Bladder Campion (Silene Vulgaris) シラタマソウ（白玉草）

Bladder Campion (Silene Vulgaris)　シラタマソウ（白玉草）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These photos show the bladder campion (Silene vulgaris). I've fallen in love at first sight with its chubby shape. Its flowers are white and five-petaled, and the greenish balloons are calyxes.

In English, the plant is compared to a bladder and given its name, while in Japan, it's called the "rice-flour dumpling plant" because its ball-shaped calyxes look like shiratama (rice flour dumplings). What a difference! Of course, my vote goes to the "rice-flour dumpling" analogy.

I loved—and still love—small sticky rice-flour dumplings. When I was little, my mom often made dozens of them to put in fruit punch for my birthday. The dumplings themselves aren't sweet, but combined with orange, pineapple, peach, and their juices, they became so sweet. It's still my favorite dessert! 😊

If you get the chance to visit Japan, you should try rice dumplings. You can also have them as a topping on Japanese shaved ice.