ニセアカシアは鈴なりの花房が美しく、強く甘い芳香も漂わせます。各地に植栽された樹々は花蜜も豊富。養蜂の蜜源植物としても有用です。
Black locust has beautiful bell-shaped flower clusters and has a strong sweet fragrance. The trees planted in various places are rich in nectar. It is also useful as a beekeeping herb.
【仮名】ニセアカシア, ハリエンジュ
【和名】針槐
【英名】Black Locust, Locust Tree
【学名】Robinia pseudoacacia
【誕生】04/ 27, 05/ 11
【開花】04, 05, 06月
【花色】White, Pink
ニセアカシア
ニセアカシアの生態
ニセアカシアはマメ科の落葉樹です。原産地は北米。根粒菌の窒素供給により、痩せ地でも生育し、生長も早いため、観賞樹のほか、砂防や土留め、緑化などに用いられました。材は固くて丈夫なので線路の枕木や船材などに、火持ちが良いので燃料にも利用。花言葉は「慕情」です。
ニセアカシアの学名
ニセアカシアの名前は学名に由来します。ラテン語で「アカシアに似ている」という意味。しかし、葉は似ているものの、花は色も形も似ていません。アカシアは黄色い球形の花、ニセアカシアは白い蝶形花。分類も違い、アカシアはアカシア属、ニセアカシアはハリエンジュ属です。
ニセアカシアの呼称
ニセアカシアの日本への渡来は明治時代初期です。アカシアより先に移入されたため、「アカシア」と呼称。その後に移入されたアカシアは、日本の湿潤な気候が合わず、広がりません。一方、ニセアカシアは適応し、各地で野生化。そのため、いまだに「アカシア」とも呼ばれます。
ニセアカシアの和名
ニセアカシアの和名は「槐」に由来。生薬として、古くに中国から日本に渡来した落葉樹です。そのエンジュに葉の着き方が似ていて、幹や枝にトゲがあるから「針槐」。しかし、葉の形は異なり、ニセアカシアは先端が尖り、エンジュは凹んでいます。分類もエンジュはエンジュ属。
ニセアカシアの利用
ニセアカシアは白い小花が集まって房状に下垂。鈴なりの花穂が美しく、強く甘い芳香も漂わせます。公園や堰堤、街路に植栽された観賞樹は、花蜜に富むことから、養蜂の蜜源植物としても有用。一方、猛烈な繁殖力で周囲の植生を乱すなど、生態系への悪影響も危惧されています。
Black Locust
Black locust ecology
Black locust is a deciduous tree of the leguminous family. The place of origin is North America. Due to the nitrogen supply of rhizobia, it grows even in lean areas and grows quickly, so it was used for ornamental trees, sabo, earth retaining, and greening. The material is hard and durable, so it can be used for railroad ties and ship materials, and because it has a long life, it can also be used as fuel. The flower language is “love”.
Scientific name of black locust
The name of black locust comes from the scientific name. In Latin, it means “similar to acacia.” However, although the leaves are similar, the flowers are not similar in color or shape. Acacia is a yellow spherical flower, and black locust is a white butterfly flower. The classification is also different, Acacia belongs to the genus Acacia, and black locust belongs to the genus Robinia.
Name of black locust
The arrival of black locust in Japan was in the early Meiji era. Called “Acacia” because it was imported before Acacia. Acacia imported after that did not spread due to the humid climate of Japan. On the other hand, black locust had adapted and had become wild in various places. Therefore, it is still called “Acacia”.
Japanese name of black locust
The Japanese name “Hari Enju” for black locust is derived from “Enju: Styphnolobium”. It is a deciduous tree that came to Japan from China for a long time as a crude drug. The way the leaves are attached is similar to that of Enju, and there are Hari: thorns on the trunk and branches, so it is called “Hari Enju”. However, the shape of the leaves is different, the black locust has a sharp tip, and the Styphnolobium is dented. As for the classification, Enju belongs to the genus Styphnolobium.
Use of black locust
Black locust is a collection of white florets that hang down in tufts. The bell-shaped spikes are beautiful and have a strong sweet fragrance. Ornamental trees planted in parks, dams, and streets are rich in nectar, so they are also useful as nectar sources for beekeeping. On the other hand, there are concerns about adverse effects on the ecosystem, such as disturbing the surrounding vegetation due to its ferocious fertility.
