Kirishima Azalea - Kirishima Azalea

An evergreen shrub of the Ericaceae family (APG classification: Ericaceae). Also known simply as kirishima. Branches are well-branched, with leaves gathered at the ends of the branches, oblong-ovate, 2-3 cm long, and somewhat thick. In April and May, two or three scarlet flowers, 3-4 cm across, grow at the ends of the branches. The corolla is five-lobed, with dark red spots on the upper petals. The sepals are small and ovate with five pieces, the stamens are five, and the lower half of the filaments has granular hairs. The fruits are ovate and densely covered with stiff hairs. This horticultural variety is said to have been created by combining R. sataense , which grows wild in Kagoshima Prefecture, and R. yamatsutsuji, with Miyamakirshima added. In addition to Yaekirshima, which has crimson-colored double-flowered flowers, there are many other varieties, such as Shirokirishima and Benikirshima. It was first brought to Osaka from Satsuma during the Shoho era (1644-1647), then spread to Kyoto and Edo, where many varieties were produced. Later, during the Tenpo era (1830-1843), Sakamoto Genzo (1785-1854), a samurai of the Arima domain in Kurume, bred over 200 varieties. Cultivation of this species is popular in the Kurume region of Fukuoka Prefecture, where there are currently about 300 varieties, known as Kurume azalea.

[Yoshio Kobayashi April 16, 2021]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ツツジ科（APG分類：ツツジ科）の常緑低木。単にキリシマともいう。小枝をよく分枝し、葉は枝先に集まり、長倒卵形、長さ2～3センチメートルで質はやや厚い。4、5月、枝先に緋紅(ひこう)色、径3～4センチメートルの花を2、3個つける。花冠は5裂し、上部の弁に濃紅色の斑点(はんてん)がある。萼片(がくへん)は卵形で小さく5片あり、雄しべは5本で、花糸の下半部に粒状毛がある。果実は卵形で硬い毛を密生する。鹿児島県に野生するサタツツジR. sataenseとヤマツツジを主として、これにミヤマキリシマが加わってできたといわれる園芸品種である。花が朱紅色で二重咲きのヤエキリシマのほか、シロキリシマ、ベニキリシマなど品種が多い。正保(しょうほう)年間（1644～1647）に薩摩(さつま)から大坂に初めて伝えられ、そして京都、江戸に広まり、品種も多くなった。その後、天保(てんぽう)年間（1830～1843）に久留米(くるめ)の有馬藩士、坂本元蔵（1785－1854）は200余品種の育種を行った。福岡県久留米地方は本種の栽培が盛んで、現在およそ300品種があり、クルメツツジの名でよばれている。

［小林義雄　2021年4月16日］

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