Japanese name: スズカケソウ（鈴懸草） Scientific name:Veronicastrum villosulum
[Overview]
A perennial found in bamboo groves.
The stems extend obliquely to 1–1.5 m long, with the tips drooping.
New plantlets form at the tips of stems that droop and touch the ground.
The stems are densely covered with velvety hairs.
The leaves are simple and alternate, ovate, 7–11 cm long and 3–5 cm wide, with a pointed tip and dense velvety hairs.
The leaf margin has pointed teeth.
Short, spherical spikes from the leaf axils bear dense flowers.
The flowers are dark purple, 7 mm long, and the 2 stamens project far out of the flower.
The fruit is an ovoid capsule 2.5 mm long.
[Notes]
The Japanese name likens the sight of the spherical inflorescences lined up along the branches to the suzukake (ritual vestment) of a yamabushi (mountain ascetic).
