14^ [Vol. XVII. 



Observations on the Flora of Japan. 



{Continued from p. 121.) 



By 

 T. Makino, 



Assistant in the Botanical Institute, Science 

 College, Imperial University of Tokyo. 



MIYOSHIA Makino gen. nov. (PI. V.) 



Perianth perigynous, 2-seriate, persistent ; tube : lobes short, im- 

 bricated, erect-patent or patulous, the sepals smaller. Stamens 6, 2-seriate, 

 equal, all perfect, the oppositisepalous 3 free, the oppositipetalous 3 shortly 

 adnate to the base of petals at the base ; filament subulate ; anther 2-celled, 

 rounded-ovato, introrse, dehiscing longitudinally, basifixed ; pollen yellow, 

 oblong. Ovary semi-inferior, 3-locular, the loculament opposite to the sepals, 

 the superior free portion entirely separated into 3 parts, each short-conical, 

 opposite to the sepals ; style short ; stigma terminal, simple ; ovules many in 

 each loculament, pluri-seriate along the elongated placenta, sessile, auatropous. 

 Capsule semi-inferior, accompanied by the peristent perianth, dehiscing loculi- 

 cidally through the ventral suture of the superior free portion. Seeds minute, 

 many, sessile, ferruginous, with the transparent thinly membranaceous loose 

 outer coat ; the inner coat longitudinally striate, adherent to the nucellus ; 

 endosperm copious ; embryo very minute. 



Saprophytic small aphyllous quite glabrous terrestrial perennial, destitute 

 of chlorophyll. Ehizome hypogteous, shortly elongate, ascending, squami- 

 gerous, with fibrous roots. Scape gracile, slender, simple, provided with 

 membranaceous sparse scales. Inflorescence terminal, more or less panic- 

 ulated raceme ; bract small ; bracteoles often with the minute unexpanded 

 flower-bud. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite, small, pedicellate, laxly dis- 

 posed, quite glabrous ; pedicel arising from the axil of bracts. 



This genus seems to be nearly related to Aletris of LiliacecB, but the 

 saprophytic, entirely glabrous, leafless, non -chlorophyll habit ; ovary which is 

 separated in the superior free portion ; and perianth destitute of the free tube, 

 are the principal characters to separate this plant from that genus; it is 

 perhaps better to establish for it a new family, Miyoshiacece, having 

 afiinities to Liliacece, Bromeliacece, Hcemodoracece, and A/narylUdacece. 



I have proposed to dedicate this genus to Dr. Manabu Miyoshi, Pro- 

 fesser of Botany in the Science College, Imperial University of Tokyo. 



