SKETCH OF THE COKIFERS OF JAPAK. 



639 



Northern Flora of 5"apan. It is found in the mouutains of the 

 island of Nippon, between the 35*^ and the 41^ of North latitude, 

 hut still moi-e frequently on Jezo, and in the southern parts of 

 Krafto, thus reaching, \ve may presume, so far as to the 48"" of North 

 latitude. Perhaps it liiay extend much beyond that towards the 

 !iorth, like the Siberian Larch, which, according to Pallas, does 

 not entirely disappear until it reaches 68^ North latitude. We, as 

 well asMr.Thunberg, have found it in the Fakone mountains, where 

 it grows either isolated or in small groups, in company with other 

 Conifers, as well as witlioaks and beeches. As to its exterior, it 

 in every respect resembles our European Larch, from which, 

 however, it is readily distinguished by its cones being more 

 I'oiindcd, and with a much greater number of scales, which are 

 smaller and tUfned back at the margin. 



r 



Fig. 169. — Seeds viewed 



sklewajs. 



Fig. 168*— Seeds at different stages of growth. 



Fk.iyO. — Seeds witliout 



the wing. 



** In the south of Japan it is soti&etimcs cultivated as a deco- 

 rative tree, and they grow dwarf trees in pots which cost very 

 dear, and from that cause have received the appellation of 

 * Golden-penny Firs ' (sapins a deniers d'or). In Japan its "wood 

 is not used, but the aborigines of Jezo, the Ainos, employ it in 

 the manufacture of -weapons for the chase and household imple- 

 ments. These people also esteem very highly a mushroom allied 

 to our Boletus of the Larch [Agaric, Pohjporus), which they 

 name EhtirilcOj and which they consider, as well as the l*oot 

 Jkema, to be a species of panacea. They employ the Ehuriho 

 prir.cipally as a stj'ptic, besides for ulcers and tumours; more 

 rarely internally as a sudorific. In general, it appears that 

 savage nations employ in divers ways the mushrooms which grow 

 upon the different species of Larch. Thus the Tungusians use 

 the mushroom of the Larch with the root of some rubiaceous 

 plant to dye their reindeer skins red; the Siberians powder with 



