PLANTS- COLLECTED IN JAPAN. 32 1 



regard as a variety of the purple species,) except that the leaves are remarkably large and 

 broad, the largest being 5 inches wide and 4 long. That the genus, although not before re- 

 corded, should be represented in Japan, is what we were prepared to expect, but the recurrence 

 in that country of one of our own species, and in its rarer form, is remarkable. 



Smilacina (Maianthemum) bifolia, Desf. in Ann. 31us. Par. 9, p. 54. Convallaria bifolia, 

 Linn. Hakodadi. This was to be expected, although not before recorded, from Japan. It is 

 the same form as the specimens from Kamtschatka and our northeast coast, having larger and 

 rounder leaves than is common in Europe, and longer petioles than are usually seen in the 

 plants of Eastern North America. The leaves are more frequently three than two. 



Smilacina Japonica (n. sp.): caule hirto alterne folioso; foliis ovatis oblongisve cum acumine 

 brevi obtuso basi rotundatis subpetloiatis margine nervisque subtus pilosulo-ciliatis ; panicula 

 parva pluriflora ; perianthii phyllis lineari-ellipticis obtusissimis filamenta lineari-subulata sub- 

 superantibus. — Hakodadi. Near S. racemosa, which ranges across the North American conti- 

 nent ; but distinguished by the broader and less pointed leaves, the pubescence, the smaller 

 panicle, the larger perianth, and comparatively shorter stamens. From the habitat, &c, we 

 may suppose this to be Thunberg's Uvularia hirta, (of which the flowers were not seen) ; but 

 the leaves are 3 or 4 inches long, not cordate, although sometimes almost so, nor clasping, ex- 

 cept by the short and broad concave petiole or narrowed base. 



Convallaria majalis, Linn. Hakodadi. The Lily of the Valley ranges from Western Europe 

 to the province of Dahuria, Siberia, and probably through China. We now have it from Ja- 

 pan. It occurs in North America, likewise, but is here extremely local, being found only in 

 the Alleghany Mountains south of lat. 39°. 



Polygonatum Japonicum, Morr. & Decaisne, in Ann. Sci. Nat. 1834 ; Kunth, Lnum. 5, p. 133. 

 Simoda. Too imperfect for proper determination ; but apparently very near P. vulgare. The 

 flowers have fallen. 



Disporum sessile, Don. Fl. Nepal, p. 50 ; Kunth. Enum. 4, p. 208. Uvalaria sessilis, Thunb. 

 Fl. Jap. p. 135. Simoda. Clearly a congener of the three species figured by Dr. Wight; 

 but in an ovary examined, I find three collateral ovules in each cell, ascending from near the 

 base. The leaves vary from elongated-ovate to lanceolate, and the flowers are often in pairs, 

 rarely even in threes. They are bell-shaped, almost an inch long. The sepals and petals all 

 saccate at the base, dilated-spatulate in form, and rounded or refuse at the summit. I suspect 

 the fruit is capsular and not unlike that of Uvalaria sessilifolia in shape. The stamens are 

 those of Disporum, a genus which will probably be retained, but with some variation in the char- 

 acter ; for while this species has more than two ovules in each cell, the following has only one. 



Disporum smilacinum (n. sp.): caule gracili (6-9-pollicari) simplici ; foliis ovatis oblongisve, 

 superioribus sensim acuminatis ; flore plerumque solitario ; perianthii (albi) phyllis ovato-lan- 

 ceolatis patentibus; ovarii loculis uniovulatis. — Simoda and Hakodadi; on hills, in Pine woods. 

 Glabrous. Leaves \\ to 2 inches long, slightly petioled. Flowers single, rarely a pair, short 

 peduncled. Sepals and petals spreading in anthesis, consimilar, slightly gibbous at the base ; 

 half an inch or less in length, acutish or obtusely acuminate. Filaments dilated-subulate, half 

 the length of the perianth ; twice or thrice the length of the oblong extrorse anther. Style and 

 stigma as in the genus. Ovules in the ovary examined only one in each cell, ascending from 

 near its base. 



Lilium Japonicum, Thunb. Fl. Jap. p. 133. Simoda. A handsome species, now well known 

 in cultivation. 



41s 



