The ginseng stored in Shosoin, the Imperial Treasure House in Nara, since 8th century was examined morphologically by the scientific investigation group from 1948 to 1949. A chemical examination has now been performed to identify the ginseng based on the established saponin constituents in comparison with those of ginseng available on the present drug market. Thin layer chromatography in connection with a dual wave-length zig-zag chromatogram scanner showed that the Shosoin ginseng gave an identical profile of chromatogram with that given by the present ginseng sample. Thus the ginseng in Shosoin has undoubtedly been identified as the native root of Panax ginseng of high quality introduced from China in Tang dynasty.

Three species of Chroomonas (Class Cryptophyceae) were described on the basis of the specimens collected from the freshwater of Japan: 1) Chroomonas nordstedtii Hansgirg, 2) C. caudata Geitler, and 3) C. coerulea (Geitler) Skuja. They all have one blue-green chloroplast and one pyrenoid. Under cultural condition, they tend to accumulate cell content, such as starch grains, and increase their cell size, though the color of chloroplast does not change.

A new myxomycete, Licea craterioides Y. Yamamoto was described and illustrated from Japan.

This is easily distinguished from the species of Licea hitherto known by its sessile goblet-shaped sporangia and pre-formed lids similar to those of Craterium species.

Seven items of taxonomic and nomenclatural problems in Desmodium heterocarpon (L.) DC. are studied and the following conclusions are obtained. 1) D. toppinii is identical with D. heterocarpon var. heterocarpon. 2) D. heterocarpon subsp. angustifolium is a new subspecific name for D. reticulatum. 3) D. polycarpum var. rigidum is a synonym of D. heterocarpon subsp. angustifolium. 4) D. heterocarpon subsp. angustifolium f. pilosum is a distinct form. 5) D. heterocarpon var. heterocarpon f. albiflorum is a white flowered form. 6) D. heterocarpon subsp. ovalifolium is newly recognized at the subspecific rank. 7) A key to all the infraspecific taxa of D. heterocarpon is prepared.

Chromosome number and karyotype of eight species and one variety of Japanese Carpesium were studied. Chromosome number 2n = 40 of C. koidzumii is reported for the first time. Karyotypes of the species studied fall into two groups on the basis of the number of the largest chromosomes.

The anther of the genus Tsusiophyllum dehisces by the longitudinal slits, on the other hand, that of the genus Rhododendron by the apical pore. The genus Tsusiophyllum sometimes is united to the genus Rhododendron. However, the anther-structures of both genera are completely different each other.

A new species of Aconitum, A. azumiense, is described from Azumi District, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. It is characterized by 1) glabrous pedicels, 2) indefinite terminal inflorescence, 3) ternate or deeply 3-lobed cauline leaves, 4) shallowly conical or navicular helmets with long beaks, 5) slightly inflated nectary lobes, and 6) the chromosome number of 2n = 4x = 32. A key to A. azumiense and its related species is prepared.

A new species of Solanum, S. miyakojimense, is reported from Ryukyu, Miyako Islands. This plant has been treated as the same species with S. indicum L. or S. trilobatum L.

Galium miltiorrhizum Hance is identical with G. trachyspermum A. Gray var. nudicarpum Honda, and treated as a variety of G. trachyspermum. G. miltiorrhizum var. lutchuense (Nakai) Hara is a variety of G. gracilens (A. Gray) Makino. Two new varieties, G. pogonanthum Fr. et Sav. var. yakumontanum and G. hirtiflorum Requien var. hirsutum, are described.

Names related to two species of Trillium were treated in this paper. Trillium camschatcense Ker-Gawler (1805) should be adopted as the correct name for Trillium kamtschaticum Pallas ex Pursh (1814, pro sYn.). Consequently the following five new combinations 'of its infraspecific names become necessary: T. camschatcense var. camschatcense f. plenum (1. Samejima) H: Nakai et Ko. Ito, f. polyphyllum (J. Samejima) H. Nakai et Ko. Ito, f. violaceum (Miyabe et Tatewaki) H. Nakai et Ko. Ito, var. kurilense (Tatewaki) H. Nakai et Ko. Ito and var. soyanum (J. Samejima) H. Nakai et Ko. Ito. Trillium rhombifolium Komarov (1935) is recognized as a hybridogenous distinct species,but the name is the later homonym for T. rhombifolium Rafinesque (1840). A new name, T. x komarovii.H. Nakai et Ko. Ito, is proposed ,as the avowed substitute for this species.