Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan/Series 1/Volume 2/On the increase of the Flora of Japan
ON THE INCREASE OF THE FLORA
OF JAPAN.
BY
Dr. SAVATIER.
Read before the Asiatic Society of Japan,
on the 17th June, 1874.
———o———
The flora of Japan has been enriched of late years by a considerable number of species, and it may be hoped that, at an early future, it will yield to that of no other country of equal area and analogous climatic conditions.
This rapid increase is due not only to the researches of European travellers, who have explored the coasts at rare intervals and penetrated more or less into the interior of the country, but also to the persevering investigations of Japanese botanists, who pursue the science with ardour, and have a far larger acquaintance with the vegetation of their country than is generally supposed in Europe. In proof of this I need only adduce the existence of their rich herbaries, and their innumerable collections of illustrations, where are exhibited, often in great perfection and with excellent regard to anatomical floral details, almost all the Japanese species diffused among our own herbaries, together with many others still unknown to us.
It may be said that the Flora of Japan has been better illustrated than that of many States in Europe. Doubtless all the illustrated works have not the same value, but it would be but a hasty judgment to conclude after an inspection of the book Kwa wi, published 150 years ago, that these works can have no interest for the European student of botany. Inouma, in writing the Soo mokou zoussets, proved incontestably that he understood the use of the magnifier and the scalpel, in contradiction to the malevolent assertions contained in an article published by the Association Scientifique, (Bulletin Hebdomadaire 1873, p. 229.) The anonymous author of this article has long ago received interesting botanical collections from Japan, with figures of plants, drawn by native artists, with enlarged anatomical details. There is still much to be gained from these works by those who desire to study thoroughly the flora of Japan.
Thunberg, in his Flora, does not mention much more than 1,050 species of phanerogamous and cryptogamous plants, if the species called in to do double duty are subtracted. Until the researches of Siebold and Buerger, our knowledge of Japanese plants remained stationary, and it is only since 1843, the date at which Zuccarini studied, and published an account of the plants collected by the Dutch botanists, that rapid steps were made in the progressive enumeration of them.
First, there were (in 1855) the American researches under Perry and John Rodgers, which furnished a considerable amount of materials chiefly drawn from the island of Yezo, the vegetation of which was thus for the first time made known with something like completeness. The botanical collections made in Japan were published almost immediately after this by Mr. Asa Gray.
A few years later William Hooker gave, in the work of Mr. Pemberton Hodgson on Japan, a list of 1700 phanerogamic and cryptogamic species, compiled from the descriptions of herbaries collected by Messrs. Alcock, Hodgson, Wilford and Oldham.
The publications of Mr. Asa Gray and of Sir Wm. Hooker at last decided the Dutch botanists to unite in a work upon the rich materials which their herbaries embraced, and M. Miquel, whose recent loss science now deplores, produced successively in the Annals of the Leyden Museum his Prolusio Floræ Japonicæ; next, his valuable reflections on Geographical Botany (1867–1868); and, lastly, his catalogue of Japanese plants collected in the herbary of Leyden (1870). The number of species enumerated in the latter work is less than that in the table which concludes the Prolusio, because the author was confined within the limits of the herbary, while, in the table of the Prolusio, he registered, to the number of 2,000, all the species the descriptions of which were known to him.
While Miquel was thus acquainting the world with the botanical wealth accumulated in the Dutch museums, M. Maximowicz, who traversed Japan from 1861–1864, and formed collections larger by themselves than those of all his predecessors united, M. Maximowicz, I repeat, commenced to describe in the Mélanges biologiques, and in the Mémoires de L’Académie des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg, all the novelties found by him, and which now amount to one hundred and fifty species. If, to this figure, the product of my own researches during a stay in Japan of upwards of seven years, be added, it will easily be understood that the publication of a new catalogue of plants will not be useless, although the date of that of Miquel would only be four years anterior to it.
This new exposition of the wealth of the flora of Japan is now in course of publication, and I beg to offer you in advance a communication upon the novelties which it will contain.
I shall say nothing of the species mentioned in the first part of this work which appeared some months back; but shall limit myself to give the species which my later acquaintance with them prevented my including at that time.
I shall make this enumeration in the order of the families as it is given in the Genera Plantarum of Bentham and Hooker, and which we have adopted in our Enumeratio plantarum in Japoniâ crescentium.
