Awabuki - Awabuki

A deciduous tall tree of the family Aquifoliaceae (APG classification: Aquifoliaceae). It usually grows in mountainous areas and can reach a height of 10 meters. The branches, buds, inflorescences, and undersides of the leaves have yellowish-brown hairs. The leaves are thin, oblong, 10-25 cm long, and similar to chestnut leaves. The flowers bloom in June in large panicles at the ends of the branches, and are yellowish-white in color. The florets are pentamerous, with only the inner two stamens of the five complete. The fruit is a drupe that ripens red. Its name comes from the bubbles that come out of the cut ends of the branches when they are burned. It is distributed from Honshu to Kyushu, the Korean peninsula, and China. There are 25 species in the Aquifoliaceae genus, mainly in the tropical regions of Asia and Africa.

[Yuichi Kadota April 17, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

アワブキ科（APG分類：アワブキ科）の落葉高木。山地に普通に生え、高さ10メートルに達する。枝、芽、花序、葉の裏面に黄褐色の毛がある。葉は質が薄く、長楕円(ちょうだえん)形、長さ10～25センチメートル、クリの葉に似る。花は6月、枝の先に伸びた大形の円錐(えんすい)花序に多数つき、黄白色。小花は5数性、5本のうち内側の2本の雄しべのみが完全。果実は核果で赤く熟す。名は、枝を燃やすと切り口から泡が出ることにちなむ。本州から九州および朝鮮半島、中国に分布する。アワブキ属はアジアとアフリカの熱帯を中心に25種がある。

［門田裕一　2020年4月17日］

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