1919] WILSON, PHYTOGEOGRAPIIICAL SKETCH OF KOREA 41 



The Larch forests being of open character are easy to traverse and have 

 quite a rich undergrowth of shrubs among which Birch {Betula fruticosa 

 Pali.), Bhiebcrry {Vaccinium uliginosum L.) and Ledum jpalustre L, in many 

 forms are prominent. The Fir- and Spruce-forests are less rich in woody 

 undergrowth and those of pure Red Pine have none at all. The broad-leaf 

 forests on the other hand are rich in slirubs and climbers of an ornamental 

 character, thougii those reach their greatest exuberance where trees are 

 fewest. Most abundant are Azaleas, Roses, Magnolias, Honeysuckles, Li- 

 lacs, Mock Orange, Deutzia, Forsythia, Spiraea, Indigofera, Symplocos, 

 Viburnum, Berberis, and the climbers Actinidia, Celastrus, Pueraria, 

 Smilax, and Vitis, whilst in central and south Korea on boulders, cliffs, 

 walls, ramparts, and trunks of forest trees the familiar " Ampelopsis Veitchii " 

 {Parthenocisms tricuspidata Planch.) luxuriates. In the rocky beds of 

 summer torrents and on the banks of streams the Gray Willow {Salix 

 gracilisUjla Miq.) is superabundant. The tops of the higher mountains 

 in north Korea are clothed with such alpine shrubs as Creeping Pine 

 {Finns piimila Regel), dwarf Junipers {Juniperus chinensis var. Sargcntii 

 Henry, J. communis var. montana Aiton), an unnamed Thuja, dwarf Wil- 

 lows in variety, Cowberry and other Vacciniums, the red fruited variety of 

 Arctous {Arctous alpinus var, ruber Relid. & Wils.), Crowberry, Dryas, 

 and Rhododendrons such as Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall., R. parn- 



/' 



On the barest and most rocky hills 



and mountains slopes a few woody plants may be found. In spring, late 

 May and early June according to latitude, the whole country\side is gaily 

 decked with flowers. The Wild Pear, Crab Apple, Wild Cherry, Apricot, 

 and other flowering trees which enliven the glades, edge of the forest, river 

 bank, and open country must not be forgotten in this attempt to visualize 

 Korea in spring, nor, the young unfolding leaves of the forest trees from 

 the pure green of the Larch through the grays of some Oaks to the ruddy 

 tints of other species of Oak and Maple. The undergrowth in the woods 

 and the shrubberies when the trees have been destroyed are splashed with 

 masses of white, yellow, pink, rose and purple. Not even in the richest 

 parts of China or Japan have I seen such extensive displays of pure 

 pink and white as on the Diamond Mts. where Rhododendron Schlippcn- 

 bachii Maxim, and Magnolia parviflora S. & Z. dominate the undergrowth 

 for many square miles and bloom to perfection. 



On the bare hillsides and mountain slopes of central Korea — round 

 Keijyo, the capital, for example — a Forsythia is plentiful and Its yellow bells 

 in spring are conspicuous. On the mudshales and limestone a little to the 

 northwest of Keijyo grows a Lilac (Syringa dilatata Nakai) which opens its 

 panicles of palest lilac tinted flowers early in spring. It is a bush of good 

 habit often twelve feet high and nearly as much broad with dark green 

 leathery foliage which colors finely in autumn. Examples two feet high 

 bear flowers. In the woods and thickets grow two other species of Lilac 

 and these produce their nearly white to ruddy purple flowers in early sum- 

 mer and the fragrance of one of them (Syringa Palibiniana Nakai) is 



