THE ECONOMIC PLANTS OF JAPAN— IV. 



205 



been introduced. It grew well on the college grounds, 

 but the people have not as yet learned to appreciate it 

 as it should be. 



The gooseberry, Ribes grossularia (Jap., Maru-sit- 

 guri. Gooseberry), and the currant, R.rubrum (Jap., Aka- 

 siigiiri, Aka-rihisu), are not indigenous, but have been 

 imported, and may occasionally, though rarely, be seen 

 near the open ports. The black currant, R. nigru.m, I 

 have, on the other hand, never seen in Japan. 



Ribes ambiguum, Maxim. (Jap., Tenbai yaskalns/iaku), 



ized : R, fasciculatum, Sieb. and Zucc. (Jap., Yabiisnii- 

 sas/ii, Kihiyodori); R. petR/EUM, Wulf., var. tomento- 

 SUM, Maxim. (Jap,, Yezo-SHgtiri, Aka-ribiisa'); R. grossu- 

 LARioiDEs, Maxim. , (Jap. , Siigtiri); R. Japonicum, Max- 

 im. (Jap., ICoiiiagatoke-sugHri .) 



Debregeasia edulis, Weddell ( il/orocarpiis edii/is, 

 Sieb. and Zucc. ). Jap., ya?iagi-ichigo, To-icJiigo. This 

 is a fruit-bearing bush, which I believe is unknown to 

 horticulture in this country. It is said to be wild in cen- 

 tral and southern Japan. The bushes that have come 



Fig. I. Saru-ichigo {Kiibus phanicolasiiis). (See page 203. ) 



is a native species, wild in the mountains. It forms a 

 good-sized bush of spreading habit, with hairy leaves 

 and greenish flowers. The fruit is a large orange-yellow 

 berry, nearly half an inch in diameter. The country 

 people eat these berries, and they also make an extract 

 from them which is sometimes used in staining cabinet- 

 work. The bush is never cultivated. 



The following species of the genus are also indigenous 

 to Japan, but I have not heard of their fruit being util- 



undcr my observation have been planted in gardens. It 

 must not be inferred from this that it is at all a common 

 garden shrub. On the contrary, I believe it is planted 

 only occasionally, and then by collectors or admirers of 

 the wild flora. The bush sends up vigorous, upright 

 shoots from the roots of indefinite growth, and branches 

 but little. The bark is dark brown and internodes very 

 short. The leaves are entire, very narrow, and five 

 inches or more long, crimped and rough, bluntly serrate ; 



