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 Higotai (Saussurea sinuatoides).
They are perennial plant that grows at the pool in the forests of mountain district and glassfields. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). They are varietas of Cirsium nipponicum (inhabiting in central Japan of main land Honsyu) and as seen in Kanto region they have alias name ‘Cirsium nipponicum var. incomptum’. Another name is known by Cirsium nipponicum var. incomptum which means large thistle. The flower is purplish red color capitulum (Touka: a flower consisting of small dense tubular flowers) about 2.5 to 3 cm in diameter, and bloom sideways or slightly to a downward direction on the stalk a lot. The involucre (Soho: transformed leaves to wrap the flower base) at the root of flowers is bell contour shape, and the needle-pointed involucral bract is rolling back. The leaf is thin and long about 20 to 30 cm with the tip pointed and branch-shaped portion projecting. It has thick and long aculeus, and painful to touch. When the flowers wither, they bear the seeds 2 mm long. The seeds have pale brownish paraphyllium so that they will be carried by wind.
●Season Mid September to about Late October
●Height about 60cm to 1.5m
●Place Trail 1,Trail 2,Ura-Takao,Oku-Takao
●Season Mid September to about Late October
●Height about 60cm to 1.5m
●Place Trail 1,Trail 2,Ura-Takao,Oku-Takao