Sawafutagi - Sawafutagi

A deciduous shrub of the Cupressaceae family (APG classification: Cupressaceae) that grows to a height of 2-3 meters. The leaves are alternate, obovate, 4-7 cm long, non-shiny, and have fine sawtooth edges. Small white flowers similar to plum blossoms bloom in panicles at the ends of the branches in May and June. The corolla is deeply divided into five lobes, and there are many stamens. The fruits are distorted oval, 6-7 mm long, and ripen to a lapis lazuli color in autumn. The name comes from the fact that it grows in mountain valleys and thickly covers streams, and it is distributed from Hokkaido to Kyushu, and further to the Korean peninsula and China. The white ripening fruits are called Shirominosawafutagi. The closely related S. coreana (Lév.) Ohwi is distinguished by its grayish-white bark, sharply serrated leaves, and dark blue fruits that ripen and are found in the Kanto region and westward. Ash from burned branches and leaves is used as a mordant for safflower root dyeing, and the wood is hard and strong, so it is used to make tool handles.

[Yoshio Kobayashi April 16, 2021]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ハイノキ科（APG分類：ハイノキ科）の落葉低木で高さ2～3メートル。葉は互生し、倒卵形、長さ4～7センチメートルで光沢がなく、縁(へり)に細鋸歯(さいきょし)がある。5～6月、枝先にウメの花に似た小白花が円錐(えんすい)花序に集まって開く。花冠は深く5裂し、雄しべは多数。果実はゆがんだ卵形、長さ6～7ミリメートル、秋に瑠璃(るり)色に熟す。名は、山地の谷間に生え、沢を覆って茂る意味で、北海道から九州、さらに朝鮮半島、中国に分布する。果実の白く熟すものをシロミノサワフタギという。近縁のタンナサワフタギS. coreana (Lév.) Ohwiは樹皮が灰白色で、葉の鋸歯が鋭く、果実が碧黒(へきこく)色に熟すので区別され、関東地方以西に分布する。枝葉を焼いた灰は紫根(しこん)染めの媒染剤に使われ、材は堅くて強いので道具の柄(え)にする。

［小林義雄　2021年4月16日］

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