Japanese name: マツバウンラン Scientific name:Nuttallanthus canadensis
[Overview]
An annual or biennial 25–80 cm tall, found in sunny places along roadsides and on vacant land.
The stem is erect, slender, and branches at the base.
It spreads by producing stolons.
Leaves are simple and alternate, linear, 15–30 mm long and 0.1–2.5 mm wide.
A raceme at the stem tip bears flowers that open in order from the bottom.
The flowers are pale purple, lipped, about 1 cm across; the upper lip is shallowly 2-lobed and the lower lip is 3-lobed with a white center.
There is a tubular, pointed spur.
[History]
It was first collected in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, in 1941, and is now naturalized in many places.
