A new species, Hornstedtia olivacea Docot & Pranada, from the province of Quezon, Philippines is described here with information on its distribution, habitat and phenology, along with a provisional IUCN conservation assessment. A second-step lectotypification of Hornstedtia conoidea Ridl. is proposed and a previous lectotypification of Hornstedtia microcheila Ridl. is clarified. Examination of the collection Ramos & Edaño 44454 supports the occurrence of Hornstedtia havilandii (K.Schum.) K.Schum. in the Philippines but new material is needed to check if the populations in the province of Sulu are distinct enough from the populations in Borneo to be recognised as a distinct taxon. An updated key to the Hornstedtia species of the Philippines is also provided.

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The forest patches of Marilog District, Davao are the remnants of various anthropogenic activities including logging, conversion of land for agriculture, ecotourism and human settlements.  Floristic study was carried out in 2018–2019 from 100 established plots measuring 20 x 20 m, with repeated transect walks and opportunistic sampling along forest trails.  One-hundred-and-four species of understory flowering plants were identified from 102 genera and 40 families.  Species diversity mean values across study sites using Simpson’s (D) and Shannon-Wiener index (H’) were 0.97 and 3.9, respectively.  Species diversity was highest in sites 2 and 4 (D = 0.98; H’ = 4.0 each) and lowest in site 5 (D = 0.96; H’ = 3.7).  At family level, the most abundant taxa include Zingiberaceae (26 species) (15%), Orchidaceae (19 species) (11%), Gesneriaceae (14 species) (8%), and Rubiaceae and Arecaceae (13 species each) (7%).  Conservation status assessment using International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revealed 10 threatened species, while listing from the Philippines’ administrative order has categorized 13 threatened species.  A total of 54 species (ca. 1.14% of the total Philippine endemic vascular flora) of understory flowering plants were Philippine endemics.  Findings of this study were used as additional data for the proclamation of Mt. Malambo as Local Conservation Area, which was formalized through a barangay resolution.

During recent botanical exploration in the province of Palawan, Philippines specimens were collected of a new species, Hornstedtia crispata Docot, and a new species record for the Philippines, Globba francisci Ridl., both from the ginger family Zingiberaceae. The new species is described and illustrated here along with an assessment of its conservation status.

Zingiberaceous plants are predominantly propagated through underground rhizomes and seeds. In this study, the viability of pollen, rate of pollen germination and length of pollen tube of the Philippine endemic Hornstedtia conoidea were examined. Four petri plates containing pollen samples were prepared, of which two petri plates were used immediately after the collection, while the other two petri plates were stored for one week. The determination of pollen viability was made employing stain tests using IKI (iodine + potassium iodide) solution and safranin and measured immediately after the collection and after one week. Likewise, pollen germination test was carried out in vitro on agar medium and measured after 24 hours and one week of incubation. Data revealed that pollen viability was higher in the samples which were sown immediately with safranin with percentage pollen viability of 92.43%, while IKI test was lower with 89.36%. On the other hand, the pollen stored for one week measured 47.29% for safranin test and 33.14% for IKI test. The percentage germination of pollen after 24 hours was 72.65%, while 11.13% after one week. The pollen samples which were subjected for tube growth were examined for two weeks and gave positive results. Overall, it can be concluded that H. conoidea pollen can successfully be collected and stored for certain time. Knowledge regarding the pollen viability, pollen germination and pollen tube growth of this species will give practical benefit for plant breeding and conservation purposes, since H. conoidea is found in the wild, and as of now, the species has been recorded only in the Philippines.

A new peltate species of Begonia sect. Baryandra from Kidadayaig Falls, General Nakar, Quezon is described and illustrated here. The new species, B. depressinerva, is diagnosed against the morphologically similar B. tayabensis. The two species are similar by having rhizomatous stem, peltate, ovate leaf, and 5-tepalled pistillate flower, but the new species is remarkably different by having densely pilose, asymmetric leaf blade, densely pilose petiole that is inserted much closer to the basal margin, obtuse to subobtuse staminate flower outer tepal apex, and glandularly hairy ovary. B. depressinerva is proposed to be Vulnerable (VU) D1, following the guidelines of the IUCN.

A collection of a ginger from Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines, superficially resembles Hornstedtia but is very different from all other known Philippine species especially by the elongate rachis and absence of sterile bracts. Furthermore, it does not match any other species elsewhere. In order to ascertain its generic placement, phylogenetic analyses using ITS and trnK/matK regions were conducted revealing a close relationship with H. tomentosa from Borneo, Java and Sumatra. The mystery species, H. tomentosa and the type of Hornstedtia are placed within a highly supported clade. Morphologically, it is similar to H. tomentosa having an elongate rachis with red bracts and yellow flowers but differs by the swollen and white mucro to the fertile bract, presence of a bracteole and the petaloid labellum. As a result, Hornstedtia albomucronata, is described as a new species here, and illustrations and information on its distribution, habitat, phenology and provisional IUCN conservation status are provided. An updated key to the nine Hornstedtia species in the Philippines is included.