Lepidagathis konkanensis , a new species from the lateritic plateaus of the Konkan region in Maharashtra, India, is described and illustrated based on distinct morphological and molecular characters. Morphologically and phylogenetically, this species is close to L. mahakassapae and L. dalzelliana , but it can be distinguished by its compact inflorescence, oblanceolate leaves, bilabiate yellow corolla, elliptic‐lanceolate bracteoles with three nerves, shorter style and smaller seeds. In addition, the longer branch length observed in the phylogenetic tree further supports the presence of molecular divergence. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations and color plates of field photographs and floral part micrographs are provided to aid in precise identification. The IUCN conservation status has also been assessed to emphasize the need for conservation measures.

The genus Croton (Euphorbiaceae) is an exceptionally megadiverse genus, encompassing roughly 1200 species that are predominantly distributed across tropical regions globally. For the New World, the genus is organized into three subgenera ( Adenophylli , Geiseleria and Quadrilobi ) and 31 sections, with C. sect. Barhamia standing out with its approximately 80 species. This section is currently divided into 5 subsections ( Astraeopsis , Barhamia , Medea , Micranthi and Sellowiorum ). Here we focus on C. subsect. Barhamia , where we identified a gap in knowledge. We analysed herbarium materials, original protologues, photographs of type specimens, and made observations of species in the field. We recognize 14 species in Brazil and the Caatinga as its center of diversity. Additionally, we indicate the recently described Croton ludovicensis as a member of this subsection. An identification key, detailed morphological descriptions, notes on morphological relationships, photographs of diagnostic characters, distribution maps for all species belonging of subsection, and preliminary conservation assessments are provided. These assessments highlight the importance of conservation for several species classified as ‘Endangered', such as C. aemulus , C. glandulosodentatus , C. graomogolensis , C. ludovicensis , and C. rhexiifolius .

Soil conditions are critical factors shaping forest structure and tree species composition in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs); however, few studies have evaluated edaphic effects in Cambodia's unique lowland forest landscape, where different forest types coexist under similar climatic conditions. Using tree census data from three adjacent 1‐ha plots in deciduous, semi‐evergreen, and evergreen forests in Siem Reap, Cambodia, we analyzed forest structure and species composition for each forest type. Soil nutrients and water content, measured at 0–200‐cm depth in both the rainy and dry seasons, were assessed alongside soil texture to evaluate edaphic influences. The tree census recorded 2551 stems from 130 species and 88 genera. Stem density and basal area were lowest in the deciduous forest, whereas species diversity peaked in the semi‐evergreen forest. Tree species composition differed significantly across forest types, with variation observed in dominant species compared with those in neighboring countries. High species turnover in Indochina SDTFs highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts in lowland Cambodian SDTFs. Soil nutrients and water content showed no significant differences among forest types in either season, except for higher water content in deciduous forest soils during the rainy season. Rainy‐season water content across all soil layers, along with clay and sand contents in deep soils, were significantly correlated with tree species composition. These findings underscore the importance of rainy‐season inundation in shaping forest structure and species composition in SDTFs.

The obligately lichenicolous genus Abrothallus consists of approximately 50 species, almost all of which are associated with lichens having foliose, fruticose, or pendulous thalli. This paper focuses on species that grow on strap lichens ( Ramalina ) providing new insights into their phylogenetic relationships and distribution. The three‐gene phylogeny, which includes one nuclear ribosomal (nrITS) and two protein‐coding genes (rpb2 and tef1‐α), shows that Abrothallus suecicus and A. ramalinae are only distantly related to each other. Abrothallus suecicus , characterized by four‐celled intact ascospores, forms a well‐supported clade with A. bryoriarum that grows on horsehair lichens ( Bryoria ). Within this clade, specimens associated with Ramalina exhibit significant morphological and genetic differentiation. Phylogenetic analyses, species delimitation using bGMYC, and morphometric data support the existence of five putative species, among which the true A . suecicus is growing on the apothecia of several non‐sorediate Ramalina. We describe Abrothallus farinaceae being exclusively known from Ramalina farinacea in Europe and North America. We also give a preliminary description for a singleton taxon with two‐celled ascospores that split in part‐spores, which is only distantly related to A. suecicus and A. ramalinae. Three Lichenoconium species included to root the phylogenetic tree appeared to be paraphyletic.

An increase in stem thickness and ontogeny of successive cambia, intraxylary cambium, and inter‐and intraxylary phloem is elaborated for the first time in Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schult. (Convolvulaceae). As the plants grew older, several small segments of cambium were initiated simultaneously external to the phloem formed by regular vascular cambium. Ontogenetically, these cambial segments were initiated from two different tissues, i.e. from the pericyclic parenchyma and dilating ray parenchyma cells. Products of both cambial segments showed unique orientation, and they may be identified based on the orientation of the xylem and phloem elements produced by them. Cambial segments initiating from the pericyclic parenchyma began with repeated divisions in one to a few cells to form oval to circular patches of the meristematic cells. This resulted in the formation of oval to elliptic vascular cylinders. The vascular cylinders were later interconnected by forming cambial segments that exclusively formed thin‐walled parenchyma on either side. In the second type, dilating ray cells underwent swelling followed by repeated anticlinal divisions and produced xylem on one side and phloem on the other side of the cambium; thus, these vascular cylinders were oriented tangentially. The secondary xylem consisted of dimorphic vessels, fibres, axial and ray parenchyma, and interxylary phloem. In the thick stems, intraxylary cambium was initiated from the marginal pith cells situated on the inner face of the protoxylem. Initially, this cambium was unifacial and deposited only intraxylary phloem, but subsequently, it became bidirectional and began to deposit secondary xylem centrifugally. The presence of variant secondary growth is correlated with climbing habits and family characteristics of the Convolvulaceae.

