Erythronium japonicum

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Erythronium japonicum
Erythronium japonicum 2006 005.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Subfamily: Lilioideae
Tribe: Lilieae
Genus: Erythronium
Species:
E. japonicum
Binomial name
Erythronium japonicum
Synonyms [1]
  • Erythronium japonicumPoit.
  • Erythronium japonicum f. albumC.F. Fang
  • Erythronium japonicum f. immaculatumP.Y.Fu & Q.S.Sun
  • Erythronium japonicum f. immaculatumSun, Q.S.
  • Erythronium japonicum var. leucanthumI.Yamam. & Tsukam.
  • Erythronium japonicum f. leucanthum(I.Yamam. & Tsukam.) Okuyama

Erythronium japonicum, known as Asian fawn lily, [2] Oriental fawn lily, Japanese fawn lily is a pink-flowered species trout lily , belonging to the Lily family and native to Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East (Sakhalin Island, Kuril Islands) and northeastern China (Jilin and Liaoning). [3] [4] It is a spring ephemeral, blooming April–June in woodlands. It is known as zhūyáhuā (猪牙花) in Chinese, eolleji (얼레지) in Korean, and katakuri ( 片栗 ) in Japanese.

Contents

Erythronium japonicum has a stem up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long, although as much as 30% of the stem may be underground. Bulb is elongated, up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long but rarely more than 1 cm wide (0.39 in). Leaves are broadly elliptical to lanceolate, the blade up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long and 7 cm (2.8 in) wide. Flowers are solitary, rose-colored. [3] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Applying the generic common name trout lily may be somewhat of a misnomer, because in the Japanese species, the individual plant may or may not exhibit the flecked dark markings on the leaves, which is emblematic of that common name (see gallery below).

Protective status

Reporting is mixed on whether it should be regarded as endangered in Japan. One source adds it to a list of wildflowers that should be included as endangered, [10] but the so-called Eco kentei  [ ja ] or environmental specialist certification, run by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), has had an exam question in the past, where the correct answer to "Is katakuri endangered" was "no". [11] The Japanese ministry (MOE)'s version of the Red Data Book has not handed down an assessment of the whole species, [12] even though in the Red Data Book compiled by individual prefectures, its status is evaluated at "near threatened" (jun-zetsumetsu kigu shu) in Hyōgo and Mie, [12] and rated vulnerable-endangered in Shikoku and southern Kanto. [12]

This woodland plant is more vulnerable, since it has a very short season and is slow-growing. [10] It needs to grow into a 7–8 year old plant before it finally blooms, [10] [13] so will not rebound in numbers once taken. In Niiharu (Midori-ku, Yokohama), the colony was entirely wiped out (poached) overnight shortly after media coverage about it blooming in the area. [13]

A colony that can be viewed within the confines of metropolitan Tokyo is at Shimizuyama-ikoi-no-mori  [ ja ] which translates approximately to "Shimizuyama grove of respite", in Nerima-ku. This is somewhat in the neighborhood of the Tomitaro Makino memorial garden which also has a small number of plants planted.

Uses

The katakuriko (片栗粉, "katakuri powder"), is a starch that bears the name of this plant, which originally refers to the starch from the E. japonicum bulb. Because of its small quantity, this starch is no longer common; potato starch has taken its place and name nowadays.

This plant is not known to be farmed, and has been harvested from wild colonies by poachers, but probably not by seekers of starch sources, but by wildflower enthusiasts or traffickers. [14]

The plant powder was also used as ointment to treat rashes. [15]

The rumor that it is used in wagashi, particularly in the confection called katakuri-rakugan is apocryphal, since historian Kahei Mori  [ ja ] states that this confection, which used to be traditionally presented to Morioka Domain, was made from the starch of lily bulbs. [16]

Additional photos

Related Research Articles

<i>Erythronium</i> Genus of flowering plants

Erythronium, the fawn lily, trout lily, dog's-tooth violet or adder's tongue, is a genus of Eurasian and North American plants in the lily family, most closely related to tulips. The name Erythronium derives from Ancient Greek ἐρυθρός (eruthrós) "red" in Greek, referring to the red flowers of E. dens-canis. Of all the established species, most live in North America; only six species are found in Europe and Asia.

