rLOIîA MONTANA TOIÎMO.S.E 31 



Himalayas ; then, to the Malay peninsula and archipelago, and 

 North China ; and lastly, to North America, 



As to central and southern China and Japan, the com- 

 parative strength of tJieir floristic relationship to Formosa is not 

 to be measured by the number of elements only ; the character 

 of the elements must also be taken into account. 



So far as the number of the elements is concerned, it appears 

 that the most striking affinity obtains l)etween the island and 

 central and southern China. It is not so, however, when we 

 compare those elements which give the flora its peculiar 

 features. The comparison of this class of elements, which 

 plays so important a part in the study of phytogeography, is 

 worthy of special attention. 



As we have already seen, the species the distribution of 

 which is limited to Formosa and Japan are far more numerous than 

 those confined to Formosa and China. Wo have also observed 

 that tlie number of the genera, which are found in the islands and 

 nowhere else, is double that of such kinds in Formosa and China. 



When we consider these species of peculiar character, we 

 are forced to think that the flora of Formosa has a strikins; 

 affinity to that of Japan. And it is even more so, when the 

 genera, Trochoclcndron, Fatsia, Conandi'on, and Metanarthcsium are 

 taken into account. 



Thus, I am much inclined to conclude that the montane flora 

 of Formosa is nearest to that of Japan, regardless of geographical 

 proximity to China. 



A few hnes should be here devoted to the cause of this 

 similarity between the islands.'^ It is a very remarkable fact that 

 so many plants of peculiar character are found in both regions. 



1) Japan anil Fi^rmosa. 



