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).
They are perennial plant that grows at deep pool of the bright forests in the mountain areas and grassy meadows. They are overall slightly grayish green, so that they are one of the undistinguished hills/fields grasses. About 1 cm flower stalk is growing from the side of the leaf, and 2 flowers are dangling to bloom like two bract leaves (Houyou: transformed leaf at the root of flower stalk) holding between. The appearance looks like the one of a prayer-gong (Waniguchi: round shaped steel drum that prayers ring) which hangs under the overhang of a Japanese roof of Shinto shrines. This is why they are named. The flower is about 2 to 2.5 cm long, tubular, and pale green with the tip rolled backwards. Bract leaves on the flowers are egg-shaped, about 2 cm long. The leaf is an elliptical shape about 5 to 10 cm long, about 2.5 to 4 cm wide with the tip a bit sharp. After flowers wither, they bear the rounded seeds about 1 cm in diameter to grow matured into black.
●Season Late May to about Mid June
●Height about 20 to 40 cm
●Place Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao
●Season Late May to about Mid June
●Height about 20 to 40 cm
●Place Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao