Autumn larch - Autumn larch

A large perennial plant of the Ranunculaceae family (APG classification: Ranunculaceae). The stem is 0.5 to 1.5 meters tall. The leaves are compound, with 2 to 4 leaves in 3, and the leaflets are obovate. Flowers appear from July to October in large panicles, and are pale yellow in color. It resembles Karamatsusou, but is distinguished by the fact that the base of the achene does not narrow. The new shoots are edible, and the stems and leaves are boiled to make a gastrointestinal medicine. It is one of the most common species of the Karamatsusou genus, distributed throughout Japan, and has many variations. In the high mountains of Hokkaido and Honshu, there is a variety called Ookaramatsu (Kokaramatsu) with sparse flowers and long flower stalks, and in Mt. Myogi in Gunma Prefecture and Mt. Futago in Saitama Prefecture, there is a variety called Miogi-karamatsu that hangs from rock walls.

[Yuichi Kadota March 18, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

キンポウゲ科（APG分類：キンポウゲ科）の大形多年草。茎は高さ0.5～1.5メートル。葉は2～4回3出の複葉で、小葉は倒卵形をなす。花は7～10月、大形の円錐(えんすい)花序に多数つき、淡黄色。カラマツソウに似るが、痩果(そうか)の基部が狭くならないことで区別される。新芽を食用とし、茎や葉を煎(せん)じて胃腸薬とする。日本全土に分布するもっとも普通なカラマツソウ属の1種で変異に富む。北海道や本州の高山には花がまばらにつき花柄が長い変種オオカラマツ（コカラマツ）、群馬県妙義山、埼玉県二子山には岩壁から懸垂する変種ミョウギカラマツがある。

［門田裕一　2020年3月18日］

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