No abstract

A new species of Tinospora (Menispermaceae), Tinospora formanii Udayan & Pradeep from the Western Ghats of Thrissur district, Kerala, South India, is described and illustrated.

The remarkable α-glucosidase inhibition exhibited by the acetone extract of the rhizome of Ampelocissus indica (L.) and stem bark of Vateria indica Linn. (IC50 23.2 and 1.47 μg mL−1) encouraged us to isolate the phytochemicals from these plants.

Two new species, Begonia bracteolata and Begonia keralensis, are described from the Western Ghats of India. They are placed in the newly created Begonia sect. Flocciferae, along with B. albo-coccinea Hook. and B. floccifera Bedd. Lectotypes are designated for three names within this section. Colour photoplates, illustrations and an identification key to Begonia sect. Flocciferae are also provided.

Salacia vellaniana Udayan, Yohannan & Pradeep (Celastraceae), a new species from South India, is described and illustrated. It is also compared with the related Salacia macrosperma Wight.