Sika deer (English name) teaplant

Japanese: キンゴジカ（英語表記）teaplant

A woody weed of the Malvaceae family (illustration) found widely in tropical regions around the world, often found in wastelands along roadsides. It grows to less than 1m in height, and is covered with stellate hairs all over. The leaves are alternate, narrowly ovate to diamond-ovate or lanceolate, 2-5cm long. The flowers are yellow, about 1.5cm in diameter, and grow on single or clustered peduncles emerging from the leaf axils. The five petals are arranged in a cup shape with red markings at the base. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, and in Japan it grows from southern Kyushu southward. As its English name suggests, the leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for tea.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

全世界の熱帯域に広く分布し，路傍の荒地に多い木本的なアオイ科の雑草（イラスト）。高さは1m足らずで，全体に星状毛がある。葉は互生，狭卵形からひし形状卵形や披針形で長さ2～5cm。花は葉腋（ようえき）から出た単一あるいは群がった花梗につき，黄色で直径約1.5cm。花弁は5枚で杯状に配列，底部に赤色の斑紋がある。全世界の熱帯から亜熱帯に広く分布し，日本では九州南部以南に生育する。葉を英名のように茶の代用とすることがある。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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