Change of cell structures stained by iron-hematoxylin in cotyledon areole (= CA) cells was observed in comparison with those structures in CA surrounding cells during seed germination and seedling development in six species of Leguminosae, i.e., Carmichaelia exsul, Glycine max, Goodia lotifolia, Melilotus altissima, Pisum sativum, and Tadehagi triquetrum ssp. pseudotriquetrum. Three patterns were recognized in the process of the change: (1) the stained structures of CA cells are different from those in CA surrounding cells throughout seed germination (Goodia lotifolia and Pisum sativum); (2) the difference is indistinct at the beginning of the germination and becomes distinct when rooting (Carmichaelia exsul and Glycine max); (3) the difference is indistinct throughout the germination (Melilotus altissima and Tadehagi triquetrum ssp. pseudotriquetrum). After unfolding of cotyledons in seedlings, most of the structures stained by iron-hematoxylin were lost, and the differences between CA cells and their surrounding cells became obscure in any cases.

Chromosome numbers were counted in six species of Itea, four of which were examined for the first time. The somatic chromosome number of these species was 2n=22. The basic chromosome number x=11 was confirmed.

Distinction of Dendrolobium arbuscula (Domin) H.Ohashi from D. umbellatum (L.) Benth. is confirmed by flower and pollen morphology. A new species, D. papuacola H.Ohashi & T.Nemoto, is described from Papua New Guinea which is closely allied to the former two species. A key to these species is provided. A revised description of D. arbuscula is presented. Pollen morphology of these three species are described.

The result of a taxonomic survey on three species of Ophiopogon (O. gracilipes, O. peliosanthifolius and O. reptans) is reported. Ophiopogon peliosanthifolius was reduced to O. gracilipes. O. gracilipes here circumscribed occurs in N Thailand and NW Laos. O. gracilipes shows the characteristics of both Ophiopogon and Peliosanthes. This fact not only suggests that this species phylogenetically links the two genera, but also casts doubt on the appropriateness of our current classification system which separates the two genera as distinct. O. reptans is newly recorded from Myanmar. Based on the type and some other specimens a revised description of O. reptans including its flowers was given.

Sargassum spathulophyllum J.Tanaka, H.Murakami & S.Arai sp. nov. (Fucales, Phaeophyta) is described based on the materials from Shimoda, Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. The new species has the following characteristics: 1) lower leaves simple, spatulate, entire and retroflexed at the base, 2) middle leaves vertical, 3) main branches ancipitous and smooth, 4) creeping stems with secondary attaching discs, 5) receptacles simple, smooth, non-terete and in a dense racemose cluster. The species is placed in the section Repentia of the subgenus Bactrophycus in the genus Sargassum. Morphological differences between the new species and some of the related species such as S. okamurae, S. nigrifolium, S. yezoense, and S. yamadae belonging to the section Repentia and S. segii of the section Halochloa in Bactrophycus are discussed.

The stem anatomy was carried out in nine species of Uncaria; U. rhyncho-phylla (Miq.) Miq., U. sinensis (Oliv.) Havil., U. macrophylla Wall., U. sessilifructus Roxb., U. laevigata Wall. ex G. Don, U. lancifolia Hutch., U. hirsuta Havil., U. wangii How, and U. scandens (Sm.) Hutch. These are original plants of Chinese natural medicine, Diao-teng-gou．Also, HPLC profiles of the compositions of alkaloids were investigated for these nine species. Among the nine species examined, U. wangii and U. scandens are nearly equal to each other not only in stem anatomy but also in HPLC profile. The other seven species are distinguishable by comparing such morphological characters as hairs on the stem and hook, the outline of transections of the stem, cuticle, epidermis, sclerenchymatous cells in the cortex, pith, etc. and HPLC profiles of the compositions of alkaloids. Uncaria hirsuta is similar to U. wangii and U. scandens in stem anatomy but is quite different in HPLC profiles. The present study suggests that accurate discrimination of the plant species is possible for Chinese natural medicine, Diao-teng-gou, based both on the stem anatomy and HPLC analysis.

In preparation of Synopsis Plantarum Succulentum by International Organization for Succulent Plant Study, it becomes necessary to propose the following three infraspecific names in Rhodiola integrifolia and one in Orostachys aliciae.