The contrast between the bright red stems, the deep green leaves, and the bluish black fruits is so stark and beautiful. This is daphniphyllum macropodum.
I first thought that the shrub was elaeocarpus sylvestris (or woodland elaeocarpus) because the leaves looked very similar and the fruits also resembled each other, but since about one month ago, they have started to show a clear difference. Daphniphyllum macropodum's fruits have become black while woodland elaeocarpus' are still green. Then I found a tree label on one of the daphniphyllum macropodum trees.
Daphniphyllum macropodum has the Japanese name "yuzuriha," meaning "giving/offering leaf" after the fact that older leaves drop in spring after the shrub starts to grow new leaves, which looks like older leaves offering their places to younger ones. Survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami were reported to have helped each other by giving and offering food and water to each other. Some may find it naïve and I may not be able to be that generous in similar circumstances but such a spirit of caring, sharing, and helping each other may be needed most now.
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| Daphniphyllum macropodum 楪 |
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| Daphniphyllum macropodum ユズリハ |
