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Pyrola morrisonensis, an evergreen herb in the family Ericaceae, is endemic to Taiwan. We examined mycorrhizal development and the associated fungi in this species. Nine plants were collected in a naturally regenerated forest in central Taiwan. The plants were genetically identical in their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and their sequences matched the known sequence for P. morrisonensis. Fine roots of each plant were colonized by mycorrhizal fungi that formed mycorrhizas either with or without fungal mantles. DNA sequences of the ITS region of these fungi suggested that they belonged to mycorrhizal taxa that are common tree symbionts. Among them, members of Thelephoraceae were the dominant taxon in the host plants. These results indicate that P. morrisonensis is intimately associated with mycorrhizal fungi that might also connect with neighboring trees.

Solanum is a large and morphologically diverse genus comprising almost 75% of the species in the family Solanaceae. Twenty species were recorded in Taiwan. Solanum miyakojimense Yamazaki & Takushi was published in 1991 as an endemic species in Miyako Islands, Ryukyu. A careful examination of herbarium collections supplemented by field studies confirmed the occurrence of this species in Lanyu, Taiwan. In this report we provide the description, line drawings, and colored photographs taken from the natural habitat to aid in identification of this species.

Rubus, comprising about 700 species in the world, is a large genus of the family Rosaceae. Thirty-five species and four additional varieties were recorded in the 2nd edition of Flora of Taiwan. In the course of our botanical inventory, Rubus amphidasys Focke, heretofore unknown in Taiwan, was collected from northern part of the island. Rubus amphidasys is easily distinguished from other congenors by having a mixture of densely bristly hairs and glandular hairs on branches and calyx. In addition, small prickles are rarely found on its stems. In this report we provide a description, line drawings, and colored photographs taken from the wild to aid in identification.

Chloranthus, a genus of the Chloranthaceae, comprises about 18 species in the world. In addition to the previously recorded C. oldhami in Taiwan, C. henryi is a new addition to the flora. It is easy to distinguish C. oldhami from C. henryi by the shape of stamen apices, and the existence or absence of styles. In the present work, a key to distinguish the genus Chloranthus in Taiwan, a line drawing, photographs, and distribution of C. henryi are provided.

In recent years we have witnessed the naturalization of many alien species of Asteraceae in Taiwan. In this report we document the recent naturalization of the Neotropical Austroeupatorium inulifolium (Kunth) R. M. King & H. Rob. at 1,300-1,400 m altitudes in the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan. We provide a description, a line drawing, and photographs to aid in identification.

Burmannia comprises ca. 63 species and is one of the largest genera of the Burmanniaceae. Three species were recorded in the 2nd edition of Flora of Taiwan. In the course of our botanical inventory, Burmannia cryptopetala Makino was found in the northern and northeastern Taiwan, representing a new record species on this island. Burmannia cryptopetala is easily distinguished from other congeners by having perianth-tube 3-winged, and inner perianth-lobes lacking or inconspicuous. In this report we provide description, line drawing, and colored photographs taken from the natural habitat to aid in identification.

Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson subsp. micrantha (Nees) Ensermu, an Acanthaceae species native in Africa, India and Sri Lanka, has been recently found naturalized in the southern Taiwan. The naturalization of A. gangetica subsp. micrantha adds a new element to the flora of this island. Asystasia is easily distinguished from other genera of the Acanthaceae by corolla being zygomorphic, 4 stamens, 4-seeded and distinctly stipitate capsule. A. gangetica subsp. micrantha is characterized by ovate to oval leaves, and white flowers. This paper provides description of the genus and species, line drawing, and photographs.

Persicaria capitata (Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don) H. Gross, a species of the Polygonaceae widespread in mainland China and neighboring countries, has recently naturalized at ca. 2,000 m altitude in central Taiwan. Morphologically, P. capitata resembles P. chinensis, both belonging to section Cephalophilon, but can be easily distinguished from P. chinensis by accrescent and fleshy perianth in fruit. This paper provides a description of the species, line drawings, and color photographs to aid in identification.

Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino, a native species of the Ranunculaceae distributed in mainland China, western Japan, and South Korea, has recently been found in central Taiwan, adding a new record for this genus and species to the flora of this island. Semiaquilegia can be easily distinguished from other genera of the Ranunculaceae by its actinomorphic flowers, distinct petals, and free carpels. This paper provides descriptions of the genus and species, line drawing, and color photos.

Laportea, comprising ca. 22 species, is a genus of the Urticaceae. Two species were previously recorded in the 2nd edition of Flora of Taiwan. In the course of our botanical inventory, one additional weedy species, namely Laportea aestuans (L.) Chew, was found in the central Taiwan. Morphologically, L. aestuans is closely related to L. interrupta (L.) Chew by sharing ovate leaves. Branched racemes of L. aestuans are distinct from the unbranched racemes of L. interrupta. Laportea aestuans is a species mainly distributed at low elevations in central Taiwan.

Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill (Boraginaceae), a species native in the Europe, was naturalized recently in the northeast Taiwan. The introduction of M. arvensis adds a new element for both the genus and the species to the floristic composition of this island. Myosotis closely resembles Trigonotis, but can be easily distinguished from the latter and other genera of the Boraginaceae by having smooth and biconvex nutlets. This paper provides description of the genus and the species, line drawing, and color photos.

Melothria pendula L. (tribe Melothrieae), a New World Cucurbitaceace species, has been found in central Taiwan, and represents a new record of this genus and species for this island. This paper describes the morphology of the species and provides a line drawing and a key to the genera within the tribe Melothrieae in Taiwan.

Rhaphidophora hongkongensis Schott (Araceae) is here reported for the first time from Taiwan. The genus is also first reported from Taiwan proper. Description, line drawing, photograph, and a key to the Taiwanese species of Rhaphidophora are provided.

We report a species, Cissus elongata Roxb. which was collected from center and northern Taiwan. Cissus elongata is easily distinguished by the presence of five leaflets compared to the simple leaf in the other species of Taiwan. The populations from Hsinchu represents the northern distribution limit of C. elongata, which was previously known with the distributional range from Mainland China, Vietnam, India, Bhutan and Sikkim.