Kiri (Paulownia) - Kiri

Japanese: キリ(桐) - キリ

A deciduous tall tree of the Scrophulariaceae family native to China and introduced via Korea long ago. It is widely cultivated in various places and grows wild in mountainous areas in parts of Honshu and Kyushu. The bark is light gray-brown. The leaves, which have long petioles and opposite sides, are large and broadly ovate, sometimes with 3 to 5 lobes, pointed at the tip, and densely covered with sticky hairs on the edges. In May and June, large panicles are borne on the ends of the twigs, and many pale purple flowers bloom. The corolla is lip-shaped, has 5 lobes at the tip, and is about 5 cm long. The fruit is ovate and 3 to 4 cm long. The wood is soft and light, and is used for furniture, boxes, and wooden clogs. The paulownia crest, which is modeled after the leaves and flowers, was used by the Imperial family along with the chrysanthemum, but later spread among samurai families such as the Ashikaga and Toyotomi clans.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

中国原産で，古く朝鮮を経て渡来したゴマノハグサ科の落葉高木。各地で広く栽培され，本州〜九州のところどころの山地に野生化もする。樹皮は淡灰褐色。葉柄が長く対生する葉は大型広卵形で，ときに３〜５裂し，先がとがり，縁には粘り気のある毛を密生する。５〜６月，小枝の先に大型の円錐花序をつけ，多数の淡紫色の花を開く。花冠は唇形(しんけい)で先は５裂し，長さ約5cm。果実は卵形で，長さ３〜4cm。材は柔らかくて軽く，家具，箱，下駄とする。紋章としての桐紋は，葉と花をかたどったもので，菊とならんで皇室で用いられたが，のち足利・豊臣氏など武家の間に広まった。

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