In China, fireweed (Crassocephalum crepioides) is listed as an invasive plant that is also cultivated as a vegetable.To gain a clearer understanding of its invasiveness and rapid spread, we evaluated its seed dispersal ability, and the influences of light, temperature, pH, NaCl stress, moisture content, and storage periods on its seed germination. Its seed dispersal ability is limited. The seed germination of fireweed is inhibited by darkness, temperatures <10°C or >35°C, and a NaCl solution with a concentration >0.15 mol L -1 . The optimal conditions under which nearly all the seeds could germinate are light, with temperatures from 20 to 30°C, and a neutral soil with 40% moisture content.The seeds of fireweed have no apparent dormancy and retain a high viability after room storage for 10 months. Fireweed only has a moderate invasive capacity and its wide distribution in China possibly correlates with its cultivation.

The new species Macromtrium longipapillosum D. D. Li, J. Yu, T. Cao & S. L. Guo from Japan is described and illustrated by line drawings and photographs. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the following features: 1) lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate leaves with obtuse, acute to broadly acuminate apices; 2) upper and median laminal cells with thin and inflated walls, with a single, large, occasionally forked papilla, 7-14 μm, occasionally up to 18 μm, 3) basal cells near costae forming a 'cancellina region', 4) inner perichaetial leaves ovate lanceolate, abruptly narrowed to a long acuminate upper part; 5) short and left-twisted seta; and 6) obloid capsules with well-developed exostome teeth. We also revise the circumscription of Macromitrium comatum Mitt. and discuss the relationships of M. comatum with M. longipapillosum and other relevant species.

The title compound, C14H15NO5, was obtained from the reaction of acetanilide with dimethyl acetyl­enedicarboxyl­ate in the presence of potassium carbonate. The C=C double bond adopts an E configuration and the geometry around the amide N atom is almost planar rather than pyramidal (mean deviation of 0.0032 Å from the C3N plane). The packing of the mol­ecules in the crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Macromitrium catharinense Paris is a poorly known moss of the family Orthotrichaceae reported from Brazil. In the present paper, Macromitrium catharinense is taxonomically re‐evaluated, resulting in the synonymization of M. drewii H. Rob. from Ecuador and M. catharinense var. gracilius (Müll. Hal.) Paris from Brazil. The phenetic relationships between M. catharinense and other closely related species of Macromitrium from Brazil and Ecuador are also discussed.