2021年4月15日~2021年5月31日「高尾山から広がるスミレの世界」

高尾山で見られるスミレや、おすすめの観察スポットをご紹介。登る前に立ち寄って、スミレの世界に足を踏み入れてみませんか。

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found in sunny grasslands. Is a unique plant blooms twice, in spring and autumn, and make the entire plant looks different. In spring, are 15 cm in height and bloom small white flowers with light purple on the back of petals, hence it is also called Murasaki-tampopo literally meaning purple dandelions. Leaves also resemble the ones of dandelions and shovel-shaped. In autumn, grow upright stem up to 60 cm long and bloom flowers but it stay as buds that is called cleistogamous flowers (never open and self-pollinating) and covered with fluffy hairs. With many stems upright resemble lances with feather of birds, hence another name Senbon-yari literally meaning a thousand lances.

●Season Mid April to Late May
●Height Spring 5 to 15 cm, Fall 30 to 60 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 5, Mt. Inari, Oku-Takao

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found in wide varieties of areas including grasslands in mountains or hills. In Mt. Takao, found at bright roadside. When scratching stems or leaves, produce bitter white milk sap, hence the Japanese name Niga-na literally meaning bitter plants (Only have bitter taste and are not poisonous). Stems and leaves are thin and the entire plant looks tall and skinny. The bottom of leaves has toothed margins (edges of leaves are like a teeth of saw). Flowers are 1.5 cm in diameter and have five to seven tongue-shaped yellow petals. Branches divided into many branches and bloom several flowers scattered on these branches. In rare cases, bloom white flowers and called Shiro-nigabana literally meaning white ixeris dentate. The larger plants with seven to eleven petals are called Hana-nigana literally meaning flowers ixeris dentate.

●Season May to July
●Height about 20 to 50 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 5, Mt. Inari, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found in sunny roadside in mountains, riverbanks and grasslands. Bloom red-purple flowers facing upward on upright stems. Flowers are called flower head, many flowers bloom in clusters that looks like one flower from the distance. The size of flowers is 4 to 5 cm in diameter. Buds like parts covering flowers are called involucre and its tips are sticky. Leaves have sharp spines at edges. Many plants are in a cirsium genus and always difficult to identify each plant, however this is the only plant bloom from spring to summer. Azami (Cirsium) come from the word azamuku means to deceive because flowers are beautiful but leaves with spines.

●Season Early May to Late June
●Height about 60 cm to 1 m
●Place Trail 5, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found at paddy fields, riverbanks and roadside. Bloom from spring to summer but some continue to bloom in autumn. In Mt. Takao, found in sunny forest trails. Is one of seven spring herbs and another name is Gogyo (or Ogyo). A bitter taste of sprout is an essential herb for rice porridge called Nanakusa-gayu (literally meaning seven herbs rice porridge). Was also used for making mochi sweets but after mugwort with wonderful perfume and texture is used instead, people start to use mugwort more often for mochi making. Leaves and stems have white hair densely placed and look silver from the distance. Sprout from the ground full of fallen leaves in early spring is striking. Flowers are flower head consists of many tubular shaped small yellow flowers.

●Season April to June
●Height about 20 to 30 cm
●Place Trail 1 to 6, Mt. Inari, Oku-Takao

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) grow as weeds in spring. Often found them grow in clumps on grasslands. Are originally foreign species native to North America but imported in Taisho era as an ornament plants. Reproductive power is strong and it grows not only in Mt. Takao but also in open spaces and roadside in cities throughout Japan. Flowers are 2 cm in diameter and white or light pink. Buds face the ground but flowers bloom facing upward. Petals are thin and look very delicate. The Japanese name Haru-shion literally meaning aster tataricus in spring was named because purple flowers bloom in spring. Have hair on the entire plants and hollow stems. Leaves are paddle-shaped and the lower parts cover stems.

●Season April to May
●Height about 30 to 80 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 5, Mt. Inari, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found on slopes and at forest edges near streams in mountains. In early spring, flower stems (only bloom flowers without leaves) grow before stems grow. This is called Fukino-to, an edible flower bud of Japanese butterbur and a popular wild plants for nice bitter taste. Is widely known for serving tempura or marinated. Flowers are both male and female flowers. Female flowers are white, stems grow after pollinated and seeds with hair resembling the ones of dandelions are flown away by winds. Male flowers are yellow and wither after flowering. Stems grow underground and grow horizontally. After flowering, leaves grow from the underground stems. Leaves are 15 to 30 cm long and petioles are 60 cm long. Leaves are also served boiled or stir-fried.

●Season March to about May
●Height about 10 to 25 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 4 to 6, Jyataki, Ura-Takao, Minami-Takao

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found in wet tree shades and at streamside in mountains. The Japanese name Tsuru-kanoko-so literally meaning vine fawn plants was named because the shape of flowers from above resemble kanoko-shibori, a cloth dyed in a dapple pattern and vine with sprouts grow after blooming. Soft and thick stem grow upright and bloom small white flowers at the tip. Flowers are light red right after blooming but gradually turn to white. Petals are lobed in five and stamens are not long. Leaves are pinnate with toothed margins (edges of leaves are like a teeth of saw). Leaves in early spring are not pinnate and it looks like other plant. Bear fruits with hair like the seeds of dandelions.

