10 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



Heather {Erica), nor Ling {Calluna) ; the Rock-rose family 

 {Cistus and Helianthemum) is also unrepresented. The place 

 of Gorse and Broom is inadequately taken by Forsythia, 

 Caragana, Berberis, and various Jasmines ; that of Heather by 

 dwarf, tiny-leaved Rhododendrons, of which there are a dozen 

 or more species. The Cistus family has no representative 

 group unless Hypericum be considered its substitute. 



There is practically no pasture-land in central and Western 

 China, but such open country as would compare with commons 

 in England is covered with bushes of Berberis, Spiraea, Sophora 

 viciifoUa, Caragana, Pyracantha, Cotoneaster, Philadelphus, 

 Holly, and various Roses. The anomalous conditions obtain- 

 ing in the river-vaUeys of the west and the peculiar flora found 

 there have been described in Vol. I, Chapter XII. 



Another interesting fact, and one that has peculiar reference 

 to the flora of western Hupeh, is the number of plants bearing 

 the specific name japonica, which are only Japanese by 

 cultivation and are really Chinese in origin. The following 

 well-known plants are examples : Iris japonica, Anemone 

 japonica, Lonicera japonica, Kerria japonica, Aucuba japonica, 

 Senecio japonicus, and Eriohotrya japonica. Possibly some of 

 these (and there are many more) may be common to both 

 countries, but I am convinced that when the subject is properly 

 worked out, it will be found that fewer plants are common to 

 both countries than is generally supposed to be the case. 



The Chinese flora is largely peculiar to the country itself, 

 the number of endemic genera and species being remarkable 

 even when the size of the country is given due consideration. 

 Yet, in spite of its generally local character, the Chinese flora 

 presents many interesting problems in plant distribution. 

 Not the least interesting is to account for the presence of a 

 species of Libocedrus (L. macrolepis), seeing that the other 

 members of this genus are found in California, Chili, and New 

 Zealand. Another noteworthy feature is a species of Osteo- 

 meles [0. Schwerince), which occurs in the far west of China, the 

 other member of this family being found scattered through the 

 islands of the Pacific Ocean. But perhaps the most extra- 

 ordinary fact in this connexion is the presence on Mount Omei 

 of a species of Nertera [N. sinensis), the other members of this 



