A taxonomic revision of the Chinese species of Bolbitis based on studies of herbarium specimens and SEM observation of spores is presented in this paper. Twenty species and three hybrids are recognized in China. Among these, B. costata (C. Presl) Ching and B. hookeriana K. Iwats. are new records to China, B. fengiana (Ching) S. Y. Dong and B. medogensis (Ching & S. K. Wu) S. Y. Dong are new combinations. Eight new synonyms are proposed: B. latipinna Ching, B. media Ching & Chu H. Wang, B. yunnanensis Ching, Egenolfia crassifolia Ching, E. crenata Ching & P. S. Chiu, E. fengiana Ching, E. medogensis Ching & S. K. Wu and E. ×yunnanensis Ching & P. S. Chiu. Based on the perispore features, the spores of Chinese Bolbitis can be clearly divided into three types: type A with reticulate perispore, type B with cristate-undulate perispore and type C with smooth, undulate perispore. The perispore feature, as well as venation pattern and the pattern of apical part of a lamina, are the most important and useful characters for the delimitation of species in Bolbitis.

Pollen grains of six species in Thunbergia (subfamily Thunbergioideae), and of one species each in Staurogyne (subfamily Nelsonioideae) and Acanthus (subfamily Acanthoideae) in the Acanthaceae from China were examined under SEM. Pollen grains in Thunbergia are spheroidal, with the apertures being spiral and the exine ornamentation being psilate, granulate or rarely baculate. This pollen type is very special in this family and has been considered to represent a primitive condition. Pollen grains in Staurogyne are spheroidal, 3-colporate, with the exine ornamentation being psilate. Pollen grains in Acanthus are prolate, 3-colpate, with the exine ornamentation being finely reticulate or microperforate. Pollen morphological characteristics support the traditional placement of these three genera into three different subfamilies in the Acanthaceae.

Pollen morphology of seven species in two genera in the Ruelliinae, three species in one genus in the Barlerinae and 34 species in 16 genera in the Strobilanthinae (Ruellieae, Acanthaceae), were observed under SEM. Pollen grains in Ruellieae, particularly in Strobilanthinae (including Strobilanthes s.l.) exhibit great diversity and are most eurypalynous in the family. In light of the aperture types and exine ornamentation patterns, pollen grains of the genera examined fall into three major types: 1. 3-porate pollen, which includes, (1) pollen with reticulate exine ornamentation (Pararuellia); (2) pollen with gemmate exine ornamentation (Championella); (3) pollen with echinate exine ornamentation (Paragutzlaffia, Diflugossa and Pteroptychia). 2. 3-colporate pollen or 3-colporate pollen with pseudocolpi, which includes, (1) 3-colporate pollen with reticulate exine ornamentation (Eranthemum and Barleria); (2) 3-colporate pollen with pseudocolpi and ribbed or banded, and septate exine ornamentation, the lumina rounded, finely reticulate inside and arranged in longitudinal rows (Perilepta, Pteracanthus, Goldfussia, Sympagis and some species of Strobilanthes); (3) 3-colporate pollen with ribbed or banded yet not septate exine ornamentation, the lumina neither distinctly rounded and finely reticulate inside, nor conspicuously arranged in longitudinal rows (Aechmanthera, Baphicacanthus, Semnostachya and some species of Pteracanthus); and (4) 3-colporate pollen with ribbed and finely reticulate exine ornamentation but with broader bands, each band with two ridges (Strobilanthes cycla). 3. (4-)5-colporate pollen with pseudocolpi and reticulate or ornate exine ornamentation (Adenacanthus). No distinct apertures were observed in three genera, Parachampionella, Gutzlaffia and Tarphochlamys. Pollen morphological characters in the Acanthaceae can be used not only to distinguish taxa of higher ranks (subfamily, tribe and subtribe) and elucidate their relationships, but sometimes can also be used to distinguish genera and species.

