Aconitum polycarpum Chang ex W. T. Wang described from Yunnan, China, is re-described here with illustrations of the helmet and nectary based on the herbarium specimens. Sect. Sinaconitum W. T. Wang was recognized originally as a monotypic section which included a sole species, A. polycarpum. However, it is clarified that another species, A. heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle from the Western Himalayas, also belongs to this section. The ranges of both species are geographically segregated from each other by approximately 1,500 km. This is the first report of prominent vicariance in the Great Himalayas.

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In some insect species, sperm are bundled after spermatogenesis and transferred to the female. The function of such a bundle of sperm remains unknown. In this study, sperm of 29 species of Cicadomorpha and 12 species of Fulgoromorpha belonging to the infraorder Auchenorrhyncha (Homoptera) were observed. Sperm from families Cicadidae, Aphropholidae, and Cicadellidae were attached at their tips to a rope- or rod-like hyaline material and formed large bundles: however, sperm of the other families did not. The hyaline material of the sperm-bundles was digested when treated with trypsin, suggesting it was proteinous. Spermbundles transferred to the female were broken down in a bursa copulatrix (ejaculate receiving organ) where sperm were released from the bundles and removed to a spermatheca (sperm storage organ). The spermbinding material disappeared (probably digested) in the bursa. This material is, therefore, a possible nutrient investment from the male to the female in Cicadidae, Aphropholidae, and Cicadellidae.

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Copper(II) complexing capacity (CuCC) of the Watarase river water was determined by dithizone extraction technique. The CuCC values obtained at the upper stream were in a range of 10^-7-10^-6 mol dm^-3, which corresponded to the values obtained at the middle reaches. Total and free copper(II) concentrations in the river water were also determined by thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) extraction technique. The total copper(II) concentration was higher in the upper stream than in the middle one. However, they were significantly low for the CuCC of the water. This result indicates that most of the copper(II) in the river water exists as complexes bound to naturally occurring ligands that contribute to the CuCC. From the evaluation of the side-reaction coefficient in the TTA extraction，it was found that the free copper(II) concentration in the river water was lower than 10^-11 mol dm^-3.

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Phytogeographical relationships of plant communities of the upper part of the Taisetsu mountain range, central Hokkaido, northern Japan, to plant communities of the northern boreal subzone of Far East Russia is discussed. Three major plant communities exist on the upper part of the Taisetsu mountain range. These are in the vertical order from the lower part of the mountain the Betula ermanii forest, the Pinus pumila thickets, and the wind-exposed dwarf shrubs. However, the fact is these three plant communities co-exist within a potential Betula ermanii forest zone. Those three plant communities all have their phytogeographically corresponding plant communities within the same northern boreal subzone of Far East Russia, which has different continental-oceanic sectors (C1, OC, O1, and O2 sectors from the continental to oceanic). The Betula ermanii forest corresponds to the Betula ermanii forest in the Kamchatka Peninsula of O1 sector associated with an oceanic climate, the Pinus pumila thickets to the Larix gmelinii - Pinus pumila, forest in the Kolyma and Koryak Hills of C1 and OC sector associated with a relatively continental climate, and the wind exposed dwarf shrubs to the treeless heaths in the Kurile Islands of O2 sector associated with a extremely oceanic climate. Apparent vertical arrangement of these three plant communities on the upper part of the Taisetsu mountain range was inconsistent with the horizontal arrangement in the northern boreal subzone of Far East Russia that consists of, from the continental to extremely oceanic sector, the Larix gmelinii - Pinus pumila forest, the Betula ermanii forest, and the treeless heath community. Strong winds and heavy snowfalls in winter in the Taisetsu mountain range promoted such vertical plant community arrangement of the mountain that is inconsistent with the horizontal sector distribution in the northern boreal subzone of Far East Russia.

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Effects of five environmental endocrine disruptors (environmental hormones) and analogous chemicals on mitosis were analyzed in the root-tip cells of Allium cepa L. Mitotic cell count decreased as the molar concentration of chemical solution increased. The chi-square test indicated significant difference between control and test solutions: 0.75 × 10^-2 mg/ml 1-Naphthyl methylcarbamate, 0.03 mg/ ml S-Methyl N-(Methylcarbamoyloxy) thioacetimidate, 0.1 × 10^-3 mg/ml 2,2-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane, 0.25 × 10^-1 mg/ml Di-2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and 6.25 × 10^-2 mg/ml Benzyl n-buthyl phthalate. Chromosome aberration, such as stickiness, attenuation, and chromosome breakage, was noted in almost all solutions. With regard to the chromosomes, remarkable declines in stainability were observed in all chemical samples of higher concentrations with the exception of 2,2-Bis(4-hyd roxyphenyl)-propane.

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In this paper, a continuation of eight previous papers, 11 taxa belonging to the genera Amphora, Epithemia, and Rhopalodia are reported with light and scanning electron microscope photographs. Some comments are made mostly on the taxonomy and morphology of each taxon.

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This study discusses the moss flora of Mt. Kosa-dake, which is situated at approximately 32°39' N latitude and 130°52' E longitude, in Kyushu, southern Japan. The area is a calcareous site and belongs to the warm-temperate zone (evergreen broad-leaved forest zone). Among approximately 500 specimens collected from 2000 to 2002, 119 species, 2 subspecies, and 4 varieties were recognized in 82 genera of 34 families. For each species, localities, altitude, substrata, specimen numbers, and floristic elements were given. The moss flora of Mt. Kosa-dake is characterized by the following features; the rich flora of the family Fissidentaceae (9 species and 3 varieties), Neckeraceae (9 species and 1 varieties), Thuidiaceae (12 species), and Hypnaceae (12 species), and the East Asian (77 species; 62%) and tropic (24 species; 19%) species.

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Investigations were made into epiphytic bryophytes mainly present in forests surrounding temples and shrines in Hiratsuka city. Based on these results a distribution map of the numbers of epiphytic bryophytes was made. Compared with past investigations^l), it is clear that the numbers of epiphytic bryophytes tended to increase. Differences among areas were also observed. Among the four devided areas of Hiratsuka city, increased numbers of epiphytic bryophytes were observed mostly in the hilly terrain. However, the opposit phenomenon was prominent in paddy fields. It can be said that the existence and fluctuation in number of epiphytic bryophytes are greatly affected by the density of temple and shrine forests.

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Tama City is a city within Tokyo having the area of 21.1 km² and the population of 140,000. The city lies on hilly lands along the middle reaches of the Tama River. The city has rapidly expanded since 1965 through urban development in the hilly area and become to a new suburban city of Tokyo.
Imported into Japan by human activities and established naturalized plants, have greatly increased in species numbers during the course of the city's developments. In this paper, 267 species belonging to 54 families are reported based on our field work. The ratio of the naturalized species to total plant species in the city is estimated to be 25.7%. The ratio of the escapes to total naturalized species is estimated to be 41.9 %.

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A checklist of Hepaticae and Anthocereotae in Yamagata-ken was edited on the basis of literature. Consequently, a total of 194 species, 4 subspecies, 6 varieties of Hepaticae belonging to 71 genera and 32 families, and a total of 3 species of Anthocereotae belonging to 3 genera and one family were listed.

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Liverwort and hornwort florae of Aichi-ken, Central Japan are poorly known and published reports are few. A checklist of Hepaticae and Anthocereotae in Aichi-ken was edited on the basis of literature. Consequently, a total of 146 species, 6 subspecies, one variety of Hepaticae belonging to 61 genera and 27 families, and one species of Anthocereotae belonging to one genus and one family were listed.

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