Ranunculaceæ. To the species already named by us, I can now add,
Thalictrum majus, Jacq.;—Atragene macrosepala, Led., known only in Siberia, and which I have found in the Niko chain;—Clematis fusca, var, Mandshurica, Regel, from Hakodate, vaguely given by Miquel;—Ranunculus reptans, L., an exclusively northern plant; lastly, another Ranunculus, gathered in the streets of Yedo, which must be placed near the R. Sieboldii.
Berberideæ.—Berberis vulgaris, L. from Niko, which only differs from the European in having single instead of tripartite thorns.
Fumariaceæ.—Corydalis Raddeana, Regel, a Siberian species which I gathered at Niko.
Violarieæ—Viola variegata, Visch., a species remarkable for its venation tinged with white, I owe this plant to my friend, Mr. C. Kramer, who found it in the province of Koshiu.
Geraniaceæ. In the Enumeratio, we have only given three species as belonging to the genus Geranium; I now know five others: Ger. pseudo-Sibericum, Mey., from Niko;—Ger. Wlassiovianum, Fisch., from Hakodate;—Ger. species nova, like the Ger. Wlassovianum, and possessing like it united stipules (stipules connés) found at Simosa, by Mr. Kramer; Ger. Dahuricum, De., from Hakodate, easily recognized by its grumous root; Ger. Robertianum, L., a single specimen of which I found in 1871 in the mountains of Hakone. Lastly, I will mention the Ger. pusillum, doubtless imported from Europe, which I found in my garden.—The Impatiens parviflora was given to me by Mr. Kramer without any indication of locality; this species is to be found depicted in the Soo Mokou, Vol. 17, p. 69.
Ilicineæ. I gathered at Niko the Ilex Rugosa, Sieb. vaguely indicated in Japan, observed in the Island of Saghalien, and well delineated by Mr. Schmidt.
Leguminosæ. This family has increased in an important degree since the publication of Miquel’s catalogue. The novelties are noted, in part, in our Enumeratio; since which M. Maximowicz has made others known in his 14th chapter.
Rosaceæ.—Spirea salicifolia from the Niko hills, mentioned with doubt by Miquel.
Hamamelideæ.—Hamamelis virginica, L. from Niko. It is easily distinguished from the H. Japonica by its leaves which are covered underneath with black marks. The existence of this species in Japan constitutes another link between its flora and that of the North-west of America.
Umbelliferæ.—This family is richly represented in Japan; the Enumeratio embraces a certain number of new species, partly due to the researches of M. Maximowicz. Since the publication of our work, this learned Russian botanist has described the new species Angelica, and I have myself gathered several of them, probably unnamed, but which it is difficult to characterize with certainty in the absence of the ripe fruit.
Araliaceæ—Acanthopanax Sciadophylloides, Franchet and Savatier; from Niko; remarkable for its small long petiolated leaflets; A. asperata, Fr. and Sav. from Hakodate, with leaves harsh to the touch, but with the fruit of which I have not yet been made acquainted.
Caprifoliaceæ—Viburnum lantana, L., from Hakodate, a variety with more rounded leaves than the European plant.
Rubiaceæ. The Japanese examples of the genus Galium have been enumerated by M. Maximowicz in his sixteenth chapter. I can now add to these two species: Gal. pogonanthum, Fr. and Sav.; and Gal. Stellarioides, Fr. and Sav.; a relation, though very distinct, of the G. ovatum. The typical form of the Gal. Boreale grows at Hakodate.
Compositæ. This great family has been considerably augmented since the publication of Miquel. I shall only cite the kinds unnamed up to this date. Aster Leiophylius, Fr. and Sav.; Aster dimorphophyllen, Fr. and Sav., from Hakone. Stenactis annua, De. and St. ambigua, Fr. and Sav., from the Niko hills. Dichrocephala latifolia, Fr. and Sav.; Carpesium triste, Max., from Niko; C. Glossophyllum, Max., from Yokoska, unpublished species which I also found, and the names of which were obligingly communicated to me in anticipation by M. Maximowicz; Arnica Alpina, De., a remarkable species, indigenous in the arctic region and which probably attains in the Niko hills its southermost habitat, the altitude compensating for the latitude. I have received from M. Tanaka, without indication of locality, but with no doubt of their Japanese origin: Senecio (Senecillis,) Schmidtii, Max., and another very curious Senecio of the group Cacalia, which we have named S. Tanakæ, Fr. and Sav., I may also mention, Senecio obtusata, Fr. and Sav., from Yokoska; Senecio (cacalia) Adenostyloides, Fr. and Sav., from Fusiyama; Senecio (cacalia) Davuricus, Schultz, the old Cacalia auriculata, De., which M. Maximowicz has frequently observed in the environs of Hakodate.
