アジサイ科イワガラミ属の落葉蔓性木本で、学名は Schizophragma hydrangeoides。英名は Japanese hydrangea vine。
The Japanese hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides) belongs to Hydrangeaceae (the Hydrangea family). It is a deciduous woody vine that is native to all over Japan and the Korean Peninsula. This vine grows in outskirts of beech forest belt and climbs up adjacent trees and rocks by the aerial roots. The leaves are broad ovate and alternate with heart-shaped or round base and coarsely toothed edges. The corymbs are borne on the terminal branchlets, and bloom white flowers. It is defined by the single ornamental flower. When the leaves are rubbed, they smell like "cucumber". They pluck these sprouts and use them as a dressed salad, as a soup garnish for miso soup, or as boiled greens.