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The study of wild and cultivated material of Trimelopter from the Northern Cape province of South Africa revealed an undescribed species that shows a unique syndrome of morphological characters. We here describe Trimelopter cordifolium based on plants approaching T. psammophorum but differing in its small, cordate, psammophorous leaf, shorter inflorescence and pedicels, smaller flowers and bracts, and more prominently sculptured ovary. We provide a complete morphological description as well as data on ecology and distribution. We also report new data and illustrations of T. psammophorum, which complement its scarce description in the protologue.

Our field work in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa revealed an undescribed species of Austronea, which approaches A. marginata and related species, but differs in distinct morphological characters and distribution. We here describe Austronea oblongifolia to include plants showing bulbs with compact scales; a single, oblong, apiculate leaf that is appressed to the ground, and is minutely scabridulous on the upper surface with undifferentiated leaf margin; inflorescence subcapitate with a short peduncle; lowermost bracts with a broad spur; and reddish flowers with smooth filaments. We provide a complete morphological description, as well as data on ecology and distribution.

A new nothospecies, Teucrium × murcigerum, is described which comes from the hybridisation between two species of section Polium: Teucrium murcicum (subsect. Polium) and Teucrium lanigerum (subsect. Simplicipilosa), both endemic to SE Iberian Peninsula. This appears to be the first report of natural intersubsectional hybridisation between T. subsect. Polium and subsect. Simplicipilosa. A morphological description is reported, emphasizing the main diagnostic characters which allow separation from its parental taxa. Additionally, data on its biology, ecology and distribution are also presented, as well as relationships to other related nothospecies produced by its parentals.

Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of Hyacinthaceae subfamily Ornithogaloideae, we present two new combinations in Eliokarmos for South African species, and five new combinations in Loncomelos for taxa occurring in Iran and Iraq. Details on the concerned types are given, and a new lectotype is designated.

Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of subfamily Urgineoideae based on morphological, genetic and phytogeographic data covering numerous samples from its whole range of distribution, we here describe a new genus and species from Pella se Berge in northwestern South Africa. Triandra gen. nov. is easily characterized by the absence of stamens associated with the outer tepal whorl, therefore having only three stamens per flower, a character previously unknown in Hyacinthaceae. Triandra pellabergensis sp. nov. produces hypogeal bulbs with filiform proteranthous leaves, spurred bracts, lax racemes with few, nodding, nocturnal flowers and erect capsules with the withered tepals persisting atop. The new species resembles Urginea revoluta in general morphology, although this latter species has six stamens per flower, a different seed morphology, a distinct phytogeographic pattern, and a distant phylogenetic relationship. A complete morphological description is presented for the new genus and species, including data on its biology, ecology and distribution.

The Desfontaines’s name Cistus heterophyllus is discussed and lectotypified on a specimen preserved at P (Museum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris). In addition, the lectotype of its hybrid C. ×clausonii (C. heterophyllus × C. albidus) is designated from the original material preserved at MPU (Institut de Botanique, Université de Montpellier II).

The typification of 20 names in the genus Tamarix is revised. All the names were described from material collected in the Iberian Peninsula and most of them were described by Carlos Pau, Frère Sennen and their collaborators (one name—Tamarix hispanica—was described by Pierre Edmond Boissier). The revision includes the correction of the type status of 10 names, second-step lectotype designation for 3 names (Tamarix brachylepis, T. celtiberica, and T. uncinatifolia), designation of 5 lectotypes (T. esperanzana var. majoriflora, T. hieronymi, T. longebracteolata, T. matritensis, and T. theodori), and the designation of a neotype (T. malacitana).

Hyacinthaceae subfam. Ornithogaloideae (= tribe Ornithogaleae of Aparagaceae sensu APG 2009, 2016, Chase et al. 2009) includes about 300 species of bulbous plants mainly distributed throughout Europe, Africa and south-west Asia. The latest comprehensive study in Ornithogaloideae (Martínez-Azorín et al. 2011) demonstrates the existence of 19 monophyletic genera which are characterised by a clear syndrome of morphological characters related to biogeographic patterns.

