GENERAL ASPECTS OF THE FLORA OF JAPAN. 95 



Dense forests of conifers are frequently seen in tlie northern 

 districts. Finns koraiensis S. et Z. is a species commonly found there. 

 The flora of the northern half has many northern elements and bears 

 a close relation to the flora of Manchuria and Siberia. 



Elements characteristic of northern China are also to be found 

 in the flora of the western part of Korea. Endemic genera are 

 comparatively few, — a characteristic of continental floras. Among the 

 endemic genera, KanabuHaya Nakai and Chosenia Nakai may be 

 mentioned as the most interesting. Both genera are monotypic, 

 the former belonging to the family Campanulaceae, and the latter to 

 the family Salicaceae. 



VIIL Formosa (22°-25°30'N.Lat., 123°-122°E.Long.). 



The vegetation of the island may be roughly divided into three 

 sections according to the place of occurrence :- a) that of the coastal 

 regions ; b) of the plain regions ; c) of the mountain regions. 



The vegetation of each region may be divided into several forma- 

 tions according to circumstances. 



a. Vegetation of the coast regions. 



The shore of the island is generally sandy or rocky, and some- 

 times muddy as in the lagoon of Takaw (22^30'N.Lat.) and in the 

 vicinity of Kelung (25°10'N.Lat.). In muddy parts in the above two 

 places, there are mangrove formations in which the following plants 

 are generally to be found. 



L'^andelia Rheedii WiCHT. Avicennia officinalis L. 



Briigtdera gyinnorrhiza Lam. Lu'imitzera racemosa WiLLD. 



R/iizophora mnci'onata La^i. • Ceriops CandolkaiiaAws. var. Sasakii Hay. 



It is very interesting to notice that these mangrove formations 

 occur in the two extremities of the island, but not in the intervening 

 parts.* They extend through the Loo-choo Islands as far as the 

 southern coast of Kiushil (Japan). It may be considered that the 

 sea-current is the cause of this curious distribution of the formations. 

 They are very beautifully represented in Takaw where they are found 

 flinging the lagoon on practically qyqxj side. The ground here is 

 very muddy, and negative geotropic roots are seen in profusion. On 

 the western side of the lagoon, are many beautiful trees of Avicennia 



* Some poor formations of Avicennia officinalis have been quite recently found on 

 the western coast in the intervening parts of Formosa. 