●Season Early April to Mid May
●Height about 20 to 40 cm
●Place Trail 1 to 6, Mt. Inari, Jyataki, Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found in wet and shady areas at roadside near streams. The Japanese name Inamori-so was named because it was first found in Mt. Inamori in Mie prefecture. Also found in Mt. Takao but are not too many. Are not easy to find as they are short plants and do not grow in clumps. The size of leaves is about 3 to 6 cm long and oval-shaped with soft hairs. Leaves are in whorls of 4 to 6 per stem and the light red-purple flower bloom like floating in the air. Flowers are about 2.5cm in diameter and lobed in five with wavy edges which looks delicate. Depending on the place of stamen, have long or short pistils.

●Season　　Early May to Late June
●Height　　about 5 to 10 cm
●Place　　Trail 1 to 2, Trail 6, Mt. Inari

Perennial herbs on swampy forest ground near streams. Bloom in late spring after trees shoot out buds. The fan-shaped calyx after flowering resemble the hoe-shaped helmet crest (Kuwagata), hence the Japanese name Kuwagata-so. Color of flowers is light red-purple and bloom one to five from the base of leaves on upper parts of stems. The size of flower is 1 cm in diameter and has some purple lines radiating from the center of petals. The dish-shaped corolla is parted, making flowers have four petals. Leaves are opposite with two leaves. The shape of leaves is egg-shaped with pointed tip and roughly toothed margins. The ones towards tips of stems are large and about 3 to 5 cm. Stems and leaves have short hairs.

●Season　　Early May to about Early June
●Height　　about 10 to 20 cm
●Place　　Trial 6, Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs found in sunny and swampy areas and in clumps on trails along paddy fields. Bears seeds but many of them does not sprout but grow by stretching branches by rooting at each nodes and hug the ground. The plants often cover ground like a carpet, hence the Japanese name Murasaki-goke literally meaning purple moss but they are not in the family of moss. Many leaves are basal, 4 to 7 long and egg-shaped or oval-shaped. Grow upright stem in between leaves and randomly bloom light purple to red-purple flowers. Flowers are lip-shaped and 1..5 to 2 cm long. Some bloom white flowers are called Sagi-goke literally meaning egrets moss named after the flower resembling egrets.

●Season　　Apil to about June
●Height　　about 10 to 15 cm
●Place　　Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

Perennial herbs found in swampy areas under broad-leaved trees including beech trees. Often found near the roots of trees and grow with the nutrients from the tree and does not have green leaves. Many branches grow from the underground stem and bloom flowers from thick upright stems resembling the core of corn from the ground. In blooming season, have many tubular shaped flowers about 1..2 cm long. The spikes of flowers resembles utsubo elongated-case that store arrows, hence the Japanese name Yama-utsubo. Flowers are light red-purplish white and thin pistils with filled tips protrude and have hairy calyx around petals.

●Season　　Late April to about Mid May
●Height　　about 10 to 25 cm
●Place　　Trail 4

They are a perennial plant that grows at humid places such sunny as in the pool of the forests and along the mountain streams (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). They are very notorious as a poisonous weed. Nevertheless, their young leaves and the sprouts are so juicy that many accidents happen that people eat by mistake. When people eat by mistake, people are tormented by a hallucinogenic symptom so bad as to run around. Furthermore, the appearance of dried root stalk resembles Dioscorea tokoro (Araceae) and these are the derivation of their name. On the contrary, the dried root is utilized for analgesic. The flower is bell contour shape about 2 cm long, dark red-purple flowers grow at the root of the leaves and dangle downward. The inside of the flowers is pale green and a yellow male stamen stands out. The edge of the flower is split into 5 shallowly. The leaf is an egged-shaped elliptically-shaped about 6 to 18 cm long with the surface ragged along the leaf veins. The seed is a spherical shape about 1 cm in diameter.

●Season Early April to about Late May
●Height about 30 to 60 cm
●Place Trail 3 , Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs found on forest floor and at forest edges near streams. Grow thin stems called runner and hug the ground. Rarely seen it alone. Flowers are light purple, tubular lip-shaped and 2..5 cm long. Bloom at the tips of upright stems from the base of leaves. Leaves are slightly pinnate like a heart-shaped with roughly toothed margins. Length is 2 to 5 cm and opposite. The Japanese name Ougi-kazura literally meaning fan-shaped vine was named because the shape of leaves is fan-shaped and spread runner like kudzu vine in fabaceae family after flowering.

