Mt Takao is located at the borderline of warm-temperature zone and cool-temperature zone and various plants from both zones grow. There are a lot of naturally grown plants and their visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers. Over 1,500 kinds of plants are confirmed which is relevant to the number of kinds naturally grow in England. Also, over 60 kinds of plants are first found in Mt. Takao such as Takao Sumire (V. yezoensis f. discolor) and Takao Higodai (Saussurea sinuatoides).
Annual herb found in wet waterside and paths between paddy fields in mountains. Stems grow along the ground and only upper part of plant grows upright. Stems and leaves have prickles facing downward. Flowers are 6 to 8 mm in diameter and about 10 of them bloom at the tips of stems and lobed in five. Color of flowers is light pinkish white and some are red. Leaves are 4 to 10 cm long and alternate. The shape of leaves is called hastate, shaped like a spearhead with pointed tip, narrow in the middle and flaring pointed lobes at the base. The Japanese name Mizo-soba literally meaning ditch buckwheat because the leaves grow on ditches and its shape resemble the leaves of buckwheat. This is also called as Ushino-hitai literally meaning forehead of cows because the leaves also resemble face of cows. After flowering, bear egg-shaped seeds.
●Season Mid August to about Late October
●Height about 30 to 90 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 6, Ura-Takao
●Season Mid August to about Late October
●Height about 30 to 90 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 6, Ura-Takao