The cold climate vegetation of Sado Island, off the northwest coast 
of Honshu includes the grass,Elymus mollis,and forbs such as Iris, Litiun, 
Rhododendron, Samolus and Rosa. —— Fo 
In central Honshu plant species are similar to those noted for 
northern Honshu coverts. Conifers include the Japanese redwood tree 
(Cryptomeria japonica), false arborvitae (Thujopsis dolobrata) and 
Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). The Japanese redwood trees and 
false arborvitae prefer humid climate and fertile soil, 
Meadow species in central Honshu include a wide distribution of dwarf 
bamboos such as Sasa, Sasamorpha, Pleioblastus chino and Arundinaria. 
Forage grasses with representatives in the United States are Echinochloa, 
Phalaris, Agropyrum, Avena, Bromus japonicus, Cynodon, Digitaria, Poa and 
Setaria spp. Wild legumes present include three species of Lespedeza, 
and representatives of the genera Trifolium, Pueraria and Kummerowia. 
The topography of Japan is predominantly mountainous and hilly with 
associated valleys and a few intensively cultivated plains. Only one-sixth 
of the land area in Japan is under cultivation; this approximates 24,500 
square miles, the equivalent of the combined cultivated and harvested 
acreage of the States of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. 
Because of the volcanic origin of the archipelago of Japan, many of 
its soil types have developed from volcanic ash. The underlying rock in 
part of Japan is composed mainly of granite and traprock; other parts are 
underlain with shale, sandstone and limestone. It is reported that many 
of the brown forest soils were developed from leaching. Immature soils 
extend over vast mountainous areas, Numerous mountain streams, deriving 
their water from Japan's high rainfall, deposit large amounts of sand, 
gravel, clay cobbles and similar unconsolidated material in the lower 
valleys and plains. The natural fertility of most Japanese soils is 
rather low, and soil erosion and leaching are conducive to the development 
of largely acid soils according to Nuttonson (13) and the Japanese Ministry 
of Agriculture and Forestry (12). 
Habitat conditions including vegetation and soils on Shikoku in 
the range of the northern green pheasant are similar to those found 
further west and north on Honshu. The climate is warmer, however, and 
snow rarely occurs at this more southern latitude. 
The southern green pheasant on Kyushu is found in habitat similar 
to that in the range of the northern green pheasant. Milder winters and 
warmer summers here, coupled with high humidity conditions, result in 
luxuriant vegetation coverts for the pheasants, particularly at the 
lower elevations. Snow is rare in the range of the southern green 
pheasant and no winter altitudinal movement has been reported. 
15 
