PREFACE 



•><- 



It has always been my aim to prepare a Flora of Japan ; 

 and with this end in view I published in the years 1888-'91 

 Illustrations of the Flora of Japan, which, however, had 

 unfortunately to be discontinued after the issue of only 

 eleven parts. Since becoming connected with the Botanic- 

 al Institute of the College of Science, Imperial University 

 of Tokyo, I have devoted myself to the preparation of the 

 Icones Flora Japonic^, then newly undertaken by the Insti- 

 tute. This publication, unparalleled as yet in the magni- 

 tude of its plan, will take tens of years to finish. Therefore, 

 to meet the urgent need that is being felt in educational 

 quarters for an illustrated Flora of Japan, I have decided 

 to publish the present Figures and Descriptions, which will 

 be issued monthly. As the Lower Cryptogams will be 

 edited by Profs. Matsumura and Miyoshi, I shall confine 

 myself to the Phanerogams and the Higher Cryptogams. 



ToMITARO MARINO. 



Botanical Institute, Science College, 

 Imperial University, Tokyo. 



January, 1899. 



