Ogatamanoki - Ogatamanoki

Japanese: オガタマノキ - おがたまのき

An evergreen tall tree (illustration) that is often planted in the precincts of shrines. It has long been revered as Sakaki (sakaki tree), and it is said that the name Ogatama is a derivative of Okitama (inviting spirits). The Ogatama genus has flowers that are very similar to those of the closely related Magnolia genus (Magnolia sieboldii, Magnolia magnolia, Magnolia obovata, etc.), but they are easily distinguished by the fact that they are axillary, have stalks with pistils, and have 4 to 18 ovules. Ogatama noki is a beautifully shaped tree that can reach a height of 20m and a diameter at breast height of 1.5m. In early spring, it produces a single flower in the leaf axil, which has a strong fragrance.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

神社の境内によく植えられている常緑高木（イラスト）。榊（さかき）として古くから尊ばれ，招霊（おきたま）が転じてオガタマの名になったともいわれている。　オガタマノキ属は近縁のモクレン属(オオヤマレンゲ，コブシ，ホオノキ等)と花は大変似ているが，腋生（えきせい）でめしべ群が柄を持ち，胚珠が4～18個であること等で容易に区別できる。オガタマノキはきれいな整形樹で高さ20m，胸高直径1.5mに達する。初春に葉腋に1個の花をつけ，強い芳香がある。

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

<<: Okadayama Tomb - Okadayama Tomb

>>: Masanori Ogata - Masanori Ogata