Among the recently described genera in Hyacinthaceae subfamily Urgineoideae (= Asparagaceae subfam. Scilloideae tribe Urgineeae), Austronea Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo, M.Pinter & Wetschnig in Martínez-Azorín et al. (2018: 105) includes 20 species restricted to southern Africa (Martínez-Azorín et al. 2018, 2019a, 2019b). Some such species were traditionally included in Urginea Steinheil (1834: 321) or Drimia Jacq. ex Willdenow (1799: 165) sensu lato and resemble those of Fusifilum Rafinesque (1837: 27), a phylogenetic relationship supported by molecular data (Martínez-Azorín et al. in prep.). However, species of Austronea are easily identified by a unique syndrome of morphological characters, the most characteristic being the subcorymbose or congested raceme that commonly nods during early developmental stages, the green to yellowish ovary (in contrast to the white gynoecium of Fusifilum) and the tetrahedrally folded seeds with narrowly winged angles (see Martínez-Azorín et al. 2018).

A new species of the southern Africa endemic genus Eliokarmos, that includes the well-known chincherinchees, is described from the vicinity of Kotzesrus, Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Eliokarmos humanii sp. nov. is unique in the genus based on its single, slightly fleshy, suborbicular, convex leaf with ciliate margin, and the short subspiciform inflorescence with almost sessile flowers. A complete description is presented for this species, and data on morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported. In addition, Ornithogalum richtersveldensis, recently described from northwestern South Africa, is transferred to Eliokarmos based on its morphology and biogeography, and a new combination is presented for this species in the latter genus.

Nomenclatural types of eleven names of Paniceae described from the Old World are indicated and discussed. This includes designation of ten new types (i.e. four lectotypes, one second-step lectotype, three epitypes and two neotypes) for names currently accepted at different ranks in Cenchrus, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Oplismenus and Setaria. Furthermore, seven new combinations of infrageneric groups are also validated in Cenchrus (namely C. sect. Beckeropsis, C. sect. Brevivalvula, C. sect. Dactylophora, C. sect. Gymnotrix, C. sect. Kikuyuochloa, C. sect. Penicillaria, and C. sect. Pleurostigma) to accommodate the representatives of that genus occurring in the Iberian Peninsula and the Old World.

Two new rupicolous species of Pinguicula are described from the limestone and dolomitic mountain ranges of central and southern Iberian Peninsula, which were previously identified as P. submediterranea, P. mundi or P. dertosensis. First, the name P. tejedensis sp. nov. is applied to populations concealed to the high elevation areas of Sierra de Tejeda and Sierra de Almijara, in Granada Province (Andalusia, southern Iberian Peninsula). They resemble P. submediterranea, a name here revived for the Subbetic populations of Jaen Province, but its floral features, fruits and seeds allow easy differentiation. Second, P. casperiana is proposed to name populations occurring in the medium to high elevation areas of Serranía de Cuenca, between Cuenca and Guadalajara Provinces (Castilla-La Mancha, central-eastern Iberian Peninsula). Members of the Castillian species are closer to P. dertosensis and also akin to P. mundi, but again their floral features, fruits and seeds allow safe recognition. Both species are significantly different to each other and with regard to their morphologically close relatives, and they also show molecular divergences that support recognition at species rank. Data on morphological traits, ecology, distribution, biogeography and phylogenetic relationships are also presented.

In the framework of a revision of the Iberian Paniceae Brown (1814: 582) for the Flora iberica project, we came across the aggregate of the “Natal grass”, Melinis repens (Willdenow 1797: 322) Zizka (1988: 55), a group of annual to short-lived perennial grasses being native and widely distributed in Tropical Africa, Arabian Peninsula, India, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands. Only M. repens s.str. is currently naturalised in the Mediterranean basin, America, Australia, southeastern Asia and the Pacific Islands, where it was mostly introduced for ornamental use, forage or stabilization and cover on disturbed sites, and has become an invasive alien species (Kaufman 2012).

