A new Hawaiian fern, Deparia cataracticola (Woodsiaceae), is described. It is morphologically distinct and ecologically unique among the Hawaiian species of Deparia. A molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that D. cataracticola is sister to a clade of D. marginalis and D. prolifera.

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Keys, descriptions, taxonomical notes, and distribution maps are presented for the Japanese Phyllanthus which consists of 12 species belonging to four subgenera (Kirganelia, Eriococcus, Phyllanthus, Isocladus). A new subspecies, P. oligospermus Hayata subsp. donanensis T. Kuros., is described from Yonaguni Island in the Ryukyus. Two tropical or subtropical herbs, P. embergeri Haic. & Rossign. and P. urinaria L. subsp. nudicarpus Rossign. & Haic., are newly reported from Japan. The name, P. lepidocarpus Siebold & Zucc. (1845), is prior to P. hookeri Mull. Arg. (1863).

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Chinese plants previously identified as Tricyrtis macropoda Miq. are distinct from Japanese plants of that species in several characteristics. We therefore recognize them as a new species, Tricyrtis chinensis, and provide a key to the species of the section Tricyrtis, to which the new species is assigned.

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A new species of the Cretaceous leptosporangiate fern family Tempskyaceae, Tempskya uemurae sp. nov. from Iwate Prefecture, Japan, is described based on a silicified false stem. The age of the fossil is estimated as Late Cretaceous (Santonian). The new species is characterized by small rhizomes, very short internodes, and mostly parenchymatous cortex and pith. This is the second species of the genus from Japan. The two Tempskya species from Japan represent the latest records of the extinct family Tempskyaceae, which were widely distributed in the midlatitudes of the northern hemisphere during the Cretaceous.

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We recently found two populations of Gastrodia (Orchidaceae) similar to G. shimizuana, G. hiemalis and G. pubilabiata on Iriomote Island in the Ryukyu Islands. Gastrodia shimizuana is a mycoparasitic orchid collected on Iriomote Island and known only from the type. Gastrodia pubilabiata is also a rare species for which no detailed morphological observations have been made. Gastrodia hiemalis appears to be closely related to G. pubilabiata and is endemic to Taiwan. Morphological variation based on population samples of our unknown Gastrodia and G. pubilabiata is reported here. The unknown Gastrodia can be distinguished from G. pubilabiata by the dimensions of the floral parts, the shape of the petals and lip, and floral color. Since our collection differs only in minor features from the original description of G. shimizuana we consider it to be that species.

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Chromosome numbers were reported in five species of Stemonaceae, i. e., Croomia heterosepala (2n=24), C. japonica (2n=24), Stemona japonica (2n=14), S. sessilifolia (2n=14) and S. tuberosa (2n=14). Karyotypes were also described in these species exclusive of S. tuberosa. In the classification of the centromeric position, C. heterosepala and C. japonica are identical to each other, but S. japonica and S. sessilifolia are slightly different. The present and earlier reports confirm that the three genera of Stemonaceae (s. str.) have different base number : x=12 in Croomia, x=7 in Stemona, and x=9 in Stichoneuron. With currently available phylogenetic hypotheses, the primitive base number of the family seems to be x=7.

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Somatic chromosome numbers in 19 taxa of sects. Ceratanthera and Globba in Globba (Zingiberaceae) were determined to be 32 or 48. Pollen fertility of some species was also studied. Pollen fertility of plants with 2n=32 was relatively high, while fertility of taxa with 2n=48 was relatively low. Results of this and former cytological studies indicate that the basic chromosome number of sects. Ceratanthera and Globba is 16.

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A molecular phylogenetic analysis of Aristolochia subgenera Siphisia and Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae) was conducted based on the nucleotide sequence variation in the matK gene. Sixty seven samples covering much of the taxonomic/morphological diversity within the two subgenera, excepting subseries Anthocaulicae, were analyzed using Saruma henryi, Asarum yakusimense and Thottea tomentosa as outgroups. The phylogenetic tree obtained was generally consistent with the current classification system and discrepancies were found only in a small portion concerning subsect. Pentandrae and its allies. The species of subgenus Siphisia from Japan and Taiwan and A. mollissima from southern China form a terminal monophyletic clade with few site changes found among them.

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