Celastrus moniliformes - Celastrus moniliformes

Japanese: ツルウメモドキ - つるうめもどき

A deciduous vine of the Celastraceae family (APG classification: Celastraceae). The branches are brownish. The leaves are alternate, elliptical, and 5-10 cm long. Dioecious. In May and June, it produces axillary cymes that bloom with pentamerous pale green flowers. The fruits are globular, orange, and 3-lobed. It is widely distributed from Hokkaido to Okinawa, as well as the Korean Peninsula, China, and the southern Kuril Islands, and is highly variable. The variety, Terihatsuruumemodoki, has small, glossy leaves and is found in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Kyushu. Another variety, Inutsuruumemodoki (Onitsuruumemodoki), has protuberances on the veins on the underside of the leaves and is found in Hokkaido, Honshu, and the Korean Peninsula. Branches bearing fruit are used in flower arrangements.

There are 30 species in the Celastrus genus in the world, and in addition to this species, there are four other species distributed in Japan.

[Yuichi Kadota February 17, 2020]

Celastrus orbiculatus
The fruit is spherical and orange in color. In late autumn, the skin splits into three parts. It is widely distributed throughout Japan and has many varieties. It blooms from May to June. ©Shogakukan Photo by Okuyama Hisashi ">

Celastrus orbiculatus

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

ニシキギ科（APG分類：ニシキギ科）の落葉藤本(とうほん)（つる植物）。枝は褐色を帯びる。葉は互生し、楕円(だえん)形で長さ5～10センチメートル。雌雄異株。5～6月、腋生(えきせい)の集散花序をつくり、5数性の淡緑色花を開く。果実は球形で橙(だいだい)色、3裂する。北海道から沖縄、および朝鮮半島、中国、南千島に広く分布し、変異に富む。変種テリハツルウメモドキは葉は小さく光沢があり、山口県、九州に分布する。別の変種イヌツルウメモドキ（オニツルウメモドキ）は葉裏の脈上に突起があり、北海道、本州、および朝鮮半島に分布する。果実をつけた枝をいけ花に用いる。

　ツルウメモドキ属は世界に30種あり、日本には本種のほかに4種が分布する。

［門田裕一　2020年2月17日］

ツルウメモドキ

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例

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