Kichouji - Kichouji

A shrub of the nightshade family (APG classification: Solanaceae), native to Guatemala. The stems grow to about 6 meters, leaning against one another. The leaves are alternate and egg-shaped with pointed tips. The flowers are orange-yellow, thin tubular, 2.5 cm long, with shallow 5 lobes at the tip and recurved. They form racemes at the top of the stem or in the upper leaf axil. They flower from summer to autumn and are fragrant. There are about 150 species of Cestrum in tropical and subtropical America. Cestrum nocturnum L. is native to the West Indies and is a shrub that grows to 3 to 4 meters. The young branches are green and grow quickly. The flowers are pale yellow-white-green, thin tubular, and have a strong fragrance at night, so it is commonly called nightshade. It grows and blooms repeatedly throughout the year. It can also be made into a pot by pruning it. C. elegans Schlechtd. is native to Mexico, and has reddish purple tubular flowers that grow in clusters at the top of the stem. It was introduced to Japan at the end of the Meiji period. This species is cold-resistant and can survive winter at temperatures above 5°C. It is propagated by cuttings. It is prone to scale insects.

[Takabayashi Masatoshi June 21, 2021]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ナス科（APG分類：ナス科）の低木で、グアテマラ原産。茎は他によりかかって伸長し、6メートルくらいに育つ。葉は先のとがった卵形で互生する。花は橙黄(とうこう)色で、長さ2.5センチメートルの細い筒状となり、先端は浅く5裂し反曲する。茎頂または上部葉腋(ようえき)に総状花序をなす。夏から秋に開花し、芳香がある。セストルム属は熱帯ないし亜熱帯アメリカに約150種分布する。ヤコウカ（夜香花）C. nocturnum L.は西インド諸島の原産で、3～4メートルの低木。若い枝は緑色で成長が早い。花は淡黄白緑色の細い筒状で、夜間は強い芳香があり、一般にヤコウボク（夜香木）とよばれる。一年中成長と開花を繰り返す。刈り込めば鉢作りもできる。ベニチョウジC. elegans Schlechtd.はメキシコ原産で、紅紫色の筒状花を茎頂に群生する。明治末年に渡来した。この仲間は寒さに強く、5℃以上で越冬する。挿木で殖やす。カイガラムシが発生しやすい。

［高林成年　2021年6月21日］

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