Kanko tree - Kanko tree

Japanese: カンコノキ - かんこのき

A deciduous shrub of the Euphorbiaceae family that grows on the seashores of warm regions (illustration). It grows to a height of 1-7m. The Japanese name is said to come from the fact that the obovate leaves resemble a kanko-bune (a small boat used for fishing), and is also known as kakkougi. The plant is dioecious, and produces several small pale green flowers in the leaf axils from July to October. The fruit is an oblate globular capsule containing yellowish-red seeds. The ends of the short branches sometimes become thorny. The wood is black and is used to make combs, seals, and other items, and is also known as ebony.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

暖地の海辺に生育するトウダイグサ科の落葉低木（イラスト）。高さ1～7mになる。和名は倒卵形の葉をかんこ舟(漁に使われた小舟)にみなしたものといわれ，転じてカッコウギともいう。雌雄異株で，7～10月ころ，小さな淡緑色の花を葉腋（ようえき）に数個つける。果実は，黄赤色の種子の入った扁球形の蒴果（さくか）。短枝の先はときにとげとなる。材は黒色で，櫛や印鑑などの材料として用いられ，コクタンノキとも呼ばれる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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