Parasopubia hofmannii Pradeep & Pramod and Parasopubia hofmannii var. albiflora Pradeep & Pramod (Orobanchaceae) are two new taxa described from South India. They are compared with the Indian species Parasopubia delphinifolia (L.) H.-P. Hofm. & Eb. Fisch. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and taxonomical note are provided. A key for the identification of the Indian species of Parasopubia H.-P. Hofm. & Eb. Fisch. is also provided.

Sonerila lateritica, a tuberous species of Melastomataceae is described in connection with a taxonomic revision of Sonerila in India. The new species is morphologically close to S. anaimudica but differs by its tuberous root stocks, quadrangular stems, opposite-decussate leaves, many-flowered cymes and mucronate petals. Description, illustration, taxonomic notes and photoplates are provided.

Northern Kerala of southern India is characterized by widely spread lateritic plateaus which provide an extremely harsh physical environment for life leading to the development of specialized plant communities with a large number of endemic and habitat specific species.  Madayippara, a midland lateritic plateau located in the Kannur District of northern Kerala is an icon of rich floristic diversity and endemism.  The plateau forms a number of microhabitats due to the difference in geographic terrain and soil cover, thus forming a complex of habitats with diverse forms of plants, mainly ephemeral herbs.  Out of the 636 flowering plant taxa recorded from the microhabitats of the plateau, within a limited area of 3.65km2, 160 (c. 25%) are endemics.  Most of the endemic species occur in specialized microhabitats. The plateau is the type locality of 11 taxa.  Lateritic plateaus of southern India, which are associated with characteristic and rich biodiversity, are now under varied types of anthropogenic threats such as large scale mining for bricks and clay, and they need urgent attention for conservation of the biodiversity.

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Dispersal units, technically seeds, fruits and infructescences equipped with wings for their longdistance dispersal are called winged diaspores. The diversity of flowering plants in South India is noteworthy, and they create a wide range of diaspore morphologies, as evident in their dispersal methods. The present study was carried out to prepare a list of woody angiosperms (both native and introduced) in South India, producing winged diaspores and to analyse their morphological variations, wing formation, and their significance in dispersal. Information from field studies and available literature resulted in a list of 186 species (of which 40 are introduced) which produce winged diaspores, distributed among 26 families in South India. The wings in these diaspores develop from the integument, ovary, perianth whorls or bracts. With a variety of morphology and flight behaviours, they are generally adapted to dispersal by wind, with the exception of a few that are adapted to dispersal by water. The study shows that wings of the diaspores are significant to their survival and distribution.