Japanese name: カクレミノ（隠蓑） Scientific name:Dendropanax trifidus
[Overview]
An evergreen small tree 5–7 m tall, growing in evergreen forests.
Young twigs are green.
The leaves are simple and alternate, 5–14 cm long and 2–9 cm wide, with 3 conspicuous thick veins.
Leaf shape varies: leaves on young branches are broadly ovate and 3–5-lobed, while leaves on flowering branches are elliptic to rhombic-elliptic and either unlobed or 2–3-lobed.
The leaf margins are entire.
The petiole is 2–10 cm long.
Umbels on stalks 4–7 cm long appear at the branch tips and bear many flowers.
The flowers are pale yellowish green with 5 petals, about 5 mm across.
The fruit is elliptical, 1 cm long, and ripens black.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or from seed.
After the pulp is removed, store the seeds without letting them dry out, and sow in spring.
It prefers partial shade to shade and fertile soil that is moderately moist.
Direct sunlight in summer may cause leaf scorch.
It is not suited to dry places or poor soil.
It also dislikes cold winter winds.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
[Notes]
The Japanese name compares the split leaves to a mino (straw raincoat).
