January 17

Birth Flower

Japanese Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle Gold and Silver Flower Woodbine

Scientific Name: Lonicera japonica
Family: Caprifoliaceae

Flower Language

  • bonds of love
  • devoted love

Characteristics

Colors: white to yellow

Description

A common evergreen climbing plant found throughout Japan that blooms from May to June. The flowers start white and gradually turn yellow, hence the alternative name 'gold and silver flower.' The flowers have a sweet jasmine-like fragrance that becomes stronger at night to attract nocturnal moths for pollination. The name derives from children traditionally sucking the sweet nectar from the flower tubes.

Trivia

  • The Japanese name 'Suikazura' means 'sucking vine' from children sucking the flower nectar
  • The English name 'Honeysuckle' also derives from nectar-sucking behavior
  • Always blooms in pairs, which is the origin of the flower language 'bonds of love'
  • Considered an invasive species in some parts of North America

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cultivated as a climbing plant in gardens
  • Used in tea ceremonies
  • Grown on fences and trellises for ornamental purposes
Medicinal
  • Flower buds: fever reduction, diuretic, stomach tonic effects
  • Stems and leaves: astringent and blood purifying effects
  • Relief of cold symptoms and inflammation

Caution: Fruits are toxic and should not be used. Do not use medicinally without professional guidance

Culinary

Flower nectar traditionally consumed in very small amounts by children, but not recommended for culinary use

Other
  • Consumed as honeysuckle tea
  • Used as bath additive for therapeutic purposes
  • Fragrance use in aromatherapy

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: fruits

Symptoms: Fruit consumption may cause gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea)

African Violet
Saintpaulia

Scientific Name: Saintpaulia ionantha
Family: Gesneriaceae

Flower Language

  • small love
  • delicate love
  • friendly

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Characterized by thick, velvet-textured leaves and short stems, producing elegant violet-like flowers. With extensive breeding, there are now over 15,000 varieties distinguished by flower color, plant form, flower shape, and leaf shape. Known as the 'queen of houseplants' because it thrives year-round in low light conditions as long as temperatures are comfortable for humans. Can bloom continuously throughout the year when kept at 18-25°C.

Trivia

  • Uniquely thrives best in environments that humans find comfortable
  • Over 20,000 cultivars are said to exist
  • Features various flower forms including striped patterns and fringed edges
  • Leaf watering is forbidden due to the fuzzy leaf surface

Uses

Ornamental
  • Indoor potted cultivation
  • Window decoration
  • Collection plant
Medicinal
  • None

Caution: No medicinal uses

Culinary

Not edible

Other
  • Air purification effect
  • Healing and relaxation benefits
  • Use in horticultural therapy

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Shepherd's Purse
Pennywort Mother's Heart

Scientific Name: Capsella bursa-pastoris
Family: Brassicaceae

Flower Language

  • I offer everything to you
  • I entrust everything to you

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An annual herb growing everywhere in fields, wastelands, and roadsides, producing white flowers and triangular fruits from spring to summer. Blooms from mid-January to mid-May, characterized by rosette leaves that spread flat against the ground. Long cherished as one of the seven spring herbs, its young shoots and leaves are edible. Also called 'pennywort' due to its coin-shaped fruits resembling a shamisen pick.

Trivia

  • Famous in the spring seven herbs song: 'seri, nazuna, gogyo, hakobera, hotokenoza, suzuna, suzushiro'
  • Alternative name 'pennywort' comes from fruits resembling shamisen picks
  • Japanese name derives from 'summer-less vegetable' or 'stroking vegetable'
  • One of the most successful weeds distributed worldwide

Uses

Ornamental
  • Subject of nature observation as a wild plant
  • Educational material for spring nature studies
Medicinal
  • Hemostatic effects (used as medicinal herb 'seisai')
  • Fever reduction, diarrhea and constipation relief
  • Diuretic, chronic nephritis and edema relief

Caution: Use only as folk medicine; avoid large consumption without medical guidance

Culinary
  • young shoots
  • young leaves
  • basal leaves
Other
  • Indicator plant for spring wildflower observation
  • Environmental education material
  • Cultural tradition preservation

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic but avoid excessive consumption

Cymbidium
Boat Orchid

Scientific Name: Cymbidium hybrid
Family: Orchidaceae

Flower Language

  • unpretentious heart
  • simplicity
  • secluded beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A member of the orchid family native to Asia including India, Nepal, Myanmar, and China, representing one of the signature winter flowers blooming from December to April. The leaf base features swollen parts called pseudobulbs that store nutrients and produce flower spikes. Relatively cold-tolerant, withstanding minimum temperatures down to 5°C. Flowers have an exceptionally long lifespan, lasting over 100 days from first bloom to wilting.

Trivia

  • Relatively easy to grow among orchids, popular with beginners
  • Flowers last over 100 days, exceptionally long-lived
  • Established as representative winter gift orchids alongside Phalaenopsis
  • Various colors and sizes created through breeding programs

Uses

Ornamental
  • Winter cut flowers
  • Indoor decoration as potted plants
  • Luxury gift flowers
Medicinal
  • None

Caution: No medicinal uses

Culinary

Not edible

Other
  • Fragrance enjoyment (some varieties)
  • Horticultural collection
  • Flower arrangements

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Common Sorrel
Sour Dock Garden Sorrel

Scientific Name: Rumex acetosa
Family: Polygonaceae

Flower Language

  • affection
  • parental love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A perennial herb growing along roadsides, typically 60cm tall but can reach 1 meter. The stems and leaves are occasionally tinged with red, with arrow-shaped lower leaves. The leaves and stems contain high levels of oxalic acid, giving them a sour taste when chewed. Produces small red flowers in spikes during summer. Prefers somewhat moist locations and commonly forms small colonies in sunny fields, farmlands, roadsides, ridges, embankments, and vacant lots near human settlements.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'Rumex acetosa' means 'spear' and 'sour' in Latin
  • English name 'sorrel' also means 'sour' due to its taste
  • Contains high levels of oxalic acid like spinach and bamboo shoots
  • A familiar wild plant commonly seen in sunny fields and embankments throughout Japan

Uses

Ornamental
  • Subject of wild plant observation
  • Educational material for nature studies
Medicinal
  • Root (sanmokon): effective for constipation
  • External medicine for skin diseases (athlete's foot, ringworm)
  • Recent research confirms presence of anti-cancer substances

Caution: Avoid large consumption due to high oxalic acid content. Those with kidney problems should avoid consumption

Culinary
  • young stems and leaves
  • young shoots
  • young leaves
Other
  • As environmental indicator plant
  • Soil improvement effects
  • Food for wildlife

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: whole plant (due to oxalic acid)

Symptoms: Large consumption may cause kidney stones or gastrointestinal symptoms