Mycena lacrimans (Agaricales, Mycenaceae) is redescribed from material collected recently near the type locality and is for the first time reported as bioluminescent. A comprehensive description, illustrations, photographs, comparison with phenetically similar species, and discussion of phylogenetic relationships are provided.

Wild evergreen azalea populations of Rhododendron kiusianum and R. kaempferi (Ericaceae) were analysed using a chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) PCR-RFLP marker that was used to detect introgressive hybridization in our previous study of the Kirishima Mts populations.

The populations of the intermediate region in the Unzen Mts, which show phenotypic variation, were demonstrated to result from interspecific hybridization between Rhododendron kiusianum and R. kaempferi, possessing cpDNA from either R. kiusianum (1030/420 bp) or R. kaempferi (950/420/80 bp).

Most individuals of Rhododendron kiusianum in the Kujyu Mts, the Aso Mts and the surrounding mountains exhibited the PCR-RFLP pattern of R. kaempferi. These results from the Kujyu Mts and the Aso Mts indicate that natural hybridization and cytoplasmic introgression from Rhododendron kaempferi to R. kiusianum have occurred in the relatively distant past. In the case of Mt Yufudake and Mt Haneyama, the Rhododendron kiusianum population retains the effects of natural hybridization with R. kaempferi in the cpDNA as well as in the variation in flower characteristics.

All individuals of Rhododendron kiusianum on Mt Onogaradake in the Takakuma Mts exhibit R. kiusianum cpDNA (1030/420 bp), in spite of variation in flower colour.

A new species of Neckeraceae, Neckera serrulatifolia Enroth & M.Ji, is described from Xizang (Tibet), China. It belongs in an Asian group of relatively robust, distinctly stipitate species with an obtuse leaf apex, relatively long costa and strongly incrassate-porose leaf cell walls, but differs from the other species by the combination of strongly complanate and undulate branch leaves, long leaf decurrencies, and serrulate margins at leaf base and at midleaf. The sporophytes remain unknown.

Specimens of Pseudopyxis Miq. (Rubiaceae) from China and Japan were studied and compared. As the plants from China differ considerably from those from Japan a new species, Pseudopyxis monilirhizoma T.Chen, is described and a key to Pseudopyxis is presented.

Dischidia micholitzii N.E.Br. (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), described from a cultivated plant and erroneously assumed to be from Burma, is native to the Tenimbar and Babar island groups of Maluku, Indonesia. It is closely related to Dischidia ovata Benth. from New Guinea and Australia.

An overview is given of Girgensohnia (Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae). Five species are recognized including one new species, Girgensohnia bungeana Sukhor. A key for identifying species is provided together with details of their distribution. Lectotypes for the following names are chosen: Girgensohnia diptera Bunge, Girgensohnia oppositiflora (Pall.) Fenzl, Anabasis heteroptera Jaub. & Spach (= Girgensohnia heteroptera (Jaub. & Spach) Bunge), Girgensohnia imbricata Bunge and Girgensohnia pallasii Bunge (= Girgensohnia oppositiflora (Pall.) Fenzl).

A new species of Rubiaceae, Hedyotis shenzhenensis T.Chen, from Shenzhen, South China, is described and illustrated.

Three new species of Agapetes (Ericaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India are described and illustrated with critical comments: Agapetes arunachalensis D.Banik & M.Sanjappa (Agapetes ser. Graciles subser. Parvifoliae), Agapetes dalaiensis D.Banik & M.Sanjappa (Agapetes ser. Agapetes subser. Agapetes) and Agapetes siangensis D.Banik & M.Sanjappa (Agapetes ser. Graciles subser. Longifoliae).

Gentiana cachemirica is a rare plant from northern Pakistan and northwestern India. The sectional position of this species has been a matter of considerable debate. Various authors have placed Gentiana cachemirica in one of three different sections – Gentiana sect. Isomeria, Gentiana sect. Kudoa or Gentiana sect. Pneumonanthe. The present paper assesses the taxonomic affinities of this species using a detailed study of its morphology accompanied by morphological phylogenetic and cluster analyses. Characters of the seed testa, corolla morphology and growth architecture were studied for selected species from the above-mentioned sections and closely related Gentiana sect. Cruciata. Representatives of Gentiana sect. Ciminalis were used as outgroups. Our results suggest that G. cachemirica belongs to Gentiana sect. Pneumonanthe and that its affinities are closer to the Western Asiatic group of this section.

The species of Aeschynanthus Jack (Gesneriaceae) in Thailand are revised. Twenty species are recognized, a key to the species is given, all names are typified, and detailed descriptions of all species are provided. Conservation assessments are given for all species. Aeschynanthus minutifolius D.J.Middleton is newly described. Micraeschynanthus Ridl. is reduced to synonymy and a new combination is given for its only species: Aeschynanthus dischidioides (Ridl.) D.J.Middleton.