Tsugazakura - Tsugazakura

An evergreen shrub of the Ericaceae family (APG classification: Ericaceae). The lower part of the stem spreads horizontally, while the upper part is erect, reaching a height of 10-20 cm. The leaves are densely alternate, linear, 5-8 mm long, and have a glossy dark green surface. In July and August, 2-6 flower stalks grow upright at the ends of the branches, and white, pale pink, bell-shaped flowers bloom horizontally at the ends of the stalks. The corolla is about 6 mm long and has five shallow lobes at the end. The flower stalk is 1-2.5 cm long and has many glandular hairs. The fruit is a small, oblate capsule that faces upwards. It grows in rock crevices and gravel areas in the alpine zone, and is distributed from the central Tohoku region of Honshu to the Chugoku region and Mount Akaishi in Ehime Prefecture. The name comes from the fact that the leaves resemble those of the hemlock and the flowers are pink in color. The closely related Aonotsugazakura has stems and leaves similar to Tsugazakura, but its flowers are pale yellow-green, vase-shaped, and open downwards. It grows in the alpine zones of Honshu north of the Chubu region and Hokkaido, and is also found in Alaska. Another closely related species, Ezonotsugazakura, has egg-shaped, vase-shaped, reddish-purple flowers that open downwards. It grows in the alpine zones, and is found in northern Honshu and Hokkaido. There are about seven species of Tsugazakura known to grow in the high mountains and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

[Yoshio Kobayashi April 16, 2021]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ツツジ科（APG分類：ツツジ科）の常緑小低木。茎の下部は横にはい、上部は直立して高さ10～20センチメートル。葉は密に互生し、線形で長さ5～8ミリメートル、表面は濃緑色で光沢がある。7～8月、枝先に2～6本の花柄を直立し、その先に白色で淡紅色を帯びた鐘形の花を横向きに開く。花冠は長さ約6ミリメートルで先は浅く5裂する。花柄は長さ1～2.5センチメートルで腺毛(せんもう)が多い。果実は扁球(へんきゅう)形の小さな蒴果(さくか)で上を向く。高山帯の岩の割れ目や礫地(れきち)などに生え、本州の東北地方中部から中国地方、愛媛県の赤石山に分布する。名は、葉がツガの葉に似て、桜色の花をつけることによる。近縁のアオノツガザクラは茎葉はツガザクラに似るが、花は淡黄緑色の壺(つぼ)形で下向きに開く。中部地方以北の本州、北海道の高山帯に生え、アラスカに分布する。別の近縁種エゾノツガザクラは卵状壺形の紅紫色花を下向きに開く。高山帯に生え、本州北部、北海道に分布する。ツガザクラ属は北半球の高山や寒地に7種ほど知られる。

［小林義雄　2021年4月16日］

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