TAKAO 599 MUSEUM

Treasures of Mt. Takao

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).

Salvia japonica Thunb
Salvia japonica Thunb Labiatae
They are common perennial plant that grows at the roadsides in the mountain districts. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). The stalk is circular in cross-section the same as the others in Labiatae group. On spikes (Kasui: small flowers gathering to be like head of plant) about 10 to 20 cm long grown-high upward on stalk, pale purple-tinged flowers whorled (Rinsei: leaves growing as if they are wrapping the stalk) like terraces. The flowers are 1 to 1.3 cm long with the upper flower petals upright and the bottom one split into 3. Outside the flower petals, white paraphyllium grows thickly, and calyxes bear much glandular trichome. The leaves consist of 3 to 7 as one to be like wings opening, which is imparipinnate compound leaf (Ujohukuyou: the shape of the leaves that numerous small leaves grow at leafstalk). The leaves grow opposite each other on the stalk and the ones at the bottom have a long footstalk. Lobules (Shoyo: each one that is leaf-shaped and leaf like one consisting of more than a few leaves) is egged-shape, 2 to 5 cm long, and has rounded sawtooth (Kyoshi: tooth-like rough part like a saw at the root of a leaf) at the edge. After flowers wither, many calyxes on spikes (Kasui: small flowers gathering to be like head of plant) like gathering in a ring around still remain. Some leaves turn red in autumn, some are ‘Kusamomiji’.

●Season  Mid August to about Late October
●Height  about 20 to 50 cm
●Place  Trail 1 to 6, Mt.Inari, Jyataki, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao
※Quotation from Mount Takao formula application
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