Pollen grains of one genus in Lepidagathideae, two in Andrographideae and eight in Justicieae in the subfamily Ruellioideae, Acanthaceae, from China were observed under SEM. In the light of the aperture type and exine ornamentation, four types of pollen grains could be identified: (1) 3-colporate pollen with reticulate exine ornamentation. This pollen type occurs in one sample of Chroesthes lanceolata from Guangxi and in Andrographis paniculata. (2) 3-colporate pollen with reticulate exine ornamentation and with ribbed pseudocolpi, with the lumina finely reticulate inside and arranged in longitudinal rows. This pollen type (Rippenpollen) occurs in one sample of Chroesthes lanceolata from Yunnan and in Cystacanthus paniculata. (3) 3-colporate pollen with one pseudocolpus on each side of colpus, and with reticulate exine ornamentation. This pollen type occurs in Pseuderanthemum shweliense, and in Dicliptera and Gendarussa. (4) 2-colporate pollen grains with a row of areolae (insular streaks) on each side of colpus. This pollen type occurs in Pseuderanthemum, Leptostachya, Clinacanthus, Adhatoda, Calophanoides and Mananthes.

Based on both herbarium and field observations, Deyeuxia sikangensis Keng is reduced to the synonymy of D. scabrescens (Griseb.) Munro ex Duthie, and D. levipes Keng to the synonymy of D. nivicola Hook. f. The identity of two names invalidly published, D. dispar L. Liou and D. agrostioides L. Liou, has also been determined, with the former to D. scabrescens, and the latter to D. diffusa Keng, respectively.

In this paper we argue for the specific status of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews, for the rationality of P. suffruticosa ssp. yinpingmudan D. Y. Hong, K. Y. Pan & Z. W. Xie and its wildness, and for the treatment of P. suffruticosa ssp. atava (Brühl) S. G. Haw & Lauener as a subspecies of P. rockii, P. rockii ssp. atava (Brühl) D. Y. Hong & K. Y. Pan. P. jishanensis T. Hong & W. Z. Zhao is justified as a legitimate name, while P. spontanea (Rehder) T. Hong & W. Z. Zhao is recognized as a superfluous name. Halda’s four combinations and two new hybrid names in sect. Moutan DC. were treated as synonymy. As a result, one new combination is made and five new synonyms are proposed here in this pap

Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze, a newly naturalized genus and species of Compositae form Hebei and Tianjin, China, is described and illustrated. Flaveria Juss. is related to Tagetes L. and Gaillardia Fouger. in having phoranthium without chaffy bracts, but differs by having leaves opposite and decussate, base usually connate, capitula aggregated in flat-topped corymbose panicles or glomerulelike synflorescences in the apex of the branches, flower yellow, ligule floret 1 (rarely 2), pappus absent.

Zeuxine flava (Wall. ex Lindl.) Benth. ex Hook. f., a newly recorded species of Orchidaceae from China, is reported. This species is characterized by having flowers saffron, lip “T”-shaped, lobules of epichile squarish and not much longer than wide, and each side of sac with only one callus inside.

Study of gymnospermous pollen cones, identified with Sorosaccus gracilis Harris 1935, from the Yangcaogou Formation, Late Triassic of China, has led to the identification of new and significant characteristics of the species. The new specimens show distinct variations in the morphology of the distal laminar portions of the microsporophylls. These well- preserved fossils are helpful in elucidating, reconstructing and revising the diagnostic features of S. gracilis. After comparing the characteristics of the specimens from China with those of S. sibiricus Prynada 1962, and of the pollen cones which were respectively assigned to Baiera longifolia (Pom.) Heer 1876 from Siberia, Russia, S. minor Harris 1935 from Greenland, and S. umaltensis Krassilov 1972 from Bureya River of Russia, we consider that these four names should be reduced to the synonymy of S. gracilis. Thus we revise the diagnosis of Sorosaccus. The significance of Sorosaccus in evolution of pollen cones is discussed. We consider that Sorosaccus is possibly basic to the evolution of the genus Ginkgo by the reduction of the number of microsporangia and of microsporophylls. Ginkgo liaoningensis Liu, Crane, Li & Wang 2005 from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China represents likely one of morphologically intermediate steps between Sorosaccus and G. biloba in evolution.