"Oyama-bokuchi" (Synurus pungens) belongs to Asteraceae (the Aster family). It is a perennial herb that is distributed northward from Gifu Prefecture on Honshu to southwestern Hokkaido in Japan. This herb grows in sunny montane grasslands and can reach 1-1.5 m in height. The basal leaves are about 30 cm long and resembles to the burdock's leaves. The large heavyset flower-heads bloom in September to October. The phyllaries are hard and acute, and the outer involcal bracts are recurving. The abaxial sides of leaves are covered with dense spiderweb-like hairs. This herb is also called "Yama-gobou", and the root is used for pickle and the young leaves are used for rice cake.