抄録
The forest in the upper reaches of the Shiratori River in the Kirishima mountain system,
Miyazaki prefecture is one of the largest and best preserved lucidophyllous forests in Japan. The
vegetation of both the closed canopy stands (mature phase) and the canopy gap stands (gap
phase) in the forest was studied in order to clarity the difference of species composition and
species richness between the two phases. The mature phase was differentiated by the presence
of 17 species (Bulbophyllum drymoglossum, Davallia mariesii, Selanginella involvens, Lepisorus
onoei, Asplenium wilfordii, Lemmaphyllum microphyllum and others). The gap phase was
differentiated by the presence of 52 species (Akebia trifoliata ,Callicarpa mollis, Mallotus
japonicus, Zanthoxylum ailanthoides ,Actinidia polygama, Rubus palmatus and others) .All of the
differentia lspecies of the mature phase were epiphytes which were elements of lucidophyllous
forest. 44 species in the differential species of the gap phase were summergreen trees,
summergreen shrubs, summergreen climbers, perennial herbs and others which composed the
Rosetea multiflorae ,the Fico-Mallotetalia ,and the Quercetalia serrate-grosserratae .The mean
number of occurring species in the mature phase and the gap phase is 40 and 67, respectively. It
has become clear that vegetation of gaps contributes to species richness in the lucidophyllous
forest.