モモは多産や不老長寿の象徴として霊力を宿し、邪気を祓うと考えられました。桃源郷、桃の節句、桃太郎…。明るく華やかな花が咲きます。
Peach has long been considered a symbol of fertility and longevity, and is believed to have spiritual power and to exorcise evil spirits. Shangri-La, Peach Festival, Momotaro… Bright and gorgeous flowers bloom.
【仮名】モモ
【和名】桃
【英名】Peach
【学名】Prunus persica Batsch
【誕生】03/ 03, 04/ 12
【開花】03, 04月
【花色】White, Pink, Purple
モモ
モモの概要
モモはバラ科サクラ属の落葉低木～小高木です。原産地は中国北部の黄河上流、日本へは縄文時代に渡来。古くから多産や不老長寿の象徴として霊力を宿し、邪気を祓うと考えられました。花が咲き乱れる桃源郷、桃の節句の雛祭り、桃太郎の鬼退治…。明るく華やかな花が咲きます。
モモの名前
モモの和名の由来は、偽りのない真の果実「まみ（真実）」、燃えるように色づく果実「もえみ（燃実）」の転訛。または、果実がたくさん成るから「もも（百）」、短毛に覆われるから「もも（毛々）」です。英名ピーチは「ペルシャ」に由来。中東経由で欧州に伝わったからです。
モモの姿形
モモの葉は披針形で縁に鋸歯があり、互生します。花は花弁が５枚、雄しべが多数。白色～赤紫色の「咲き分け」が生じます。果実は丸く、お尻のように浅い溝が入り、ビロードのように短毛が密生。果肉は柔らかく瑞々しく甘く香り、中心に皺のある硬い殻で覆われた核があります。
モモの利用
モモは薬木でもあります。種子が生薬「桃仁」として月経不順や生理痛に、花蕾が生薬「白桃花」として便秘に、葉が生薬「桃葉」として気管支炎に、刻んで風呂に入れて皮膚の炎症に。一方、人によっては皮に含まれるタンパク質がアレルギー症状を引き起こすので注意が必要です。
Peach
Peach is a deciduous shrub to small tree of the Rosaceae family. It is native to the upper reaches of the Yellow River in northern China, and was introduced to Japan during the Jomon period. It has long been considered a symbol of fertility and longevity, and is believed to have spiritual power and to exorcise evil spirits. Shangri-La with its blossoms in full bloom, the Hinamatsuri festival for the Peach Festival, Momotaro’s slaying of demons… Bright and gorgeous flowers bloom.
The Japanese name Peach has many origins. It means true fruit without falsehood, fruit that is colored like fire, fruit that grows in abundance, fruit that is covered with short hairs, etc. The English name comes from “Persia”. It was introduced to Europe via the Middle East.
Peach leaves are lanceolate with sawtooth edges and alternate. The flower has five petals and many stamens. Peach blossoms that change color from white to purple. The fruit is round, with a shallow groove like a bottom, and is densely covered with short hairs like velvet. The flesh is soft, fresh, and sweet-smelling, and in the center is a kernel covered with a hard, wrinkled shell.
Peach is also a medicinal tree. The seeds are used for menstrual irregularities and menstrual pain, and the flower buds are used for constipation. The leaves are used for bronchitis, or chopped up and added to a bath for skin inflammation. However, caution is required as the protein in the skin can cause allergic reactions in some people.
