla (Mexico). Since then, the history of the avocado has been preserved and recorded in Mesoamerica, the domestication center for the species, and in northern South America, where pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures dispersed it. In colonial times, the Spanish valued the avocado fruit highly and documented it in numerous texts. Since then, the avocado tree has been introduced into places where the climate is appropriate for its cultivation. Avocado is now the fourth most important tropical fruit in the world, and Mexico is the main producer, with more than one million metric tons produced in 2005.

Resumen. La evidencia más antigua de la presencia del aguacate (Persea americana, Lauraceae) en Mesoamérica es de hace 10,000 años, en Coaxcatlán, Puebla (México). Desde entonces, la historia del aguacate ha sido documentada en Mesoamérica, su centro de domesticación, y en el norte de Sudamérica, en donde fue dispersado por las culturas que habitaron en Mesoamérica en la época pre-Hispánica. En el tiempo de la Colonia, los españoles apreciaron esta fruta y la documentaron en numerosos textos. Desde entonces el aguacate ha sido introducido en los lugares donde el clima es apropiado para su desarrollo. Actualmente el aguacate es la cuarta fruta tropical más importante en el mundo y México es el principal productor con más de un millón de toneladas métricas producidas en el año 2005.

This paper includes a synopsis of the classification of North American Salix, distribution maps outlining their general range in North America north of Mexico, and two new combinations: Salix columbiana and S. famelica.

This study addresses one aspect of traditional environmental knowledge in Ireland: remembered and currently practiced folk medicine in the Gaeltacht region of County Kerry. Two aims were to research women's knowledge of medicinal plants there and to understand reasons for continuation or discontinuation of transmission of knowledge of those remedies. Forty-five Irish women collectively described a multi-faceted folk medical tradition. Knowledge of plants used as medicine varied in quantity and depth amongst the people who were interviewed. Forty-seven plant species were described as ingredients of “old-time cures.” In the context of this study, knowledge of medicinal plants is linked to environmental and botanical knowledge because the majority of plant ingredients were described as obtained from the wild or from a local garden. Informants viewed their knowledge of medicinal plants as cultural or practical, rather than vital to their survival. This is due to a local improvement in the quality and accessibility of modern scientific medical treatment, also referred to as biomedicine. Change in the economy has influenced the content of participants' knowledge of plant remedies; that knowledge has shifted from traditional medicine sourced from the environment to over-the-counter and plant-based remedies purchased at a store. When the ability to recognize and select plants for medicine from the outdoors becomes nonessential, the corresponding environmental knowledge is endangered.

Arabis elgonensis (Brassicaceae), a new species from Mount Elgon, Uganda, is described and illustrated. Its distinguishing characters from the other species of Arabis are discussed.

Macaranga daviesii is described from the 2005 Kaijende Highlands Expedition. The new species is distinguished from other congeners in the Longistipulata complex primarily by its unusual leaves and by the solitary pistillate flowers.

Descurainia kenheilii (Brassicaceae), a new species from the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, is described and illustrated. Its distinguishing characters from the remaining North American species of the Descurainia are discussed.

New information is presented for the rarely collected Schradera ledermannii, S. novoguineensis, and S. schlechteri, including previously unknown details of their morphology, distribution, and ecology. Two of the species are depicted by color photographs.

Abstract. Luxemburgia mysteriosa, a new species from Alto Misterioso in the saxicolous forest on an inselberg of Espírito Santo, Brazil, is described, illustrated, and compared with L. polyandra and L. glazioviana, similar species. According to the criteria of the IUCN Red List of Endangered Plant Species, this species is classified in the critically endangered category.

Resumo. Luxemburgia mysteriosa, uma nova espécie originária das matas saxícolas de um inselberg no Alto Misterioso, Espírito Santo, Brasil, é descrita, ilustrada e comparada com L. polyandra e L. glazioviana, duas espécies semelhantes. De acordo com os critérios da Lista Vermelha de Espécies Ameaçadas da IUCN, essa espécie foi enquadrada na categoria criticamente em perigo.

