A new spontaneous hybrid between Salix caprea and S. rupifraga was discovered near Sakamaki Onsen Hot Spring, Nagano, Japan. This hybrid individual exhibits a combination of key morphological traits from its presumed parental species; specifically, the abaxial leaf surface displays the thin, white villous indumentum characteristic of S. caprea, while the leaves possess an acuminate leaf apex and sharply serrate margins, which are defining features of S. rupifraga. Genetic clustering analyses utilizing MIG-seq data unequivocally confirmed that this plant is an interspecific hybrid between S. caprea and S. rupifraga. Furthermore, hybrid generation estimates suggest that this individual represents the F₂ generation. The existence of an F₂ hybrid implies that interspecific hybrids resulting from this cross are fertile. Based on these results, we formally describe the hybrid and propose the new nothospecies name, Salix ×azusaensis W.Fukaya.

Zingiber squarrosum Roxb. and Roscoea alpina Royle were described in the 19th century without the designation of a holotype. To stabilize the nomenclature and facilitate accurate taxonomic identity, here, we have designated a lectotype for the name Z. squarrosum Roxb. and a second-step lectotype for the name R. alpina Royle.

Zingiber calcicola and Z. skornickovae are newly reported from Laos based on the morphological examinations of the specimens collected in Kasi and Vangvieng Districts, Vientiane Province. Illustrations, ecological information and taxonomic notes based on the Lao material are provided.

We report two grass taxa, Aristida barbicollis and Tripogon africanus (Poaceae), as new distribution records for the flora of Pakistan. The former species was previously known only from Africa and the latter only from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The specimens constituting these new records originated from the archival grass collection of the Blatter Herbarium (BLAT), India, which serves as a significant depository for Indo-Pakistan botanical collections.

As the result of field surveys conducted in Kayin and Shan States, Myanmar, two species of Zingiberaceae, Wurfbainia parviflora and Zingiber aureolinum, are newly recorded.

Diospyros dumetorum (Ebenaceae) had previously been collected in Myanmar but was overlooked in recent checklists. Although specimens at K were identified as this species in 1971, its occurrence in Myanmar remained undocumented in the literature. We confirm its identification based on the examination of herbarium specimens and relevant literature, provide taxonomic notes with comparison to its most similar species and formally record it from Myanmar.

Acer diabolicum is known as a dioecious species, but a male tree which has some hermaphrodite flowers mixed with ordinary male flowers was observed. Previous records suggested that the same tree produced hermaphrodite flowers at least four times with some years interval. The morphology of the hermaphrodite flowers is described.

A recent study proposed that Festuca ovina L. sensu lato (Poaceae) in Japan should be divided into two species, F. ovina sensu stricto and F. ruprechtii (Boiss.) V.I.Krecz. & Bobr., based on phylogenetic relationships and morphological characteristics. However, if the recognition of two distinct species is accepted, F. supina Schur (1866), which was treated as a synonym in this taxonomic treatment, is the correct name for the second species because it has priority over F. ruprechtii (Boiss.) V.I.Krecz. & Bobr. (1934). In addition, the study treated F. ovina var. coreensis Honda and F. ovina subsp. ovina var. vulgaris Wallr. subvar. coreana St.-Yves. as heterotypic by designating a lectotype for the former. Notably, the designated lectotype of F. ovina var. coreensis Honda corresponds to the lectotype of F. ovina var. coreana (St.-Yves) St.-Yves subvar. taquetii St.-Yves, because both names are based on “F. ovina var. coreensis Hack.”