Angelica dabashanensis, A. genuflexa, A. minamitanii, A. polymorpha, A. reflexa and A. tianmuensis are morphologically similar to each other and the classification of these species has been insufficiently studied. This paper proposes a new classification of these species based on comparative morphological studies and results from DNA sequence analysis of ITS and the chloroplast rpl16 intron. The evidence showed, A. dabashanensis, A. minamitanii, A. reflexa and A. tianmuensis form a monophyletic clade, whereas A. genuflexa and A. polymorpha are distinct from them. We regard the former four species to be a single species, A. tianmuensis of which A. dabashanensis and A. minamitanii are treated as its variety, respectively, because of the difference in the number of vittae and their ITS sequences.

The validity of Musa kattuvazhana is still in contention for some taxonomists. The present study aimed to solve the correct identity of M. kattuvazhana through morphological comparison and phylogenetic analyses using nuclear ITS, chloroplast trnL-trnL-trnF and rps16 intron. The distinctiveness of this species from M. acuminata is established here with morphological, anatomical, and phylogenetic evidence. In addition, the occurrence of M. kattuvazhana in Andaman was confirmed, contrary to the claims made by recent publications. Furthermore, the results supported that M. acuminata subsp. burmannica and subsp. burmanicoides should be treated as synonyms of M. kattuvazhana.

Pollen grains from nine of the fourteen Primula species (Primulaceae) native to Japan were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Among these, pollen morphological features of seven species were examined by SEM for the first time, and the wall structure of two species by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well. The Japanese Primula species were comparatively stenopalynous in having 3(–4)-parasyncolporoidate with microreticulate sculpture except for 3-colporoidate pollen in P. japonica of section Prolifera. A variation in pollen morphology was found among the investigated species, particularly in size and shape of the triangular apocolpial fields (polar area). Both P. modesta var. fauriei and P. sorachiana constituting section Aleuritia showed small pollen grains with small apocolpial fields, which indicate an intermediate state between parasyncolporoidate and syncolporoidate apertures. Apocolpial field connection with the adjoining exine surface that was sometimes found in P. nipponica pollen might show an intermediate state between parasyncolporoidate and colporoidate apertures.

Seven taxa of Carex (Cyperaceae) described by Dr. Shigeo Akiyama, C. hotaizanensis Akiyama, C. insaniae Koidz. f. angustifolia Akiyama, C. okushirensis Akiyama, C. pseudosadoensis Akiyama, C. rikuchiuensis Akiyama, C. thunbergii Steud. var. pallidisquama Akiyama, and C. yezoalpina Akiyama, are lectotypified based on specimens preserved in the herbarium of the Hokkaido University Museum (SAPS) and the herbarium of Kanazawa University (KANA).

Festuca probatovae E.B.Alexeev (Poaceae) was formally described based on the specimens collected from Sakhalin and Japan in 1982. However, the species has been neglected in the floristic literature in Japan. In 2019, we collected specimens in Mt. Chubetsudake, Taisetsu Mountains, Hokkaido, Japan, that we identified as F. probatovae mainly based on the structure of leaf transverse sections. Here, we report the new locality for the species in Japan and provide a morphological description and a new Japanese name for the species.

Previous studies indicated that Woodsia subcordata has an allotetraploid origin resulting from the hybridization between W. ilvensis and W. polystichoides. In this study, several individuals of the genus Woodsia, which has no mature sporangia, were collected from Hokkaido, Japan. Based on DNA contents, nuclear and plastid DNA polymorphism, the sterile individuals were identified as diploid hybrids between W. ilvensis and W. polystichoides, or triploid hybrids between W. polystichoides and W. subcordata. To distinguish the hybrid of W. ilvensis × W. polystichoides from W. subcordata in Hokkaido, it is necessary to check whether sporangia are shrunken. On the other hand, W. polystichoides × W. subcordata is rather easy to distinguish from W. polystichoides and W. subcordata in having shallowly serrated pinnae and scales.

An epiphyllous algae Phycopeltis arundinacea is recorded for the first time from Central Nepal. This is the first generic record of Phycopeltis from Nepal.

Specimens of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (Convolvulaceae) had been collected in 1939, 1968, 1972, and 1992 at the Tsujido Beach or Nijigahama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, which is the eastern limit of its distribution. However, in our field survey in 2023, we could not find C. chinensis around the Tsujido Beach.

Carex siroumensis Koidz. (Cyperaceae) is newly recorded from Biratori-cho, Hidaka Subpref., central Hokkaido, Japan. This plant was found to grow on sunny side of limestone cliff at Mt. Futamatadake.