January 26

Birth Flower

Pygmy Lantern
Boronia Boronia crenulata

Scientific Name: Boronia crenulata
Family: Rutaceae

Flower Language

  • Impressive
  • Fragrance
  • Peaceful heart

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Pygmy Lantern is a plant belonging to the Boronia genus, an evergreen shrub of the citrus family. Native to Australia, it is characterized by its refreshing citrus fragrance from both flowers and leaves. It produces very beautiful flowers and is sometimes cultivated at home, but is considered a plant for intermediate to advanced gardeners. It is also used as a raw material for fragrances.

Trivia

  • The name Boronia is derived from a person's surname
  • The flower language also includes 'forbidden love', which may give a negative impression, so care should be taken when giving as a gift
  • As a member of the citrus family, it has a refreshing citrus fragrance
  • Considered a plant for intermediate to advanced gardeners, cultivation requires skill

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Garden planting
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal effects have been confirmed

Caution: No particular precautions

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Fragrance material
  • Aromatherapy

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported

Aubrieta
Purple Rock Cress Aubrieta deltoidea

Scientific Name: Aubrieta deltoidea
Family: Brassicaceae

Flower Language

  • Modest demeanor

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Aubrieta is a perennial of the Brassicaceae family distributed from the Mediterranean coast to Iran. With a height of about 15-20cm, the stems extend in a semi-creeping manner and grow in a cushion shape. In spring, it blooms with numerous purple or pink flowers about 2cm in diameter, covering the entire plant. It dislikes high temperature and humidity, and blooms beautifully in areas with cool summers. In Europe, it is used for edging spring flower beds and in rock gardens.

Trivia

  • Named after French botanical artist Claude Aubriet
  • A standard flower subtly planted in European spring flower beds
  • Wild species also grow in limestone crevices
  • When in full bloom, it produces so many flowers that they cover the entire plant

Uses

Ornamental
  • Border edging
  • Rock gardens
  • Container planting
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal effects have been confirmed

Caution: No particular precautions

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Ground cover
  • Stone wall decoration

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported

Clivia
Kaffir Lily Bush Lily

Scientific Name: Clivia miniata
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Flower Language

  • Noble
  • Compassionate
  • Sincere

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Clivia is a perennial of the Amaryllidaceae family native to South Africa. Despite having 'lily' in its name, it is not from the Orchidaceae family. It has thick, dark green leaves that spread like peacock feathers, and in spring produces 15-20 beautiful orange flowers at the tip of the stem. Flowering requires exposure to low temperatures below 10°C for about 60 days, and it produces red fruits in late autumn. It is suitable for indoor cultivation and is also popular as a houseplant.

Trivia

  • The scientific name 'Clivia' is derived from a name honoring a duchess from the 19th-century British Clive family
  • The name 'gentleman's orchid' comes from the scientific name 'nobilis' (noble)
  • Despite having 'lily' in its name, it is actually a member of the Amaryllidaceae family
  • Flowering requires the special condition of exposure to temperatures below 10°C for 60 days

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Houseplants
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal effects have been confirmed

Caution: No particular precautions

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Interior decoration
  • Gift plants

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Whole plant

Symptoms: May cause mild gastrointestinal upset

Hyacinth
Common Hyacinth Garden Hyacinth

Scientific Name: Hyacinthus orientalis
Family: Asparagaceae

Flower Language

  • Modest loveliness
  • Quiet love

Characteristics

Colors: White

Description

Hyacinth is a bulbous perennial of the Asparagaceae family native to the eastern Mediterranean coast to Iran and Turkmenistan. It blooms with fragrant flowers in racemes in spring, with white varieties giving a particularly pure and beautiful impression. Cultivated since ancient times, there are now about 2000 horticultural varieties. Hydroponic cultivation is also possible, and indoor cultivation can be enjoyed. Since being brought from Turkey to Europe in the 16th century, it has been beloved as a popular bulb plant.

Trivia

  • Records show cultivation since ancient Greek and Roman times
  • Beloved as a representative plant for hydroponic cultivation
  • Currently about 2000 horticultural varieties exist
  • Was also cultivated during the Ottoman Empire period

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Garden planting
  • Hydroponic cultivation
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal effects have been confirmed

Caution: Caution needed as bulbs contain toxic compounds

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Fragrance material
  • Interior decoration

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: Bulbs

Symptoms: Ingesting bulbs may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms

Amaryllis
Hippeastrum Knight's Star Lily

Scientific Name: Hippeastrum hybridum
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Flower Language

  • Pride
  • Shyness
  • Splendid beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Amaryllis is a bulbous perennial of the Amaryllidaceae family native to Central and South America. It produces 2-4 large, vividly colored flowers with a diameter of 10-20cm at the tip of thick, upright stems. The stems are thick and hollow inside, and characteristically, while the buds face upward, the flowers face sideways when they open. Main flowering is from May to June, with late-blooming varieties flowering in October. In winter, the above-ground parts die back and enter dormancy.

Trivia

  • The scientific name 'Hippeastrum' means 'as large as a horse and star-like flowers'
  • The name originates from a girl in a story by the ancient Roman poet Virgil
  • Produces large flowers with a diameter of 10-20cm
  • Characteristically has hollow stems

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Garden planting
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal effects have been confirmed

Caution: Caution needed as bulbs contain toxic compounds

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Interior decoration
  • Gift plants

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: Bulbs

Symptoms: Ingesting bulbs may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms

Sensitive Plant
Mimosa Shame Plant Touch-me-not

Scientific Name: Mimosa pudica
Family: Fabaceae

Flower Language

  • Delicate feelings
  • Sensitivity
  • Modesty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Sensitive plant is a perennial (treated as annual in Japan) of the Fabaceae family native to South America. Its greatest characteristic is the leaf movement that closes when touched, reacting 0.1 seconds after stimulation and taking about 30 minutes to reopen. This movement is a mechanism for self-protection. It produces cute pink spherical flowers in summer, and the stems have backward spines. It was brought to Japan by Dutch ships in the late Edo period.

Trivia

  • The scientific name 'pudica' means 'shy' in Latin
  • Research at Saitama University found that sensitive plants that cannot bow are eaten by insects twice as much
  • It reacts with amazing speed of 0.1 seconds after stimulation
  • It was brought to Japan by Dutch ships in the late Edo period

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Observation plants
  • Educational plants
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used medicinally in some regions, but scientific evidence is limited

Caution: Avoid self-medicating without professional guidance

Culinary

Generally not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Scientific experiments
  • Plant movement research
  • Children's learning materials

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Seeds

Symptoms: Seeds are reported to have mild toxicity, but this is generally not a problem for ornamental use