(282) NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN PLANTS OF JAPAN. 



japoniciinf, Ito, in Mel. Biol., vol. xii,, P. 417. — Ranzania japonica^ Ito, in 

 Journ. Bot., vol. xvii., P. 302. 



Rhizome long-creeping. Stem smooth, about i foot high, with a few 

 ovate scales at the base. Leaves usually 2, at the extremity of the stem, 

 semetimes with a third simple leaf between; petioles 3-6 inches long; partial 

 petioles 2-4 inches long; leaflets 3, suborbicular or broadly ovate, acutely 2- 

 5~Iobed, entire, sm^ooth, green above, glaucescent below, cordate at the base, 

 the central one symmetrical, the lateral oblique, 4-6 inches long and broad. 

 Flowers appearing with the leaves, long-peduncled, 3-6, from the top of the 

 stem and between the leaves, i-ij inches across; peduncles \~2 inches 

 long. Sepals pale-iilac, about J inch long. Petals slightly greenish, 3 times 

 shorter than the sepals; the glands at the base of each petal round, orange-colored. 

 Stamens shorter than the petals; filaments thick, about as long as the anthers, 

 orange- colored; anthers somewhat apiculate. Ovules long-stalked. Berries 

 about \ inch long; peduncles often as much as 6 inches long. — Fr, July. 



I collected this plant in fruit in July, 1884, in the Togakushi mountain in 

 the province of Shinano. It has been since kept in the Botanic Garden of the 

 Imperial Universit}^. It may flower in May or June in its natural habitat, 

 though it flowers in April in the Botanic Garden at Tokyo. 



Specmiens of this plant were sent to M. Maximowicz from the Imperial 

 University in July, 1887, together with colored figures of the different parts of 

 the plant, especialh^ of the floral organs, and with a note and description by 

 Mr. Okubo. His note was substantially as follows: — ''The' plant called 



