The fine structure of the benthic diatom Lyrella lyroides has been examined using light and electron microscopy. The following morphological features of this species are revealed in detail for the first time. The uniseriate striae on the valve face and mantle consist of small, round areolae. Each areola has a circular external opening and is occluded internally by a siliceous flap. Voigt faults are frequently visible, marking the later-formed, ‘secondary’ side of the valve. At the centre, the raphe opens externally into a tear-drop-shaped groove, while internally, it terminates in anchor-shaped endings. The external terminal fissures are well developed, and both ends hook towards the same (secondary) side of the valve—the internal terminal endings with diminutive helictoglossae. The mature cingulum consists of three areolae girdle bands, open at one pole, which are distinguishable in fine structure. (Continued from J. Jap. Bot. 99(4): 242–251, 2024)

A new species of Zingiberaceae, Distichochlamys yonedae Nob.Tanaka & V.S.Dang is described from central Vietnam. Distichochlamys is a small genus endemic to Vietnam and currently comprises four species. The new species described here represents the fifth species of this genus. A key to all species of Distichochlamys is also provided.

Carex adumana (Cyperaceae), described by Tomitarō Makino in 1895, is lectotypified by examination of the specimens preserved in the Herbarium of the University of Tokyo (TI), the Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University (MAK), and the Herbarium of National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo (TNS).

Dendrobium macrostachyum (Orchidaceae) is here confirmed as a part of the flora of Nepal based on recent field collections from Sindhupalchowk District, Central Nepal. Previous reports of this species from Nepal remained uncertain due to misidentifications and lack of verifiable herbarium evidence. A comparison with morphologically similar species, particularly D. aphyllum, was performed for accurate identification. In addition, earlier herbarium records cited for Nepal are critically examined, and their taxonomic status is clarified. Information on geographical distribution, ecology, diagnostic morphological characters, and a note on doubtful records prior to this paper is provided.

A terrestrial orchid species Oreorchis patens, collected from the temperate forest of Ramaroshan, Achham District, West Nepal, is reported here as a new record for the flora of Nepal.

Veronica polita var. lilacina (Plantaginaceae) is an endangered herbaceous plant native to Japan. Previous works indicated that V. polita var. lilacina populations have been widely displaced by its non-native congener V. persica, resulting in V. polita var. lilacina coming to prefer rocky habitats such as stone walls so as to avoid the heterospecific negative interaction. In this study, we found an abundant population of V. polita var. lilacina in the Kochi Coast region of Shikoku, Japan. In the study area, V. polita var. lilacina occurred mainly around sandy roadside, which is in contrast to the typical rocky habitat in mainland Japan. Moreover, V. persica was hardly found in areas where V. polita var. lilacina was distributed. We hope that this study will stimulate further investigation to discover V. polita var. lilacina populations in similar environment around coastal area.

British diplomat Ferdinand Cecil Greatrex (1884–1967) collected numerous herbarium specimens in Japan (before World War II) and Southern Rhodesia. To trace his plant-collecting activities in Hokkaido, northern Japan, we searched for 1,065 specimens housed in the herbarium of the Hokkaido University Museum (SAPS) and decoded his old letters to Dr. Kingo Miyabe and Dr. Yûshun Kudô, botanists at Hokkaido University at that time. His collection was mostly made around Hakodate during his first tenure (1915–1917), and included comprehensive flowering plant taxa distributed in southern Hokkaido, while largely omitting taxa that were generally difficult to identify, such as Poaceae and Pteridophytes. He provided detailed descriptive notes corresponding to the specimens in his letters sent to the Japanese experts to obtain correct identifications. The letters also indicated that he continued sending specimens during his second tenure (1920–1924) in Hakodate, but these specimens were unfortunately lost by Hokkaido Imperial University at that time. Unlike contemporary foreign collectors, Greatrex sent his collection to local experts and herbaria in Japan, resulting in his specimens being retained in Hokkaido and contributing to the early compilation of Hokkaido’s flora. The Greatrex collection provides historical occurrences that were valuable for floristic and vegetation studies in southern Hokkaido before modern urbanization of the area.