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The "Naze-kan-aoi" (Asarum nazeanum) belongs to Aristolochiaceae (the Birthwort family). It is a perennial herb that is endemic to Amami Oshima in Japan's Amami Islands. It grows under broad-leaved evergreen forests and reaches a height of 5 to 10 cm. The leaves are ovate to ovate-triangular with a cordate base; their upper surface is dark green, matte, and typically lacks mottling. The underside of the leaves is pale green. It blooms with greenish-brown flowers from around February to March. The calyx tube is cup-shaped and constricted at the top, with a well-developed ring around the mouth, surrounded by small, white, plate-like projections. There are 12 stamens arranged in two rows, inner and outer, and six styles that stand erect, ending in short, horn-like projections. It is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the Ministry of the Environment's Red List.
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