The flora of Japan comprises a large assemblage of plant species which can be found in Japan, such as sakura, katsura, momiji and azalea. There are many species which are endemic to Japan.
The flora of Japan comprises a large assemblage of plant species which can be found in Japan, such as sakura, katsura, momiji and azalea. There are many species which are endemic to Japan.
Japan has significant diversity in flora. Of approximately 5,600 total vascular plant species, almost 40% are endemic. [1] This richness is due to the significant variation in latitude and altitude across the country, a diversity of climatic conditions due to monsoons, and multiple geohistorical incidences of connections with the mainland. [2]
Japan consists of roughly 4 vegetation zones that are delineated by temperature and precipitation: the alpine region, subalpine region, summer-green broad-leaved forest region and evergreen broad-leaved forest region. [3] [4]
Due to its substantial length of over 3,000 km from north to south and its mountain ranges that can exceed 3,000 meters, Japan's vegetation varies by latitude and by altitude. Evergreen forests tend to appear in the southern half of the Japanese mainland, with broad leaf forests, subalpine, and alpine appearing with increasing frequency to the north and near mountains. [3] [4]
The evergreen forest zone can be found along the coasts of the southern half of Japan and is most common zone in the Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku and, Kyushu as well as parts of southwestern Honshu with equal longitude. [3] This region rises up to an elevation of 750 meters near Tokyo. [4] At the coasts, the dominant forest canopy species are Castanopsis cuspidata and Machilus thunbergii . Inland, trees belonging to the genus Quercus are dominant. In lower layers, trees and shrub species include Camellia japonica , Neolitsea sericea , Aucuba japonica , and Eurya japonica . It is a characteristic of this zone that all these are evergreen species. [4]
These forests can be found in central Japan above 1,000 meters altitude and throughout parts of Hokkaido at elevations between 700 and 1,600 meters. These forests are also called Fagus crenata forests due to the prevalence of this tree species. On the western side, common species include Daphniphyllum macropodum , Cephalotaxus harringtonii , and Aucuba japonica . On the eastern side facing the Pacific Ocean, important species include Ulmus japonica, Arachniodes standishii , and Laportea macrostachya. This region has been particularly affected by human development and clearing of natural forests. Cleared lands tend to be replanted with Larix kaempferi , Cryptomeria japonica , and Chamaecyparis obtusa . [4]
In Honshu, from 1,600 to 2,500 meters, and Hokkaido at slightly lower altitudes, character species in the subalpine zone are Vaccinium vitis-idaea , Vaccinium ovalifolium , Neottia cordata , Coptis trifolia . Distinguishing trees include Abies mariesii , Larix kaempferi , and Tsuga diversifolia . [4]
Above 2500 meters, vegetation has to contend with significant snowfall and high winds. Genera that can survive in these conditions include Phyllodoce and Harrimanella . [4]
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The flora of Japan is extensively described in scientific publications such as :
More over, here are some publications of interest about the japanese flora : Tomitarô Makino, who was lecturer of botany at the imperial university of Tokyo, published a large amount of contributions from 1901 to 1914 collectively called "Observations on the flora of Japan" (and before that some other under various names among which "Plantæ Japonenses novæ vel minus cognitæ")
Temperate rainforests are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive heavy rain.
Aucuba is a genus of three to ten species of flowering plants, now placed in the family Garryaceae, although formerly classified in the Aucubaceae or Cornaceae.
Tomitaro Makino was a pioneer Japanese botanist noted for his taxonomic work. He has been called "Father of Japanese Botany". He was one of the first Japanese botanists to work extensively on classifying Japanese plants using the system developed by Linnaeus. His research resulted in documenting 50,000 specimens, many of which are represented in his Makino's Illustrated Flora of Japan. Despite having dropped out of grammar school, he eventually attained a Doctor of Science degree, and his birthday is remembered as Botany Day in Japan.
The Sierra Nevada subalpine zone refers to a biotic zone below treeline in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, United States. This subalpine zone is positioned between the upper montane zone at its lower limit, and tree line at its upper limit.
