Variability in pollen fertility, grain size and other exomorphic features in Adonis amurensis(Ranunculaceae)is described with a special emphasis on intraspecific polyploidy. Pollen fertility is generally very high in diploids and tetraploids, while in triploids low fertility ratios are marked. The mean equatorial diameter of the stained pollen grains exhibits considerable variation among diploid, triploid and tetraploid. However, the general effect of polyploidy on pollen grains is found to be an increase in equatorial diameter that can only be shown statistically. The ratio between the length of the polar and equatorial axis(P/E)is also variable. The most common shape is prolate spheroidal, though subprolate is frequent in diploids and oblate spheroidal occurs often in tetraploids. Besides the normal tricolpate grains, dicolpate, syncolpate and pericolpate ones with various modifications were observed throughout the polyploid series. SEM examinations revealed that the density of supratectal spinules, their morphology and the feature of tectal perforations might function as an effective means for analyzing the polyploid level in the species when used together.

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Plants closely allied with Heterotropa nipponica and H.savatieri ssp.pseudosavatieri in the Shima Peninsula and its adjacent area were taxonomically investigated by examination of population samples. Results of morphological examinations indicate that the populations are assembled into two groups ; one represents to Heterotropa nipponica, and the other a distinct group closely related to H.savatieri ssp.pseudosavatieri.

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Eight species representing two subgenera of Aristolochia from Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, and Korea were examined cytologically. Seven species of subgen. Siphisia, Aristolochia kaempferi, A.liukiuensis, A.shimadai, A.cucurbitifolia, A.westlandii, A.onoei and A. mandshuriensis, of which the former five species were examined for the first time, were found to have 2n=32,while A.debilis of subgen. Aristolochia was confirmed to have 2n=14. The present study suggests that 2n=32 may be a widespread, rather than a rare chromosome number, in East Asiatic species of subgen. Siphisia.

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Two new fern species are described. Plagiogyria tahanensis differs from P.tuberculata Copel. by the shape of leaves and the lack of aerophores at the base of stalks. Vittaria sessilifrons is distinguished from V.elongata and V.scolopendria mainly by having sessile fronds.

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On the basis of observation in 12 Japanese species of the Anthocerotae as well as of a comprehensive survey of literature, the genera of the Anthoceroate are found to have in a sporophytic cell ; (1) one chloroplast(Dendroceros, Folioceros, Notothylas and Phaeoceros), (2) two (Anthoceros) or (3) two or more (up to 12) chloroplasts (Megaceros).This fact requires correction of the generally accepted view that the Anthocerotae contain a single chloroplast in each cell of gametophytes and two chloroplasts in each cell of sporophytes. We further discuss the taxonomic significance of this character together with a distinctness of the genus Anthoceros in the Anthocerotae.

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On the shore of Lake Biwa, some populations of the seashore plants are found. Takaya (1963) pointed from geological evidences that these plants invaded into Lake Biwa from seashore at the early Pleistocene, when the lake was linked with the sea by a broad and stagnant channel. Calystegia soldanella (L.) Roem. et Schult., one of the seashore plants growing on both localities, was sampled from seashore and shore of Lake Biwa, and their seed and flower characters were investigated. The result showed an apparent differentiation between the plants from seashore and those from the lakeshore. The seed size of the lakeshore plant was significantly smaller than that of the seashore plant. The flower size of the lakeshore plant was also smaller. This differentiation can be attributed to both differential selection pressures in seashore and in lakeshore habitats, and long-term isolation.

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A new classification of Ranunculaceae(Subfam.Isopyroideac, Thalictroideae and Hydrastidoideae) is proposed. Isopyroideae include 11 genera, and are divided into Trib. Isopyreae with Subtrib. Isopyrinae, Aquilegiinae and Dichocarpinae, and Trib. Coptideae with Subtrib. Asteropyrinae and Coptidinae. New infrageneric taxa and names of Isopyrum, Dichocarpum and Thalictrum are proposed.

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Urbain Faurie, a French missionary, was one of the most important plant collectors in Japan. During 42 years(from 1873 to 1915)of his stay in Japan, he made a large collection of seed plants, ferns, mosses, lichens and seaweeds. His collections were distributed to various herbaria in the world and one set(not complete one)of duplicates was left at his hand. After his death the collections of his own were transferred to the herbarium of Kyoto University (KYO) and were recently examined by the present author. Localities on labels were arranged chronologically to make the following itinerary calendar.

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