|
The "Usugi-kawara-matsuba" (Galium verum var. asiatica f. asiatica) belongs to Rubiaceae (the Madder family). It is a perennial herb that is distributed throughout Japan and the Korean Peninsula. It grows in sunny grasslands and riverbanks, and is 30-80 cm tall. The leaves are narrow and linear, with 6 to 10 leaves in whorled. However, there are only two original leaves, and the rest are enlarged stipules. From July to August, small yellowish-white flowers bloom in panicles at the top of the stem or in the leaf axils. Three types of "Kawara-matsuba" can be seen on Mt. Ibuki.
|