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Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a pantropical genus comprising approximately 470 species, many of which have been traditionally used to treat human and animal ailments. Despite its widespread use, the interpretation of ethnobotanical information has been hindered by misidentifications, outdated or incorrect names, and the lack of studies for many species - factors that limit its value for pharmacological research and conservation. Previous efforts to synthesise medicinal knowledge in Acalypha have been constrained by limited taxonomic coverage, inconsistent methodologies, and narrow geographic scope. In this study, a comprehensive global review of medicinal uses in Acalypha was conducted, based on data retrieved from peer-reviewed literature, scientific databases, historical sources, and other publications. A total of 62 species with reported uses across 55 countries were identified. Uses include applications in human and veterinary medicine, rituals, and as pesticides, while experimental studies reported antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Reported uses were classified as ethnobotanical and/or experimental (in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo) and standardised following WHO and national disease classification systems, and all scientific names were taxonomically verified. The phylogenetic distribution of medicinal species was assessed using DNA barcode phylogenies. Nearly 25% of the studies reviewed were found to contain at least one taxonomic error, rendering the associated information unreliable and underscoring the need for improved taxonomic rigour and standardisation. This review provides the first standardised, taxonomically validated global synthesis of Acalypha's medicinal knowledge, identifies major knowledge gaps, and offers a foundation for future phytochemical and pharmacological research on this diverse genus.

Tribe Gilliesieae (Allioideae, Amaryllidaceae) comprises bulbous plants characterized by their zygomorphic flowers and a distribution restricted to Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia. The main objective of this article is to introduce four new species of Gilliesieae recently discovered in central Chile, two belonging to Gilliesia (G. reflexa, G. taguataguensis) and two to Miersia (M. nahuelbutensis, M. subandina). Three of the new species are exclusively distributed in the O'Higgins Region, while the fourth has been recorded in the Biobío and La Araucanía regions. In addition, the new species were placed within the phylogenetic context of the tribe to explore their evolutionary relationships. For this purpose, plastid DNA regions (rbcL and trnL-F) and the nuclear ribosomal DNA spacer (ITS) were amplified and sequenced, and the resulting sequences were analyzed together with molecular data from previous studies. The phylogenetic results support the inclusion of the new species within Gilliesia and Miersia, respectively, and support a previously suggested broad circumscription of Gilliesia, encompassing Ancrumia, Gethyum, and Solaria. We provide morphological descriptions, a distribution map, field images, illustrations, and conservation assessments for the new species, as well as an updated key to all species of Gilliesieae.

Catalpa lutea J.H.Wang, W.J.Ma & Z.Y.Li, a new species of Bignoniaceae from north, central, and east China, is described and illustrated. By combining recent morphological comparisons with phylogenetic analyses of nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the chloroplast genome, we demonstrate that C. lutea is readily distinguishable from its congeners, including Catalpa fargesii Bureau and other Chinese species of section Catalpa. A detailed morphological description, illustrations, and molecular data are provided. While conforming to sect. Catalpa in its typically ovate leaf blades, didynamous stamens, and five corolla lobes, C. lutea is unequivocally distinguished by its narrowly ovate crown, yellow heartwood, bright yellow anthers, filaments with purple dots, conspicuously thickened deep purple striations within the corolla tube, and floral spots exceeding 1 mm in diameter. Additional diagnostic characters include young foliage frequently flushed purple, mature leaves green with a purple tinge on occasion, and 3-4 nectaries at the leaf axils on the abaxial surface. The conservation status of this species is assessed as "Data Deficient" (DD) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Samothraki, an island of the North Aegean region of Greece, hosts a remarkable flora that includes seventeen endemics restricted to its boundaries and several species of phytogeographical importance. A floristic investigation of the upper parts of the island, on Mt. Saos, revealed populations of a reddish-purple-flowered Vincetoxicum morphologically distinct from any species known from Greece and neighboring countries. This new species, named Vincetoxicum samothracicum, is apparently related to a group of east-Mediterranean species with corona lobes free almost to the base, but it differs from all of them in the characters of the flowers, fruits, and indumentum. Investigation of an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) Vincetoxicum phylogeny did not place the new species in the same monophyletic group as its presumed morphological relatives. V. samothracicum is a local species, but it is currently assigned to the IUCN category LC.