While undertaking macrofungal forays to several forested areas of Uttarakhand (India), a noteworthy and previously unknown species of Hemileccinum was unveiled. This species is proposed here as Hemileccinum indicum sp. nov. It is presented with both morphological characteristics and multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis. The pairwise homoplasy index (PHI) test was done to confirm the distinctive nature of this novel species. This novel taxon is also a new generic record of the genus Hemileccinum from India.

Manettia Mutis is a Neotropical genus comprising over 100 species, many of which are only known from their original descriptions or, at most, from revisions dating back over 100 years. Recent review studies have remained unpublished for several years. Conventional taxonomic methods are followed. Here, we present a brief history of Manettia and its current taxonomic status in the Flora of Paraguay. As a result of taxonomic and morphological studies, four species are recognised: Manettia cordifolia, M. paraguariensis, M. rojasiana and M. tweedieana. A dichotomous key for identification, distribution data and preliminary assessments of their states of conservation in Paraguay are presented. A complete description of M. rojasiana is also provided, confirming the presence of distyly.

The publishing landscape is continuously evolving and so Nordic Journal of Botany has gone through an exciting success story during the last decades. Nordic Journal of Botany (NJB) was formed in 1980 by the Council of the Nordic Botanical Publications (NBP), by merging the Scandinavian botanical journals Botaniska Notiser, Botanisk Tidsskrift, Friesia and Norwegian Journal of Botany. In 2007, then-managing editor Maria Persson took over the running of the journal and, together with technical editor Petter Oscarson, she drove from Lund, Sweden, to Aarhus, Denmark, to collect about 80 paper manuscripts. The status of the manuscripts was unclear, and the editorial board was not known. However, biogeographer and museum curator Torbjörn Tyler agreed to become Editor-in-Chief (EiC) for the journal, and it was renamed to Nordic Journal of Botany. Together, Maria and Torbjörn tracked down authors, invited new editors and revised the format for taxonomic manuscripts. It took almost two years to publish the first issue. In 2009, the Nordic Society Oikos (NSO) welcomed NJB into its family of journals and NJB has grown increasingly successful over the years. With Torbjörn Tyler in charge of the scientific content, the journal soon became a well-known, international outlet for high-quality taxonomy, systematics, biogeography and biodiversity. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Torbjörn for his tireless efforts over the past 19 years which made NJB into what it is today. Torbjörn is now deservedly retiring from his EiC duties at the journal; however, we are pleased that he will stay with us as Subject Editor for northern European plant taxonomy. As an expert on the genus Hieracium and with a vast expertise on biogeography, taxonomy, systematics, biodiversity and conservation, we hope that he will find time to publish one or the other inspiring article in NJB! In 2019, we were honoured to be joined by Sara Cousins (Stockholm University), an expert in plant community ecology, who became our EiC for plant and fungal ecology. With her support and expertise, we were able to expand our scope, especially through some exciting special issues on topics such as nature-based solutions and pollination ecology. Nordic Journal of Botany is now entering into a new era with new EiC Jalil Noroozi (University of Vienna). Alongside Sara Cousins, Jalil will help NJB to bridge the gap between ecology and taxonomy. We want to ensure that our publications are relevant to a wider audience and place taxonomy into the context of ecological, evolutionary and biogeographical patterns. Our high-quality plant and fungal taxonomy and systematics content will remain. In addition to the changes in the editorial board, NJB has now moved to a Gold Open Access publishing model. While an increasing number of funders and institutions mandate Open Access publishing, it is also our belief that scholarly research should be freely accessible to read, use, and share. This accelerates the generation of scientific knowledge and increases the impact of research – benefits that are especially important during times of rapid socio-economic and environmental change. The NSO has therefore decided to make NJB a Gold Open Access journal from 1 January 2026 onwards, which means all articles are permanently free to read, share, download and distribute. We endeavour to make this transition as smooth as possible for our authors, by informing about the various agreements in place to cover the Article Publication Charge and trying our best to support authors who lack financial support. We are looking forward to 2026 and the excellent science NJB will bring forth together with our EiCs, our editorial board and you all! Friederike Gehrmann Managing Editor

Candolleomyces mianwaliensis is described as a new species from Mianwali District, Punjab Pakistan. The species is characterized by spherical to plane pileus bearing pale orange irregular scales scattered over smooth dark orange surface when young, turning into off‐white scales over brown to dark brown surface towards maturity, and a double membranous annulus. Detailed morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nrDNA‐ITS sequence data distinguish this taxon from all known species in Candolleomyces .