This is Triodanis perfoliata or more commonly known as clasping Venus' looking-glass growing on roadsides. There're many of them growing but only this one had flowers this morning.
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| 2025/5/5 |
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| 2025/5/5 |
Clasping Venus' Looking-Glass (Triodanis Perfoliata) キキョウソウ（桔梗草）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is Triodanis perfoliata or more commonly known as clasping Venus' looking-glass growing on roadsides. There're many of them growing but only this one had flowers this morning.
This is Triodanis perfoliata or more commonly known as clasping Venus' looking-glass growing on roadsides. There're many of them growing but only this one had flowers this morning.
Clematis クレマチス
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are clematises. Their deep purple flowers are so beautiful. The first two photos are (I believe) of Clematis patens or in Japanese "Kazaguruma (meaning pinwheel)" for their pinwheel like flower shape. What look like petals are actually the calyx.
These are clematises. Their deep purple flowers are so beautiful. The first two photos are (I believe) of Clematis patens or in Japanese "Kazaguruma (meaning pinwheel)" for their pinwheel like flower shape. What look like petals are actually the calyx.
The plant is called in two ways in Japan, "Clematis" or "Tessen," and according to Global Center for Natural Resources Sciences, Kumamoto University, Tessen and Kazaguruma are original species native to Asia and by crossing these and other original species, about 300 types of Clematis have been produced so far. If you're interested in double-flowered clematises, read this post!
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| 2025/4/27 Kazaguruma or pinwheel? |
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| 2025/4/27 |
Hiding Your Head But Not Your Butt 頭隠して尻隠さず
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a real life embodiment of the Japanese saying 頭隠して尻隠さず or "Hiding your head but not your butt." The saying figuratively means that there is no perfect cover-up and, just to be sure, the stink bug was not doing anything wrong.
This is a real life embodiment of the Japanese saying 頭隠して尻隠さず or "Hiding your head but not your butt." The saying figuratively means that there is no perfect cover-up and, just to be sure, the stink bug was not doing anything wrong.
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| 2025/4/27 |
Manchurian Violet (Viola Mandshurica) スミレ（菫）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are Manchurian violets (Viola mandshurica), the second type of violet I've seen following Viola grypoceras. Both are violet color but Manchurian violets are deep while Viola grypoceras pale. Despite their pretty, delicate appearance, violets are very hardy growing on sidewalks.
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| 2025/4/22 |
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| 2025/4/22 |
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| 2025/4/22 |
Miquel's Mazus (Mazus Miquelii) ムラサキサギゴケ（紫鷺苔）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are Miquel's mazus (Mazus miquelii). They resemble Japanese mazus (Mazus pumilus) very much in terms of the flower color, shape and size, but you can tell which is which based on the direction of growing. Japanese mazus grows upward while Miquel's mazus grows low to the ground. But still so confusing.
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| 2025/4/19 |
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| 2025/4/19 |
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| 2025/4/19 |
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| 2025/4/19 |
Sato Cherry (Prunus Serrulata) ヤエベニトラノオ（八重紅虎の尾）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Oshima cherry blossoms have almost all fallen in Tokyo and now late bloomers, such as Sato cherry (Prunus serrulata), are in full blossom! There are various types of Sato cherry trees and the first three photos are of one of them, named Yae beni toranoo, meaning "double flowered pink tiger tails" after its branches with dense clusters of pale pink blossoms that look like tiger tails. Gorgeous!
Oshima cherry blossoms have almost all fallen in Tokyo and now late bloomers, such as Sato cherry (Prunus serrulata), are in full blossom! There are various types of Sato cherry trees and the first three photos are of one of them, named Yae beni toranoo, meaning "double flowered pink tiger tails" after its branches with dense clusters of pale pink blossoms that look like tiger tails. Gorgeous!
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| 2025/4/19 Yae beni toranoo ヤエベニトラノオ |
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| 2025/4/19 |
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| 2025/4/19 |
Green Cherry Blossoms (Gioiko Cherry) 緑の桜「ギョイコウ（御衣黄）」
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I enjoyed YELLOW and GREEN cherry blossoms yesterday at Hama-rikyu Gardens in Tokyo, one is Ukon (see this post) and the other is Gioiko (Cerasus Sato-zakura Group ‘Gioiko’ Koidz.) in this post!
The name "Gioiko" is after the yellow color of Japanese nobility clothing, but as you can see, these blossoms are rather green. The chloroplasts of Gioiko and Ukon both contain carotenoid (i.e., yellow pigment) and chlorophyll (i.e., green pigment) but Gioiko's contain more chlorophyll, producing yellowish GREEN flowers while Ukon's contain less chlorophyll, producing greenish YELLOW blossoms.
Despite such green blossoms, its Japanese name "御衣黄" contains "黄," which means yellow. It's so confusing.
Cotton Weed (Pseudognaphalium Affine) ハハコグサ（母子草）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
They're cotton weeds, plain weeds but one of the following seven herbs used to make seven-herb rice porridge eaten on January 7 in Japan to bring longevity and health:
They're cotton weeds, plain weeds but one of the following seven herbs used to make seven-herb rice porridge eaten on January 7 in Japan to bring longevity and health:
- Water celery (Oenanthe javanica)
- Shepherd's purse
- Cotton weed (Pseudognaphalium affine)
- Chickweed (Stellaria media)
- Nipplewort (Lapsana)
- Turnip
- Daikon radish
The plant is called by various names in Japan, e.g., "awagome (millet and rice/corn)," "usagi no mimi (rabbit's ears)," "kyaro tsuri kusa (plants to catch frogs)," suggesting the commonness of cotton weeds.
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| 2025/4/18 |
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| 2025/4/18 |
Flowering Dogwood and Cherry Blossoms 花水木（ハナミズキ）とサクラ
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Following the Chinese quince yesterday, today's post is about flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) starting to bloom against the backdrop of cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms are beautiful themselves but can also form a magnificent backdrop to other plants and flowers.
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| 2025/4/12 |
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| 2025/4/12 |
Viola Grypoceras タチツボスミレ（立坪菫）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
They're Viola grypoceras or tachi tsubo violets on sidewalks and under cherry trees. There exist many types of violets but this type is most prevalent in Japan and can be seen often in sunny spots, which is true. All of these violets were enjoying plenty of sunshine.
They're Viola grypoceras or tachi tsubo violets on sidewalks and under cherry trees. There exist many types of violets but this type is most prevalent in Japan and can be seen often in sunny spots, which is true. All of these violets were enjoying plenty of sunshine.
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| 2025/4/8 |
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| 2025/4/8 |
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| 2025/4/8 |
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| 2025/4/8 |
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