Scutellaria indica var. parvifolia ("Kobanotatsunami")

Japanese name: コバノタツナミ （小葉立浪）
Scientific name: Scutellaria indica var. parvifolia

[Overview]
A perennial 5–20 cm tall, found in the shade of trees in mountains near the coast on the Pacific side.
It has a short rhizome.
The whole plant is densely covered with short velvety hairs.
The stem is square in cross section; the base lies down and creeps for a long way, and the upper part stands up.
Leaves are simple and opposite, broadly ovate to triangular-ovate, 0.5–1.5 cm long and 0.7–1.8 cm wide, with 3–7 pairs of blunt teeth on the margin.
A raceme 3–8 cm long at the stem tip bears flowers turned to one side.
The corolla is bluish purple, about 1.5–2 cm long, and lipped; the tube bends at the base and stands up, the upper lip is helmet-shaped, and the lower lip is 3-lobed.
The lower lip has purple spots.
The fruit is a schizocarp.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by stem cuttings.
As long as the site is sunny, well drained and well ventilated, it is not particular about soil.
It dislikes excess moisture, so for potted plants water thoroughly after the soil has dried, and for plants in the ground rainfall is sufficient.
Too much fertilizer makes it grow too thickly and spoils its shape, so if a base fertilizer is applied, nothing more is needed.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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