A new species of Eriosyce, E. caligophila R.Pinto sp.nov. is described from the coastal cordillera in northern Chile. It belongs to subgenus Islaya, in which its closest relative is E. iquiquensis (Ritter) Ferryman, from which it differs in stem and tepal colouration; spine number and length, and habitat preference.

This study shows the localization and distribution of Eriosyce islayensis, E. iquiquensis and E. caligophila sp.nov. along the northernmost coast of Chile. It describes the geographical locations of the populations, together with demographic, phenological and ecological aspects. The populations of E. islayensis were found to be dead. Living populations of E. iquiquensis occurred only in the southern part of the study area. The population of E. caligophila sp.nov. is restricted to only one locality.

Aloe dichotoma Masson is a tree aloe occurring naturally in the arid, northwestern parts of southern Africa. In this paper a detailed description of the distribution range and flowering phenology of the species is given and its taxonomic position with regard to the closely related tree aloes, A. ramosissima Pillans and A. pillansii L.Guthrie is discussed.

The Soqotra archipelago, part of Yemen, is home to a fascinating flora with a degree of endemism comparable to more celebrated island chains. While studying the ecology of Aloe perryi, a plant of social and economic significance to the islanders, a new Aloe was identified. The new species has been designated, following its local Soqotri name of je'awiyon, as Aloe jawiyon and the characteristics by which it differs from A. perryi are described in this paper. Like A. perryi, it is a clump-forming species with large, recurved leaves and a prostrate stem. It is, however, a smaller and lower-growing species which favours more exposed habitats, often at the tops of windswept plateaux. Despite growing sympatrically with A. perryi in some habitats, it displays little or no hybridisation, is distinctive in flowering time as well as morphological and floral characteristics and is less widespread, having been identified from only three locations on the main island, but it can be locally abundant. Whereas the sap of A. perryi is used for a variety of medical purposes, the sap of A. jawiyon is regarded as inferior. Although it is harvested and used when A. perryi is scarce it cannot be mixed with the more powerful sap of its congenor. Future research topics are outlined.

We describe an undocumented large population of Ferocactus emoryi (Engelmann) Orcutt that straddles the border of Pinal and Maricopa Counties at the southwestern base of Table Top Mesa and along Vekol Wash. This population consists of at least fifty and probably hundreds of individuals, including at least one small 10 x 15 cm individual. Further field work will be required to ascertain whether this population of F. emoryi is contiguous with (i) an extensive population on the western side of the Sand Tank Mountains, (ii) the main distribution of F. emoryi in southern Pima County, and (iii) the disjunct distribution in the Sierra Estrella. Based on our field observations, primary literature, and herbarium records, the range of F. emoryi in the United States is bounded to the east by the Baboquivari, Coyote, Quitojoa, Vekol, Table Top, and Estrella Mountains. The range is bounded to the north by the Gila River. The western boundary of the range is equivocal, with herbarium specimens from far western Pima County, but only written reports of F. emoryi from Yuma County. If the distribution of F. emoryi is found to be contiguous in Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa Counties, the distribution of F. emoryi in the United States is similar to that given in Nigel Taylor's systematic review of the genus, plus possibly peripheral populations as reported from Yuma County by Lyman Benson.

This paper provides expanded descriptions and an evaluation of the current threats and conservation status of the Discocactus (Cactaceae) species that occur in the state of Bahia, Brazil. This study is based on observations of 17 natural populations embracing the majority of the taxa described for the state, and on the results of an investigation of morphological and genetic relationships among individuals within these populations, totalling 337 individuals analysed. Morphological and genetic evidence corroborates the view that three species occur in the state: D. bahiensis, D. catingicola and D. zehntneri, the latter with two subspecies, zehntneri and boomianus.

The alphabetic index of Opuntia names is continued from Bradleya 22: 53–76. 2004. There are no new names published here, but there are two typifications (1 NT, 1 ET), and eleven cultivar standards designated.

Although four species of the genus Melocactus have been described in recent years from the Caribbean island of Curaçao, doubts have been expressed about the specific status of M. macracanthos, M. citrispinus, M. inclinatus and M. bozsingianus. Following research by the author on the adjacent island of Aruba, morphological study was made of 18 populations of the very variable plants of the genus on the island of Curaçao, using the same statistical techniques as in the previous work. In spite of the resemblance of some plants to the Aruban M. stramineus, the discovery of extremely small forms and the highly polymorphic nature of the plants, neither statistical analysis nor field observations could justify separation of morphs as distinct species. It is concluded that all melocacti in Curaçao are M. macracanthos. A study of detailed photographs of plants from several populations in Bonaire confirmed that they too belonged to that species. However, M. macracanthos in each of the islands exhibit distinctive characters in a high percentage of plants, especially in their spination and flower form, but variation is so great that no taxonomic distinction is justified.

As a consequence of extensive morphological and molecular research in Lampranthus and its allies, a new genus, Ruschiella Klak, is erected to accommodate a small group of anomalous species. Lampranthus uncus var. gydouwensis, previously regarded as a synonym of Phiambolia unca is raised to the rank of species, as Phiambolia gydouwensis (L. Bolus) Klak. Phyllobolus herbertii (N.E. Br.) Gerbaulet has been found to be conspecific with P. abbreviatus (L. Bolus) Gerbaulet. A new combination is made for Sphalmanthus humilis L. Bolus, as Phyllobolus humilis (L. Bolus) Klak, which had erroneously been treated as a synonym of P. herbertii. The taxonomic position of Lampranthus mutatus (G.D. Rowley) H.E.K. Hartmann is discussed and it is argued that this species is best placed in Ruschia, as Ruschia mutata G.D. Rowley.

The recently developed method of flatbed scanning of plant material has been applied in the taxonomic investigations of the genus Trichodiadema s.lat. It was possible to identify the species described as Trichodiadema neethlingiae and confirm that it is Delosperma neethlingiae. Synonyms are Trichodiadema tenue and, most probably, also Delosperma burtoniae. The study reveals that application of the new method can contribute to solve taxonomic questions in a fast and efficient way.