Akebono Shusuran - Akebono Shusuran

A perennial plant of the orchid family (APG classification: Orchidaceae). The lower part of the stem creeps along the ground, the internodes are long, and one root emerges from each node. The upper part of the stem has 4-7 leaves that grow alternately and ascend obliquely. The leaves are oblong and 2-4 cm long. From August to October, the terminal inflorescence produces a small number of densely packed white flowers with a tinge of pink. It grows on the forest floor of deciduous forests and is found throughout Japan except Okinawa, Korea, and China. The Japanese name is a reference to the color of the flowers, which resembles the sky at dawn. A variant of the dayflower, Dayflower orchid, has many short hairs on the inflorescence axis and is found from southern Kyushu to Okinawa. The parent species is found in the Himalayas.

[Ken Inoue May 21, 2019]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ラン科（APG分類：ラン科）の多年草。茎の下部は地表をほふくし、節間は長く、各節より1根を出す。茎の上部は斜上して葉を4～7枚互生する。葉は長楕円(ちょうだえん)形、長さ2～4センチメートル。8～10月、頂生の花序に淡紅色を帯びた白色の花を少数密につける。落葉樹林の林床に生え、沖縄を除く日本各地、朝鮮、中国に分布。和名は花色を明け方の空に例えたもの。変種のツユクサシュスランは花序軸に短毛が多く、九州南部より沖縄にかけて分布する。母種はヒマラヤに分布。

［井上　健　2019年5月21日］

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