The climax forest of Miura Peninsula

Abstract

Miura Peninsula is a highly civilized district near the industrial and commercial center of Tokyo and Yokohama. The forest climax is now repersented by only fragmental stands in the grounds of shrines or temples. From the vegetational survey of those fragments the associations were determined by their floristic composition, and the area of each association was reconstructed on a map. On the coastal escarpment of sandsone and shale, we can find Pittosporum Tobira-Euonymus japonicus association, while on the stabilized sand. Machilus Thunbergii-Polystichum japonicum association is formed as a climax stand. The territory is stretched into the inner part of the peninsula along the valleys. The highest peak, Mt. Oogusuyama is 241.7 m. high above the sea-level. The lowland hils constructing the body ground of the peninsula is the climax area of Shiia Sieboldi-Bludhia japonica assocaition. Only the Zinmuzi stand belongs to the typical Maesa subassociation. The rest stands together with those of Awa Province facing to Tokyo Bay are included in a newly described subassociation, Bladhieto-Shiietum fatsiosum SUZ.-TOK. et TANIGUTI (Differential species Fatsia japonica and Gilibertia trifida).