Nagi raft - Nagi raft

An evergreen shrub of the Liliaceae (APG classification: Asparagaceae). The stems are clumping, 30-50 cm tall, dark green, and have fine vertical grooves. The leaves are small and scaly, and the large leaf-like branches that emerge from the axils look like leaves and are alternate. The leaf-like branches are ovate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, dark green, thick, and sharp at the tip. Dioecious. The flowering pattern is different from that of the Cornaceae (APG classification: Cornaceae), and one or two small white flowers bloom below the central vein of the leaf-like branches around May. The three outer tepals are elliptical, and the three inner tepals are thin. Male flowers have three stamens in a cylindrical cluster, while female flowers have one pistil and a round ovary. The fruit is a spherical berry about 1 cm in diameter that ripens red in October-November. The name comes from the resemblance of the flowers to leaf-like branches that resemble the leaves of the celery of the Podocarpus family (APG classification: Podocarpus family), resembling a raft. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is planted in pots or in the garden for decorative purposes. It prefers moist, partial shade in warm regions, but can also grow in normal soil and is easy to transplant. It is propagated by division and seed.

[Yoshio Kobayashi April 16, 2019]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ユリ科（APG分類：キジカクシ科）の常緑小低木。茎は叢生(そうせい)し、高さ30～50センチメートル、濃緑色で縦に細かい溝がある。葉は鱗片(りんぺん)状で小さく、葉腋(ようえき)から出る大きな葉状枝が葉のようにみえ、互生する。葉状枝は卵形で長さ1.5～2.5センチメートル、濃緑色で質は厚く、先はとがって鋭い刺(とげ)になる。雌雄異株。ミズキ科（APG分類：ハナイカダ科）のハナイカダとともに花のつき方が変わっており、5月ころ、葉状枝の中央脈の下部に小さな白色花を1～2個開く。外花被片(かひへん)3枚は楕円(だえん)形、内花被片3枚は細い。雄花は雄しべが3本筒状に集まり、雌花は雌しべが1本、子房は丸い。果実は球形で径約1センチメートルの液果になり、10～11月、赤く熟す。名は、マキ科（APG分類：マキ科）のナギの葉に似た葉状枝に花がついた形を筏(いかだ)に見立てたもの。地中海地方原産で、観賞用に鉢植えまたは庭に植える。暖地の半日陰の適潤な所を好むが、普通の土地でも育ち、移植は容易である。繁殖は株分け、実生(みしょう)による。

［小林義雄　2019年4月16日］

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