Miquel only knew three Saussureæ, including among these his Aplotaxis multicaulis which should be called Saussurea Bungei; we enumerate eleven species: S. Bungei; S. Nipponica, Miq.; S. Nikoensis, Fr. and Sav.; S. Riederi, herd; S. Krameri, Fr. and Sav.; S. Gracilis, Max.; S. Ussuriensis, Max.; S. Maximowiezii, Max.; S. triptera, Max.; S. Tanakæ, Fr. and Sav.; S. Japonica, De. We owe the knowledge of several of these species to M. Maximowicz. The same botanist has collected in Japan fourteen species of Cirsium; we cite only seven including anew one; C. Suffultum, Max.
In the Niko hills we have also found a magnificent Rhaponticum, Rh. Pungens, the bearing and figure of which is that of the Rh. Atriplicifolium, but which is easily distinguished from it by its lanciolated involucral and piercing scales.
Among the Chicoraceæ I may cite three singular species which hold, so to speak, a middle place between the Ixeris and the Nabalus. I shall here call them provisionally, Nabalus Spathulatus; N. Krameri; N. Tanakæ, Fr. and Sav., I owe these three plants to M. Tanaka.
Campanulaceæ—Adenophora Nikoensis, Fr. and Sav., a curious species, resembling a reduced Platycodon Grandiflorum.
Ericaceæ. Monotropa Japonica, Fr. and Sav., a poor species with velvety bell-shaped flowers, and with long pedicules: can this be the M. hypopithys, variety hirsuta, cited by M. Maximowicz as from the Niko hills?
Primulaceæ. The Lysimachia vulgaris, L. forma typica, grows in the environs of Hakodate. The Lysimachia Davurica, sufficiently common in the north of Japan, is probably a simple variety of this plant.
Oleaceæ. Linociera Japonica, Fr. and Sav., which seems sufficiently distinct from the American varieties.
Gentianeæ. Gentiana brevidens, Fr. and Sav. from Niko. G. Nikoensis, Fr. and Sav., also from the Niko hills, where it grows at a great altitude. It is a charming species with greenish leaves, found by Mr. Kramer, and might easily be mistaken for the G. decumbens, if the lower part of the stern were not completely bare of root fibres. It must be placed by the side of the G. Pneumonantha, and G. triflora.
Asclepiadeæ. The genus Vincetoxicum already represented by six species, according to Miquel, must be increased by two new ones. V. Brandtii and V. Vernyi, Fr. and Sav., both received from Mr. Tanaka.
Convolvulaceæ. Cuscuta Vernyi, Fr. and Sav. a species with large flowers, a parasite of the vitex unifoliata, in the sand of Kamakoura,—cuscuta minor, L.
Borragineæ. In his eleventh chapter. M. Maximowicz expresses his surprise that neither in Japan, nor in the neighbouring countries, the Echinospermum lappula, L. has been found. This gap is now filled, as I have received the plant from Hakodate. The Cynoglossum micranthun, the existence of which in Japan, although mentioned by Miquel, has seemed doubtful to M. Maximowicz, certainly grows in the province of Koshiu, where it was found by Mr. Kramer, and in the Niko hills, where I also found some specimens of it.
Scrophularineæ. I may cite as belonging to Japan, in this family, a Dopatrium, closely connected with the Junceum, of which, perhaps, it is only a variety; we have called it D. Japonicum, Fr. and Sav.;—The Ilysanthes saginoides, Fr. and Sav., a small species from Niko, having the appearance of a Sagina, and very different on this account from other species of the same genus:—The Veronica Yedoensis, Fr. and Sav., which must be placed by the side of the V. acinifolia.
Labiateæ. Plectranthus caudatus, Fr. and Sav., remarkable for the long point which terminates its leaves, generally deeply indented at the stop. Scutellaria parvula, Mich. which presents itself in Japan in forms which it is difficult to consider otherwise than as distinct species. Satureia Japonica, Fr. and Sav., received from Mr. Tanaka, under the name of Arita Soo.
