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The "Suzuka-kan-aoi" (Asarum rigescens var. brachypodion) belongs to Aristolochiaceae (the Birthwort family). It is a perennial herb that is an endemic species to Japan, and is found in Shiga, Mie, Aichi, Gifu and Shizuoka prefectures. It grows on the forest floor of evergreen broad-leaved forests, and grows to a height of around 10 cm. The leaves are narrow heart-shaped to heart-shaped, and are dark green in color, either with cloud-like patterns or plain. There are also white spots or white dots on the surface. From December to February, it produces flowers that are dark purple to brownish-red in color. The calyx tube is short and cylindrical, and the three sepal lobes are long and triangular, longer and larger than the calyx tube.
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