Lamiaceae, the sixth largest angiosperm family, contains more than 7000 species distributed all over the world. However, although considerable progress has been made in the last two decades, its phylogenetic backbone has never been well resolved. In the present study, a large-scale phylogenetic reconstruction of Lamiaceae using chloroplast sequences was carried out with the most comprehensive sampling of the family to date (288 species in 191 genera, representing approximately 78% of the genera of Lamiaceae). Twelve strongly supported primary clades were inferred, which form the phylogenetic backbone of Lamiaceae. Six of the primary clades correspond to the current recognized subfamilies Ajugoideae, Lamioideae, Nepetoideae, Prostantheroideae, Scutellarioideae, and Symphorematoideae, and one corresponds to a portion of Viticoideae. The other five clades comprise: 1) Acrymia and Cymaria; 2) Hymenopyramis, Petraeovitex, Peronema, and Garrettia; 3) Premna, Gmelina, and Cornutia; 4) Callicarpa; and 5) Tectona. Based on these results, three new subfamilies—Cymarioideae, Peronematoideae, and Premnoideae—are described, and the compositions of other subfamilies are updated based on new findings from the last decade. Furthermore, our analyses revealed five strongly supported, more inclusive clades that contain subfamilies, and we give them phylogenetically defined, unranked names: Cymalamiina, Scutelamiina, Perolamiina, Viticisymphorina, and Calliprostantherina.

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The relationships of Vitex and genera historically placed in Lamiaceae subfamily Viticoideae were investigated. Particular focus was given to some South East Asian genera traditionally allied to Vitex (Paravitex, Tsoongia, Viticipremna, Teijsmanniodendron) since progress with South East Asian Floras is being hampered by a lack of clarity in current generic delimitation. On the basis of maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of ITS and ndhF sequence data we provide evidence that the Viticoideae is not monophyletic, its members being spread between a number of clades which include genera currently recognised as incertae sedis (Peronema, Hymenopyramis, Petraeovitex, Tectona). The most well supported clade, the Vitex group, contains Vitex, Paravitex, Tsoongia, Viticipremna, Petitia and Teijsmanniodendron. Morphological similarities of the genera included in this group are also discussed. In light of this evidence Paravitex, Viticipremna and Tsoongia are reduced to synonymy with Vitex, the new combinations being made here. The position of Teijsmanniodendron is not resolved and its generic status is therefore upheld. Similarly, Petitia is upheld due to a lack of neotropical taxa within the sample.

The Manokwari Declaration is an unprecedented pledge by the governors of Indonesia’s two New Guinea provinces to promote conservation and become SE Asia’s new Costa Rica. This is an exciting, yet challenging endeavour that will require working on many fronts that transcend single disciplines. Because Indonesian New Guinea has the largest expanse of intact forests in SE Asia, large-scale conservation pledges like the Manokwari Declaration will have a global impact on biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

The Bornean species of Callicarpa (Lamiaceae) are revised. Twenty three species are recognized: of these, four are described as new (C. argentii, C. coriacea, C. subaequalis and C. teneriflora) and two are raised to species level from variety (C. endertii and C. hispida). All 23 species described are assessed for World Conservation Union (IUCN) conservation status. Distribution maps and an identification key are provided. The historic confusion between the genera Geunsia and Callicarpa is discussed. Geunsia is included as a synonym of Callicarpa based on the examination of morphological characters and molecular data. Geunsia is suggested to be nested within Callicarpa based on phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS), partial matK and trnD‐T sequences of 30 taxa using maximum parsimony. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 159, 416–455.

Two new species of Oreocharis, O. tribracteata and O. rufescens, are described and a key to the species in Vietnam is provided. The new species have distinct features not previously, or rarely, observed in the genus, both showing the partial fusion of the calyx lobes into a tube, and the presence of three bracts in Oreocharis tribracteata.