culture

What are the differences between Bohemian waxwings and Japanese waxwings? What is their distribution? What are their summer and winter habits? What is the role of their crest feathers and red waxy substance? Can you tell their age from the waxy substance?!

The Bohemian Waxwing and the Japanese Waxwing are both brightly colored winter birds belonging to the Waxwing genus, possessing crests and often appearing in red or yellow. They are very similar, and it can be difficult to distinguish between them. However, checking the tips of their tail feathers will allow for reliable identification, and there are subtle differences in their coloration. Their distributions differ significantly; the Bohemian Waxwing...

2023.04.17

animal

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #143] What are the species of the Crassulaceae family? Photo list

The Crassulaceae family consists entirely of succulent herbs or shrubs, often with enlarged rhizomes or roots. The leaves are simple. The flowers are radially symmetrical, mostly hermaphroditic, but some genera are unisexual, monoecious, or dioecious. The calyx is somewhat fleshy, green (sometimes reddish)...

2022.12.13

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

How can you best use Kaldi's sambal? Why do they use chili peppers native to Central and South America? I investigated this along with its history and food culture in Indonesia.

KALDI sells a spicy condiment called "Sambal" (JAN: 4515996938207) (as of November 13, 2022). Even after searching Japanese websites, I couldn't find a very good, traditional way to eat it, but it seems to be used in local cuisine...

2022.11.13

cookinghistory

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #116] What are the types of grasses? Photo list

The grass family (Poaceae) consists of annual to perennial herbs, or plants with woody, perennial stems. The stem, called a "culm," has septa at the nodes, and the rest of the stem is hollow or contains pith. Leaves are arranged alternately in two rows and consist of a leaf blade and a leaf sheath. The leaf blade is often linear, and the leaf sheath is wide...

2022.10.26

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #091] What are the species of the Commelinaceae family? Photo list

The Commelinaceae family consists of annual or perennial herbs, some of which are climbing plants. The leaves have parallel veins, and the base forms a sheath. The central vein is somewhat thick and conspicuous. The flowers are bilaterally or radially symmetrical. Of the six perianth segments, the three outer segments are sepal-like, while the inner...

2022.09.06

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #073] What are the species of the Liliaceae family? Photo list

Liliaceae are perennial herbs. They have bulbs or rhizomes. Leaves are alternate, opposite, or whorled, sometimes clustered at the base of the stem. Flowers are solitary at the stem tip or leaf axils, or borne in diverse racemes or umbels. They bear bisexual flowers. The perianth segments are separate, with outer and inner perianth segments...

2022.08.02

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #041] What are the species of Araceae? Photo List

The Araceae family consists of perennial herbs, sometimes shrub-like, lilac-like, or floating aquatic plants. They often have tubers or thick rhizomes underground, and some species form pseudostems with tubular bases on the petioles. The plant body is succulent, filled with cells containing bundles of needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals...

2022.07.29

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

[Seed Plant Encyclopedia #004] What are the species of the Ephedra family? Photo list

The Ephedraceae family generally consists of shrubs, sometimes vines, and rarely small trees. It includes only the genus Ephedra. It is distributed across southwestern North America, southern Europe, northern Africa, southwestern and central Asia, northern China, and western South America, and is widely found in arid regions. Temperate regions...

2022.07.15

Seed Plant Encyclopedia

What are the differences between persimmon (Diospyros kaki), Japanese persimmon (Diospyros serrata), and mountain persimmon (Diospyros margaritacea)? We'll explain how to distinguish between similar species! Where are they native to? What's the difference between astringent and sweet persimmons? What insects visit the flowers? Who eats them in nature?

The Japanese persimmon (kaki) has been cultivated in Japan since ancient times and is a fruit and plant strongly associated with Japanese culture. While closely related species exist, the Japanese persimmon is easily distinguishable by the size of its fruit. However, when distinguishing by leaves alone, it resembles the Japanese dwarf persimmon (Diospyros kaki), the Ryukyu dwarf persimmon (Diospyros ryukyuensis), and the evergreen persimmon (Diospyros kaki), and subtle differences...

2022.07.02

plant

What are the differences between buckwheat (soba), Tartary buckwheat (Tartary buckwheat), and Shakuchiri buckwheat (Shakuchiri buckwheat)? We explain how to distinguish between similar varieties! Is buckwheat's origin in mountainous regions? Why do Japanese people eat it as noodles? Are honeybees the only insects that visit its flowers?

Buckwheat, Tartary buckwheat, and Japanese buckwheat are all species that can be found in Japan, either cultivated or naturalized. Buckwheat, in particular, is indispensable to Japanese people as a noodle dish, but few people can distinguish between these three species as plants. These three species differ in the way their flowers grow, the shape of their fruits, etc.

2022.06.14

plant