The "Ho-tsutsuji" (Elliottia paniculata) belongs to Ericaceae (the Azalea family). It is a small deciduous tree that is endemic to Japan, and distributed from Hokkaido south to Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. This tree grows in sunny mountains and can reach about 2 m in height. The racemes are borne on the terminal branches and bloom white or pale pink flowers from August to October. The corolla is trilobate and recurving. The style is protruded from the corolla. The flowers and leaves are toxic, and cause poisoning after accidental eating of the plants. The Japanese name comes from the fact that the flowers are arranged in spikes. It is also called "yama-boki" (mountain broom), which is derived from the fact that the branches were bound together to make brooms.