Matsuna - Matsuna

Japanese: マツナ - まつな

An annual plant of the Chenopodiaceae family that grows on sandy beaches. Its Japanese name comes from the fact that its leaves are as thin as pine needles. It is sometimes cultivated because its young leaves and stems are edible. The stems grow obliquely upwards, reaching a height of 40-80 cm. They branch well at the bottom. The leaves are linear and densely alternate. They are 1-3 cm long. Flowers bloom from August to October, with 1-3 flowers in each of the axils of the upper leaves. They are bisexual flowers with 5 perianths that are persistent. At the fruiting stage, they encase the fruit and become star-shaped, about 3 mm in diameter. The fruit contains one black seed. The seeds are edible due to their high oil content, and are also used to extract oil cake for fertilizer.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

海岸の砂地にはえるアカザ科の一年草。和名は葉が松葉のように細いことからついた。若い葉や茎が食用となるため，栽培されることがある。茎は斜上し，高さ40～80cm。下部でよく分枝する。葉は線形で密に互生する。長さ1～3cm。花は8～10月に咲き，上部の葉の葉腋（ようえき）に1～3個ずつ着く。両性花で，花被は5枚あり宿存性。果期には果実を包んで星形となり，径約3mm。果実には1個の黒色の種子がある。種子は含油量が多く食用とされ，また肥料用の油かすをとるのに使う。

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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