In the Niko hills I have also had the satisfaction of gathering the beautiful Nepeta Macrantha, Fish., known only in Siberia. I have also received from Yedo a small species of Salvia, the exact source of which it would be interesting to ascertain. It is perfectly delineated in the Soo Mokou, Vol. 1., p. 30. We have called it the Salvia Yedoensis, Fr. and Sav.
Polygoneæ. Polygonum propinquum, Led., P. Maakianum, Regel, from Niko; this is the species named later by Meisner, P. hastato-trilobum. P. humile, Meisn., common in the Hakone chain.
Aristolochieæ. I can mention the existence, in the neighbourhood of Yokoska, of the Asarum Albivenium, Regel, the native place of which was unknown to M. Maximowicz.
Euphorbiaceæ. Euphorbia Onæi, Fr. and Sav., which is allied to the E. Pekinensis, and the E. Rochebruni, Fr. and Sav., recalling sufficiently the E. Jolkini.
Urticeæ. I have received several interesting species belonging to this family from Mr. Tanaka, not yet made known in Japan. Memorialis hirta, Wedd.; Pilea strangulata, F. and Sav., curious from its articulated stalk; it is well delineated in the Soo Mokou, vol. 20, fol. 15. I gathered at Yokohama the Pellionia densiflora, Fr. and Sav., and, in the Hakone hills, another species also belonging to this genus, Pellionia involucrata, Fr. and Sav.
Salicineæ. The willows, as is known, constitute a genus the species of which it is often very difficult to distinguish, whether by reason of their affinity, or on account of their diœcian state, and the non-contemporaneity in the development of their organs. I think I may cite as new for Japan, the Salix brachystachys, Benth. With regard to the Salix purpurea, which, Miquel says, has not been found since Thunberg’s time, it is not uncommon at Yokoska and in the province of Sagami.
Hydrocharideæ. I have received from M. Tanaka a beautiful specimen of the Vallisneria spiralis, L. It would be interesting to know the place where it was found.
Smilacineæ. I found at Niko a Disporum in fruit, the D. Nikoense, Fr. and Sav., which seems sufficiently distinct from all the known species: The Hekorima candida, Kunth., has been found in fruit, by Mr. Kramer, in the Niko hills. I will also mention the Smilax trinervula, Miq., unknown to M. Maximowicz; the Polygonatum pubescens, Pursh., grows in the woods around Yokoska.
Orchideæ. This beautiful family, which is represented in Japan by genera belonging to the most different latitudes, has lately been increased by some very interesting species. Gymnadenia longebracteata, Fr. and Sav., received from Mr. Ito Keiske; Habenaria Florenti, Fr. and Sav., from the Hakone hills; H. Nikoensis, Fr. and Sav., from Niko; Platanthera chlorantha, Fish., from Hakodate; Perularia fuscescens, Lindl., also from Hakodate, a rare species, only known in Siberia; Liparis plicata, Fr. and Sav.; Liparis Krameri, Fr. and Sav., from the province of Higo, and two other species of this genus not yet named. I owe all these to the courtesy of Mr. Kramer.
Junceæ. Juncus Japonicus, Fr. and Sav. from the Hakone hills and the environs of Yokoska, a plant nearly allied to the I. Cespiticius.
Cyperaceæ. I was much surprised to find in the rice fields of Yokoska, the Cyperus Mon'i L. common in central Europe, but not found beyond the Caucasus. The Japanese plant is somewhat more meagre, its capitules less furnished than those of the European plant, but here the differences end. The Cyperus truncatus, Ture. is not uncommon at Yokoska, and is found in two forms, one attaining a height of about 40 centimêtres. I may also mention the Cyp. compressus, L.; Cyp. paniciformis Fr. and Sav., from the rice fields of Yokoska, very remarkable for the irregular disposition of its spikelets: Elæocharis bicolor, Fr. and Sav., the scales of which are red or white as they occupy the base or the summit of the ear. El. Onæi, Fr. and Sav.; Scirpus Badius. Presh. Sc. juncoides, Nees. Sc. Javanus, Nees; Sc. Pollichii, G. and God.; Sc. Striatulus Fr. and Sav. All these species grow in the environs of Yokoska with the exception of the Scirpus Juncoides, found in Hakone and Niko. Among the Fimbristylis, I will mention the F. tenuissima, Stend, and the F. Autumnalis, Ræm and Schit., the specific identity of which is not certain, but which do not the less constitute two new types for Japan. Miquel only knew the Scleria Japonica, Stend, which I have not been able to re-find, but I have received from Mr. Ono two other very different species of the Scl. Japonica, and differing equally the one from the other. These are Scl. Onæi and Scl. fenestrata Fr. and Sav.
