1) A lithophilous variety of Hylotelephium verticillatum (L.) H.Ohba, var. lithophilos, was described from Shodo-shima Island, western Japan. 2) A putative hybrid between Hylotelephium cauticolum and H. erythrostictum was described and named H. ×furusei.

The rhubarb stored in“Shosoin" since 8th century was first (1948-49) investigated morphologically and chemically to be identified as a high-grade Chinese rhubarb， the rhizome of Rheum palmatum or Rh. palmatum var. tanguticum. Since the purgative principles of rhubarb have been identified later as sennosides and the chromatographical methods for determination of the principles have remarkably been advanced recently， a renewed investigation on the Shosoin rhubarb has been performed. By the HPLC analysis the presence of sennoside A and B along with other anthraquinones has been proved and their content determined. It is noted that the unstable bianthronyl glucosides， sennosides A and B， have been retained in the drug specimens during the period of more than 1200 years.

Anatomy of the branches bearing floral buds was examined for eight species of Magnolia Subgenus Yulania, with special reference to morphology of epidermis and cork layers beneath the epidermis. The species with epidermis covered with thick cuticle have no cork layer beneath the epidermis (M. amoena [Sect. Yulania], M. salicifolia, M. biondii [Sect. Buergeria]), while in the species with thin cuticle, 1-4 cork layers are differentiated (M. heptapeta [Sect. Yulania], M. tomentosa [Sect. Buergeria], M. quinquepeta [Sect. TulipastrumD. In M. praecocissima, related closely to M. tomentosa, cuticle is thick and cork layer is not or partially differentiated. Magnolia acuminata (Sect. Tulipastrum) is unique in having more or less thick cuticle and 1-4 cork layers.

Distribution maps of 31 popular plants (Tab. 1) in the Miyagi Prefecture (140°15'E ～141°43'E, 37°45'N～39°00'N), north Japan, were prepared based on informations from local botanists and on author's field observations. Justicia procumbens was not detected in this area. Mallotus japonicus, Indigofera pseudotinctoria and Trachelospermum asiaticum showed coastal distribution in northern half of the prefecture as they are close to their northernmost distribution. Rate of occurrence in the northern part of the prefecture is less than that in the southern part for all the target plants suggesting the occurrence of a line of discontinuity in the amount of plant distribution.

Presumed hybrids between species of the section Sorb us and the section Micromeles in the genus Sorbus are studied by examining their gross morphology, pollen viability, and pollen morphology. Four of such Sorbus-hybrids are known in Japan. They are Sorbus x rikuchuensis Makino, S. ×uzenensis Koidz., S. ×tangoensis Koidz., and S. ×kawashiroi Murata. Based on morphological similarities and distribution, parents of the former three are supposed to be S. commixta Hedl. And S. japonica (Decne.) Hedl. and, also, those of the last to be S. commixta Hedl. and S. alnifolia (Sieb. et Zucc.) C. Koch. Sorbus ×rikuchuensis is therefore the correct name for the former three nothospecies. Pollen grains of these hybrids are examined for the first time. Viability of the pollen grains of the two presumed hybrids shows that 26.6% of S. ×rikuchuensis and 66.0% of S. ×kawashiroi. In contrast, the pollen viability of the presumed parent species are all high percentage, i.e., 98.6% of S. commixta, 96.4% of S. japonica, and 93.1% of S. alnifolia. Morphology of pollen grains of S. commixta, S. japonica, and S. alnifolia can be distinguished from each other in the surface patterns. Their hybrids have intermediate surface patterns between those of the parent species. These facts on pollen grains support that the presumed relationships between the hybrids and their parents.