﻿Contributions to the Alpine Flora of Formosa. I. 



by 

 : B. HAYATA, Rigahushi. 



Assistant in the Botanical Institute, Science College, 

 Imperial University of Tokyo. 



With Plate I. 



Although the flora of Formosa has been studied by many botanists — 

 such as Hance, Hemsley, Henry and others- — the study has been almost 

 limited to the plain flora. The exploration of its alpine flora is So slightly 

 carried on that we can not say very much about it. 



In the year 1896, Dr. S. Honda, ascending Mt. Morrison, brought back 

 some specimens to our Institute, and in 1900, Mr. K. Torxi sent some 

 from the same mountain. These are all that we have about the alpine 

 flora of Formosa. Some of them were described by Prof. J. Matsumuka 

 in this magazine some years ago. I also enumerate some few Conifers 

 from Mt. Morrison in this magazine of the last year. Thus broadly speaking, 

 the alpine flora of the island is almost neglected by our botanists. 



Very recently, in November, 1905, a botanical exposition has been 

 carried on through the virgin forest of Mt. Morrison, by Mr. T. Kawakamt, 

 government expert, and Messrs. S. Nagasawa, and G. Nakahara. Several 

 hundred specimens have been sent to me for identification. These contri- 

 butions are mostly based upon that material. 



Mt. Morrison, the highest peak of Formosa, lies 'in the latitude 23°3 / 

 north, and in the longitude 120°8 / east, and attains the height of about 

 4200 meters. As Formosa is a continental island like Japan, and has been 

 isolated from the continent of Asia, it is naturally thought that some species, 

 extinct in the continent, are likely to exist in such a sheltered place as Mt. 

 Morrison. In like manner we shall not fail to find some endemic plants 

 there. I hppe this paper, fragmental though it is, will throw some light 

 upon the study of the Asiatic flora. 



