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Badiera subrhombifolia is newly described from Hispaniola, where it co-occurs with B. fuertesii and B. penaea. Badiera subrhombifolia lacks the long peduncle of the former species and the scabrous leaves of the latter; it is also often distinguishable by subrhomboid, triplinerved leaves. This new species is a near endemic to high montane forests of the “south island” of Hispaniola, i.e., the Massif de la Hotte, Massif de la Selle, and Sierra de Bahoruco.

Pachyanthus (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) is traditionally circumscribed as a group of 20 species of Caribbean shrubs, mostly local Cuban endemics. However, the exact number of species is unknown because generic delimitations are still unclear for most genera of Miconieae. To test the monophyly of Pachyanthus, we produced a molecular phylogeny using nrITS and plastid trnS-G sequence data for 38 taxa of Miconieae in the genera Pachyanthus, Calycogonium, Tetrazygia, and Miconia. A species of Graffenrieda, a member of the sister group, Merianieae, was used as an outgroup. In the single-gene and combined analyses Pachyanthus is never recovered as a monophyletic group in any of its traditional circumscriptions. However, it is possible to distinguish a clade, Pachyanthus s.s., which is characterized by ovate to obovate petals that are conspicuously unguiculate; calyx lobes connate before anthesis, that separate into sepal-like segments; straight, ovate to oblong, yellow anthers without connective appendages or, if present, then inconspicuous, anthers dehiscing by small apical pores, and fruits with numerous seeds, 1–2 mm long, obpyramidal, with a smooth testa. The remaining species traditionally included in Pachyanthus do not have any of these features. They do not form a single monophyletic group, but instead are scattered across several clades, which also contain species of Calycogonium, Miconia, and Tetrazygia. Additional detailed molecular and morphological studies are needed in the Miconieae to ascertain whether these clades should be treated as new genera or recircumscribed as part of currently recognized genera in the Caribbean region, such as Calycogonium and Tetrazygia.

As traditionally circumscribed, the genus Polygala has been shown to be non-monophyletic, and most of the necessary generic combinations have been made for the New World species. The genus Hebecarpa, though, still needs to be addressed, as only eight species have been transferred. Even though over 65 names within Polygala are referable to Hebecarpa, preliminary study indicates that more than half the names are likely not worthy of taxonomic recognition, but careful revisionary study is necessary for fully sorting out the species and accurate synonymisation. To make the most accurate names available for modern workers, we here transfer 11 names (and associated synonyms) which we think most likely reflect discreet evolutionary lineages (species), bringing the total number of Hebecarpa species to 19. Forty-one additional names in Polygala that are attributable to Hebecarpa are enumerated but left for synonymisation or transfer after more study.