<i>Lilium</i> Genus of plants

Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large and often prominent flowers. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. Most species are native to the Northern Hemisphere and their range is temperate climates and extends into the subtropics. Many other plants have "lily" in their common names, but do not belong to the same genus and are therefore not true lilies. True lilies are known to be highly toxic to cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liliaceae</span> Family of flowering plants in order Liliales, including lilies

The lily family, Liliaceae, consists of about 15 genera and 610 species of flowering plants within the order Liliales. They are monocotyledonous, perennial, herbaceous, often bulbous geophytes. Plants in this family have evolved with a fair amount of morphological diversity despite genetic similarity. Common characteristics include large flowers with parts arranged in threes: with six colored or patterned petaloid tepals arranged in two whorls, six stamens and a superior ovary. The leaves are linear in shape, with their veins usually arranged parallel to the edges, single and arranged alternating on the stem, or in a rosette at the base. Most species are grown from bulbs, although some have rhizomes. First described in 1789, the lily family became a paraphyletic "catch-all" (wastebasket) group of lilioid monocots that did not fit into other families and included a great number of genera now included in other families and in some cases in other orders. Consequently, many sources and descriptions labelled "Liliaceae" deal with the broader sense of the family.

<i>Lilium auratum</i> Species of lily

Lilium auratum is one of the true lilies. It is native to Japan and is sometimes called the golden-rayed lily or the goldband lily.

<i>Gagea serotina</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Liliaceae

Gagea serotina, synonym Lloydia serotina, is an Arctic–alpine flowering plant of the lily family. It is widespread across the mountainous parts of western North America, from Alaska to New Mexico, and in Europe is found in the Alps, the Carpathians and the mountains of Bulgaria, as well as in Great Britain. It is also native to much of Central Asia, Siberia, China, Nepal, Mongolia, Korea and Japan.

<i>Erythronium americanum</i> Species of flowering plant

Erythronium americanum, the trout lily, yellow trout lily, fawn lily, yellow adder's-tongue, or yellow dogtooth violet, is a species of perennial, colony forming, spring ephemeral flower native to North America and dwelling in woodland habitats. Within its range it is a very common and widespread species, especially in eastern North America. The common name "trout lily" refers to the appearance of its gray-green leaves mottled with brown or gray, which allegedly resemble the coloring of brook trout.

<i>Fritillaria verticillata</i> Species of flowering plant

Fritillaria verticillata is a flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae, native to Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and the Altay region of Siberia.

Erythronium pluriflorum is a rare species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae which is known by the common names manyflower fawn lily,golden fawn-lily, and Shuteye Peak fawn lily.

<i>Lilium maculatum</i> Species of lily

Lilium maculatum is a plant in the lily family native to Japan.

<i>Lycoris radiata</i> Species of plant

Lycoris radiata, known as the red spider lily, red magic lily, corpse flower, or equinox flower, is a plant in the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. It is originally from China, Japan, Korea and Nepal and spread from there to the United States and elsewhere. It is considered naturalized in Seychelles and in the Ryukyu Islands. It flowers in the late summer or autumn, often in response to heavy rainfall. The common name hurricane lily refers to this characteristic, as do other common names, such as resurrection lily; these may be used for the genus as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornamental bulbous plant</span> Herbaceous perennials with underground storage parts grown for ornamental purposes

Ornamental bulbous plants, often called ornamental bulbs or just bulbs in gardening and horticulture, are herbaceous perennials grown for ornamental purposes, which have underground or near ground storage organs. Botanists distinguish between true bulbs, corms, rhizomes, stem tubers and tuberous roots, any of which may be termed "bulbs" in horticulture. Bulb species usually lose their upper parts during adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat or winter cold. The bulb's storage organs contain moisture and nutrients that are used to survive these adverse conditions in a dormant state. When conditions become favourable the reserves sustain a new growth cycle. In addition, bulbs permit vegetative or asexual multiplication in these species. Ornamental bulbs are used in parks and gardens and as cut flowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potato starch</span> Thickening agent used for culinary purposes

Potato starch is starch extracted from potatoes. The cells of the root tubers of the potato plant contain leucoplasts. To extract the starch, the potatoes are crushed, and the starch grains are released from the destroyed cells. The starch is then left to settle out of solution or separated by hydrocyclones, then dried to powder.

