Twenty-two species of Alpinia previously placed under the illegitimate name Psychanthus (K. Schum.) Ridley arc transferred to Pleuranthodium (K. Schum.) R. M. Smith.

A new species of Alpinia (Zingiberaceae). A. smithiae Sabu & Mangaly is described from Western Ghats of India. It is a member of section Alpinia subsect. Catimbium.

A floristic analysis of the Gramincac of Brazil's Distrito Federal (DF) is provided. 305 species were found in the DF including native, cultivated and weed species. Information on native exotic status, habitat preference and life-cycle is given for each species. A list of the rare, endangered and endemic species in the area is also provided.

The ecology, reproductive biology and hybridization of species in the genus Gaultheria (Ericaceae) has been investigated with particular reference to those species in Ecuador. Most species were found to be plants of disturbed ground particularly on roadside banks and forest margins. The species in Ecuador were not seen to be visited by potential pollinators although fruit set was high. No animals were seen to eat the fleshy fruits. Male sterile plants of many species from throughout the distribution of the genus were observed indicating a higher level of gynodioecism in the genus than previously thought. Empty anthers in two Ecuadorean species suggests that gynodioecism may be present in many species without any clear morphological change. A hybrid between Gaultheria myrsinoides and G. reticulata has been found in Ecuador.

Two cases of poisoning by Lepiota helveola Bres. (Agaricales, Lepiotaceac) in southern Turkey are documented; a total of eleven people died in the two poisonings. The complexity of the taxonomy surrounding L. helveola is discussed, and a key to mentioned species is provided.

Microslructures of agarics subjected to simulated digestive juices were shown to retain their morphology. It is demonstrated that these structures can be used in identification in cases of poisoning.

Chromosome numbers for 14 South African species of Albuca L. (Liliaceae) have been determined. Ten of these are first reports, including counts for three new species. Members of all three sections of the genus are represented in this study, and all have a diploid number of 2n = 18. No polyploids or dysploids were encountered in this survey. There is no evidence that the sectional subdivisions of Albuca can be readily distinguished on differences in basic chromosome number or karyotype, for all taxa are characterized by a common basic number of x = 9 and by a remarkably uniform, strongly asymmetric and bimodal complement of three long chromosomes and six markedly shorter ones. Special attention is focused on the hitherto largely overlooked variability of the longest chromosome pair which, in a large proportion of the species examined, shows heterozygous variation in the size, morphology and stainability of its satellite and in some cases, also in the short chromosome arm that bears it. This unusually high incidence of polymorphism, and the diversity of form observed in this satellited (Sat-chromosome) pair is discussed in relation to similar patterns reported elsewhere.