Tetralophozia setiformis is newly reported from Japan based on herbarium specimens collected from Hokkaido, northern Japan. A description and illustrations based on Japanese plants and a key to the Japanese species of Tetralophozia are provided.

The fine structure of a benthic diatom Luticola belawanensis Levkov & Metzeltin was examined using light and scanning electron microscopies. The following morphological features of this species are first revealed in detail through the present study. Mature cingulum consisting of four girdle bands, open at one pole, divided in two types: a valvocopula with two rows of areolae, has a crenulated edge (pars interior) fitting on top of valve ribs; three copulae are thinner than valvocopula, possess smooth inner edges and ligulae. Morphological differences between this species and related species are discussed. This species is distributed over a wide area from Okinawa to Kanto in Japan, and grows especially in the tidal river areas.

Exallage auricularia (L.) Bremek. was rediscovered in Yonaguni Island, Okinawa, Japan after about 40 years. Exallage auricularia is morphologically variable to the extent that some varieties were proposed. The present phylogenetic analysis showed that the species may not be monophyletic as indicated in previous studies and that the plant in Yonaguni Island was closely related to those in Thailand and Fiji with moderate support. Further phylogenetic analysis is required to elucidate the relationship within the species and among closely related species.

Three species previously treated in the genus Kobresia Willd. are transferred to the genus Carex L. One new combination, C. angusta (C.B.Clarke) Sameer Patil, and two new names, C. rongkupiorum Sameer Patil and C. indrakilica Sameer Patil, are proposed.

As a part of taxonomic studies of Cremanthodium (Asteraceae) in Indian Himalaya, C. arnicoides R.D.Good is lectotypified along with one associated synonym Ligularia arnicoides in accordance with ICN.

Eranthemum burmanicum N.P.Balakr. of the family Acanthaceae, subfamily Acanthoideae, so far known from Myanmar and Thailand is reported for the first time from Barail Hills of Cachar district, Assam, India. Extended taxonomic description, habitat, phenology and the first available live photographs are provided here.

Neomolinia fauriei (Hack.) Honda has been found for the first time in Miyagi Prefecture of the Tohoku district in northern Japan. This perennial grass is known to be one of the rarest species in the family Poaceae in Japan, and has been known to grow only in some parts of Nagano and Gunma Prefectures of the Chubu and Kanto districts in central Japan, respectively. The new habitat of this species is the “Zao Mori-zukuri Shizen-en” Nature Park in Shiroishi City of Miyagi Prefecture, but its presence has not been confirmed in subsequent surveys. Since it is a rare species not only in the Tohoku district but also in the whole country, there is a strong need to protect the environment in this area.

This study examined the sexual expression of the first floret of Isachne globosa (Thunb.) Kuntze of Japan, with reference to differences in growth stage, the position on an inflorescence, and locality. Isachne globosa is one of several common perennial wetland grasses, widely distributed across Southeast Asia, extending to Japan and Australia. About 100 species of the genus Isachne R.Br. are known worldwide, and these have been divided into two sections, sect. Isachne and sect. Paraisachne Honda, according to differences in the morphology and qualities of the lemma. With regard to sexual expression, the first floret of sect. Isachne, which includes I. globosa, is characterized as being bisexual. In Japan, however, there is some discrepancy because several reports have noted that the first florets of I. globosa are male. Our present investigation has shown that the first florets of I. globosa are almost all male. This suggests that it is not appropriate to apply it as one of the traits that separate the two sections.

Herbarium specimens prepared by the late Prof. Akio Kikuchi and his colleagues were discovered in the Herbarium of Kyoto University (KYO). These specimens contain Pyrus, Malus and other fruit tree plants. Some Pyrus specimens are identified as original materials of his taxonomic studies. Some of others are also identified as the voucher specimens of living genetic resources now preserved in the Genebank Project of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization.