Chaste Tree (Vitex Agnus-Castus) セイヨウニンジンボク（西洋人参木）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are flowers of a chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus). Without a carpenter bee flying, I would have passed by the tree. 

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)　セイヨウニンジンボク（西洋人参木）

Japanese Pearlwort (Sagina Japonica) ツメクサ（詰草）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are Japanese pearlwort (Sagina japonica). The flowers are so small (2nd photo) that I didn't notice them at first. Its Japanese name is "Talon plant" after the leaf shape. 

Japanese pearlwort (Sagina japonica)　ツメクサ（詰草）

Japanese Dogwood (Cornus Kousa) ヤマボウシ（山法師）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are flowers of Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa). I like the flowers but when I saw the tree, I stood mouth agape. There are too many. Japanese dogwood is very similar to flowering dogwood, but Japanese dogwood is native to East Asia (including Japan) while flowering dogwood is native to North America. 

 Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa)　ヤマボウシ（山法師） 

Coprinopsis Lagopus (Hare’s Foot Inkcap)? 粗柄一夜茸（ザラエノヒトヨタケ）？

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is a hare’s foot inkcap mushroom (Coprinopsis lagopus) or so I think. It started to dry, but it was still beautiful. When I was taking these photos, a dog approached me, starting to bark. Feeling I needed to say something, I said to the owner that I'd found a mushroom. He was surprised that a mushroom grew in a park. Few know that many wild plants and (not many but some) mushrooms grow in Central Tokyo.  

Hare’s foot inkcap (Coprinopsis lagopus)?　ザラエノヒトヨタケ（粗柄一夜茸）？

Blue Passionflower (Passiflora Caerulea) 時計草（トケイソウ）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Passionflowers (Passiflora caerulea) are native to South America and are said to have been introduced to Japan during the Kyoho period (1716–1735).

Their most striking feature is, needless to say, the pistils, which closely resemble the hands of a clock. This is why they're called tokeisou in Japan—which translates to 'clock flower.' But you know what? This clock doesn't work in the morning, because the pistils just stand straight up (as you can see in the first photo) and can't tell the time!

6/8/2024

Lily of the Valley Vine (Salpichroa Origanifolia) ハコベホオズキ（繁縷酸漿）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are lilies of the valley vine (Salpichroa origanifolia). They're so small and adorable, aren't they? At first I only saw the flowers but then noticed something black on them, which were ants! Ants were not on every flower but some, which I guess means that the nectar of the lilies must be delicious!

Lily of the valley vine (Salpichroa origanifolia)　ハコベホオズキ（繁縷酸漿）