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).
Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found in sunny grasslands, on grass areas and narrow paths on paddy fields. Flower stems (without leaves) grow in-between leaves and become spiral at upper parts, hence the Japanese name Neji-bana literally meaning spiral flowers. Both right and left spiral ones but some have them both on one stem. Flowers are 4 to 6 mm and bloom many flowers on 5 to 15 cm long flower spikes. The color is pink but the one on the bottom like a tongue is white with toothed margins and have a shiny protrusion in the center. Have egg-shaped 4 to 8 mm long bracts (transformed parts of leaves at the base of flowers) at the back of petals. Radical leaves (leaves grow from roots) are 5 to 20 cm long and 0.3 to 1 cm width, elongated with pointed tip and wraps stems at the base.
●Season June to about August
●Height about 10 to 30 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 5, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao
●Season June to about August
●Height about 10 to 30 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 5, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao