Japanese bellflower - Japanese bellflower

Japanese: ニワゼキショウ - にわぜきしょう

A perennial plant of the Iridaceae family (illustration) commonly found in roadsides, low grasslands, and lawns. It is a naturalized plant native to North America, and is estimated to have been introduced to Japan around 1887 (Meiji 20). The stem is 10-20 cm tall, flattened with narrow wings. The leaves are linear, 2-3 mm wide, and rough with tiny projections on the edges. Flowers bloom in May and June, with 2-5 scattered flowers appearing between the two bracts at the top of the stem. The flower stalk is about 2 cm long. The flowers are pale purple with dark purple stripes. They are 1-1.2 cm in diameter.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

路傍の，草丈の低い草地や芝生の中などに普通に見られるアヤメ科の多年草（イラスト）。北アメリカ原産の帰化植物で，日本への渡来は1887年(明治20)ころと推定されている。茎は高さ10～20cm，扁平で狭い翼がある。葉は線形で幅2～3mm，縁には微小な突起があってざらつく。花は5～6月に咲き，茎の上部の2枚の苞葉の間から2～5個の花が散形状に出る。花柄は約2cm。花は淡紫色で，濃紫色の条がある。径1～1.2cm。

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

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