176 JOURNAL OF THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM [vol. i 



Island, but abundant on some of the Karama group — Aharen Island for 

 example. With its mop-like crown of gray-green leaves over-topping 

 the other vegetation this Palm is conspicuous from a distance; it is often 

 associated with the Liukiu Pine. Three other Palms {Tr achy car pus excel- 

 sus Wcndl, Rhapis flabelliformis Aiton, and Cyphokentia Savoryana Rehd. 

 & Wils.) are occasionally cultivated. The presence of a few old trees of 

 the Cyphokentiay an endemic Bonin species, shows that there has been 

 intercourse in the past between the two groups of islands. 



Of broad-leaf trees quite a number grow at sea-level and a majority are 

 wide-spread in sub-equatorial regions of the Old World. The most com- 

 mon are Terminalia Catappa L., Calophylhim inophylhim L., Ilernandia 

 peltata Meisn., Erythrina indica Lam., Bischofia javanica Bl, Thespesia 

 popidnea Soland., Ficus Wightiana Wall., F. retusa var. nitida Miq., Melia 

 Azcdarach L., Hibiscus tiliaceus var. hamaho Maxim., Garcinia spicata 

 Hook., Ehretia acuminata R. Br., Maba bnxifolia Pers., Pongamia glabra 

 Vent, and Ccltis liukiuensis Nakai. The Garcinia, with its large leathery 

 black-green leaves, is a very distinct looking tree and much used by the 

 people for planting round their dwellings. The Ficus retusa var. nitida 

 Miq. might well be termed the Liukiu Banyan. Shading houses and by 

 bridges some picturesque old specimens are often seen with crooked stems 

 and pendent matlike masses of aerial roots. The Celtis is closely related 

 to Celtis sinensis Pers. and grows to a very large size. In the old palace 

 grounds at Shuri grow some magnificent old trees of this Celtis and also of 

 the Bischofia, Terminalia and Erythrina. As a street tree in Naha the 

 Formosan Acacia confusa Merrill has been much planted. Coarse grasses 

 belonging to the genus Miscanthus are conunon at low altitudes, especially 

 beside streams and with a tangle of shrubs and climbers make a veritable 

 jungle. Another herb worthy of mention is the familiar Easter Lily {Li- 

 lium longiflorum Thunb.) which is indigenous and grows in pockets in the 

 coral rocks near the sea. Forms with green and purplish brown stems 

 grow side by side. 



On the mountain slopes the flora is quite different from that of the low- 

 level areas. Nearly every tree and shrub is evergreen and shining leaves 

 are a feature. The species are largely endemic but the whole aspect is 

 strongly suggestive of the flora of Yakiishima and south Kynshu in 



general. 



Two Taxads ( Podocarpus macrophyUus D. Don and P. nagi Zoll. & Moritzi) 

 grow wild on tlie wooded mountain-slopes. Trees of both are rare owing to 

 their wood being highly valued for construction purposes. 



Lauraccae are prominent and most of them grow also in Japan. Sym- 

 plocos, Ilex and Eurya each with several species are among the most com- 

 mon shrubs. In gulleys and along the side of streams the vegetation is 

 rampant and many Ferns, including such tree forms as Cyathea spinulosa 

 Wall, luxuriate. A Banana (Musa sapientum var. liukiuensis iS/Ldii^wm,) grows 

 wild in moist ravines and is also cultivated for its fibre. The Japanese 

 Castanopsis cuspidala Schottky is a conspicuous feature and with Z>?7/^ocar- 