In the frame of a taxonomic revision of Hyacinthaceae subfamily Urgineoideae (Asparagaceae tribe Urgineeae) combining morphological and genetic data from numerous samples across its whole range of distribution, we here present a taxonomic revision of Geschollia, a genus originally accepted as monotypic to include G. anomala. This genus was characterized by the single, synanthous, terete leaf; long racemose inflorescence; tepals connate for ca. 1 mm and reflexed at anthesis; spreading to patent stamens; and small polygonal seeds. Our morphological studies in combination with phylogenetic analyses evidence that Geschollia is indeed a strongly supported monophyletic group, which includes eight species matching most of the features cited above. In this context, we here describe five new species in this genus and accordingly expand the original characterization of Geschollia to accommodate these new taxa. Furthermore, two new combinations are presented for previously described species. An identification key is provided for all accepted species in the genus.

Fourteen names of North African taxa belonging to Biscutella ser. Biscutella (= ser. Lyratae Malin.), and described by Candolle, Willdenow and Maire, are typified here as a first step towards a taxonomic revision of that series. Lectotypes are designated from syntypes and original material conserved in the herbaria B and MPU: additionally, two epitypes are also designated. Furthermore, some historical comments are reported to support each type selection.

Scilla undulata Desfontaines (1792: 161) was described for plants occurring in Barbary, namely on the northern coastal areas of Tunisia and Algeria. The name has been applied to hysteranthous plants with undulate, glabrous leaves; inflorescence long racemose, usually loose; flowers pedicellate, stellate, with small, shortly spurred, deciduous bracts; perigone lobes linear to subspatulate, shortly fused at base, pinkish with a darker central band; capsules subquadrate to obovate-elliptic in outline, trigonous, appressed to the axis; seeds numerous, blackish, shinning, flattened, broadly winged (Maire 1958, Rico 2013). It is widespread mostly in the low land of the southern Mediterranean basin, from western Morocco to the Middle East, extending to southeastern Iberian Peninsula, Corsica and Sardinia (McNeill 1980, Tison & Foucault 2014, Bartolucci et al. 2018).

As part of a taxonomic revision of tribe Urgineeae, and informed by morphological and phylogenetic evidence obtained in the last decade, we present 17 new combinations in Austronea, Indurgia, Schizobasis, Tenicroa, Thuranthos, Urgineopsis, and Vera-duthiea. These are for taxa recently described in Drimia sensu latissimo or otherwise named during the past century. We include type information for all considered taxa and designate lectotypes for Drimia pauciflora, Urginea salmonea and U. sebirii. We discuss recent analytic and synthetic approaches to taxonomic arrangements for the Urgineeae and reinforce the support of an analytic treatment that recognises several genera characterised by distinct syndromes of morphological characters, biogeography and molecular evidence.

Limonium latebracteatum is a plant species from the central and northeastern Iberian Peninsula, characterised by an inner bract wider than long, glaucous leaves, and wide petioles, which belongs to the Limonium delicatulum group. The L. delicatulum group is a complex group formed by around fifteen Iberian and Balearic species, including endemisms with narrow distributions, which is highly diversified in the Mediterranean territories of the Iberian Peninsula. The species in that group are similar each other and occasionally they are not well-delimited morphologically. In this framework, a taxonomic revision of L. latebracteatum and close species in the Iberian Peninsula has been carried out to clarify the taxonomy of L. latebracteatum and L. carpetanicum. This revision has been based on morphological features and supported by ordination analyses such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). In addition, a classification tree was performed to support these analyses. As a result of this study, L. latebracteatum has been separated in two different species: L. latebracteatum and L. admirabile, a new species endemic to Albacete province which is described here. Finally, a diagnostic key is provided for the L. delicatulum group to allow identification of the species in this group.

In the course of resolving the identity of plants usually named ‘Drimia indica’ from KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, molecular and morphological data revealed the identity of more than one taxon carrying this name. Our studies support the establishment of a new urgineoid genus, Zingela gen. nov., to accommodate a species (Z. pooleyorum) collected and illustrated some 50 years ago, but never validly published. We here provide data on its morphology, ecology, and distribution.

