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The "Hime-tamura-so" (Salvia pygmaea) belongs to Lamiaceae (the Mint family). It is a perennial herb that is endemic to Japan's Ryukyu Islands and is found on Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima in the Amami Islands, Okinawa Island and Kumejima in the Okinawa Islands, and Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island in the Yaeyama Islands. It grows on rocks along mountain streams and in damp areas, reaching a height of 10 to 15 cm. The leaves emerging from the base are twice-pinnately compound and spread out in a rosette. The terminal leaflets are obovate to oblanceolate, with coarse serrations along the margins and a wedge-shaped base that gradually narrows. From February to around June, it extends a flower stalk, producing numerous whorled, labiate flowers. The corolla is white, about 5 mm long, and may sometimes have a slight purple tint.
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