Petrosavia sakuraii (Makino) JJ Smith (= Protolirion sakuraii (Makino) Dandy)

Japanese: サクライソウ（英語表記）Petrosavia sakuraii (Makino) J.J.Smith(＝Protolirion sakuraii (Makino) Dandy)

A perennial plant of the lily family that rarely grows under dark forests; it is a saprophytic plant lacking chloroplasts (illustration). It has a short rhizome underground and produces numerous roots. The cortex of the roots contains the hyphae of a symbiotic fungus. The fungus breaks down leaf decay underground and provides nutrients. Around July, it produces several upright flower stalks that reach a height of 10-20 cm. The flower stalks are covered with alternate, scale-like leaves. The leaves are 2-5 mm long, pale yellow, and do not photosynthesize. It produces a raceme at the apex of the stem. The tepals are pale yellow and grow in two rings of three each. The inner tepals are about 1.5 mm long, while the outer tepals are slightly shorter.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

暗い樹林の下にまれにはえるユリ科の多年草で，葉緑体を欠く腐生植物（イラスト）。地中に短い根茎があり，多数の根を出す。根の皮層の中には共生菌の菌糸が入っている。菌が地中の腐葉などを分解し，栄養を供給する。7月ころに高さ10～20cmになる数本の直立する花茎を出す。花茎には鱗片状の葉が互生する。葉は長さ2～5mm，淡黄色で光合成をしない。茎頂に総状花序をつける。花被片は淡黄色で，3枚ずつが2輪につく。内片は長さ約1.5mm，外片はやや短い。

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

<<: Tadayoshi Sakurai - Tadayoshi Sakurai

>>: Sakurai Joji - Sakurai Joji