Asparagaceae subfamily Scilloideae, tribe Hyacintheae is alternatively regarded as Hyacinthaceae subfam. Hyacinthoideae, a treatment we favour. Additional information on generic circumscriptions in Hyacinthoideae can be found in Martínez-Azorín et al. (2013, 2014a, 2014b), Pinter et al. (2013) and Wetschnig et al. (2014). The genus Massonia Houttuyn (1780: 424) belongs to tribe Massonieae of Hyacinthoideae (Speta 1998a, 1998b, Wetschnig et al. 2002, Pfosser et al. 2003, Manning et al. 2004) and is confined to South Africa and southwestern Namibia. Our studies in Massonia reveal that the taxonomy of the genus, as presented in recent revisions, is not satisfactory and several species concepts have been overlooked and misunderstood (Martínez-Azorín et al. 2013, 2014a, 2014b, 2015a, 2015b, 2017, 2018, Pinter et al. 2013, 2015, Wetschnig et al. 2012, 2014, 2016). Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of Massonia, the study of herbarium vouchers in the main South African herbaria and natural populations, revealed the existence of some populations of Massonia growing in the surroundings of Elands Bay (Western Cape Province of South Africa), that represent an undescribed species based on a distinct combination of morphological features, especially regarding flower morphology which show permanently erect perigone segments at anthesis, being unique in the genus. These plants were first collected by W.F. Barker in August 1966 in fruit near Elands Bay and after cultivating them at Kirstenbosch in the following 2 years, Barker deposited 4 herbarium vouchers including plants in flower and fruit, and also photographs of the plants. Barker left the plants unnamed in the original collection in fruit in August 1966 but later, after seeing flowers in cultivation, she named the plants as "Polyxena? Massonia?" evidencing her doubts on their generic placement in June 1968. Finally she recognized it as a new species as "Massonia? inaequalis Barker ms." in May 1969. However, this na

As part of a taxonomic revision of Urgineeae, combining morphological and genetic data from numerous samples from a large range of its distribution, here we describe Austronea, a new genus from South Africa and southern Namibia. This genus is related to Fusifilum based on general inflorescence and flower morphology, but it differs from it by the leaves usually leathery and sometimes thickened; the capitate to subcorymbose raceme commonly nodding at early developing stages; the reddish to green-yellowish tepals, rarely white (see flower buds), which are usually connate at the base to form a distinct cup and patent free lobes, rarely tepals nearly free from the base; the filaments linear to lanceolate, smooth or rarely papillate below; and the ovary green to yellow-orange. These differences are also supported by our genetic studies (not shown) in which Fusifilum and Austronea form two well supported sister clades. Seven new species of Austronea are described from South Africa and Namibia and 11 new combinations in the genus are presented. An identification key is provided for all 18 accepted species in the new genus.

