Citrus fruit - Citrus fruit

A shrub-like herb of the Polygonaceae family (APG classification: Polygonaceae). Native to the Solomon Islands. Reaches a height of 1 metre. The stems are well-branched, green, flat, and have numerous vertical stripes, are stiff and knotted, and look like leaves. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, and grow at the ends of the branches, but fall off easily. The flowers grow at the nodes, are small, initially white, and later dark purple. The fruits are purple-red. For cultivation, the plant should be placed in a sunny greenhouse, but temperatures should be kept at 3-5°C in winter. In warm areas of Shikoku and Kyushu, it overwinters outdoors. It is propagated by cuttings, with the end of a well-developed branch being inserted in May or June.

[Ichiro Sakanashi December 11, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

タデ科（APG分類：タデ科）の低木状草本。ソロモン諸島の原産。高さ1メートルに達する。茎はよく分枝し緑色、扁平(へんぺい)で多数の縦縞(たてじま)があり、硬くて節があり、葉のようにみえる。葉は互生し披針(ひしん)形で枝先につくが落ちやすい。花は節部につき小さく、初めは白色でのちに暗紫色となる。果実は紫紅色。栽培には温室内の日当りに置くが、冬は3～5℃を保てばよく、四国、九州の暖地では戸外で越冬。繁殖は挿木で、5～6月ごろに充実した枝先を挿す。

［坂梨一郎　2020年12月11日］

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