Konotegashiwa - This wrinkle

It is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the Cupressaceae family (classification based on molecular phylogeny: Cupressaceae) that can reach a height of 2 to 14 meters. Its Chinese name is oak or side oak. The branches are upright and spread out, resembling a child's palm up, hence the name Konotegashiwa. The leaves are egg-shaped, 1.5 to 2.5 mm long, scale-like, densely arranged in opposite crosses, with no clear front and back. It is monoecious. It blooms in March and April, and the flowers grow singly at the ends of the twigs. The male flowers are brownish-brown, elliptical, and 3 mm long. The female flowers are pale purple, spherical, with recurved scales, 4 to 4.5 mm in diameter. The cones ripen purple-brown around November, are egg-shaped, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, woody and hard, and have thorn-like protrusions on the top of the scales. The seeds are elliptical with three edges and no wings. Native to northern and western China, it was introduced to Japan during the Genbun era (1736-1741). It is planted in temples and parks, and propagated by seed or cuttings. There are varieties such as the upright-trunked Wabyakudan, the clump-like shrub Senju, and the golden-yellow young leaves of Ogonkonotegashiwa. The seeds are called hakushinin and are used as a tonic, and the leaves are called sokuhakuyo and are used as an astringent and hemostatic agent.

[Yoshio Kobayashi June 19, 2018]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ヒノキ科（分子系統に基づく分類：ヒノキ科）の常緑低木または小高木で、高さ2～14メートルになる。中国名は柏、側柏。枝は直立して広がり、小児が手のひらを立てたようにみえるため、コノテガシワの名がある。葉は卵形、長さ1.5～2.5ミリメートルの鱗状(りんじょう)葉で密に十字対生し、表と裏がはっきりしない。雌雄同株。3～4月に開花し、花は小枝の先に単生し、雄花は茶褐色、楕円(だえん)形で長さ3ミリメートル。雌花は淡紫色、球形で鱗片は反り返り、径4～4.5ミリメートルである。球果は11月ころ紫褐色に熟し、卵球形、径1.5～2センチメートル、木質で堅く、果鱗の上部に刺(とげ)状の突起がある。種子は楕円形で3稜(りょう)があり、翼はない。中国北部、西部原産で、日本へは元文(げんぶん)年間（1736～1741）に渡来した。寺院、公園などに植栽し、繁殖は実生(みしょう)または挿木による。幹が直立するワビャクダン、株立ちの低木になるセンジュ、若葉が黄金色のオウゴンコノテガシワなどの品種がある。種子を柏子仁(はくしにん)といい、滋養強壮剤に、葉を側柏葉(そくはくよう)といい、収斂(しゅうれん)止血剤に用いる。

［小林義雄　2018年6月19日］

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