herbaceous

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #101] What are the species of the Iridaceae family? Photo list

The family Costaceae is a pantropical monocotyledonous plant. The leaves are arranged spirally, and the leaves at the base of the stem are usually wingless. The base of the leaves has a closed leaf sheath, and a projection called a ligule is located at the top of the leaf sheath. Unlike other plants in the Zingiberales order, it has 2-3 stamens...

2022.09.28

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #072] What are the species of the Smilax family? Photo list

The family Smilacaceae, also known as the Smilax family, is a perennial herb or subshrub, mostly climbing plants. They typically have short rhizomes. Leaves are alternate, with tendrils on the petioles. Inflorescences are usually umbels. Perianth segments are usually free, with three of each being identical in shape and texture to the outer and inner segments. The ovary is...

2022.08.02

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #058] What are the species of the Dioscoreaceae family? Photo list

The family Dioscoreaceae consists of herbaceous or climbing plants, comprising over 630 species across three genera distributed worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. In Japan, only the genus Dioscorea is found. This article provides a comprehensive, field-guide-style introduction to plants of the Dioscoreaceae family. Basic information is available from the Kanagawa Prefectural Botanical Garden...

2022.08.01

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #043] What are the species of the Alismataceae family? Photo list

The Alismataceae family consists of submerged or wetland herbs. All leaves are basal, with parallel and reticulate venation. Flowers are bisexual or unisexual. Inflorescences are racemes or panicles, with three flowers or branches arranged in whorls at each node. The sepals and petals are three in number and white; the calyx is persistent...

2022.07.30

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #026] What are the species of the Aristolochiaceae family? Photo list

The Aristolochiaceae family consists of perennial herbs or shrubs, some of which are climbing plants. The leaves are alternate and lack stipules. The flowers are generally bisexual, with petals usually reduced, and three petal-like sepals, often fused at their bases into a tubular structure. They are found in tropical regions worldwide...

2022.07.26

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #021] What are the species of the Chloranthaceae family? Photo list

The Chloranthaceae family consists of herbs or shrubs. The leaves are opposite, simple, serrated, and have stipules at the base of the petiole. The inflorescence is spike-like, terminal or axillary. Flowers are unisexual or bisexual, with bisexual flowers lacking a perianth. There are one or three stamens. In bisexual flowers, the stamens...

2022.07.26

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

What are the differences between Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Lithospermum erythrorhizon? We explain how to distinguish between similar species! Do the flowers have a secret that allows them to be pollinated even in the shade?

While *Lithospermum erythrorhizon* and *Lithospermum erythrorhizon* have similar names and may be confused, there is a significant difference: *Lithospermum erythrorhizon* is a native species, while *Lithospermum erythrorhizon* is a cultivated variety. The shape of the leaves and flowers are also distinctly different. *Lithospermum erythrorhizon*...

2022.04.27

plant

Was the endangered species Toranoosuzukake a rare plant associated with Hiraga Gennai?

*Platanthera japonica*, a perennial herb distributed mainly in western Japan, is designated as an endangered species by various prefectures, although it is not designated as such by the Ministry of the Environment. The reason for its endangered status is its extremely small population, but the exact cause of this low population size is not well understood.

2021.10.06

plant

What are the differences between Tradescantia virginiana, Tradescantia japonica, Tradescantia fluminensis, and Tradescantia montanus? We'll explain how to distinguish between similar species! Did they expand their distribution through vegetative reproduction? What is the role of the white threads that come from flowers that don't produce nectar?

Tradescantia virginiana (also known as Tradescantia japonica or Tradescantia erythrorhizon) and Tradescantia flabellata are species of the Tradescantia genus that were cultivated in horticulture for ornamental purposes and are now rapidly becoming naturalized. Because they are varieties that originally had various forms before becoming naturalized, their morphology is diverse. Current classifications include leaf shape, leaf...

2021.09.20

plant