Diphylleia grayi
| Skeleton flower | |
|---|---|
| File:サンカヨウ(山荷葉)(Diphylleia grayi)-花 (6010492091).jpg | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Berberidaceae |
| Genus: | Diphylleia |
| Species: | D. grayi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diphylleia grayi | |
(Diphylleia_grayi)-%E8%8A%B1_(6010492091).jpg){kind=link}
Diphylleia grayi, also known as the skeleton flower, is a species of perennial plant in the family Berberidaceae. It is native to northern and central Japan.[2]
Other regions and languages have common names for this plant; In Japan, it is commonly referred to as Japanese: サンカヨウ, romanized: sankayō, lit. 'lotus of mountain'. In China, it is commonly referred to as Chinese: 冰莲, romanized: bīng lián, lit. 'ice lotus'.
Description
[edit | edit source]
The plant grows up to 0.4 m (1.3 ft). The flowers are white, pedicellate, with six obovate petals and bloom from May to July.[3] After it flowers, it bears dark blue/purple fruit with a white powdery coating from June to August.[4] Its stems are terete and grow 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long. Its rhizomes are stout and knotty. The plant is known to have petals that become transparent when in contact with water, giving it its common name. After they dry, the petals return to their white coloration.[5]
Distribution and habitat
[edit | edit source]The plant is distributed from north to central Honshu, Hokkaido, Mount Daisen, and Sakhalin. It grows in slightly moist places in the woods of high mountains.[6][7]
Medical uses
[edit | edit source]In the 1960s, botanist Yanagi Kimura discovered that D. grayi crude extracts contain substances similar to but more powerful than podophyllin and colchicine. The extract had anti-tumor effects on transplantable animal tumors.[8]
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
Fruit
-
Close-up of fruit
-
Young fruits
-
Flowers
-
Bud
-
Seeds in a split fruit
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Citizen science observations for Diphylleia grayi at iNaturalist
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar at line 165: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 392: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').