Planchonella (Sapotaceae) in Hawaii has a complicated taxonomic history that has resulted in considerable confusion among bota- nists and conservation practitioners. Up to seven different species and several varieties have been described in Hawaii, with the most recent taxonomic evaluation recognizing one species, P. sandwicensis. We have conducted a phylogenetic study of Hawaiian Planchonella using molec- ular (ETS, ITS, and RPB2) and morphological data to infer whether one or several species can be distinguished. In line with earlier research based on molecular data, we find that Planchonella in Hawaii is comprised of two well-supported clades distinguished by fruit color: yellow or purple. The purple-fruited clade contains individuals with flat leaf blades, long pedicels, and greenish corollas, a species corresponding to P. sandwicensis, distributed on all Hawaiian Islands except the island of Hawaii. The yellow-fruited clade possesses leaves that are frequently longitudinally rolled, wavy or distally deflexed, short pedicels, and yellow or cream (rarely greenish) corollas, a species corresponding to P. spathulata that is distributed on all Hawaiian Islands but is believed rare in Kauai. Both species can set fruit with aborted ovules, resulting in small fruits that look dissimilar to well-developed fruit. The species can occur in sympatry, where P. sandwicensis seems to be better adapted to slightly wetter forests and higher altitudes, whereas P. spathulata usually occurs at lower elevations in mesic to dry forests. Both species exhibit large morphological variation and overlap, resulting in many previous collections with inadequate label information, which has impeded correct taxonomic determinations. We refrain from recognizing infraspecific taxa because there is no morphological coherence, no molecular support, and it is unhelpful for species conservation. Five lectotypes are here designated. Both species are assessed for conservation status according to IUCN guidelines and are tentatively proposed as species of Least Concern.

During the study of Brazilian genera of the Inuleae-Plucheinae (Asteraceae), we have encountered a specimen representing an undescribed species, here described as Tessaria andina. The new species is characterized by having puberulous, tomentose, lanate, or glabrescent indumentum on its branches, a tomentose abaxial leaf surface, leaves with an apically serrate margin, corymbiform inflorescences, a cream to yellowish involucre, erect inner involucral bracts, and the corolla of male flowers with short-stalked glands and trichomes. So far, only one collection of this new species has been made, and that was more than forty years ago. The new species is described, illustrated, and its affinities are discussed. Furthermore, during this investigation we found out that the name Tessaria boliviensis is a nomen nudum, applied to material here shown tobelongto Tessaria fastigiata. An identification key to the species of Tessaria is also presented.

We provide a systematic update of Pradosia (Sapotaceae, Chrysophylloideae), including overall morphology, a key to all species, comprehensive morphological descriptions, geographic distributions, and important characteristics for each species. Phyloge- netic analyses based on molecular data demonstrated that the genus is monophyletic and includes three main clades. Twenty-three species of Pradosia are accepted, which are mostly distributed in lowland rainforests on either white-sand or clayish soils in tropical South America. A rotate corolla with a short tube, lack of staminodes, a drupaceous fruit with plano-convex cotyledons, an exserted radicle below the cotyledons, and the absence of endosperm are diagnostic for the genus. Two names are reduced into synonymy, viz. Pradosia atroviolacea Ducke, syn. of P. grisebachii (Pierre) T. D. Penn., and Pradosia verrucosa Ducke, syn. of P. glaziovii (Pierre) T. D. Penn. The affinity of P. argentea (Kunth) T. D. Penn., a species known only from the type collection, remains uncertain and for now excluded from the genus.