In this paper four genera of Umbelliferae, Angelica, Ostericum, Heracleum and Daucus are treated. It is shown that Angelica sect. Acutiloae with eight species is an endemic section to Japan.

Seven species of the genus Rimelia are recognized in the Hawaiian Islands. Most of them are common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. R. albinata K.H.Moon, Kurok. & Kashiw. is described as a new species, R. ramescens (Zahlbr.) K.H.Moon & Kurok. is treated as a distinct species, and R. clavulifera (Rasanen) Kurok. is newly recorded for the Hawaiian Islands.

To determine variation in shoot development in Prunus (Rosaceae), we observed and compared the shoot organization of 13 species (9 species of subgen. Cerasus sect. Pseudocerasus; 1 species of sect. Microcerasus; 1 species of sect. Phyllomahaleb; 1 species of subgen. Prunus; and 1 species of subgen. Padus). As a result, we can categorize the observed species into four distinct groups based on shoot organization of 1) types of winter bud growth, 2) growth of buds in the axils of scale-like prophylls, and 3) shoot abscission. The first group includes all species of subgen. Cerasus sect. Pseudocerasus and sect. Phyllomahaleb except P. ogawana. The second group includes only P. ogawana, the third group contains P. mume and P. glandulosa, and the fourth group contains only P. grayana. Prunus ogawana (subgen. Cerasus sect. Pseudocerasus) is distinct from other members of sect. Pseudocerasus in that all winter buds develop in the axils of scale-like prophylls and mixed shoots produce both flowers and leaves. In addition, this grouping is basically supported by the phylogenetic DNA analysis of Prunus.

The new section, Schoenoplectus sect. Malacogeton (Ohwi) S. G. Smith & Hayasaka, is recognized and a description of the section is provided. Schoenoplectus nipponicus, Sch. etuberculatus, Sch. torreyi and Sch. subterminalis are included in sect. Malacogeton, and a key to these is given. We recognize the sections Schoenoplectus, Actaeogeton, Malacogeton and Supini in the genus Schoenoplectus, and a key to the sections and a list of North American and East Asian species included in each section are provided.

Four new species of the genus Bistorta (Polygonaceae), i. e., B. griersonii Yonek. & H.Ohashi from Bhutan, B. longispicata Yonek. & H.Ohashi from central Tibet, B. ludlowii Yonek. & H.Ohashi from southeastern Tibet, B. burmanica Yonek. & H.Ohashi from Myanmar (Burma), are described.