The "Hitori-shizuka" (Chloranthus japonicus) belongs to Myrsinaceae (the Myrsine family). It is a perennial herb that is distributed to Japan, the southern Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula and China. This herb grows in montane shade places and can reach 20-30 cm in height. The stem is erect, the leaves are glossy, elliptic and decussate. The spikes are borne and bloom white flowers from April to May. The flower is non-petaled and has white elongated stamens. Its Japanese name is a metaphor for the figure of Shizuka Gozen, the wife of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1184). The Chinese name is "銀線草" (yin xian cao).