Chinese Redbud (Cercis chinensis Bunge) - Chinese Redbud (English spelling) Cercis chinensis Bunge

Japanese: ハナズオウ(花蘇芳∥花蘇方) - ハナズオウ（英語表記）Cercis chinensis Bunge

A legume native to China that is widely cultivated in gardens for its beautiful crimson-purple flowers that bloom in spring before the leaves appear. It was introduced to Japan during the Edo period. It is a deciduous tree that grows to a small tree about 4m in height. The bark is mostly gray. The leaves are heart-shaped, 4-8cm long, and have short, pointed tips. The upper surface is glossy, and the underside is slightly greenish-white. The flowers grow in clusters at nodes on the branches of the previous year, and are about 2cm long. They are very similar to the butterfly-shaped flowers of ordinary legumes, but the standard petals are located inside the wing petals on both sides, and these three petals are curled back.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

春，葉に先立って紅紫色の美花が咲くため，広く観賞用として庭園に栽培される中国原産のマメ科植物。日本へは江戸時代に渡来。高さ約4mほどの小高木となる落葉樹。樹皮はほとんど灰色。葉は心形で長さ4～8cm，先は短くとがる。表は光沢があり，裏面はやや緑白色。花は前年の枝上の節に束になってつき，長さ約2cm。ふつうのマメ科植物の蝶形花とよく似ているが，旗弁は両わきの翼弁よりも内側につき，この3枚がそり返っている。

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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