オオイヌノフグリは明治時代に渡来した帰化種。日当たりの良いところで自生し、春の訪れを告げる身近な花です。花言葉は「愛くるしい」。
Persian Speedwell is a naturalized species that was brought to Japan during the Meiji period. It is a familiar flower that grows wild in sunny places and heralds the arrival of spring. Flower language is “lovely”.
【仮名】オオイヌノフグリ
【和名】大犬の陰嚢
【英名】Persian Speedwell, Common Field Speedwell
【学名】Veronica persica
【誕生】02/ 11
【開花】02, 03, 04, 05月
【花色】Blue
オオイヌノフグリ
オオイヌノフグリの来歴
オオイヌノフグリはオオバコ科クワガタソウ属の越年草です。原産地は欧州で、日本へは明治時代に渡来。北海道から沖縄まで広がり、空き地や道端、田畑の畔、川の土手など、日当たりの良いところで自生しています。春の訪れを告げる身近な花の１つで、花言葉は「愛くるしい」。
オオイヌノフグリの名前
オオイヌノフグリの名前の由来は、日本在来の「犬の陰嚢」に姿形が似ていながら、花が大きいから。ラテン語の属名ベロニカは、十字架を背負ってゴルゴタの丘へと向かうキリストに、額の汗を拭くようベールを渡した聖女の名前です。種小名ペルシカは「ペルシャの」という意味。
オオイヌノフグリの茎と葉
オオイヌノフグリは秋、涼しくなると地中の種子から芽を出して茎を伸ばし、地際で盛んに分枝しながら四方に這い広がります。葉は下のほうが卵形で対生、上のほうが楕円形で互生、縁が浅くギザギザ。茎と葉は冬、体内の糖濃度を高めて寒さに耐え、短い毛で雪や霜を遠ざけます。
オオイヌノフグリの花と実
オオイヌノフグリは、茎先の葉腋から花柄を伸ばし、朝方から夕方まで開花。花冠は４裂し、そのうち１片が小さく、青色も薄くなります。花蜜で虫を誘い、２本の雄しべで他家受粉しますが、自家受粉も可能。花後は少し尖ったハート型の朔果を結び、苦手な夏を種子で過ごします。
オオイヌノフグリの近縁
オオイヌノフグリの近縁「犬の陰嚢」は花が淡い桃色で小さく、葉も小さな日本の在来種。帰化種に圧されて衰退しつつある絶滅危惧種です。一方、「立犬の陰嚢」は花が青色で小さく、草丈が高い帰化種。「小米犬の陰嚢」は花が白色で小さく、茎葉が毛に覆われている帰化種です。
Persian Speedwell
Origin of Persian Speedwell
Persian Speedwell is a perennial plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. Originating in Europe, it was introduced to Japan in the Meiji era. Spread from Hokkaido to Okinawa, it grows wild in sunny places such as vacant lots, roadsides, the banks of fields, and the banks of rivers. One of the familiar flowers that announces the arrival of spring, the flower language is “lovely”.
Name of Persian Speedwell
The Japanese name for Persian Speedwell means “Big Grey Field Speedwell”. This is because it resembles the Japanese native Grey Field Speedwell in shape and has larger flowers. The Latin genus Veronica is the name of the saint who gave Christ a veil to wipe the sweat from his forehead as he carried his cross to the hills of Golgotha. The species name Persica means “Persian”.
Stems and leaves of Persian Speedwell
When the weather cools down in autumn, Persian Speedwell sprout from seeds in the ground, grow stems, and spread out in all directions while branching profusely at the ground level. The lower leaves are ovate and opposite, while the upper leaves are elliptical and alternate, with shallow and jagged margins. In winter, the stems and leaves increase the concentration of sugar in the body to withstand the cold, and the short hairs keep snow and frost away.
Flower and fruit of Persian Speedwell
Persian Speedwell extends the flower stalk from the leaf axil at the tip of the stem, and blooms from morning to evening. The corolla is 4-lobed, one of which is small and the blue color is pale. It attracts insects with nectar and cross-pollinates with two stamens, but self-pollination is also possible. After flowering, it bears a slightly sharp heart-shaped sycamore, and spends the difficult summer as a seed.
Relative of Persian Speedwell
“Veronica polita”, a close relative of Veronica persica, is a Japanese native species with small pale pink flowers and small leaves. It is an endangered species that is in decline due to pressure from naturalized species. On the other hand, “Veronica arvensis” is a naturalized species with small, blue flowers and a tall plant. “Veronica cymbalaria” is a naturalized species with small white flowers and hairy stems and leaves.
