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 a sunny forest, grassland, and roadside (perennial plant takes several years to grow). Their thick underground stem looks like Dioscorea tokoro Makino (Araceae) and sweet and tasty to eat. This is how they are named. Their characteristics are they have vertically striped stem and the stem are angulated. These help us to tell which one is Polygonatum falcatum. The leaf is about 5 to 10 cm long, about 2 to 5 cm wide elliptically-shaped, and the back of it is white like being flour-coated. A couple of flowers cast down underneath from the root portion of the leaf.
The flowers are about 1.5 to 2 cm long tubular corolla, and the tip of the flower petals are tinged with yellow-green. When the tip of the leaf is rolled up as new sprouts, we can enjoy eating new sprouts as Tempura and boiled leaves (Ohitashi), which are crunchy and sweet to eat. Dried underground stem can be utilized as a tonic.
●Season Early May to about Late May
●Height about 30 to 60 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 4, Jyataki, Ura-Takao,Oku-Takao
The flowers are about 1.5 to 2 cm long tubular corolla, and the tip of the flower petals are tinged with yellow-green. When the tip of the leaf is rolled up as new sprouts, we can enjoy eating new sprouts as Tempura and boiled leaves (Ohitashi), which are crunchy and sweet to eat. Dried underground stem can be utilized as a tonic.
●Season Early May to about Late May
●Height about 30 to 60 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 4, Jyataki, Ura-Takao,Oku-Takao