Asparagaceae subfamily Scilloideae, tribe Hyacintheae is alternatively regarded as Hyacinthaceae subfam. Hyacinthoideae. Additional information on generic circumscriptions in Hyacinthoideae can be found in Martínez-Azorín et al. (2013, 2014a, 2014b), Pinter et al. (2013) and Wetschnig et al. (2014). The genus Massonia Houttuyn (1780: 424) belongs to tribe Massonieae of Hyacinthoideae (Speta 1998a, 1998b, Wetschnig et al. 2002, Pfosser et al. 2003, Manning et al. 2004) confined to South Africa and southwestern Namibia. Our studies in Massonia reveal that the taxonomy of the genus, as presented in recent revisions, is not satisfactory and several species concepts have been either overlooked or misunderstood (Wetschnig et al. 2012, 2014, Martínez-Azorín et al. 2013, 2014a, 2014b, 2015a, 2015b, 2017, Pinter et al. 2013, 2015). Neobakeria Schlechter (1924: 149) was characterized as having uniseriate filaments which are distinctly connate above the perigone, and included 7 species placed by Baker in Polyxena Kunth (1843: 294) subgenus Astemma Baker (1897: 419) such as Neobakeria angustifolia (Linnaeus 1782: 193) Schlechter (1924: 150); N. burchellii (Baker 1897: 420) Schlechter (1924: 150); N. comata (Baker 1897: 419) Schlechter (1924: 150); N. haemanthoides (Baker 1888: 1727) Schlechter (1924: 150); N. marginata (Baker 1897: 420) Schlechter (1924: 150); N. namaquensis Schlechter (1924: 150) and N. rugulosa (Baker 1897: 420) Schlechter (1924: 150), N. namaquensis being the type (Müller-Doblies & Müller-Doblies 1997). Two additional species were later described in this genus, as Neobakeria heterandra Isaac (1939: 729) and N. visseriae Barnes (1933: 72). All Neobakeria species are currently placed in Massonia or in Daubenya Lindley (1835: 1813), except Neobakeria visseriae. Schlechter (1924) related his new genus Neobakeria to Polyxena and Massonia, but he differenced Polyxena by the biseriate and almost free filaments above the perigone and Massonia by the uniseriate filam

Asparagaceae (subfamily Scilloideae, tribe Hyacintheae) is alternatively regarded as Hyacinthaceae subfam. Hyacinthoideae, an option of our choice. Additional information on generic circumscriptions in Hyacinthoideae can be found in Martínez-Azorín et al. (2013, 2014a, 2014b), Pinter et al. (2013) and Wetschnig et al. (2014). The genus Massonia Houttuyn (1780: 424) occurs in South Africa and in southwestern Namibia and it belongs to subfamily Hyacinthoideae, tribe Massonieae (Speta 1998a, 1998b, Wetschnig et al. 2002, Pfosser et al. 2003, Manning et al. 2004). Originally, this genus was described to include a single species, Massonia depressa Houttuyn (1780: 424). However, botanical exploration of South Africa in the nineteenth century led Baker (1897) to accept 33 species in the genus. Recent studies in Massonia reduced the number of accepted species to 6 (van der Merwe 2002, Manning & Goldblatt 2003, Summerfield 2004), 8 (Jessop 1976), 12 (Müller-Doblies & Müller-Doblies 1997), or 14 (Species-2000 2017). Our studies on Massonia revealed that the taxonomy of the genus, as accepted in recent revisions, is not satisfactory and several species have been overlooked and misunderstood (Wetschnig et al. 2012, 2014, 2016, Martínez-Azorín et al. 2013, 2014a, 2014b, 2015a, 2015b, Pinter et al. 2013, 2015). Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of Massonia, the study of natural populations, cultivated material as well as herbarium vouchers, revealed existence of some populations of Massonia growing on gypcrete outcrops in Knersvlakte (Western Cape Province) that represent a distinct undescribed species based on clear morphological characters, ecology, and biogeography. Therefore, a formal description for this species, named Massonia gypsicola, is presented below including data on morphology, habitat, biology and distribution.

Lamiaceae is one of the most diversified families in the Mediterranean basin. In particular, the Iberian Peninsula and Northern Africa concentrate about one third of the described taxa (Greuter & al. 1989, Navarro & al. 2002), many of which are endemics with very narrow distribution areas.

The name Salicornia cuscoensis given to a plant from high Andean saltmarshes near Cusco [Cuzco] and Ayacucho, Peru (South America) is validated by a diagnosis and description. The main morphological characters that separate S. cuscoensis from other closely related species are creeping habit, delicate branches, inflorescence of short and thin spikes, and seed indumentum. The new species clearly differs from other perennial Salicornia taxa growing in high Andean saltmarshes such as S. pulvinata and S. andina. The former forms small compact cushions producing very short, few-flowered inflorescences. The latter shows woody stems and forms larger rounded carpets. Morphologically, S. cuscoensis is also similar to S. magellanica, a species growing along the seashore in southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, but the latter has shorter and wider inflorescences and larger seeds with a different type and arrangement of indumentum. Molecular analyses also supported the separation of S. cuscoensis. Data on habitat, distribution and phylogenetic relationships are presented for the new species and its relatives, and an identification key is given for the South American taxa of the genus Salicornia.

