Japanese bush warbler - Japanese bush warbler

A deciduous shrub of the Caprifoliaceae family (APG classification: Caprifoliaceae). Also called Yamauguisukagura. Also called Uguisu-noki, it is said that it is so named because it blooms around the time when the Japanese bush warbler starts singing. It is 1.5 to 3 meters tall. The leaves are opposite, and the leaves on the elongated branches are large, with ear-like petioles, and the opposite leaves are fused together to form a dish or vase shape, and the stem sometimes appears to penetrate it. The flowers hang down from the ends of thin branches, and are unusual for this genus, growing one at a time (rarely two) from each branch, and bloom from March to May. The fruits ripen red and are sweet and edible. A species endemic to Japan, distributed in Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, and are common in mountains and fields. A variety with glandular hairs all over is called Miyamauguisukagura, and grows in mountainous areas. Another species in the same genus, Lonicera caerulea var. emphyllocalyx , is known by its Ainu name, haskap, and grows wild in the marshes and subalpine zones of central and northern Honshu. Its blue-purple fruits are cultivated and processed into jams.

[Masayuki Fukuoka/Taiji Fukuda December 14, 2021]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

スイカズラ科（APG分類：スイカズラ科）の落葉低木。ヤマウグイスカグラともいう。一名ウグイスノキともよばれ、一説にウグイスが鳴き始めるころに花を開くため、この名があるという。高さ1.5～3メートル。葉は対生、徒長枝の葉は大きく、葉柄が耳状となり、向かい合うものと互いに合着して皿状ないし壺(つぼ)状となり、茎がこれを貫くようにみえることがある。花は細い枝の先から下垂し、この属では珍しく、一つ（まれに二つ）ずつつき、3～5月に開く。果実は赤く熟し、甘味があって食べられる。日本特産種で、本州、四国、九州に分布し、山野に多い。全体に腺毛(せんもう)のある変種をミヤマウグイスカグラとよび、山地に生える。同属別種のクロミノウグイスカグラLonicera caerulea var. emphyllocalyxはアイヌ語名ハスカップの名で知られ、本州中部以北の湿原や亜高山帯に自生する。果実は青紫色で、栽培もされ、ジャムなどに加工される。

［福岡誠行・福田泰二　2021年12月14日］

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