●Season　　Late April to about Late May
●Height　　about 8 to 20 cm
●Place　　Trail 6, Oku-Takao, Kita-Takao

Perennial herbs found at forest edges and on grasslands from the base of mountains to mountain peak. In Mt. Takao, plants in scutellaria genes and scutellaria pekinensis var. transitra have leaves and truss of flowers on one side of stem but this species have leaves covering upper parts of stems. Flowers are curved tubular shape and about 2 cm long. Bloom some upright flowers at the tip of stem. The name of scutellaria, Tatsunami-so come from the flower shape resembling the crest of wave. This species Oka-tatsunamiso literally meaning hills scutellaria was named because scutellaria grows on hills. Flowers are light blue-purple and stems have short hair facing downwards. Leaves are wide egg-shaped with roughly tooted margins and larger on upper parts about 5 cm long. After flowering, calyx become plate-like shape and close. Seeds grew inside of calyx pop when ripen.

●Season　　Mid May to about Mid June
●Height　　about 20 to 50 cm
●Place　　Trail 6

Perennial herbs found at half-shady shrubs along streams and forest edges and also on roadside in flatlands. Have clusters of tubular flowers at upper parts of stems on petioles and about 3 cm long. The Japanese name Odoriko-so literally meaning dancers plant was named after the flower shape resembling a dancer with a straw hat. Lower petals split in three and the middle one is large and long providing insects including bees a place to feed on nectar. The color of flowers is white, light yellow or pink and in Mt. Takao, white ones are often found. Leaves are oval-shape with pointed tip and 5 to 10 cm. Edges are toothed margins. Stems are square in cross-section with long hair at nodes.

●Season　　Late April to about Mid May
●Height　　about 30 to 50 cm
●Place　　Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs found on sunny roadside. Is a fertile plant because after flowering, stems fall to ground, grow along the ground and produce roots at intervals. The Japanese name Kaki-dosi literally meaning going through fence was named because it grows through fences to the nextdoor gardens. Also called as Kantori-so which was named after the curative effects for children’s convulsions, nervousness and short-temperedness. Flowers are tubular lip-shaped and about 1..5 to 2..5 cm long. The color of flowers is light purple to red and the largest lower petal with purple dotted patterns. Leaves grow on long petioles are round or oval-shaped with toothed margins. Have wrinkly texture on front side and strong smell when it is rubbed. Sprout can be eaten as marinated food or salad after boiled and immersed in water.

●Season　　April to about May
●Height　　about 5 to 25 cm
●Place　　Trail 4 to 5, Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs found in wide range of areas from the base of mountains to roadside. Stems grow along the ground and leaves radiates from petioles towards the edges of leaves. This is also called as Jigokuno-kamano-futa literally meaning the lid of cauldron of hell because the way it grows is like the lid on the ground, and as Isha-koroshi literally meaning doctor killer because it was widely used as curative medicinal herbs for cuts and gastrointestinal disease. Most of plants in lamiaceae have square cross-sectional stems but this species have round cross-sectional. Radical leaves are 4 to 6 cm long and slightly thick and purplish. The shape is spatula-like shaped called oblanceolate with roughly toothed margins. Flowers are 1 cm long and bloom some dark purple lip-shaped flowers.

●Season　　March to about May
●Height　　about 5 cm
●Place　　Trail 2 to 3, Trail 5, Oku-Takao

Perennial herbs found in sunny and rather dry slopes and woods and often found in deforested slopes. The entire plants are covered by whitish hair. Bloom many flowers in tiers surrounding upright stems called flower spikes. This resembles ceremonial kimono in Heian period called jyuni-hitoe which is worn with layers of kimonos, hence the Japanese name Jyuni-hitoe. Flowers are lip-shaped, 1 cm long and white or light purple. The upper petal is a lot smaller than the lower petal. Leaves are about 3 to 5 cm long and 1..5 to 3 cm width, two to four opposite, oval-shape with pointed tip. The back of leaves is whitish and have wavy margins.

●Season　　Mid April to about Late May
●Height　　about 10 to 20 cm
●Place　　Trail 2, Trail 5, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao, Minami-Takao

Perennial herbs found in mountain areas from Kanto to Shikoku. In Mt. Takao, found at sunny forest edges. Is a variant plant of ajuga yesoensis xaxim. ex franch. et sav. mainly found in areas on Japan Sea side and they are too similar to distinguish. The Japanese name Tsukuba-kinmonso was named because kinmonso (another name of ajuga yesoensis maxim. ex franch. et sav.) was first found in Mt. Tsukuba. Leaves are elongated oval-shaped with toothed margins and 2 to 6 cm long. The front side is purple along leaf veins and purple on the back. Bloom 1 cm long light purple to white lip-shaped flower from petioles. The upper petals are extremely short and about 1 cm, which is to distinguish this plant from ajuga yesoensis maxim. ex franch. et sav.

●Season　　Mid April to about Mid May
●Height　　about 5 to 15 cm
●Place　　Trail 3 and 4

Biennial herbs native to Europe and came to Japan in Mid-Meiji period and often found in Tokyo area. In Mt. Takao, found on roadside near residential areas. Flowers are about 1 cm long, tubular lip-shaped and like a smaller version of lamium album L.var.barbatum. Bloom light purple flowers from petioles of opposite leaves on tips of stems. Leaves are about 1..5 to 3 cm long and oval-shaped with toothed margins and have distinct net-like appearance leave veins. Leaves are in clusters on upper parts of the plants and red-purplish. Normally found in clusters covering the ground with light purple flowers even though flowers are not large. Become large clusters on rich soils like idle farmlands where people rarely come in.

