Edohigan - Edohigan

A deciduous tall tree of the Rosaceae family (APG classification: Rosaceae). It grows to a height of 10-20 meters. The bark is pale gray-brown and split vertically, and the twigs are thin. The leaves are alternate, oblong, 5-10 cm long, pointed at the tip, with sawtooth edges, and hairs on both sides and the stalk. In March and April, before the leaves appear, the pale pink-white flowers, about 3 cm in diameter, bloom in a scattered shape. There are five petals, the calyx tube is rounded at the base, and the pedicel, calyx, and lower half of the style are hairy. It grows wild in the mountains of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, and is distributed in Korea, central mainland China, and Taiwan. It is a sturdy cherry tree known for its old, large trees in various places. It blooms early and grows well in any soil, so it is widely planted in various places. It is called Azumahigan because it is commonly planted in the Kanto region, and because it flowers before it has leaves, it is also called Ubahigan (Uba Higan), likening it to an old woman without teeth.

[Yoshio Kobayashi December 13, 2019]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

バラ科（APG分類：バラ科）の落葉高木。高さ10～20メートルになる。樹皮は淡灰褐色で縦に割れ、小枝は細い。葉は互生し、長楕円(ちょうだえん)形、長さ5～10センチメートルで先はとがり、縁に鋸歯(きょし)があり、両面と柄に毛がある。3～4月、葉の出る前に淡紅白色、径約3センチメートルの花が散形状に開く。花弁は5枚あり、萼筒(がくとう)は基部が円く膨らみ、花柄、萼、花柱の下半部に毛がある。本州、四国、九州の山地に野生し、朝鮮、中国大陸中部、台湾に分布する。強健なサクラで各地に老大木が知られる。開花期が早く、土地を選ばず生育がよいので、各地に広く植栽される。関東地方に多く植えられるのでアズマヒガン、また、葉のないうちに花が開くので、歯のない姥(うば)に例えてウバヒガン（姥彼岸）ともいう。

［小林義雄　2019年12月13日］

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