マツバボタンは高温や乾燥に強く、こぼれ種で殖えるので別名「不亡草」。一方、「無邪気」「可憐」といった可愛らしい花言葉があります。
Moss-rose Purslane is resistant to high temperatures and dryness, and reproduces by self-sown seedlings, so it is also known as the “immortal plant.” On the other hand, it has lovely flower meanings such as “innocence” and “dainty.”
【仮名】マツバボタン
【和名】松葉牡丹
【英名】Moss-rose Purslane, Rose-moss
【学名】Portulaca grandiflora
【誕生】08/ 03, 08/ 21, 11/ 05
【開花】06, 07, 08, 09月
【花色】White, Pink, Red, Yellow, Orange
マツバボタン
マツバボタンの概要
マツバボタンはスベリヒユ科の１年草です。原産地は南米のアルゼンチン、ブラジル、ウルグアイ。日本へは江戸時代末期に渡来しました。高温や乾燥に強く、放っておいても、こぼれ種で殖えるので別名「不亡草」。一方、「無邪気」「可憐」といった可愛らしい花言葉があります。
マツバボタンの名前
マツバボタンの名前の由来は、針のような葉を「松葉」に、華やかな花を「牡丹」に見立てたから。ラテン語の属名ポーチュラカは花が朝方に開いて夕方に閉じるので「門」、蒴果の裂ける様子から「小さな扉」という意味です。種小名グランディフローラは「大きな花」という意味。
マツバボタンの姿形
マツバボタンの根は塊茎から直根が伸び、ひげ根が生えます。茎は地面を匍匐し、葉は線形で互生し、いずれも多肉質。花は陽が照ると咲き、陰ると萎れます。一重咲きから八重咲まで、白色から赤色、黄色まで。花後の蒴果は微小な種子が緻密に詰まり、熟すと弾けて飛び散ります。
マツバボタンの近縁
マツバボタンの近縁種「花滑寛」は、同じように茎も葉も多肉質ですが、葉が線形でなく、ヘラ形。花は花弁５枚の一重咲きだけで、八重咲きがありません。ラテン語の属名ポーチュラカは同じく「門」「小さな扉」、種小名オレラセアは「野菜」や「薬草」、「菜園」といった意味。
Moss-rose Purslane
Moss-rose Purslane is an annual plant of the Portulacaceae family. It is native to South America, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. It was introduced to Japan at the end of the Edo period. It is resistant to high temperatures and dryness, and even if left alone, it reproduces by self-sown seedling, so it is also known as the “plant that never perishes.” On the other hand, it has cute flower meanings such as “innocence” and “lovely.”
The Japanese name of Moss-rose Purslane means “pine-like leaves, peony-like flowers.” The Latin genus name Portulaca means “gate” because the flowers open in the morning and close in the evening, or “little door” because the capsule splits. The specific name grandiflora means “big flower.”
The roots of Moss-rose Purslane grow from the tuber as a taproot, followed by fibrous roots. The stems creep along the ground, and the leaves are linear and alternate, all fleshy. The flowers bloom in the sun and wilt in the shade. They range from single to double flowers, and are white, red, or yellow. The capsules that bloom after flowering are densely packed with tiny seeds, which burst and scatter when ripe.
“Green Purslane,” a close relative of Moss-rose Purslane, also has fleshy stems and leaves, but its leaves are spatula-shaped instead of linear. Its flowers are single with five petals, and there are no double flowers. The Latin genus name Portulaca also means “gate” or “little door,” and the specific name oleracea means “vegetable,” “medicinal herb,” or “vegetable garden.”
