Penstemon
Beardtongue
Foxglove Beardtongue
Scientific Name:
Penstemon barbatus
Family:
Plantaginaceae
Flower Language
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justice
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admiration for beauty
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fascinated by you
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courage
Description
Penstemon is a perennial plant native to North and Central America that blooms from early summer to fall with bell-shaped flowers in colors including red, pink, purple, and white arranged in spikes. Growing 30-100 cm tall, it's commonly used in British-style gardening and has been extensively bred in Europe and America. While it prefers sunny locations, it's sensitive to high heat and humidity, requiring partial shade during summer.
Trivia
- The name Penstemon comes from Greek meaning 'five stamens', but it actually has four stamens and one staminode
- With about 250 species, it's one of the most diverse plant groups in the Americas
- In Britain it's called 'Beardtongue' due to the hairy staminode that's characteristic of the genus
- Some species are designated as state flowers in Colorado and Utah
Uses
Ornamental
- Used as cut flowers
- Garden border plantings
- Container gardening
Medicinal
- Used in Native American traditional medicine for wound treatment
- Believed to have anti-inflammatory properties
Caution:
Modern medical use is not recommended
Culinary
Not suitable for consumption
Other
- Used as a nectar source to attract bees and butterflies
- Planted for ecosystem conservation
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
Entire plant
Symptoms:
Large quantities may cause mild gastrointestinal upset
Bush Clover
Japanese Bush Clover
Lespedeza
Scientific Name:
Lespedeza thunbergii
Family:
Fabaceae
Flower Language
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shy affection
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contemplation
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flexible spirit
Description
Hagi is a deciduous shrub that heads the list of seven autumn flowers, blooming with many small white or reddish-purple flowers on drooping branches from July to September. Known as the plant that appears most frequently in the Manyoshu, it has been deeply loved by Japanese people since ancient times. It's one of the seven autumn flowers from the famous poem by Yamanoue no Okura: 'When I count on my fingers the flowers blooming in the autumn fields, there are seven kinds of flowers.' Despite its modest and delicate flower appearance, it grows very vigorously and is highly resistant to heat and cold, making it popular in gardening.
Trivia
- Hagi appears in 142 poems in the Manyoshu, the highest record among all plants
- The name derives from 'haegi' (sprouting buds), referring to its annual new growth
- Featured in Hanafuda cards as July cards with 'Hagi and Wild Boar' and 'Hagi and Poem Strip' designs
- Designated as the prefectural flower of Miyagi Prefecture, particularly famous as 'Miyagino Hagi'
Uses
Ornamental
- Creating autumn landscapes in gardens
- Flower arranging material
- Bonsai cultivation
Medicinal
- Roots used in folk medicine for fever reduction and diuresis
- Leaves believed to have hemostatic properties
Caution:
Efficacy and safety not confirmed by modern medicine
Culinary
Generally not used for culinary purposes
Other
- Leaves used as winter fodder for livestock until post-war period
- Used as green manure for soil improvement
Toxicity
Symptoms:
No particular toxicity reported
Cat's Whiskers
Java Tea
Kidney Tea Plant
Scientific Name:
Orthosiphon aristatus
Family:
Lamiaceae
Flower Language
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contribution
-
progress
-
happy family
Description
Cat's Whiskers is a perennial herb of the mint family native to Southeast Asia, characterized by stamens and pistils that protrude long like cat's whiskers, as the name suggests. Flowers come in white and light purple, blooming progressively from the bottom of the flower stem. While treated as an annual in Japan due to difficulty overwintering, it grows as a perennial in its native habitat. The leaves and stems are used as raw material for health tea (Kumis Kucing tea) and are important as a medicinal plant believed to have diuretic and blood pressure-lowering effects.
Trivia
- 'Kumis Kucing' means 'cat's whiskers' in Malay, and it's called by similar names worldwide
- The stamens and pistils protrude 4-5cm from the flower, exactly resembling cat's whiskers
- In Malaysia, it's beloved as a national health tea and available everywhere
- Has the characteristic fragrance of mint family plants and can be enjoyed as herbal tea
Uses
Ornamental
- Container gardening
- Border plants in flower beds
- Used as cut flowers
Medicinal
- Diuretic effects for edema improvement
- Blood pressure lowering effects
- Kidney function support
- Prevention of skin oiliness
Caution:
Consult a physician before using for medical purposes
Other
- Raw material for supplements
- Used as cosmetic ingredient
Toxicity
Symptoms:
No particular toxicity reported with appropriate usage
Wheel Lily
Whorled Lily
Tiger Lily
Scientific Name:
Lilium medeoloides
Family:
Liliaceae
Description
Wheel Lily is a perennial of the lily family native to cold regions of East Asia, beloved as the queen of alpine plants. It gets its name 'wheel lily' from the 6-15 leaves that grow in a wheel-like whorl around the middle of the stem. The flowers bloom in July-August, with six orange petals marked with dark red spots, creating beautiful flowers 5-6cm in diameter. In Japan, it's distributed from Hokkaido to Honshu and Shikoku in subalpine to alpine zones, growing at the highest elevations among native lilies.
Trivia
- Grows at the highest elevation (3000m class) among native lilies
- Alternative name 'Kasa Yuri' (Hat Lily) comes from flowers facing downward like a hat
- Unusual lily that can be seen at low elevations in Hokkaido
- Long-term growth plant taking 5-7 years from seed to flowering
Uses
Ornamental
- Display in alpine botanical gardens
- Cultivation in rock gardens
- Collection by wild plant enthusiasts
Medicinal
- Bulbs used medicinally in traditional Chinese medicine
- Used in folk medicine for cough suppression and fever reduction
Caution:
Medical use not recommended in modern times
Other
- Indicator plant for ecosystem conservation
- Research subject for alpine environments
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
Bulbs (when consumed in large quantities)
Symptoms:
Large quantities may cause gastrointestinal disorders