The somatic chromosome numbers and karyotypes of five species of Asiasarum (Aristolochiaceae), representing seven distinct taxa, were studied. The seven taxa had the same somatic chromosome number, 2n=26. With one exception, they had the same chromosome complements, 10m+3st. The exception was A. maculatum with 11m+2st. These seven taxa commonly had three pairs of small chromosome, among which one pair of small chromosomes (No. 11) with a satellite, and one pair of small chromosome (No. 12) with a secondary constriction at the distal portion of the short arms. The somatic chromosome number and karyotype of A. patens, and A. sieboldii var. versicolor and karyotype of A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum are reported for the first time. The similarity in chromosome number and karyotype suggests that Asiasarum is a well-defined phyletic group belonging to Asarum sensu lato.

Indigofera pedicellata Wight & Arn. has been reported from India and Taiwan. This species is clarified to be distinguished from its closest I. trifoliata by having a longer pedicel. Indigofera pedicellata is not distributed in Taiwan but only in India.

A new species, Desmodium luteolum H.Ohashi & T.Nemoto (Leguminosae-Papi-lionoideae: Desmodieae), is described from N.E. Yunnan in China. The holotype and isotype are in KUN. It is the second species of the subgenus Catenaria, and the 37th species as well as 7th endemic species of the genus in China. This species has an intrastaminal disk and a pair of openings at the base of vexillary stamen. Such structures appear to allow insect visitorsﾕ access to the nectar and seem to play an important role in pollination of this species.

A new species Nertera yamashitae Yamazaki is described from the Ryukyus.

Distributional patterns of glandular hairs on abaxial surface of calyx-tooth were observed in 30 species of subgenus Vicia of genus Vicia (Leguminosae). Two types of calyx-teeth are recognized by distributional patterns of glandular hairs; Type-1 has a few glandular hairs sparsely scattering on the whole surface; Type-2 has many glandular hairs densely gathering at the center of the teeth. The Type-2 was observed in 16 species and is divided into two subtypes as follows: Subtype A is flat at the spot of gathering glandular hairs; Subtype B is sunken at the spot. Evolutionary polarities of the characteristics of the calyx-tooth are presumed by the out-group rule as follows: 1, a few glandular hairs sparsely scattering on the whole surface on calyx-tooth → many glandular hairs gathering at the center of the tooth; 2, calyx-tooth flat at the spot of gathering glandular hairs → the tooth sunken at the spot. The second apomorphy is considered to be important for classifications of sections in the subgenus Vicia.

The three genera, Helonias, Ypsilandra and Heloniopsis have not sufficient differences to be distinguished from each other in generic rank. Accordingly the three genera were unified into one genus. Heloniopsis and Ypsilandra were reduced to Helonias. The following taxonomic reductions were also made in this paper; i.e., both Y. cavaleriei and Y. kansuensis were reduced to Helonias thibetica; both Heloniopsis arisanensis and Heloniopsis taiwanensis to Helonias umbellata; Y. yunnanensis var. himalaica to Helonias yunnanensis; Sugerokia nipponica, Heloniopsis japonica var. flavida, H. japonica var. albiflora and H. japonica var. tessellata to Helonias breviscapa. Floral colour variants were not distinguished as distinct taxa. As a result, a total of nine species were recognized in the emended Helonias. Eight new names were produced as a consequence of the transference of both Ypsilandra and Heloniopsis to Helonias.