Yamabuki (Yamabuki) - Kerria japonica

Japanese: ヤマブキ(山吹) - ヤマブキ（英語表記）Kerria japonica

A deciduous shrub of the Rosaceae family. It is found in Japan and China, mostly in wetlands along streams, but is also cultivated in gardens for decorative purposes. It has a clumping trunk that grows to a height of about 2m, with green bark and a well-developed white pith. The alternate leaves are thin and ovate, with a pointed tip and irregular double serrated edges. The veins on the underside are hairy. There are thin membranous stipules at the base of the petiole, which fall off early. In early summer, beautiful yellow flowers measuring 3-4cm in diameter are produced, one at a time, at the tip of each new branch. The calyx is deeply divided into five parts, with five petals and numerous stamens. There are five pistils, but usually only one or four of them ripen. The double-flowered Yaeyamabuki (K. japonica var. plena) does not bear fruit, and this is the one that appears in the story of Ota Dokan. Also, Rhodotypos scandens is a plant of a different genus with opposite leaves and four sepals and petals.

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

Japanese:

バラ科の落葉低木。日本および中国に分布し，谷川沿いの湿地に多いが，観賞用として庭園にも栽培される。幹は叢生し，高さ約 2mになり，樹皮は緑色で，白色の髄が発達している。互生する葉は質が薄く卵形で，先端は尾状にとがり，不規則な重鋸歯縁をもつ。下面の脈上には毛がある。葉柄基部に薄い膜質の托葉があり，早期に脱落する。初夏，新しい枝の先端に1個ずつ径3～4cmの黄色の美花をつける。萼は5深裂し，花弁は5枚，多数のおしべがある。めしべは5本あるが，普通4～1本だけが熟する。八重咲きのヤエヤマブキ K. japonica var. plenaは結実せず，太田道灌の故事に出てくるのはこれである。また，シロヤマブキ Rhodotypos scandensは葉が対生し，萼片や花弁が4枚の別属の植物である。

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