●Season　　March to about May
●Height　　about 10 to 25 cm
●Place　　Trail 1, Trail 3, Trail 5, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

Biennial herbs found on sunny roadside and at edges of farmland. In Mt. Takao, often found in residential areas. Two half-round shaped opposite leaves resembling lotus seat under Budda’s statue, hence the Japnese name Hotokeno-za literally meaning the seat under Buddha’s statud. Also called as Sankai-gusa literally meaning three stories plants because leaves are placed in tiers. Flowers are tubular lip-shaped, 2 cm long, red-purple and bloom in cluster from petioles of leaves on upper parts of stems. Some of them are cleistogamous flowers that do not open until it die off and self-pollinate without the support of insects. Leaves are 1 to 2 cm long and fan shaped with toothed margins. One of seven herbs of spring in Japan is the same Japanese name with this plant Hotokenoza but this is lapsana apogonoides (nipplewort) in asteraceae family.

●Season　　March to about June
●Height　　about 10 to 30 cm
●Place　　Trail 1 to 6, Mt. Inari, Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs found under tree shades on mountains. Tubular lip-shaped flowers align in one line on one side of stem. Flowers of scutellaria brachyspica are bent at the base and bloom upright but those of this plant are upward tilted. Have some flowers irregularly placed towards the tips of stems and bloom from the bottom ones. Flowers are 1 to 2 cm long with longer lower petal protruding. The color of flowers is light blue-purple on upper petal and white on the lower one. Leaves are oval-shaped with toothed margins and tips are more triangular-shaped. Have hair on both sides and the length is 1.4 to 4 cm and become smaller as it goes up. After flowering, calyx close like clams. Seeds grew inside of calyx, the upper calyx falls off when ripen.

●Season　　May to about June
●Height　　about 10 to 25 cm
●Place　　Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

Perennial herbs found on bright forest trails along streams and on roadside. Bloom many flowers that are unique to this plant and rare in lamiaceae family. Often see them in clusters that are appealing in forests. The Japanese name Rashomon-kazura literally meaning rashomon-gate kudzu vines comes from the story of Rashomon of noh, a classical Japanese drama. This is because the shape of flower resembles an arm of female ogre cut by a samurai named Watanabeno-tsuna. Flowers are purple and 4 to 5 cm long. Lip shaped flowers grow from petioles of leaves on upper parts of stem and one-sided truss. The lower petal has purple spots with white hair. Leaves are 2 to 5 cm, opposite and heart-shaped with toothed margins. After flowering, grow by extending thin stems called runners.

●Season　　Mid April to about Late May
●Height　　about 20 to 30 cm
●Place　　Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

They are common biennial plant that grows at rice fields and the roadsides (biennial plant sprouts in autumn, overwinter, and bear flowers in next spring). They enlarge radially the radical leaf (KON-SEI-YO: leaf spring up from the place about stalk root) over the ground to pass the winter, let several stems sprout from the root when the spring comes. When kneaded, the stems and the leaves smell like cucumbers. This is why they are named ‘Trigonotis peduncularis’. The flower is about 2 mm in diameter, pale blue color, but they are so small that they seem to be white when seen from the distance. The stems that the flowers sprout are curled at the top like Osmunda Japonica, the wider they are open, the more the curl is also dissolved. The way the stems are open is like the one tail of scorpion, and this gives them another name called by ‘scorpioid’ (Sasori-Kajo, Kajo: arrangement of flowers on a stalk). The stem grow thin and tall while they let the flowers blossom from the bottom. The leaves at the upper portion are long elliptically-shaped about 1 to 2 cm long, and bear minute trichome growing. The radical leaf is roundish egged-shaped with a long stalk.

●Season April to about May
●Height about 15 to 30 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 5, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at such sunny and arid places as in the pool of the forests in the mountain area and the grasslands (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). As the color of the flower is compared to the firefly luminescence, they are named. During the season of new green leaves, flowers tinged with vivid blue-purple color stand out like floating from others. The flower is about 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, and few of them bloom in cluster at the root of the leaf at the upper part of a thin stalk. The flower petal is split into 5 with the center part white striped like being arched. The leaf is thin and long shoehorn-shaped about 2 to 6 cm long. The leaves and stems bear hard trichome and rough to touch them. When the flowers wither, they grow long branches ‘stolons’ (Stolon: Sousyutsushi is the branch creeping on the ground to extend, also called ‘Runner’), and furthermore they let the roots out from the top of the stolon branches to cultivate a new stub. The leaves remain still on even in the winter.

●Season Mid April to about Mid May
●Height about 15 to 20 cm
●Place Minami-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at such humid places as along the mountain stream in the mountain area (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). We often see them a lot at the places like an almost collapsing bankside. The stalk that develops flowers extends on the ground like creeping to bear a big stub. They have such many small flowers on the top of it as they show up enough well though small in height. The flower is 1 cm in diameter with the flower petal split into 5. First, they are tinged with pale blue color, but after the peak they gradually turn into purple. The leaves and stems bear white trichome. Many large radical leaves (KON-SEI-YO: leaf spring up from the place about stalk root) about 12 to 15 cm long shoot and radially expand. The leaf is shoehorn-shaped with the edge rippling a little. The upper they sprout at, the smaller the leaves growing alike holding the stalk get. When the flowers wither, they enlarge the veins to develop a new stub.

