ふかおやなぎ (深尾柳) [Index] [Back] 「ゆびそやなぎ（湯桧曽柳）」と「ねこやなぎ（猫柳）」との自然交雑種です。「ゆびそやなぎ」は東北地方から新潟県、群馬県に分布し、一方「ねこやなぎ」はわが国の各地に分布しているため、この「ふかおやなぎ」の分布も「ゆびそやなぎ」に準じたものになっています。奥羽山脈から日本海側の多雪地帯の山地河川に生え、高さは１〜５メートルほどになります。樹皮は灰黒色で平滑、古くなると縦に割れ目が入ります。葉は長楕円形で長さ８〜１２センチ、縁には低鋸歯があります。また側脈は「ねこやなぎ」に似て、平行に揃った曲線です。３月から４月ごろ、「ゆびそやなぎ」に似た円柱形に近い長卵形の花序をだします。本種は１９７２年に発見され、和名は発見者の深尾重光氏に因みます。  ヤナギ科ヤナギ属の落葉低木で、学名は Salix x sigemitui。英名はありません。  The "Fukao-yanagi" (Salix x sigemitui) belongs to Salicaceae (the Willow family). It is a small deciduous tree that is a natural hybrid between the "Yubiso-yanagi" (Salix hukaoana) and the "Rosegold pussy willow" (Salix gracilistyla). The distribution of the "Yubiso-yanagi" is from the Tohoku region to Niigata and Gunma prefectures, while the "Rosegold pussy willow" is distributed throughout Japan, so the distribution of this "Fukao-yanagi" is also similar to that of the "Yubiso-yanagi". It grows in mountainous rivers in snowy areas on the side of the Ou Mountains facing the Sea of Japan, and is 1 to 5 m tall. The bark is grayish-black and smooth, and when it gets old, it splits vertically. The leaves are oblong, 8-12 cm long, and have low serrations along the edges. The lateral veins are similar to those of the "Rosegold pussy willow", being parallel and curved. From March to April, it produces a cylindrical, oblong inflorescence similar to that of the "Yubiso-yanagi". This species was discovered in 1972, and the Japanese name is derived from the discoverer, Shigemitsu Fukao.  宮城県仙台市青葉区「東北大学植物園」にて、2024年11月21日撮影。  Shu Suehiro shu@botanic.jp