Japanese name: テイショウソウ（禎祥草） Scientific name:Ainsliaea corfifolia var. cordifolia
[Overview]
A perennial about 30–60 cm tall, found in rather dark mountain forests.
Slender underground stems with nodes creep horizontally.
The stem is tinged with purplish brown and is at first densely covered with soft hairs.
Four to seven leaves are borne alternately at the lower part of the stem; they are ovate-hastate, about 10–16 cm long, with a deeply heart-shaped base.
The leaf margins are toothed or cut.
Mature leaves often have cloud-like markings on the upper surface, and the underside is tinged with purple.
The leaves have petioles.
A raceme at the stem tip bears flower heads.
Each flower head has 3 florets; the florets are white, and the petals are twisted like a pinwheel.
The fruit is a hairless achene with a feathery pappus.
