A new system of classification of the Desmodium group of the tribe Desmodieae is proposed on the basis of results from our present phylogenetic analyses along with morphological and palynological data. Two new genera, Pedleya H. Ohashi & K. Ohashi and Pullenia H. Ohashi & K. Ohashi were distinguished from Desmodium. Pedleya is an Australian monotypic genus based on Desmodium acanthocladum F. Muell. and Pullenia is an Oceanian monotypic genus based on Desmodium gunnii Benth. ex Hook. f. Two new combinations are proposed: Grona strigillosa (Schindl.) H. Ohashi & K. Ohashi of SE Asia from Desmodium and Sohmaea barbaticaulis (Iokawa & al.) H. Ohashi & K. Ohashi of Myanmar from Uraria.

Usefulness of morphology of axillary buds as a stable character to distinguish genera and sections of the Japanese dwarf bamboos (the Sasa-group, Arundinariinae, Arundinarieae, Bambusoideae, Poaceae) was tested through detailed observation and comparison among genera and sections (including those of intergeneric/intersectional hybrid origin), with special notice to width and hairiness of wings developed on lateral keels of a prophyll enclosing the bud. The morphological characters of axillary buds in each genus and section can be categorized as follows: rhombic-ovate in the genus Sasa, ovate in Pleioblastus, narrowly ovate in Sasamorpha, lanceolate in Pseudosasa. In Neosasamorpha, buds of basal nodes show the Sasa-type, while those of apical nodes show the Sasamorpha-type. Buds of Sasaella are narrowly triangular-ovate, i.e., Pleioblastus/Sasa intermediate type. In the genus Sasa, marginal wings of prophyll are linear, distally sparsely ciliate in the sect. Macrochlamys, gradually broadened and projected toward apex in the sect. Monilicladae, evenly wide throughout the length in the sect. Sasa, evenly developed throughout the length, gradually broadened distally and projected at the apices in the sect. Crassinodi. Marginal wings for other genera are evenly developed, sparsely ciliate throughout widened toward apex in Sasamorpha, more or less projected on both sides, surface and margins appressed-lanulose in Pleioblastus, very narrow with spreading cilia evenly distributed along margins in Pseudosasa japonica. An intergeneric hybrid between Pseudosasa and Pleioblastus and a few intersectional hybrid complexes in the genus Sasa were also investigated. These results suggest that the shape of axillary bud with prophyll features provides useful diagnostic characters for the Japanese Arundinariinae.

Chlamydomonas augustae (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae) is a unicellular biflagellate alga, with a stellate chloroplast containing a pyrenoid. Based on light microscopy and 18S rRNA gene phylogeny, a strain isolated from a paddy field in Chiba, Japan, was identified as this species, which had not previously been recorded in Japan. This Japanese strain was more closely related to the geographically distant European strains than to the Asian (Indonesian) strain.

Festuca takedana Ohwi (Poaceae) was proposed by Ohwi (1932) based on Poa? nuda Hack. ex Takeda [sic]. Festuca takedana has been thought to be a replacement name, because Festuca nuda Schur (1852) had already been published. However, F. nuda Schur was a nomen nudum, and it cannot block the use of the epithet nuda in Festuca based on Poa nuda. Therefore, we propose here a new combination, Festuca nuda (Hack. ex Takeda) Koba, H. Ikeda & Yonek.

Takeda (1910) cited two specimens when he described Poa nuda, “in monte Tateyama (R. Yatabe et J. Matsumura! 24. VII 1884)” and “in locis saxosis regionis altissimae montis Yarigatake, prov. Shinano (H. Takeda! 18 VIII 1905)”. We designate Takeda’s specimen (TNS01005687) as the lectotype, because the protologue was written mainly based on his own collection.

Previous research has suggested that the female flowers of the genus Najas might be epigynous with a rudimentary perianth, and that the epigyny was likely the only synapomorphy among the Hydrocharitaceae. In this study, we found three minute structures on the pistil of female flowers in two Najas species—an annular swelling, prickles and an extra lobe—as candidates for a rudimentary perianth, and investigated their developmental morphology to clarify their origin. The annular swelling observed in N. chinensis arose from part of the carpel wall, being formed by cells expanding from an inner layer of the style. The prickles of N. chinensis appeared to be trichomes derived from the epidermis of the stigma and style. The lobe was apparently an extra stigmatic branch, which seemed to be aborted in the developmental stage in both N. chinensis and N. minor. We conclude that the female flowers are completely achlamydeous without any rudimentary perianth. During the evolution of Najas, from Hydrocharitaceae species possessing synapomorphic epigynous flowers, the perianth might have been lost completely, resulting in the most reduced female flower consisting of just the pistil.

The genus Carex (Cyperaceae) consists of approximately 2,000 species worldwide and nearly 300 species in Japan. Although most Carex species are barochorous, some are myrmecochorous and dispersal ants have been surveyed in approximately 20 species so far. In the genus, Siderostictae is thought to be myrmecochorous, but dispersal ants have not yet been identified. Carex ciliatomarginata Nakai is an endangered sedge species belonging to Siderostictae. In this study, we conducted field surveys of dispersal mode and dispersal ants associated with C. ciliatomarginata on Mt. Hinokuma, Saga, northern Kyushu, Japan. As a result, C. ciliatomarginata is confirmed to be a myrmecochorous species because nearly one-third of diaspores were removed by ants within 10 minutes. Dominant disperser ants were Pheidole noda Smith and Paratrechina flavipes (Smith), and their mean diaspore dispersal distances were 70.8 cm and 10.6 cm, respectively. Diaspore dispersal distance by P. flavipes might be too short and may negatively affect the fitness of C. ciliatomarginata because fruiting individuals of C. ciliatomarginata were distributed approximately 50 cm apart from each other in the field.

Carex papillaticulmis Ohwi (Cyperaceae) was newly found in Imabetsu-cho, the Tsugaru Peninsula, Aomori Pref., Japan. This perennial sedge was found around edge of forests, where it grew closely with C. insaniae. Therefore it is assumed that the habitats of both are very similar. There is a possibility that C. papillaticulmis populations may be widespread over the mountain forest area of the Tsugaru Peninsula.

The genus Sadiria (Myrsinaceae) is represented by seven species and two varieties. At CAL a specimen that had been misidentified as Ardisia eugeniifolia Kurz was rightly identified as Sadiria solanifolia Mez, which appears to be the new record to India with exact locality. A detailed description of the species is provided here for easy identification.

The name Jasminum pentaneurum Hand.-Mazz. is lectotypified.

We report two newly naturalized species, Rhynchospora inexpansa (Michx.) Vahl (Cyperaceae) and Lepidium heterophyllum Benth. (Brassicaceae), from Japan for the first time. Rhynchospora inexpansa, native of North America, was found in a wetland adjacent to the land used as a meadow pasture in Kochi-shi, Kochi Pref. Lepidium heterophyllum, native of Europe, was found in the mountains around 800 meters altitude in Kami-shi, Kochi Pref.