Snapdragon - Goldfish

A perennial plant of the Scrophulariaceae family (APG classification: Plantaginaceae). In horticulture, it is treated as an autumn-sown annual. Native to Europe. It is widely cultivated as a cut flower in greenhouses in Europe, the US and Japan under the name Antherinum, and in warmer regions it is also cultivated in greenhouses or outdoors. It is classified by its height, with tall species reaching 0.9-1.2 meters and cultivated for cut flowers. Medium-tall species are 50-80 centimeters tall, with the Coronet species having large flowers and long flower spikes that are resistant to wind, and the Madame Butterfly species having double flowers and an azalea-like flower shape, which are used for flower beds, but can also be cut. Dwarf species are 20-30 centimeters tall, with the Floral Carpet species and Little Darling species, which are suitable for flower beds, planters and potted plants.

The flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, peach, red, orange, and wisteria purple. All of them branch out from the base and produce numerous spikes of goldfish-like flowers at the top of the stem. They come in single and double flowers, and are rich in color and shape. For cut flower cultivation, the seeds are sown in early summer in a greenhouse or house, and the flowers can be harvested from autumn to the following spring, but they are usually sown outdoors in autumn and bloom in May of the following year. For sowing, since the seeds are small and susceptible to damping-off disease at the seedling stage, it is best to sow the seeds thinly in clean potting soil in a pot, without covering it with soil, and allow them to absorb water from the bottom of the pot. After germination, they are temporarily planted in flat boxes at intervals of 5 to 6 centimeters, but they should be planted shallowly to prevent the cotyledons from getting into the soil. Deep planting is not good. They are transplanted 30 to 40 days after temporary planting. When planting in flower beds, the spacing should be 25-30cm, and for cut flowers 20-25cm. Dwarf and mid-tall varieties planted in flower beds will produce better results if protected from frost, as this will prevent damage to the stem tips. For tall varieties for cut flowers, pinching off the tops when they have 6-7 true leaves will allow them to branch well from the base and increase the number of flower stalks. Aphids become common in early spring, so prevent them with Ecatin granules, and once they have appeared, eradicate them with Runnate or similar. When planting dwarf varieties in flower beds, pinching off the inflorescences as soon as they have finished flowering will prevent the formation of seeds, allowing the plant to bloom for a long time without weakening.

[Katsumi Kaneko August 20, 2021]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ゴマノハグサ科（APG分類：オオバコ科）の多年草。園芸上は秋播(ま)き一年草として扱う。ヨーロッパ原産。欧米をはじめ日本でもアンテリナムと称して広く切り花として温室栽培され、暖地ではハウス栽培または露地栽培もある。草丈により分類され、高性種は0.9～1.2メートルで、切り花用に栽培される。中高性種は50～80センチメートルで、コロネット種は大輪で花穂が長く風に強く、またマダムバタフライ種は八重咲きでアザレア状の花形で花壇用とするが、切り花にもできる。矮性(わいせい)種は20～30センチメートルで、フローラルカーペット種、リトルダーリン種などがあり、花壇、プランター、鉢植えに適する。

　花色は豊富で、白、黄、桃、赤、橙(だいだい)、藤紫(ふじむらさき)などあり、いずれも基部から分枝して茎頂にキンギョに似た花を穂状に多数つける。花は一重咲き、八重咲きとあり、花色、花形とも変化に富む。切り花栽培では温室やハウスで初夏に播種(はしゅ)し、秋から翌年の春まで採花できるが、普通は露地で秋に播種すると翌年の5月に開花する。播種は、種子が細かいのと幼苗期に立枯病にかかりやすいので、鉢で清潔な用土に薄く播種して覆土はせず、鉢底から吸水させると結果がよい。発芽後は平箱などに5、6センチメートル間隔に仮植えするが、浅植えにし子葉が土中に入らないようにする。深植えはよくない。仮植え後30～40日で定植する。花壇植えは25～30センチメートル間隔、切り花用は20～25センチメートル間隔とする。花壇植えの矮性、中高性種は霜よけをすると、茎頂も痛まず結果がよい。切り花用の高性種は本葉が6、7枚のころ摘心をすると基部からよく分枝して花茎数が多くなる。春先になるとアブラムシが多発するので、「エカチン」粒剤で予防し、発生後は「ランネート」などで駆除する。矮性種など花壇植えの場合は、1花穂の花が終わりしだい、途中から摘み取って種子ができないようにすると、株が弱らずに長い間咲かせられる。

［金子勝巳　2021年8月20日］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例