A preliminary allozyme study on six populations of Fagus multinervis (endemic to the Ullung Island), Pinus parviflora, Hepatica maxima (endmic to the Island), Campanula takesimana (endemic to the Island), Tiarella polyphylla, and Thymus quinquecostatus var. japonicus on the Ullung Island from Korea was made. Populations of F. multinervis and P. parviflora maintain moderate levels of allozyme variation (mean expected heterozygosity of 0.253 in F. multinervis and 0.149 in P. parviflora), whereas those of H. maxima (0.032), C. takesimana (0.021), T. polyphylla (0.016), and T. quinquecostatus var. japonicus (0.066) maintain low levels of allozyme diversity within populations. For the latter four taxa, factors such as founder effect, genetic drift associated with small population size, and probable inbreeding contributed to their situation.

Dendrolobium in the Philippines is revised. Four distinct species are recognized, including one new species: Dendrolobium cumingianum Benth., endemic to Luzon Island, D. geesinkii H.Ohashi endemic to Luzon and Samar Islands, D. quinquepetalum (Blanco) Merr., confined to Luzon and Mindoro Islands, and D. umbellatum (L.) Benth., pantropic on seashores of the Old World. A key to the species and descriptions of the genus and species are provided.

Desmodium bolsteri Merr. & Rolfe is newly accommodated to section Heteroloma of subgenus Sagotia. Several taxonomic characters of the species including pollen morphology are described. A key to all the Asian species of the section is provided.

Variations of anatomical features of the cotyledon areoles in dormant mature seeds were examined in representative species of 23 tribes of subfamily Papilionoideae of the family Leguminosae. The surfaces of the areoles are sunken or flat; the epidermal cells of the areoles are smaller or larger than those of the surrounding cells; the cells of several cell layers abutting inwards against the epidermis of the areoles are usually smaller than those of the surrounding part; stainability of cells of the cotyledon areoles with iron-hematoxylin is usually similar in degree to that of the surrounding cells, but sometimes differs in lacking unstained granules in the cells of the cotyledon areoles.

To clarify histological diagnostics of the Bupleurum plants and the botanical origin of the crude drug TUNAK CHUNGA, leaves of eight Nepalese Bupleurum varieties were studied. The eight Bupleurum taxa were distinguished from each other based on the following anatomical features of leaves on the middle portion of stems: outlines of midrib and leaf margin in cross section, quantity of collenchyma tissue in leaf margin, number of oil canals in midrib and leaf blade, presence or absence of pappilae on epidermis, and number of stomata on the adaxial surface. Anatomical characteristics of each variety are described. The Tibetan crude drug TUNAK CHUNGA was identified as the whole plant of B.falcatum subsp.falcatum var. gracillimum, which is one of the most common Bupleurum plants in the alpine zone of the Nepal Himalayas, and is the first record as the botanical origin of Tibetan crude drug.

The pyrenoid structure was examined with TEM in 14 Japanese species belonging to four genera of the family Cladophoraceae. Four types of pyrenoids were recognized; i.e. bilenticular, zonal, simple polypyramidal and complex polypyramidal types. The pyrenoid matrix of the bilenticular pyrenoid is traversed by a single thylakoid band, the matrix being composed of a pair of hemispheres and surrounded by two starch sheaths. The pyrenoid matrix of the zonal type is divided by parallel thylakoid bands, and is surrounded by more than three starch sheaths. The pyrenoid matrix of the simple polypyramidal type is traversed by three or more thylakoid bands, four or more pieces of starch sheaths or grains covering the surface of the pyrenoid matrix. The pyrenoid matrix of the complex polypyramidal type is divided by intrusions of many sinuous thylakoid bands, and is surrounded by many small starch sheaths or grains. Three or four types of pyrenoid were observed in the genera Chaetomorpha, Cladophora and Rhizoclonium.