The Kuril Island Chain, which extends 1200 km in a northeast direction from Hokkaido (Japan) towards the shores of the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russian Federation), unites the boreal flora of the southern Kamchatka with the temperate flora enriched with subtropical elements from the lower elevation belts of Hokkaido. The gradual shift in the liverwort flora from the north to the south is analysed and described. It is shown that the border between East Asian and Circumboreal floristic regions (based on an analysis of liverworts) should run either along the Izmena Straight between Hokkaido and Kunashir Islands, or along the Ekaterina Straight between Kunashir and Iturup Islands, the former being a better-justified position.

The genus Actinidia Lindl. was traditionally divided into four sections, Actinidia sect. Strigosae H.L. Li, Actinidia sect. Maculatae Dunn, Actinidia sect. Leiocarpae Dunn, and Actinidia sect. Stellatae H.L. Li. However, A. sect. Maculatae was not published validly, and A. sect. Leiocarpae and A. sect. Stellatae lack types. In the present paper, the autonym, Actinidia sect. Actinidia, is proposed to replace A. sect. Maculatae, and A. sect. Vestitae to replace A. sect. Stellatae. Lectotypes are designated for A. sect. Vestitae and A. sect. Leiocarpae.

The final concentrations of non-axenic outdoor mass cultures of Dunaliella sp. grown for two or three days in f/2 and 2f media were found to be dependent on the initial cell concentration, since the cultures started with 80 × 10³ cells ml^-1 gave better yields than those started with 40 × 10³ cells ml^-1. There was a correlation between nutrient availability and cell yields: the two and three days-old cultures started with 40 × 10³ cells ml^-1 and grown in medium f/2 had lower concentrations than those grown in 2f medium, whereas in cultures with 80 × 10³ cells ml^-1 inoculum the yield was significantly higher only after three days. The lowest dry biomass yields after two and three days were with the inoculum of 40 × 10³ cells ml^-1 and medium f/2.

Type materials of 15 polypores described from China by Ji-Ding Zhao and other mycologists were re-examined. Nine of the 15 names are synonymized, two species are accepted, and one name is a nomen dubium; two species belong to other genera according to modern taxonomy, and one name is illegitimate. One new combination, Funalia thujae (J.D. Zhao) Y.C. Dai & H.S. Yuan, is proposed, and an illustrated description of it is given.

A new species, Aspidistra chishuiensis S.Z. He & W.F. Xu (Ruscaceae), is described and illustrated from northern Guizhou, China. It is similar to A. flaviflora, but differs in its purple perianth, 3.5 mm long lobes, stamens that are adnate at the middle of the tube, stigma that is ca. 8 mm in diam., and the berry that is nearly smooth.

Asperula pseudochlorantha Ehrend, and Asperula antalyensis Ehrend, from Turkey were described in 1958. General characteristics, seed structure and micromorphology, pollen measurements and other pollen characteristics were examined to determine the taxonomic status of these taxa. Morphologically, the two taxa cannot be easily distinguished, and the seeds and pollen grains are similar. The chromosome number is 2n = 22 for both taxa. Based on morphological, palynological and cytological similarities, and the fact that both taxa are found in the same habitats, we propose that A. antalyensis should be recognized as A. pseudochlorantha Ehrend, var. antalyensis (Ehrend.) Minareci & K. Yıldız, comb. et stat. nov.

Anoectochilus malipoensis W.H. Chen & Y.M. Shui sp. nova (Orchidaceae) from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to A. emeiensis but differs by having a narrow membranaceous rim in the anther cap, obovate epichile lobes with acuminate apex and crenulate margins, a narrow rim inside hypochile lobes, two 1–1.2 mm long cornua on the end of the spur, and broadly cupulate calli in the spur. These differences in flower morphology were observed in the holotype specimens. We also revise some characteristics of A. emeiensis based on examination of its holotype. The relationship between A. malipoensis and A. papillosus is discussed. Furthermore, a new identification key to the fourteen species of Anoectochilus (excluding Odontochilus) from China and Vietnam is given here.

Linum ertugrulii O. Tugay, Y. Bağci & Uysal sp. nova (Linaceae) from Cihanbeyli (B4 Konya, Turkey) is described and illustrated. It is closely similar to L. flavum, L. pamphylicum and L. ciliatum, from which it differs mainly in having a stoloniferous stem, and in the leaf and floral features. Notes are presented on its habitat ecology and biogeography.

Chirita nandanensis S.X. Huang, Y.G. Wei & W.H. Luo sp. nova (Gesneriaceae) is described and illustrated from Guangxi, China. The new species is similar to C. floribunda in the leaf and flower shape, but differs by its leaves being densely villous on both surfaces and along the margin, and by having villous pedicels and a 2-parted stigma.

Two new species, Microtropis longicarpa Q.W. Lin & Z.X. Zhang and M. daweishanensis Q.W. Lin & Z.X. Zhang, are described and illustrated from Yunnan, China. Both of them resemble Microtropis petelotii in the vegetative characters, and are also partly sympatric in the same forest. However, the three species have different flowering periods, foliar epidermis, structures of flowers and fruits. An identification key to the three species is provided.

Weddellomyces pertusariicola Halici (Ascomycota, Dacampiaceae) is described as new from the thallus of Pertusaria lactea on siliceous rocks in the East Black Sea Region of Turkey. It is the first known species of Weddellomyces on Pertusaria and differs from most other species of the genus by smooth-walled, shorter and narrower ascospores. The host lichen was also infected by Taeniolella pertusariicola.

Silene aydosensis K. Yıldız & S. Erik sp. nova (Caryophyllaceae, S. sect. Sclerocalycinae) is described and illustrated from S and SW Anatolia, Turkey. Diagnostic morphological characters for distinction from the similar S. caramanica and S. doganii are given. Distribution of the new and the morphologically similar species are mapped. Ultrastructure of seed and pollen grains of S. aydosensis was examined by SEM.

A new species in Pteridaceae, Pteris changjiangensis X.L. Zheng & F.W. Xing (sect. Pteris) from Hainan Island, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to P. simplex and P. subsimplex in appearance, but differs by having an adscendent, tenuous rhizome, homomorphic, separate and simple fronds, and a preference to calcareous habitat.