Four new species of Oxytropis subgenus Oxytropis are described from Xinjiang, China: O. barkolensis X.Y.Zhu, H.Ohashi & Y.B.Deng, O. qitaiensis X.Y.Zhu, H.Ohashi & Y.B.Deng, O. tukemansuensis X.Y.Zhu, H.Ohashi & Y.B.Deng, and O. yekenensis X.Y.Zhu, H.Ohashi & Y.B.Deng.

Four little known species of Juncus (Juncaceae) in the Sino-Himalayan floristic region are reported. Full descriptions and drawings of the following species are given: 1) Juncus concolor Sam.; 2) Juncus dongchuanensis K.F.Wu; 3) Juncus longiflorus (A.Camus) Noltie; 4) Juncus milashanensis A.M.Lu & Z.Y.Zhang.

A new species, Scolophyllum longitubum T.Yamaz. & Chuakul, is described from Thailand. This is the third species in the genus.

Embryological features in Euchresta japonica, a species of the monotypic tribe Euchresteae, are described for the first time. Features in microsporogenesis are as follows: the anthers are tetrasporangiate; anther wall development corresponds to the dicotyledonous type; the tapetum is of the glandular type and uninucleate; the microspore tetrad is tetrahedral. Pollen grains are 2-celled at the time of shedding. These features are common with those generally found in Papilionoideae to date. Features in megasporogenesis are as follows: the archesporium is one-celled and hypodermal; the ovule is bitegmic, campylotropous and crassinucellate; one megaspore mother cell forms a linear tetrad. Megagametogenesis is of the Polygonum type; the antipodals are very ephemeral and most of the polar nuclei are in contact with each other and fused before fertilization. These embryological features of Euchresta show that the tribe Euchresteae is distinct from related tribes Sophoreae and Thermopsideae and may suggest that it is an advanced tribe related to Sophora and Maackia.

Habitats for alpine plants at a sampling site located at an altitude of about 4200 m in Jaljale Himal, eastern Nepal, were classified into five types, each of which was characterized by its own plant community, and habitat conditions of slope exposure, inclination and substratum. Most of the alpine plants were restricted to a specific type or types of habitats, but Rheum nobile was not restricted and completed its life cycle in any habitat types.

Distribution of 31 popular plants (Tab. 1 and Figs. 2 to 17) in Osaka Prefecture, central Japan was surveyed in cooperation with local botanists. Reynoutria sachalinensis was recorded in two places far from its natural range. Recent disappearance of Adenocaulon himalaicum was first recorded in southern lowland (Fig. 14B Arrow).