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).
Deciduous shrubs found in sunny mountains. Barks of young trees are smooth and brown and lenticels (an opening that allows gases to be exchanged between air and the inner tissues of a plant) of adult trees become vertical. Compared to lespedeza bicolor, the shape of leaves are round, hence the Japanese name Maruba-hagi literally meaning round-shaped leaves lespedeza. Three leaflets (leaf-like parts of compound leaves) are as one set and alternate. Leaflets are 2 to 3 cm, oval-shaped, sag at tips and have fine whitish hair. The blooming season is from August to October and inflorescence (flower stem) grows from petioles and bloom 1 to 1.5 cm long red-purple flowers densely. Inflorescence is shorter than other plants in a lespedeza genus. After flowering, bear 6 to 7 mm long flat shell and oval shaped fruits. Have white hair inside and have one seed and ripen from October to November.
●Height about 1 to 3 m
●Place Oku-Takao, Minami-Takao
●Height about 1 to 3 m
●Place Oku-Takao, Minami-Takao