スミレの山　高尾山⑭　サクラスミレ Takao, the mountain of violets: No.14 Sakura-sumire

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
高尾山は、知る人ぞ知るスミレの山。
日本では、約５０種のスミレの野生種(*1)が確認されていますが、高尾にはそのうち１８種が自生している(*2)と言われています。高尾山ならびにその周辺では、毎年３月上旬から５月下旬にかけて、あちこちで可憐なスミレの花々を観察することができます。

Mt. Takao is known as habitats for a wide variety of wild violet flowers (in Japanese, sumire, or “Sue-Mee-Ray”). In Japan, about 50 species of wild violets (*1) have been confirmed, and 18 of them are said to grow naturally in the Mt. Takao area(*2). Every year from the beginning of March to the end of May, you can find pretty violet flowers all over the place in Mt. Takao and its surroundings.

(Stealing and vandalizing wild plants in the areas designated under the Natural Parks Act are illegal and subject to a criminal charge.)
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

サクラスミレは比較的標高の高い草地に咲くスミレで、高尾エリアでは陣馬山や笹尾根などで目撃情報がありますが、高尾山で見かけることはまずありません。見かけたら、それはそれは幸運です。

Sakura-sumire (Viola hirtipes) are a violet found typically in grasslands at relatively high altitudes. In the Takao area, there are reports in Mt. Jinba and Sasaone Ridge. I have never heard of any report about them in Mt. Takao. You are extremely lucky if you spot them there.

すみれの中では花は比較的大ぶりで、花弁の先が凹形になるものが多いことで見分けがつきます。ですが、必ずしもそういうわけではなく、他のスミレと同様花弁の先が円形である個体も多く、同定のためには距を含めた花の特徴ならびに葉など全体を観察する必要があります。高尾エリアでは個体数が極めて少ないため見慣れる機会も乏しいことから、同定の難易度が高いスミレです。

Their flowers are relatively large amongst the violets, and can be distinguished by their concave petal tips. However, this is not always the case, as many of them have round petal tips like other violets. That makes it necessary to carefully observe them in their entirety, including the features of the leaf and the flower such as the spur, for exact identification. Because they are so few in the Takao area, there are few opportunities to get familiarized with them. That makes identification even more difficult.

＊１
門田裕一,『日本の野生植物 ３』, (平凡社、2016), P.209
Yuichi Kadota, "Wild flowers of Japan 3," (Heibonsha K.K. 2016), P.209
＊2
東京都　高尾山ビジターセンター
The Takao Visitor Center

スミレ三昧 – 東京都　高尾ビジターセンター