Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. is an oriental domesticated pear which have been used as a traditional medicine as well as dominant contributor of many Asian origin pear breeds. Here, we presented complete chloroplast genome of P. ussuriensis which is 160,157 bp long and has four subregions: 88,148 bp of large single-copy (LSC) and 19,227 bp of small singl-copy (SSC) regions are separated by 26,391 bp of inverted repeat (IR) regions including 130 genes (85 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNAs, and 37 tRNAs). The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 36.6% and in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 34.2%, 30.4%, and 42.7%, respectively. Phylogenetic trees reflect that P. ussuriensis has been utilized as a dominant contributor to many Asian origin pear breeds.

Using scanning electron microscope (SEM), we examined the trichomes on leaf and petiole and the epicuticular waxes on leaf surfaces for a total of 27 taxa representing two subtribes, Fragariinae and Potentillinae, of tribe Potentilleae (Rosaceae) in Korea. Four types of trichomes on adaxial and abaxial surface of leaves and petioles were identified. Type I (conical hirtellous) is the most common trichome type found in the majority of taxa in Fragariinae and Potentillinae. Type II (verruculose conical hirtellous) can be found only in Potentilla cryptotaeniae of sect. Conostylae of Potentillinae. Potentilla chinensis complex (sect. Conostylae) and P. egedii (sect. Letostylae) have type III trichome (crispate villous), while type IV (floccose villous) can be found in two species in sect. Conostylae, P. nivea and P. discolor. Both woolly hairs and conical hirtellous exist together in types III and IV. The same type of trichomes in leaves and petioles can be found across different subtribes and sections. In addition, different types of trichomes can be found even in a single species. Among the taxa which have type I trichome, the majority of subtribe Fragariinae and P. centrigrana and P. dickinsii complex have well developed epicuticular waxes on the surface of leaves. Sharing epicuticular waxes among the taxa across different subtribes appears to be correlated with their similar geographical distribution and ecological conditions. However, molecular phylogenetic study implies that the existence of epicuticular waxes could be also due to phylogenetic signal.

Symplocarpus koreanus (Araceae; Orontioideae) from Korea is described as new. Symplocarpus koreanus has long been considered to be conspecific with S. renifolius in Japan, but phylogenetic, morphological, and cytological data indicate its taxonomic distinction. Compared to S. renifolius, S. koreanus has a much smaller spathe and more spherical spadix with fewer, smaller flowers. Previous phylogenetic studies also suggested that S. koreanus is more closely related to nonthermogenic S. nipponicus than to S. renifolius in Japan. Like its nonthermogenic sister species, S. nipponicus, in Korea and Japan, S. koreanus is diploid (2n = 2x = 30), while S. renifolius in Japan is tetraploid (2n = 4x = 60). A detailed species description, geographical distribution, major morphological differences between the species and a dichotomous key to the species in eastern Asia are provided.