Kochia scoparia (English spelling)

Japanese: ホウキギ(箒木) - ホウキギ（英語表記）Kochia scoparia

An annual plant of the Chenopodiaceae family. Also known as Niwakusa or Nendo. Native to Eurasia, it was introduced to Japan from China. It is usually planted in fields. The stem is erect and stiff, with many branches, and is about 1m tall. As it ages, it turns red along with the branches. The leaves are numerous and alternate, lanceolate, entire, pointed at both ends, and have three veins. From spring to autumn, the axils produce many pale green florets in spikes. There are female and male flowers. The calyx has five lobes, which encase the fruit after flowering. There are no petals. Male flowers have five stamens protruding outside the flower, while female flowers have one pistil and an oblate ovary. The sac is also oblate and contains one seed. The stems are dried to make brooms, and young leaves and fruit (jihako) are edible. In Akita Prefecture, the seeds are processed and named "Tonburi," and are actively produced with the aim of creating a specialty product for village revitalization.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

アカザ科の一年草。別名ニワクサ，ネンドウ。ユーラシア大陸原産で，日本へは中国から渡来した。普通，畑に植えられる。茎は直立して硬く，分枝が多く高さ約 1m，古くなると枝とともに赤色となる。葉は多数で互生し，披針形，全縁で両端がとがり，3脈がある。春から秋，葉腋に多数の淡緑色小花を穂状につける。雌花と雄花がある。萼は5裂し，花後果実を包む。花弁はない。雄花はおしべ5本が花外に突出し，雌花はめしべ1本で子房は扁球形。胞果も扁球形で1種子を含む。茎を乾かしてほうきとし，若葉や果実 (地膚子) は食用とする。秋田県ではこの種子を加工して「トンブリ」と名づけ，村興しの特産品を目指して盛んに生産している。

出典　ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典について　情報

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