●Season Early April to about Early May
●Height about 7 to 20 cm
●Place Trail 2 and 3, Ura-Takao

They are biennial plant that grows at copse and grassland meadow in the sunny countryside fields (biennial plant sprouts in autumn, overwinter, and bear flowers in next spring). The bud shape reminds us of the writing brush, which is the reason they are named Gentiana zollingeri. When it’s clear and sunny, they’re open. Meanwhile, when cloudy or rainy, keep close. The flower is a horn shape about 2 to 2.5 cm long and several of them gather to bloom at the top of stalk. The flower is divided into 5 at the top, and there are also accessory paraflocculus between the divided flowers. This makes them seen 10 divided flower petals. The flower is blue-purple, and rarely white. The leaves thickly growing on the stalk are small egg-shaped, a bit thick, 0.5 to 1.2 cm long, and are often tinged with purplish red color.

●Season　　Mid April to about Mid May
●Height　　about 5 to 10 cm
●Place　　Oku-Takao, Minami-Takao

Saprophytic plant (grow on leaf soils and grow with fungi to break down its nutrients), the entire plant is white without green leaves. Found in dark and wet broad-leaved forests with many fallen leaves in mountains. The Japanese name Gin-ryo-so literally meaning silver dragon plants was named because dropping flowers covered with scale leaves resembling dragons. Looks like a delicate glass objects but also called as Yurei-take literally meaning ghost mushrooms because flowers bloom in shady dark forests during rainy season. Flowers are tubular with three to five petals. The tip of stamen opens up and is slightly purplish. Fruits are berries (contain moisture when ripen) and smashed when stems fall down and pop seeds.

●Season Mid June to Late July
●Height about 5 to 8 cm
●Place Trail 3 and 4, Oku-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at such places as in the pool of the forest and the roadside along the mountain stream. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). In early spring the flowers blossom before the leaves sprout. Entire plant is soft and has a subtle atmosphere. In Chinese character, their name is expressed as Sentoso, but its name derivation is unexplained. The shape of the leaves looks like the one of Coptis japonica var. dissecta (Labiatae), so they have another name ‘Chamaele decumbens’. The leaves are the compound leaf consisting of 3 as one and each compound leaf has minute split. Their characteristic is the leafstalk (Youhei) is tinged with purple color, grown from the root, and lets the stalk grow between the leaves with lots of white flowers about 1 mm in diameter at the tip.5 flower petals are attached curved inward and a yellow male stamen out of the flower outstands. When the flowers wither, they bear the elliptically-shaped seeds about 3 to 5 mm.

●Season Late March to about Late April
●Height about 10 to 20 cm
●Place Trail 1 to 6, Jyataki, Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs found at wet forest floor and forest edges near streamside. In Mt. Takao, this plant is the first blooming viola in spring. Leaves resemble asarum caulescens which is the family crest of Tokugawa family (a family of shogun ruled Japan in Edo period, 1600-1867), hence the Japanese name Aoi-sumire, aoi is from the Japanese name of as asarum caulescens (Futaba-aoi in Japanese) and sumire means viola. Viola in general, have two petals called lateral petals are open to the sides but this part of this plant is half-open. It is easily distinguish with other viola by checking this part. Is a short plant and light purple and white flowers bloom nodding. Leaves are round-shaped with hairs. Leaves during blooming season are small and about 2 cm, but become 5 to 8 cm after flowering and grow by extending stems along the ground.

●Season　　Mid March to about Mid April
●Height　　about 3 to 8 cm
●Place　　Ura-Takao, Minami-Takao

Perennial herbs found in mountain ridges of low elevations and grasslands in mountains, normally found in sunny environment. The entire body creates spherical shape that looks very cute. The Japanese name Akane-sumire literally meaning red-purple viola come from the bright red-purple flowers. Flower is 1..5 cm in diameter with purple lines. Have a short hair even at spurs on the back of petals that are quite unique in violaceae family. Hair densely grow on lateral sepals are also distinct. Leaves are oval-shaped with triangular tips and appear to rise directly out of the ground. Leaves during blooming season are small and about 2 cm, but become 5 to 8 cm after flowering. Violas without hairy lateral sepals called viola phalacrocarpa f. glaberrima may grow in the same areas with this plant.

●Season　　Early April to about Mid May
●Height　　about 5 to 10 cm
●Place　　Minami-Takao

Perennial herbs found in bright forests or grasslands near mountain ridges and mainly found on mountains on Pacific Ocean side of Japan. Is easy to find as it grows in clusters. The Japanese name Akebono-sumire literally meaning the first light from the dawn viola was named because striking red flowers resembling the first light from the dawn. Flower bloom before leaves open and leaves are curled during blooming season. Bloom 2 to 2..5 in diameter flowers at the tips of upright stem and grow from the ground. Is a large plant in viola and most of them are slightly scented. Have hair irregularly on lateral sepals and spur is thick and short. Leaves after flowering is 3 to 4 cm long, heart-shaped with pointed tip and grows from long petioles. Fuzzy on both sides of leaves and they are not shiny.

