jnNKi90.s.i MAKTNO.-OBSERV. ON THE FLORA OF JAPAN. 97 



atropnrpureal when fully ripened ; pulp soft, juicy ; putamen 

 osseous, adhering to the pulp, stramineous-white, rounded-oval, 

 with a very minute cuspidate tip at the apex, slightly com- 

 pressed, nearly smooth, with a few oblique nervous elevations 

 towards the ventral edge, obtuse on dorsal and ventral edges, 

 about 5i-6^mm. long, 4i-6mm. broad. Seed solitary, ovate, 

 acute at the apex, rounded at the base, rounded-obtuse on 

 dorsal and ventral sides, smooth, about 4^mm. long, exal- 

 buminous ; the outer integument, or testa, thin, loosely and 

 longitudinally nervate, closely adherent to the inner integument 

 which is especially thicker on the back of both cotyledons ; 

 cotyledons 2 in number, equal in size and form, elliptical, ver\' 

 thick, nearly plane under the thicker portion of the inner 

 integument on the back, rounded at the apex ; h^'pocotyl 

 very short and minute ; plumule minute, concealed between 

 the basal portion of cotyledons. 



Nom. Jap. Yama-zakura. 



Hah. Japan, various localities, spontaneous or planted 

 (T. Makinol). 



This species comes in the section of Cerasus, and exhibits 

 a striking resemblance to the British-Indian Prunus Puddum, 

 Roxb., with which it was erroneous^ identified by Miquel. 

 It has proved to be a native of eastern Asia, where it is 

 extensiveU' distributed, being found in Saghalin {yar. ?), Corea, 

 Manchuria, Central and Northern China, and Japan. It is, 

 however, in the latter country that is attain the most luxuriant 

 growth and is commonly found w^ild and scatteringlj^ growing 

 in woods and mountains everywhere from Kiusiu in the 

 south-west to Hokkaido in the north, it, in the good condition, 

 frequently attaining to the height of 2^decam. and to the 

 diameter of about 9decim. It is also commonly planted for 

 ornament, and its blossom is considered the glory of the 

 Japanese Empire, a national flower, and called the " King of 

 Flowers " owing to its grace and beauty, and its profuse 

 flowering in the opening days of merry spring (April), when 

 the trees appear as if covered over with white clouds. So 

 it has also been a favourite subject for poetry and has often 



