Ibuki - Ibuki

It is an evergreen coniferous tree of the Cupressaceae family (classification based on molecular phylogeny: Cupressaceae), and the larger ones can reach a height of 25 meters and a diameter of 2 meters. Also known as juniper. The bark is reddish brown, split vertically, and peels off thinly. There are two types of leaves: scale-like and needle-like. It is dioecious. It blooms in April. The male flowers are oval-shaped and grow at the ends of twigs, and the female flowers also grow one at the end of a twig. The fruit is round and fleshy, ripening to a purple-black color in September to October of the following year and covered with white powder. It is found in coastal areas of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu where the sea breeze is always blowing, and is also distributed in China. The wood is hard, dense, and resistant to decay, and the grain is beautiful with a glossy finish and fragrance. It is used for architecture, utensils, decoration, sculpture, marquetry, pencils, fragrances, medicine, etc. The name is an abbreviation of Ibuki Byakushin, named after the fact that it grows in large numbers on Mount Ibuki in Ibaraki Prefecture. The most well-known varieties are Kaizukaibuki, with slightly twisted branches and a well-formed tree shape, as well as Tachibyakushin, which has only needle-like leaves, and Tamaibuki, which has many scale-like leaves and is a small, spherical tree shape. Along with the basic species, they are widely used as garden trees, bonsai, hedges, etc. Varieties include Miyamabyakushin, which grows in high mountains, has a trunk that crawls along the ground and has many scale-like leaves, and Hibyakushin, which grows on the islands of Kyushu, has a trunk that crawls along the ground and has only needle-like leaves.

[Yayoi Hayashi, June 19, 2018]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ヒノキ科（分子系統に基づく分類：ヒノキ科）の常緑針葉高木で、大きいものは高さ25メートル、直径2メートルに達する。別名ビャクシン。樹皮は赤褐色で縦裂し、薄くはがれる。葉には鱗片葉(りんぺんよう)と針状葉の2型がある。雌雄異株。4月に開花する。雄花は楕円(だえん)形で小枝の先につき、雌花もまた小枝の先に1個つく。果実は丸く肉質で、翌年の9～10月に紫黒色に熟し白粉をかぶる。本州、四国、九州の潮風のつねに吹いている沿海地に多く、中国にも分布する。材は堅硬で緻密(ちみつ)、耐朽性があり、木理(もくり)は光沢と香りがあり美しい。建築、器具、装飾、彫刻、寄木細工、鉛筆、香料、薬用などに利用される。名は伊吹柏槇(びゃくしん)の略で、茨城県いぶき山に多く生えていることからつけられた。品種に、枝がややねじれて樹形のまとまりのよいカイズカイブキがよく知られるほか、針状葉のみのタチビャクシン、多くの鱗片葉があり、樹形は球形で小形のタマイブキなどがあり、基本種とともに庭木、盆栽、生け垣などに広く使われる。変種に高山に生え、幹は地をはい、多くの鱗片葉からなるミヤマビャクシン、九州の島々に生え、幹は地をはい、多くの針状葉のみからなるハイビャクシンがある。

［林　弥栄　2018年6月19日］

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