●Season　　Early April to about Early May
●Height　　about 5 to 10 cm
●Place　　Oku-Takao, Minami-Takao

Perennial herbs found in various areas from shady to sunny forest floor, forest edges near streams and forest trails. The Japanese name Eizan-sumire literally meaning Hiei mountain viola was named because it was first found in Mt. Hiei (Shiga prefecture). Have unique leaves, the ones in spring is pinnate in three like a foot of bird with toothed margins but in summer they grow long about 15 to 25 cm. When looking at these large leaves, one may not recognize it as a viola. Petioles and peduncles grow rising from the stem grow underground. Flowers are 2 cm in diameter and its color is from white to light red. Have wavy edged petals and slightly scented. Spur is thick and 7 mm long. The lateral sepals are hairy.

●Season　　Early April to about Early May
●Height　　about 5 to 15 cm
●Place　　Trail 2, Trail 4 to 5, Mt. Inari, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao, Kita-Takao

Perennial herbs found on sunny forest floor in low elevations, roadside, riverbank and near residential areas. One of violas starts to bloom in early spring. In Mt. Takao, found in sunny south-facing slopes. The Japanese name Ko-sumire literally meaning small viola but this plant is not small and flowers are 2 cm in diameter. Have purple lines radiating from the center of petals and petals are mainly purple but some are white. Leaves are 2 to 5 cm, elongated triangular to oval-shaped with pointed tip. The back of leaves is purplish. Have many leaves and grow rising from the ground. Similar to viola phalacrocarpa but this plant does not have hair.

●Season　　Late March to about Mid April
●Height　　about 5 to 10 cm
●Place　　Trail 6, Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs found in dark and wet areas along streams. In Mt. Takao, start to bloom at the end of viola season. Large leaves are appealing but have small flowers about 1 cm in diameter. Color is white with purple lines radiates from the lower petal. Calyx at the back of petals is hairy with curled tips which is unique to this plant. Shape of leaves is round after sprout but changes to oval or egg-shaped with age. Leaves are 2 to 3..5 cm long, soft texture and not shiny with toothed margins. The back of leaves is purplish. At the end of blooming season, have many self-pollinate cleistogamous flower which does not open.

●Season　　Late April to about Mid May
●Height　　about 5 to 8 cm
●Place　　Trail 4, Trail 6, Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs found in sunny grasslands and on roadside. The numbers of this plant in Mt. Takao is decreasing but found in residential area. The Japanese name Sumire literally meaning viola was named because the shape of flowers from the sides resembles the tool of carpenters called sumi-ire meaning carpenter’s ink pod. Leaves and flowers are in cluster growing upright from the thick underground stem. Leaves are like the shape of elongated shoehorns, rounded tips, 3 to 8 cm long, thick and have wings at petioles that is unique to this plant. Flowers are 1..2 to 1.7 cm in diameter and dark purple. The lateral sepals have white hair and spur is long and about 7 mm.

●Season　　Mid April to about Early May
●Height　　about 7 to 15 cm
●Place　　Trail 1, Trail 5, Mt. Inari, Ura-Takao, Oku-Takao

This plant represents Mt. Takao, often called as “the mountain of viola.” Found at wet and half shady forest edges along streams. The Japanese name Takao-sumire literally meaning Mt. Takao viola was named because it was first found in Mt. Takao. It inhabit throughout Japan but many of them found in Mt. Takao. It was first introduced as a varietas of viola yezoensis in 1928 (Showa Era 3). The front side of leaves is dark brown during blooming season that is unique to this plant. After flowering, green leaves grow which makes it difficult to identify them from viola yezoensis. Flowers are 1..5 to 2 cm in diameter and slightly scented. Color of flowers is white with purple fine lines radiating from the center of petals. Leaves are 3 to 6 cm and egg-shaped or elongated egg-shape.

●Season　　Early April to about Early May
●Height　　about 5 to 12 cm
●Place　　Trail 1, Jyataki, Ura-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at various places such as the roadside around human habitations and in the forest in the mountain district. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). As the period that they blossom is longer, we often see them. This is why they are so popular among Violaceae. The stem expanding on the ground multiplies its roots by branching many times. The flower is pale purple color about 1 to 2 cm in diameter, sometimes they are white. The bottom flower petal and the blossom sideway are striped in purple color. The leaves are heart-shaped with the a little sharp tip, about 1 to 4 cm long, and the small leaf stipule (Takuyou) with a split like a teeth of a comb at the leafstalk (Youhei) grow. Tubular nectary or spur (Kyo: a portion of outpunching behind the flower petal) is thin about 6 to 8 mm long. Their height of the blossom season is about 15 cm high, but when the flower withers, they become 30 cm high. This is how their ‘standing’ appearance derives their name ‘Viola grypoceras’.

