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1We present the first crossdated tree ring record from central Vietnam, derived from the growth 2 rings of the rare cypress Fokienia hodginsii from the mountains of Quang Nam Province near the 3 Laos border. The Quang Nam Fokienia hodginsii time series (QNFH), based on the crossdated 4 sequences of 71 increment core samples from 37 mature trees, is the third published 5 dendrochronological record from this species. The record extends 667 years from AD 1347 to 6 2013 and exhibits a mean series intercorrelation of 0.526, similarly significant with the first two 7published Fokienia hodginsii records: 0.474 for Mu Cang Chai (MCFH) and 0.578 for Bidoup -8Nui Ba National Park (BDFH) in the north and south of Vietnam, respectively. The Expressed 9Population Signal (EPS) for the QNFH record exceeds the generally accepted threshold of 0.85 10 back to AD 1567, but remains above 0.8 back to 1550. Similar to the MCFH and BDFH records, 11 QNFH expresses statistically significant linkages to regional hydroclimate metrics and the El 12 Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Here we present a reconstruction of the Standardized 13Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for the month of April, averaged over a large 14 region of Southeast Asia. As with prior studies we demonstrate that cool phase (La Niña) and 15 warm phase (El Niño) events are linked to regional wet and dry conditions, respectively, with 16 linkages to modulation of the surface water temperature over the adjacent sea to the east of 17Vietnam as well as the Indian Ocean. A late 18 th century megadrought that is expressed widely 18 across South and Southeast Asia, and notably from the MCFH and BDFH records described 19 above, is not as pronounced in Central Vietnam and we explore the reasons why. 20 21

Primulina scutellifolia is described as a new species from Khanh Hoa Province, southern Central Vietnam. It is distinct in the genus in having scutellate leaves that make it a highly potential ornamental plant. The new species looks like P. annamensis in general shapes, sizes and colours of habit, inflorescence, flower, and leaf but is distinguishable by adaxially glabrous and abaxially strigose leaves with serrate margins, scutellate leaf blade and appressed downwards tomentose petiole, sparsely glandular hairs on apical 1/2 of the gynoecium and trapeziform one-lipped stigma with slightly emarginated apex.

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