The following nomenclatural adjustments are proposed for Draba to make the names available for the forthcoming account of the Brassicaceae in the Flora of North America. Three new species of Draba (D. abajoensis, D. malpighiacea, and D. santaquinensis) are described, and two new combinations (D. bifurcata and D. serpentina) are validated. Notes on the delimitation, distribution, or typification of D. corrugata, D. cyclomorpha, D. demareei, D. helleriana, D. lemmonii, D. longisquamosa, D. novolympica, D. oreibata, D. paysonii, D. petrophila, D. saxosa, D. spectabilis, and D. viridis are presented. Draba helleriana var. blumeri, D. paysonii var. treleasii, and D. spectabilis var. glabrescens are reduced to synonymy under D. petrophila, D. novolympica, and D. abajoensis, respectively.

The new combinations Descurainia brevisiliqua and D. nelsonii (Brassicaceae) are proposed. Detailed descriptions and distributions are given, and the characters distinguishing them from their nearest relatives in previous classifications (D. obtusa and D. pinnata, respectively) are discussed.

The genus Sandbergia (Brassicaceae) is established, and detailed descriptions of the genus and its two species, as well as a key to species, are provided. The new combination S. perplexa is proposed. The characters distinguishing Sandbergia from other members of the tribe Boechereae are discussed.

The tribes Dontostemoneae and Malcolmieae (Brassicaceae) are proposed, and their component genera are listed. The tribe Buniadeae is re-established. Tribal limits for Anchonieae, Chorisporeae, and Euclidieae are revised. A key to all the tribes with multicellular glands is given.

Abstract. For the Antilles, around 50 species of the genus Ilex have been described. Recently, comments regarding the unclear status of some taxa have come to light. In addition, some species considered endemics to specific islands, have been reported on other islands. The aim of the present work is to contribute to solving such problems through a comparative study of the species that inhabit the islands of the region, taking into account the macromorphological aspects, especially of the sexual structures, such as inflorescences, flowers, fruits, and seeds. More than 1500 specimens belonging to about 20 herbaria of Europe and America were critically studied. For the Antilles a total of 32 species, 6 varieties, and 2 subspecies (without counting the typical ones) of Ilex are recognized. Some taxa are revalidated, and new synonyms are proposed. For Cuba, 16 species (9 endemics) are recorded; for Hispaniola, 15 species (7 endemics); for Jamaica, 8 species (4 endemics); for Puerto Rico, 8 species (1 endemic); for the Bahamas, 3 species; and for the Lesser Antilles, 4 species. Data concerning phenology, ecology, and the distribution of each species, as well as comments about specific taxonomic problems, are offered.

Resumo. Para Las Antillas han sido descritas alrededor de 50 especies del género Ilex. Con el paso del tiempo han sido expuestos comentarios sobre el status dudoso de algunos taxa. Por otro lado algunas especies, consid-eradas endémicas para algunas islas, han sido reportadas para otras. El principal objetivo del presente trabajo fue contribuir a solucionar estos problemas taxonómicos a través de un estudio comparativo de las especies que existen en cada una de las islas de la región teniendo en cuenta los aspectos macromorfológicos, fundamentalmente de las estructuras sexuales: inflorescencias, flores, frutos y semillas. Fueron estudiados críticamente más de 1500 especimenes pertenecientes a más de 20 herbarios de América y Europa. Para esta región se reportan en este documento un total de 32 especies, 6 variedades y 2 subespecies de Ilex. Se proponen nuevos sinónimos y algunos taxa son revalidados. Se reportan 16 especies (9 endémicas) para Cuba; 15 especies (7 endémicas) para La Española; 8 especies (4 endémicas) para Jamaica; 8 especies (1 endémica) para Puerto Rico; y para Las Bahamas y Las Antillas Menores se reportan 3 y 4 especies, respectivamente. En el presente documento se ofrecen datos relacionados con la fenología, la ecología y la distribución altitudinal de cada especie, así como comentarios acerca de problemáticas taxonómicas específicas.

The validity of Cypripedium franchetti, as described by E. H. Wilson in 1912, and subsequent typification by P. Cribb in 1997 are discussed. We conclude that Wilson's description is valid, but that the material cited by Cribb was not part of the original material and, therefore, that his usage of the term holotype cannot be construed as an error for a lectotype or epitype. We therefore propose a lectotype based on the photographic illustration within the protologue, which is part of the original material, and an epitype based on a herbarium specimen collected by Wilson in 1907.