Helwingia Japonica (Japanese Helwingia) 花筏（ハナイカダ）

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is a leaf of Japanese helwingia (Helwingia japonica) with a fruit on it. The small black fruit isn't just on the leaf but it (and the flower) grows from the center of the leaf midrib. And that's why its Japanese name means "flower (on a) boat." People likened the leaf to a boat and the flower to a boatman. The tree is in the Imperial Palace East Garden. The garden has many beautiful trees and plants and the admission is free.

Japanese Helwingia　花筏

Helwingia Japonica　ハナイカダ

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皇居東御苑の花筏（ハナイカダ）です。葉の中央につく小花を船頭、葉を筏に見立ててこの名前が付いたそうです。皇居東御苑には他にもたくさんの植物があります。入場料無料です。

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