The taxonomy of three Garcinia species, G. cowa var. cowa, G. oliveri, and G. schomburgkiana (section Brindonia, Clusiaceae), is revised for Thailand. All three species have edible fruits, young shoots, and leaves with a sour taste. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided, along with notes on distribution, phenology, conservation status, etymology, vernacular names, uses, specimens examined, habitats, and ecology. Four taxa, G. cochinchinensis, G. fusca, G. nigrolineata, and G. plena, are newly synonymized under G. cowa var. cowa, and two taxa, G. delpyana and G. bancana var. curtisii, are newly synonymized under G. oliveri. Ten names are lectotypified here, including six synonyms of G. cowa var. cowa (G. cochinchinensis, G. fusca, G. kunstleri, G. loureiroi, G. nigrolineata, and G. plena), G. oliveri and its two synonyms (G. delpyana and G. curtisii), and G. schomburgkiana. All three species have a conservation status of Least Concern (LC).

Camellia shangshii, a new species discovered in the danxia landscape of Danxiashan Mountain, Guangdong Province, China, is formally described and illustrated here. Morphologically, C. shangshii is similar to C. grijsii but can be distinguished by its petals connate at the base, smaller leaves, and fewer bracteoles and sepals. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes indicated that C. shangshii is a sister species to C. grijsii. By integrating morphological and molecular data, we validate the recognition of C. shangshii as a new species of C. sect. Paracamellia.

Impatiens longcanggouensis Q.Luo (Balsaminaceae), a new species from Yingjing County, Sichuan Province, China, is described and illustrated. Its morphology, including pollen and seed characters observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), is documented in detail. The new species is morphologically similar to I. recurvicornis, but is readily distinguished by the following combination of characters: leaf margin shallowly arcuate-serrate (vs. serrulate); abaxial leaf surface usually purplish-red (vs. pale green); inflorescence commonly two-flowered (vs. one-flowered); bracts lanceolate, 2-2.5 mm long (vs. ovate, 3-4 mm long); flowers 1.2-1.8 cm long (vs. 3-4 cm long); dorsal petal 6-8 mm in diameter, with two erect, stout rostella along the abaxial mid-vein (vs. dorsal petal ca. 13 mm in diameter with a beaked apex); lower sepal narrowly funnel-form with a spreading mouth (vs. navicular with an oblique mouth); and capsule clavate (vs. linear).

Based on the integrated morphological and molecular evidence, Amana yunjuensis, originally described from Mt. Yunju in Jiangxi province, is demonstrated not essentially different from A. anhuiensis. Indistinguishable diagnostic characters, nested phylogenomic relationships, and no genetic distinctiveness of population genomic structure all indicate that A. yunjuensis does not represent an independent evolutionary lineage. Accordingly, A. yunjuensis should be treated as a taxonomic synonymy of A. anhuiensis.

The Neotropical tribe Spathicarpeae (Araceae, Aroideae) comprises 14 genera distributed from southern Mexico to Uruguay. Despite its complex taxonomic history, the tribe lacks a comprehensive historical synthesis that could support future phylogenetic and taxonomic studies. Herein we provide a historical review of the classification of Spathicarpeae based on detailed analysis of the pertinent literature, as well as the examination of specimens preserved in many herbaria. A generic identification key and taxonomic notes on various taxa are also presented. This study aims to serve as a framework for forthcoming phylogenetic analyses and taxonomic revisions within the tribe.

Impatiens tainingensis J.-D.Lin & P.Li, sp. nov., is described and illustrated. It was collected from a moist valley of Mt. Zhuangyuanyan, Fujian Province, in Southeastern China. It resembles Impatiens platysepala Y.L. Chen, I. kuocangshanica (X.F. Jin & F.G. Zhang) X.F. Jin & Y.L. Xu and I. huangyanensis subsp. attenuata X.F. Jin & Z.H. Chen in the gross morphology of their pinkish purple flowers but differs in having smaller lateral sepals, subsaccate-funnel form lower sepals, shorter spurs, and capsules. The molecular phylogeny of Impatiens based on plastome and ITS sequences indicated that I. tainingensis is closely related to I. platysepala and I. wuyiensis J.S. Wang, Y.F. Lu & X.F. Jin, but morphology, phylogeny, and plastome structural variation comparison provide evidence for recognizing it as a distinct species.