Nojisha (English name) Valerianella olitoria (L.) Poll.

Japanese: ノヂシャ（英語表記）Valerianella olitoria (L.) Poll.

An annual or biennial plant of the family Salicaceae, commonly found on roadsides (illustration). A naturalized plant native to Europe, it is called corn salad in Europe and America, where the stems and leaves are eaten as a salad and are also cultivated. It is soft overall, 10-30cm tall, and bifurcated. The flowers are small, clustered in a globular shape with a long diameter of 1cm, and bloom in May and June. The corolla is funnel-shaped with five lobes and pale blue in color. There are three stamens. The ovary is lower and has three chambers, two of which lack ovules. The fruit is slightly flattened and 2-4mm long.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

道端などに普通なオミナエシ科の一年草または越年草（イラスト）。ヨーロッパ原産の帰化植物で，ヨーロッパやアメリカではコーン･サラダcorn saladとよばれ，茎や葉をサラダとして食べ，栽培もされる。全体にやわらかく，高さ10～30cm，ふたまた状に分枝する。花は小さく，球状に集まり長径1cmとなり，5～6月に咲く。花冠は漏斗状で5裂し，淡青色。おしべは3本。子房は下位で3室，うち2室は胚珠がない。果実はやや扁平で長さ2～4mm。

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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