Three names of North African species described by Jordan in the end of the 19th century, Biscutella algeriensis, Biscutella choulettei and Biscutella mauritanica, are typified. Lectotypes are designated from syntypes conserved in the herbaria K, LY, MPU, P and W. Furthermore, some historical comments are reported that support type selection.

During the preparation of the treatment for the genus Verbesina Linnaeus (1753: 901) for the Flora iberica (Castroviejo 1986–2015) and work towards a preliminary checklist of the Compositae of Bolivia (Hind 2011), the typification of Verbesina encelioides (Cavanilles 1793: 60) Gray (1876: 350) was reviewed. It is a species with a native distribution apparently along the Gulf coast plains of Texas and Mexico, where it grows on disturbed soils, field margins, roadsides and cultivated areas. Nowadays, V. encelioides is widely distributed as a pantropic weed, behaves as a naturalised plant especially in temperate regions, as well as sometimes cultivated as a half-hardy annual (Hind 2011).

The Linnaean name Biscutella didyma was lectotypified in 1964 by a specimen consisting of an incomplete fruiting stem of a plant lacking well developed leaves. This species name, together with its lectotype, was proposed as conserved type for the genus. The taxonomic identity of the lectotype is here shown to be demonstrably ambiguous in the context of B. sect. Biscutella (B. ser. Lyratae), and might be related to either B. didyma var. didyma or B. didyma var. ciliata (B. didyma subsp. apula). Therefore, in the case that infraspecific taxa are accepted within B. didyma, an epitype is designated to warrant further application of the latter name in the sense it is been used in the last decades.

Five Tamarix taxa were described in Freyn’s posthumous publication (Freyn 1903): Tamarix askabadensis Freyn (1903: 1059), Tamarix karakalensis Freyn (1903: 1060), T. karakalensis var. scoparia Freyn (1903: 1062), T. karakalensis var. verrucifera Freyn (1903: 1062), and T. karakalensis var. myriantha Freyn (1903: 1062). This publication comprised an enumeration of the plants collected by Paul Sintenis in “Tauria, 1900–1901” (in the Sintenis’s voucher labels as “Iter transcaspico-persicum 1900–1901”), by Ove Paulsen in “regione caspica, transcaspica, praesertium in altiplanitie Pamir, 1898–1899”, and by Victor Ferdinand Brotherus “in Turkestania, 1896”. However, all Tamarix taxa treated in that work belong to those collected by Sintenis. It is important to point out that Sintenis was mostly a plant collector who sold his vouchers to many different herbaria: ANK, BHUPM, BREM, G, GH, HAC, JE, LD, PAL, PR, TUB, VT, W, WAG, and WU (acronyms according to Thiers 2014). However, his personal herbarium (ca. 80000 vouchers of 18000 species) was acquired by the Herbarium of the Botanical Museum of Lund (LD) in 1921–1922 (Patrik Frödén pers. comm.).

Xiphion heracleanum was recently described from the Tingitane Peninsula (northern Morocco), on the basis of herbarium material collected mostly in the 19th century. After field work in the Rif area, a new population with three independent subpopulations of X. heracleanum has been discovered in Djebel Bouhachem, over 60 km southeast from Tangiers, the type locality. About 100 reproductive individuals are growing there, on schistose soils in rocky places. New data on morphology, ecology, and distribution of this taxon are reported on the basis of re-evaluation of characters from both living specimens and herbarium material, and morphological affinities and differences with close relatives in the genus are discussed. In particular, relationships with the North African endemic X. junceum are newly revised, a morphologically very close plant which is lectotypified here and as which it has repeatedly been misidentified. Furthermore, inclusion of this species in the list of rare plants of Morocco is proposed as RR, and a key for identification of the known species of Xiphion is presented.