Scalesia (English spelling)

Japanese: スカレシア（英語表記）Scalesia

A genus of woody plant in the Asteraceae family endemic to the Galapagos Islands (illustration). Along with the giant tortoises and finches that are endemic to the islands, this plant is famous for having been noticed by C. Darwin, who visited the islands on the Beagle in the early 19th century. There are shrub species that grow 1-2m tall and tree species that reach heights of 5-20m, the former growing near the coast and the latter in the inland areas of the islands. Both species have alternate, simple leaves. Some species have long petioles that are triangular-elliptical like sunflowers, while others have fine lobes like garland chrysanthemums. The flower heads that grow at the ends of the branches in summer are small, 1-2cm in diameter, and some species have a row of white ray florets around them and some have no ray florets at all.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ガラパゴス諸島に特産するキク科の木本属（イラスト）。同諸島特産のゾウガメやフィンチとともに，19世紀初めビーグル号で訪れたC.ダーウィンに注目されたことで有名。草丈1～2mの低木種と高さ5～20mに達する高木種があり，前者は海岸付近に後者は島の内陸部に生じる。ともに葉は互生し単葉。葉柄が長くヒマワリに似た三角状楕円形のものと，シュンギクのように細裂する種とがある。夏に枝先につく頭状花は直径1～2cmと小さく，周囲に白い舌状花を並べるものと舌状花をもたないものとがある。

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

<<: Scarron - Paul Scarron

>>: Skarn