●Season Late March to about Mid May
●Height about 5 to 15 cm
●Place Trail 1, Trail 3to6, Mt.Inari, Jyataki, Ura-Takao, Minami-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at humid places such as in the plain field or under the forest in the mountain district. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). A part of their name ‘Tsubo’ (one tsubo is 3.3 square m) means a garden. As the shape of the leaf looks like a ‘Nyoi’, a Buddhist altar article, they have another name ‘Viola verecunda’. The flower is 0.8 to 1 cm in diameter and the smallest among Violaceae seen in Japan, white color and the dark purple stripes at the flower petal stand out well. Tubular nectary or spur (Kyo: a portion of outpunching behind the flower petal) is almost a spherical shape, short about 2 to 3 mm. The leaves are cracked heart-shaped about 2 to 3.5 cm long, with the back tinged with purple. The characteristic is that the leaf stipule (Takuyou) grows at the leafstalk (Youhei) has not split, which distinguishes them from Viola grypoceras even when they don’t blossom.

●Season Early April to about Mid May
●Height about 5 to 10 cm
●Place Jyataki, Ura-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at the pool in the humid forests and in the forests along the mountain stream during the early spring (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). As their name shows it, they are the large Viola mandshurica having long leaves. ‘Saishin’ (Asiasarum) is named after the shape of the leaf resembling the ones of Asiasarum sieboldii (Aristolochiaceae). They are distributed throughout a region of the Pacific coast, while Viola vaginata with short leaves are widely along the Japan Sea. The leaves are thin and long heart-shaped, and sprout out latter than the blossoms. Consequently, they bear the blossoms with the leaves about 5 to 8 cm long rounded. The flowers are 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter, mainly pale purple color, but we see the white ones mostly at Mt. Takao. When the flowers wither, the leaves grow larger and larger to be about 15 cm long. They develop a thick underground stalk with knots longer to expand.

●Season Late March to about Mid April
●Height about 5 to 12 cm
●Place Trail 1 and 2, Trail 4 and 5, Ura-Takao, Minami-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at humid places such as in the plain field or under the forest in the mountain district. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). Like Viola grypoceras, they smell slightly good smell. This is why they are named ‘Viola obtusa’. The leaf stipule (Takuyou) grown at the leafstalk (Youhei) has a split like a teeth of a comb. The flower is about 1.2 to 1.5 cm in diameter and the flower petals are roundish. Their characteristic is they are tinged with dark purple, but as a portion of the root of flower petals is white, they seem to be bright white.Tubular nectary or spur (Kyo: a portion of outpunching behind the flower petal) is thin and long about 6 to 7 mm long. The stalk and peduncle have minute whitish paraphyllium thickly. The radical leaf (KON-SEI-YO: leaf spring up from the place about stalk root) is roundish heart-shaped. The leaves grown on the stalk is the thin and sharp triangular shape about 2.5 to 4 cm long.

●Season Late March to about Late April
●Height about 5 to 15 cm
●Place Oku-Takao, Minami-Takao

They are a perennial plant that ordinarily grows at sunny places such as he grassfields and the roadside around human habitations, or on stonewalling and in the fields. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). The stalk and the leaf have minute whitish paraphyllium thickly. Though they resemble Viola mandshurica (Violaceae) well, the flowers of Viola yedoensis have smell and the tip of the leaf is sharp. This is how to distinguish the two. Their characteristic is they expand flat on the ground, while the leaf of Viola mandshurica grows vertically. The flower is about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, bluish-purple color with the flower petals striped in dark purple. The leaf is about 3 to 8 cm long, long spatulate elliptically-shaped, with the back tinged with purple, and both of the upper parts of the leafstalk (Youhei) have fins. When the flowers wither, triangular summer leaves sprout.

●Season Late March to about Mid April
●Height about 5 to 10 cm
●Place Trail 6, Ura-Takao, Minami-Takao

They are perennial plant that grows at such humid and partly shade places as in the forests along the mountain streams. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). They prefer to bloom in the shades, they are named. They grow underground stems to expand and mostly grow in clusters. It is said that they are the original species of Viola yezoensis f. discolor, and that the appearance and the shape resemble well but the difference to distinguish is they bear green leaves. The leaves are heart-shaped with the sharp tip, about 3 to 6 cm long and soft feeling to touch, have minute trichome on both sides. The flowers are about 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, good smell, tinged with white color, and have the bottom flower petal thin purple striped. Minute trichome grows thick at the root of the flower which blossom sideways. Some don’t. Tubular nectary or spur (Kyo: a portion of outpouchings behind the flower petal) is thick circular cylindrical shape about 7 to 8 mm long.

●Season Early April to about Mid May
●Height about 5 to 12 cm
●Place Ura-Takao,Oku-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at sunny places such as in the pool of the forests or in the forest in the mountain district. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). We often see them blossom here and there along the routes of the climb. They are popular Viola mandshurica because their flowers are pale pink, small, and adorable. They are named Viola tokubuchiana var. takedana (Hinasumire) because of their appearance. The flower is about 1.5 cm in diameter, the tip of the flower petals tinged with dark showy pink a little and striped in purple in the center. Trichomes grow a little at the root of the flower which blossom sideways. Their characteristic is leaves are thin heat-shaped nearly triangular shape, and the root portion of the leaf connecting with the stalk has dent. They have coarse sawtooth at the edge (Kyoshi: tooth-like rough part like a saw at the root of a leaf) and the back is tinged with purple. Also, the leaves with white patterns along the leaf veins are called Viola tokubuchiana var. takedana f. variegate.

