SKETCH OF THE CONIFERS OF JAPAN. 



499 



above bright green, Avitbout stomata (123). Tbe male catkins 

 not observed. Female catkins solitary, oblongo-cylindrical, sub- 

 curvate (fig, 120.) Bracts minute, rhoraboidally spathulate, alter- 

 nated from the base, acute or cuspidate, irregularly crenulated at 

 the margin, adpressed to the scale, than -svhich they are much 

 smaller (figs. 124 and 126), Scales numerous, imbricated, 

 oblongo-elliptical, obtuse, irregularly ci'enulated at tbe margin, 

 membranaceous, glabrous, biovulate (figs. 124 and 125), ivhich 

 also show the immature seeds, Strobili not seen. 



Pig. 124. 



Fig. 125. 



'' This tree, which grows wild in the islands of Jezo and Krafto, 

 is cultivated as a rarity in the gardens of the wealthy at Jedo. 

 During our stay in that capital, we received among other rare 

 plants, a branch of it in flower, from the physician in ordinary to 

 the emperor Kadsuragmva Hoken, At the same time, a piece 

 of tlie wood and a drawing was given us by tbe above-mentioned 

 Mogami Toknai, Tbis traveller found the Je;^o Matsu in 



the 



island of Jezo, and iu the southern 



The tree 



grows to a considerable height. 



part of Krafto. 

 Tbe very tender 



wood serves the Ainds for making household utensils, and in 

 consequence of its lightness they usually employ it to make 

 arrows. The branch in flower, represented in plate 110 (fig. 

 119 above), was communicated to us at Jedo in the beginning of 

 June. In its colder native country, its flowering will perhaps be 

 some weeks later." — Siebold and Zuccarini. 



The above quotations and 



relative figures contain all that is 



