Cyanoplacoma adriatica (Chroococcales) was described by Hauck (1885) from the surface of the red alga Pterocladiella capillacea in the Adriatic Sea. In Japan, Okamura (1916) identified a species of cyanobacteria on the brown alga Myelophycus simplex as C. adriatica.

Its phylogenetic position has been unresolved because of no genetic information. Recently we collected C. adriatica specimens attached to M. simplex and several other Japanese red algae, on which we examined intraspecific morphological and genetic differences and their phylogenetic position by morphological observations and molecular phylogeny. Despite variation in morphology, there were few genetic variations among the specimens attached to different macroalgae. Therefore, this study concluded that all algae attached to different seaweeds were the same species and redefined the morphological and ecological characteristics of C.

adriatica. The 16S rRNA gene analyses suggest that C. adriatica belongs to Pleurocapsales, not Chroococcales. Cyanoplacoma regularis, the only species in the Cyanoplacoma whose genetic information is available, does not make a monophyletic clade with C. adriatica. This suggests polyphyly of Cyanoplacoma. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of type species C.

vesiculosa should be required to draw a taxonomic conclusion about Cyanoplacoma.

Astragalus minutidentatus Y.C.Ho, A. sanjappae Chaudhary & Khan and A. jumlaensis Podlech of Leguminosae were taxonomically revised and the circumscription is defined. From a comprehensive analysis of all these three species, we concluded that they are conspecific and thus propose the latter two to be treated as synonyms of the preceding name.

The present study deals with the transfer of seven names of Lloydia Salisb. ex Rchb. into Gagea Salisb. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies support grouping of Gagea and Lloydia into Gagea sensu lato. A revised generic classification was proposed for Gagea and the species previously described within Lloydia were transferred to Gagea. However, few Himalayan species of Lloydia were left out in this consideration. Hence, six new combinations and a new name are proposed here. Types are designated as required.

Lysionotus metuoensis W.T.Wang subsp. arunachalensis Chowlu & G.Krishna is described and illustrated here from Pakke-Kessang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new subspecies is morphologically similar to the typical L. metuoensis but differs by having longer leaves (2–8 cm vs. 2.4–3.5 cm), 3–6-flowered inflorescences (vs. 1-flowered), longer corolla (up to 6 cm vs. up to 5 cm) and 5-lobed disk (vs. entire). This new subspecies is confined to two different localities in the Pakke-Kessang district of Arunachal Pradesh, in a small population comprising 35–40 individuals.

The Japanese Minuartia (Caryophyllaceae) is revised. A taxonomic history of the genus in Japan is reviewed in detail. Four species and two varieties of the genus are generally recognized in Japan: M. arctica var. arctica and var. hondoensis, M. biflora, M. macrocarpa var. jooi and var. yezoalpina and M. verna var. japonica. These taxa are newly attributed here to three genera and four species without recognizing infraspecific taxa as follows: Cherleria arctica and C. biflora, Pseudocherleria macrocarpa and Sabulina verna. Keys to these genera and species, diagnoses for each genus, and correct names and synonyms with detailed bibliography and taxonomic notes for each species are provided. Alsine macrocarpa var. koreana Nakai, Arenaria arctica var. rebunensis T.Shimizu, Minuartia arctica var. hondoensis Ohwi, M. kurilensis Ikonn. & Barkalov, M. macrocarpa var. yezoalpina H.Hara, M. verna var. leptophylla (Rchb.) Nakai and M. verna var. japonica H.Hara are newly regarded as synonyms of their related species, respectively.

Lectotypes are designated for Balanophora japonica Makino and B. nipponica Makino

Brassaiopsis ficifolia Dunn (Araliaceae) is a little known species recently collected by the authors from Seijosa, Pakke-Kessang district of Arunachal Pradesh. We report its occurrence for the first time from India. A detailed taxonomic description along with phenology and distribution of this species is provided here to aid field identification.