<i>Pittosporum tobira</i> Species of flowering plant

Pittosporum tobira is a species of sweet-smelling flowering plant in the pittosporum family Pittosporaceae known by several common names, including Australian laurel, Japanese pittosporum, mock orange and Japanese cheesewood. It is native to Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea, but it is used throughout the world as an ornamental plant in landscaping and as cut foliage.

<i>Lilium concolor</i> Species of lily

Lilium concolor is a species of flowering plant in the lily family which occurs naturally in China, Japan, Korea and Russia. Its relationship with other species is not clear, although it has some similarities to Lilium pumilum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potato starch</span> Thickening agent used for culinary purposes

Potato starch is starch extracted from potatoes. The cells of the root tubers of the potato plant contain leucoplasts. To extract the starch, the potatoes are crushed, and the starch grains are released from the destroyed cells. The starch is then left to settle out of solution or separated by hydrocyclones, then dried to powder.

Gagea nakaiana is an Asian species of plants in the lily family. It is native to northeastern China, Russia, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and northern India.

Gagea triflora is an Asian species of plants in the lily family. It is native to Japan, Korea, China, and Russia.

<i>Mentha japonica</i> Species of mint

Mentha japonica is a species of plant in the family Lamiaceae, endemic to the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu, Japan. Initially described as Micromeria japonica by Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel, it was first identified under its present name by Japanese botanist Tomitaro Makino in 1906. A relatively rare plant, it is classified by the Japanese Ministry of Environment as a Near Threatened species.

The Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is a Japanese law on nature conservation intended to protect rare species and ecosystems. The law was passed in 1992 and entered into force the following year.

References

  1. The Plant List
  2. English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 358. ISBN   978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017 via Korea Forest Service.
  3. 1 2 Flora of China v 24 p 126
  4. "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". apps.kew.org.
  5. Decaisne, Joseph. 1854. Revue Horticole, sér. 4, 3: 284.
  6. P.Y.Fu & Q.S.Sun. 1992. Flora Liaoningica 2: 1159.
  7. I.Yamam. & Tsukam. 1932. Flora Hakodate 192.
  8. Sun, Q.S. 1995. Bulletin of Botanical Research, Harbin 15(3): 332–333.
  9. Okuyama. 1955. Journal of Japanese Botany30: 32.
  10. 1 2 3 Okui 2005
  11. eco検定合格プロジェクト (2010). eco検定問題集決定版過去問・一問一答・模擬|秀和システム., p.199
  12. 1 2 3 Association of Wildlife Research; EnVision (2007). "Red Data Book search (Erythronium japonicum)". Archived from the original on 2014-10-15. Retrieved 9 April 2012.. yellow=jun-zetsumetsu kigu shu(NT); orange=絶滅危惧IB (VU); mauve=絶滅危惧I (EN/CR). See ja:template:生物分類表
  13. 1 2 Kogure 2011
  14. Cf. Kogure 2011. The author does not explicit state this for the case of the apprehended poacher, but it is implicit, as it carries over from his discussion concerning the impact of poaching on orchids (shunran, ebine etc.) and other countryside species.
  15. "片栗粉". ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典 at kotobank.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  16. Mori, Kahei(森嘉兵衛) (1972). 岩手県の歴史 (history of Iwate Prefecture) (snippet). Yamakawa Shuppansha(山川出版社). p. 62. 「藩の献上菓子たる片栗落雁(百合根からとった殿粉によって製した菓子)とともに有名な献上品である。」