●Season Late March to about Mid April
●Height about 5 to 8 cm
●Place Trail 2 to 5, Jyataki, Ura-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at sunny places such as the roadside and between stonewalling around human habitations. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). We seldom see them in the woods or around the forests. As the name implies it, they are one of the small Viola mandshurica and resemble Viola mandshurica (Violaceae), but they seem to be smaller by one size. Their characteristic to distinguish the two is the leafstalk (Youhei) of this species has no fins. The flower is about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, bluish-purple color, so that they stand out well from the others though small. The trichome grows at the root of the flower which blossom sideways. Tubular nectary or spur (Kyo: a portion of outpouchings behind the flower petal) is thin, about 4 mm long. The leaves are a thin and long triangular shape, and the root portion of the leaf is heart-shaped. Another characteristic is they have coarse sawtooth at the edge (Kyoshi: tooth-like rough part like a saw at the root of a leaf) and the back is tinged with purple.

●Season Late March to about Mid April
●Height about 3 to 8 cm
●Place Minami-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at sunny places such as slanting surfaces or in the pool of the forest and the roadside along the mountain stream. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). The shape of the leaves is rounded, which is the reason they are named ‘Viola keiskei’ (Marubasumire). As they resemble much Viola hondoensis which also have rounded leaves, the leaves of Viola keiskei (Marubasumire) have sharp tip that is nearly heart-shaped. This is how to distinguish the two. The flower is about 2 cm in diameter and the flower petals are also rounded. The trichome grows a little at the root of the flower which blossom sideways, mainly in white but some have the back of the flower petals in dark red color. In many cases, they grow in cluster and show up very well even during the blossom season. Tubular nectary or spur (Kyo: a portion of outpunching behind the flower petal) is about 6 to 7 mm long and has purple patterns. The leaves are about 2 to 4 cm long during the blossom season, but the summer leaves grow to be large about 7 to 8 cm long, and the plant height itself gets taller till about 30 cm.

●Season Early March to about Late May
●Height about 5 to 10 cm
●Place Trail 3, Ura-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at such sunny places as in the pool of the forests and the roadsides (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). Their name is expressed in Chinese characters as ‘Natsutodai’, they blossom the earliest in the spring among the same group of Euphorbiaceae. They say their appearance looks like an ancient tool of how to turn a light on the dish filed with oil fuel, and this is where their name derivation comes from. They grow a branch split into 5 at the root of the leaf and the pot-shaped flower blossom at the top. 2 leaves are open below the flower, and the bottom is surrounded with 4 secretory portions. A secretory portion is the organ that is nectariferous, which looks like a jaw of stag beetle with the sharp tip. The leaves are nearly triangular spatula-shaped or long elliptically-shaped about 3 to 6 cm long. When the leaves and stalks are cut and then they secrete out white juice, we need to be cautious about the toxic component which the juice contains because if we touch them, our skins are bitten with the tox.

●Season Early April to about Late May
●Height about 20 to 40 cm
●Place Trail 1,Ura-Takao

Perennial herbs (grow for several years from their same root system) found in shady forests and plantation of Japanese cypress and cedar. The Japanese name Miyama-katabami literally meaning oxalis deep in the mountain, however it does not only bloom deep in the mountain. Leaves are trifoliate compound leaf, have three small leaves from a leaf stalk. The shape of leaves is heart-shaped and fine hair grows on stems, petioles and on the back of leaves. Flowers are white and 3 to 4 cm in diameter. Have five petals and some have purple stripe patterns. Flowers only bloom when they are in the sun. Is difficult to find because not all plants have flower.

●Season March to April
●Height about 10 cm
●Place Trail 1,Trail 3 to 6, Jyataki, Ura-Takao

They are a perennial plant that grows at such arid places as at the sunny grasslands. (Perennial plant takes several years to grow). As the appearance of the flower looks like the one which is made as small as the flower of Lespedeza thunbergii (Fabaceae), this is how they are named ‘Polygala japonica’ (Himehagi). The flower is about 1 cm and tinged with red-purple color, a tubular shape flower composed of 3 flower petals, and the finely split bunch shoots to extend from the top.
5 calyxes at the root portion of the flower is tinged with the same color with the flower petals, and 2 out of the five are open as if they are stretching the wings. When the flowers wither, he calyxes turn into green. The leaves are rounded egged-shaped with the sharp tip and trichome growing on both surfaces. The leaves during the flower season is about 1 centimeter long, they grow to be 3 cm long after the flower wither. Long white trichome develops on the stalk in cluster.

●Season Mid April to about Late May
●Height about 10 to 20 cm
●Place Mt.Inari, Ura-Takao, Minami-Takao