samaniotogiri
Hypericaceae (St. John’s wort family)
Hypericum nakaii subsp. nakaii
- Physical characteristics:
- This perennial grows to approximately 25 cm in height. Multiple stems emerge together, and the leaves are elliptical to oblong, with numerous black spots along the edges and prominent reticulate veins. The petals lack black spots, and the length of the style is about 1.7 times that of the ovary
- Blooming period:
- July to August
- Habitat:
- along rivers in the foothills and in areas in and above the fifth stage
- Japanese name origin:
- “Otogiri” translates to “younger brother killed” and comes from a haunting legend in which an elder brother killed his younger brother for revealing that this flower was a secret remedy for wounds in hawks. It is said that the blood spatter left black spots on the leaves and flowers.