In the list of plants which concludes the Prolusio, Miquel enumerates 56 species of Carex in Japan. I do not fear to state that this figure will be doubled at a not very distant period: indeed, I can now add seventeen species to the number. Carex argyrolepis sp. nov.; C. Hakonensis, sp. nov. C. ornithopoda, Mey. var. Japonica. C. cryptandra, sp. nov. C. Nikoensis sp. nov. C. Vulgaris, Fries., from which the C. Thunbergii hardly differs; C. Fibrillosa sp. nov.; C. lupulina, Mühl.; C. planata sp. nov. C. crinita Lamk.; C. lagopodioides sp. nov. C. polyantha, sp. nov. C. leucorhyncha sp. nov.; C. nutans, host, very common in Yokoska. Japan now reckons 73 species of the Carex!
Gramineæ. The explorers of Japan are called on to enlarge this family considerably. For my own part I have but a small number of species to add to those already known. Leersia oryzoides, L.; Phleum asperum, var. annuum. C. Koch. a species only known in the Caucasus; Calamagrostis epigeios, L.; C. Nipponica, sp. nov. C. Hakonensis sp. nov.; Dactylis glomerata L.; Setaria viridis L.; Setaria pachystachys sp. nov.; two new Andropogon, not yet named.
Lycopodiaceæ. Lycopodium Complanatum, var. Chamæcyparissus, Al. Br. from the Niko hills: Salaginella Kraussiana. Kunz. of which the S. Nipponica Miq., is probably a synonym. The Japanese specimens are exactly like those which I have gathered at Madeira and at the Cape of Good Hope.
Filices. I have gathered a certain number of species new for Japan, but the analysis of them is not yet completely finished. I will only mention a Craspedaria, the Cænopteris odontites; the Woodsia Mandshuriensis, and an Ophioglossum closely allied to the O. ovatum, Bory., if not identical with it.
This long enumeration will give an idea of the number of new plants, interesting to geographical botany in general, and to that of Japan in particular, which might be collected in the course of more sustained and profound researches than it has been possible for me to make.
The relations existing between the flora of Japan and that of Eastern Asia on the one side, and that of the eastern region of North America on the other side, have already been observed. The known species which I have enumerated confirm the conclusions drawn from previous observations, and if Siberia can claim as indigenous the Atragene macrosepala, Clematis fusca, Corydalis Raddeana, Viola variegata, Geranium pseudo-sibiricum, G. Wlassowianum, G. dahuricum, Senecio davuricus, Saussurea Ussuriensis, Nepeta Macrantha, Perularia fuscescens, Cyperus truncatus, Woodsia Mandshuriensis. Northern America has hitherto enjoyed exclusive possession of the Polygonatum pubescens, Carex lupulina, Carex crinita, C. lagopodioides, Hamamelis virginica, Stenactis ambigua.
Europe also brings its modest contingent with the Cyperus Monti, Scirpus Pollichii, Carex nutans; the northern region with the Ranunculus reptans, Arnica alpina; the subtropical region with the Liparis, the Dopatrium, the Scirpus Badius, Scirpus juncoides, Scirpus javanus, &c. A certain number of species, therefore, are common to the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and America, such as the Berberis vulgaris, the Virburnum lantana, Lysimachia vulgaris, Echinospermum lappula, Platanthera chlorantha, Carex vulgaris, Leersia oryzoides, Calamagrostis epigeios, Lycopodium complanatum.
Miquel has said that about one half of the flora of Japan was indigenous, and the list which I have just given entirely confirms this remark, as out of 129 plants specifically determined 68 are proper to Japan, though it is probable that this proportion will be diminished when the coasts of Northern China, Corea and Mandshuria are better known.
I here conclude this over lengthy communication. All the new species here mentioned will be described in the Enumeratio plantarum in Japoniâ crescentium, the first volume of which, embracing all the dicotyledonous plants must be published by this time.
Yokoska, 10th May, 1874.