209 



Kurile Islands. Yezo. Saghalin. Amur-land. E. Siberia. 



Gentianaoesa. 



1.8 



1.0 



.7 



1.2 



1.9 



ConifertBi 



1.8 



1.5 



1.4 







Labiates. 



1.2 



3.2 



1.7 



2.9 





From this table it is clear that in Rosacea), Ericaceae, Caryophyllaceaa, Scrophulariaceaa, Caprifo- 

 liacese and Borraginacesa the Kurile flora is relatively rich ; while in Cyperacete (?), Labiataa and 

 Polygonacesa it is comparatively poor. 



Every order which is represented in the Kurile Islands is also represented in a greater or less 

 degree throughout the northern hemisphere, many passing into the southern. 



As to the genera, one hundred and fifty-six or about eighty-four per cent of the total number are 

 nmphigeean, that is they arc found throughout Europe, Northern Asia and North America. Of the 

 remaining 31 genera, only three, Skimmia, Craw/urdia and Acanthopanax, are restricted to eastern 

 and tropical Asia. Twelve genera may be called Europo- Asiatic, of which Hemerocallis, Adenoph- 

 ora, rieurospermum, uiEgopodiwn, Fihpendtda and Sorbaria are so in a strict sense ; while Sonc/tus 

 and Asperula are found also in Africa and Australia; and Dianthus, Swerlia, Alopecurus and Gale- 

 opsisf extend to northwestern America. The remaining sixteen genera are more or less confined to 

 Asia and North America. We have only four genera in the Kurile Islands which are peculiar to 

 eastern North America and to eastern Asia. They are Leucothoe, Diervilla, Hydrangea and Astilbe. 

 The American genera, Trillium, Disjjorum and Clintonia, are found also in the temperate and 

 mountain regions of Asia ; Aralia, in eastern and tropical Asia ; Dodecatheon and Claytonia, in 

 northeastern Asia; and Mimulus, in extratropical Asia, Africa and Australia. Tetrapoma of north- 

 eastern Asia is said to occur also in northwestern America. Boschniakia, which is peculiar to the 

 north Pacific borders, recurs in North America in Mexico, and in Asia in Himalaya. 



As to the species, ninety-seven or about thirty per cent of the Kurile vegetation are distributed 

 throughout Europe, northern Asia and North America. For the northerly situation of the islands, 

 the proportion of the circumpolar species is comparatively small. We shall leave them entirely out 

 of our consideration while we are discussing in the following pages the character and relative propor- 

 tions of the different elements which constitute the remaining important part of the Kurile flora. 



There are only two endemic species, and these of a rather doubtful character : Draba hirsiUa, 

 Turcz., and Oxylropis Pitmilio, Ledeb. Both of them were founded on a few imperfect specimens and 

 will most likely prove to be forms of some of the nearly related species, in which these regions are 

 particularly rich. Prunus Ceraseidos, Max., var. kurilensis, may prove to be a good species. Its 

 relation to the typical form I have dwelt upon at length in its proper place. 



Seventeen species and two varieties are restricted to the insular limits of Japan and Saghalin ; of 

 these, two species and one variety are peculiar to Hokkaido. 



The largest and most important element is the Northeastern Asiatic, whose centre of distribution is 

 to be found somewhere around the Sea of Okhotsk. It numbers 31 species and 6 varieties. The next 

 largest is what I have designated, lor convenience, the Eastern Asiatic, which includes plants of 

 Japan, Saghalin, Manchuria, Corea and China, but not of Kamtschatka and eastern Siberia. This 

 eastern Asiatic element includes 28 species and 3 varieties. Altogether, the species and varieties 

 which are strictly Asiatic in their range of distribution, number 105 and 12 respectively. 



Of the species which extend into Europe, there are 55 ; and into North America, 80. Of these 80 

 species, 34 are limited to northwestern America, which includes Alaska and British Columbia ; while 

 22 extend further southward on the Rocky Mountains and other high ranges in the Pacific States. 

 The remaining 24 species are all widely distributed across that continent, chiefly in its cool temperate 

 region. In the Kurilea we have no species which are limited to the Atlantic States in North America. 



To give a better idea of the relative importance of these elements in the Kurile flora-, the follow- 

 ing table will show their proportions in terms of per cent., the varieties being taken as units, and the 

 circumpolar species entirely discarded : — 



