September 25

Birth Flower

Wild Chrysanthemum
Blue Wild Aster Field Chrysanthemum

Scientific Name: Aster microcephalus var. ovatus
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • Simplicity
  • Longevity
  • Unforgettable feelings

Characteristics

Colors: navy blue

Description

Aster microcephalus var. ovatus is a Japanese endemic wild chrysanthemum that grows naturally in wide areas from Honshu to Kyushu. As the name suggests, meaning 'navy blue chrysanthemum blooming in fields', it has a wide range of flower colors from white to red-purple and blue-purple. Characterized by simple and modest beauty, it blooms successively in roadsides and fields from August to November. It's a perennial with very strong reproductive ability, spreading through underground stems.

Trivia

  • Said to have over 1000 local names throughout Japan
  • Bloomed abundantly across fields during the reconstruction period after the Great Kanto Earthquake, comforting people's hearts
  • Many varieties exist based on leaf shape and presence or absence of hair
  • Recently, horticultural varieties have also been developed and distributed

Uses

Ornamental
  • Used as material for creating gardens with natural charm
  • Used in autumn wildflower arrangements as cut flowers
  • Used in plantings to create natural landscapes
Medicinal
  • Used in folk medicine to relieve cold symptoms
  • Believed to have fever-reducing effects

Caution: Modern medical evidence is limited; self-medication should be avoided

Culinary
  • Young leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Attracts butterflies and bees as nectar source
  • Important as indicator plant for ecosystem conservation

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic; young leaves and flowers are edible

Tibouchina
Purple Glory Tree Brazilian Spider Flower

Scientific Name: Tibouchina urvilleana
Family: Melastomataceae

Flower Language

  • Devoted love
  • Serenity
  • Humble brilliance

Characteristics

Colors: purple

Description

Tibouchina urvilleana is an evergreen shrub of the Melastomataceae family native to Central and South America, centered in Brazil. It produces large purple flowers 7-10cm in diameter, characterized by 5 petals and 10 stamens (5 of which curve in a hook shape). It blooms continuously from August to November, and while each flower lasts only one day, new flowers bloom successively. Despite being tropical in origin, it's cold-hardy and easy to cultivate in Japan.

Trivia

  • The unique hook-shaped stamens are result of evolutionary pollination strategy
  • Alternative name 'Brazilian Spider Flower' comes from flower shape resembling spiders
  • Despite tropical origin, has cold resistance allowing outdoor overwintering in Kanto region and westward
  • Purple color intensity varies by variety, and white-flowered varieties also exist

Uses

Ornamental
  • Used as main feature in autumn flower beds for garden planting
  • Indoor and outdoor decoration in potted form
  • Used in autumn arrangements as cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Used for digestive disorders in Brazilian folk medicine
  • Believed to have antioxidant properties

Caution: Insufficient modern medical evidence; medicinal use requires expert guidance

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Attracts butterflies and bees as nectar source
  • Purple pigment can be extracted for use as dye

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Sea Aster
Seashore Aster Salt Marsh Aster

Scientific Name: Aster tripolium
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • Endurance
  • Adaptability
  • Rare beauty

Characteristics

Colors: pale purple

Description

Aster tripolium is an annual plant growing in salt marshes along the Pacific coast from eastern Hokkaido to Kyushu. It's a specialized plant adapted to harsh environments where it's submerged in seawater during high tide, possessing high salt tolerance. It blooms with pale purple flowers about 2cm in diameter from September to November, and is also called Hamasuon. Due to coastal development reducing its habitat, it's currently designated as Vulnerable (VU) species.

Trivia

  • The only Asteraceae plant in Japan that blooms in environments submerged by seawater at high tide
  • Has special adaptive ability to grow normally even in 3% salt concentration seawater
  • Habitats may further decrease due to sea level rise from global warming
  • Seeds disperse via ocean currents, so discovery of new populations in remote areas is possible

Uses

Ornamental
  • Exhibition cultivation in coastal botanical gardens
  • Research for use as salt-tolerant garden plant
  • Used as educational material in environmental education
Medicinal
  • Believed to have diuretic effects in European folk medicine
  • Traditionally said to be effective for salt regulation

Caution: Collection prohibited as endangered species; medicinal use is not practical

Culinary
  • Young leaves
Other
  • Important as indicator species for salt marsh ecosystem conservation
  • Used in coastal environment restoration projects

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic but contains high salt content, so large consumption should be avoided