Pteridophyllum racemosum ("Osabagusa")

Japanese name: オサバグサ （筬葉草）
Scientific name: Pteridophyllum racemosum

[Overview]
A perennial 15–25 cm tall, found in coniferous forests of the subalpine zone.
It has a short rhizome and no aboveground stem.
Several leaves grow from the base; each is broadly lanceolate, 10–20 cm long and 2.5–3 cm wide, pinnately divided like the teeth of a comb, and gradually narrows at the base into a short leaf stalk.
The leaf lobes are linear-oblong with rounded tips and 0.3 cm wide, and the upper half of the margin is slightly serrated.
An erect flower stalk bears at its tip a raceme 5–15 cm long with white, 4-petaled flowers facing downward.
The fruit is a flattened globose capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It prefers a well-drained, well-ventilated place, and a soil mix for mountain wildflowers can be used.
It dislikes heat, humidity and dryness; in cold regions it tolerates full sun, but in warm regions partial shade is better.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries in spring, and water sparingly from summer to winter.
During long rainy spells, place potted plants under the eaves or somewhere else out of the rain.
Fertilize sparingly; for potted plants, watch the plant and place a small amount of slow-release fertilizer on the soil in spring, so that no fertilizer remains in summer.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
The Japanese name compares the shape of the leaves to the osa (reed of a loom) used in weaving.

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