The wildlife of Japan includes its flora, fauna, and natural habitats. The islands of Japan stretch a long distance from north to south and cover a wide range of climatic zones. This results in a high diversity of wildlife despite Japan's isolation from the mainland of Asia. In the north of the country, north of Blakiston's Line, there are many subarctic species which have colonized Japan from the north. In the south there are south-east Asian species, typical of tropical regions. Between these areas lies the temperate zone which shares many species with China and Korea. Japan also has many endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world, making it home to many endangered/rare species.
Paeonia obovata is a perennial herbaceous species of peony growing 30–70 cm high. It has white, pink or purple-red flowers and its lower leaves consist of no more than nine leaflets or segments. In English it is sometimes called woodland peony. It grows naturally in warm-temperate to cold China, including Manchuria, and in Korea, Japan, Far Eastern Russia and on Sakhalin.
The climate and ecology of land immediately surrounding the Mediterranean Sea is influenced by several factors. Overall, the land has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The climate induces characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation. Plant life immediately near the Mediterranean is in the Mediterranean Floristic region, while mountainous areas further from the sea supports the Sub-Mediterranean Floristic province.
Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial factor in shaping plant community, biodiversity, metabolic processes and ecosystem dynamics for montane ecosystems. Dense montane forests are common at moderate elevations, due to moderate temperatures and high rainfall. At higher elevations, the climate is harsher, with lower temperatures and higher winds, preventing the growth of trees and causing the plant community to transition to montane grasslands, shrublands or alpine tundra. Due to the unique climate conditions of montane ecosystems, they contain increased numbers of endemic species. Montane ecosystems also exhibit variation in ecosystem services, which include carbon storage and water supply.
The ecology of the Himalayas varies with climate, rainfall, altitude, and soils. The climate ranges from tropical at the base of the mountains to permanent ice and snow at the highest elevations. The amount of yearly rainfall increases from west to east along the southern front of the range. This diversity of climate, altitude, rainfall and soil conditions supports a variety of distinct plant and animal species, such as the Nepal gray langur
The Japanese temperate rainforest is located in the Japanese archipelago, in small batches over a wide range of islands, from Kyushu in the South to Hokkaido in the North. Due to its geographic features and climate, the Japanese temperate rainforest is very different from other temperate rainforests in the world. The islands in the Japanese archipelago comprise about 1/400 of the world’s land. The islands are located on a latitude that is normally dry; desert can be found elsewhere in the world at this latitude. However, the oceans surrounding Japan provide enough precipitation to maintain a temperate rainforest.
Phyllospadix iwatensis is a plant species found along the seacoasts of Japan, Korea, China, and the Russian Far East. It was first discovered in 1929 near on the Miyako Peninsula in Iwate Prefecture in Japan, in northeastern Honshu. It occurs in the intertidal zone along the shore.
Phyllospadix japonicus, known as Asian surfgrass, is a plant species found along the seacoasts of Japan, Korea, China. It occurs in the intertidal zone along the shore.
The wildlife of South Korea comprises many animals, fungi and plants. Wildlife refers to animal and plant species that live in the wild or natural state such as mountains or rivers. According to the South Korean Ministry of Environment, the rich diversity of South Korea's wildlife includes 8,271 species of plants, 18,117 species of animals and 3,528 species of others. 30,000 species are known to exist in South Korea, but it is expected that there are more than 100,000 species.
The Minami-Alps Biosphere Reserve is one of Japan's few high-rainfall areas, with a maximum elevation above sea level of 3,193m. Most of the site is made up of forest, with an area characterized by alpine plant communities and dense forest vegetation. The reserve is home to many local festivals, with discoveries of relics from the Jōmon Period, and folk arts traditions. Historically, inhabitants lived in regions with close connections to the mountains and thus engaged in hunting, fishing, gathering vegetables, and agriculture.
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Nature Park is a nature park located in Sarıyer district of Istanbul Province, Turkey.
Phytolacca japonica is a species of flowering plant in the pokeweed family (Phytolaccaceae). It native to eastern Asia, where it is found in China and Japan. Its natural habitat is in forests edges, in ravines and along riversides.
Asimitellaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae that is native to Japan and Taiwan. Formerly a section in the genus Mitella, Asimitellaria was elevated to genus rank in 2021.
Asimitellaria amamiana is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae that is endemic to Amami Ōshima in the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
