Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

　　　　　　　　　　　　<Japanese allspice> 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　<Soshin Rowby>   

 It is a beautiful garden. The tranquil and calm fragrance of "Japanese allspice", which blooms dignifiedly in a corner of the flower garden in winter, is drifting.

Japanese allspice is a deciduous shrub native to China.

The name is plum (the genus Sakura), but Kimoto of another family in the genus Rubiaceae, Japanese allspice.

From January to February, it branches off from the ground surface to form a plant, and in early spring when the cold is still severe, before other flowers, it produces shiny and pretty flowers reminiscent of yellow beeswax.

Japanese allspice flowers have a large number of flower pieces (collectively when petals and calyx are similar in shape), the outer flower pieces are large and yellow, and the inner flower pieces are small, dark purple, elegant and light sweet scent.

On the other hand, on the shores of the pond of Shioiri, "Soshinroubye" is called "Soshinroubai".

Here, both the outer flower piece and the inner flower piece are the same vivid yellow, and the fragrance is strong.

Sweet, fruity, slightly soap-like clean scent, similar to the scent of Japanese narcissus.

It is said to be derived from essential oil components such as linalol, Borneool, and cineool.

The fragrance is also stronger and clearer than the early spring flower "Ume".

It blooms in an overhead and has a Japanese taste, and is also used as a tea flower.

The fragrance reminds me of "easiness".

✎ There is "Kurobanarobai" in different species of the genus, but this is native to North America.

It blooms from April to June, the flowers are chocolate-colored, and the petals are chic without warping.

Its appearance, flower color, and flower season are completely different from Japanese allspice.

　　　　　　　　　<Seglocame adult bird>　　　　　　　　　　　　　　<Seglocame young bird>

 The Kamejima River diverts from the Nihonbashi River, passes through the Nihonbashi Sluice Gate, changes southeast to the vicinity of Kameshima Bridge, and joins the Sumida River via the Kamejima River Sluice Gate.

Five bridges span the flow of about 1 km, Reigishi Bridge, Shin Kameshima Bridge, Kameshima Bridge, Takahashi and Minami Takahashi.

"Seglocamome" stands on the riverbank near Takahashi and Minami Takahashi.

seagull is a winter bird of the plover eye seagull family.

The size of seagulls is affordable and easy to see, and when they are not flying, they are still resting and mending them.

In addition, seagull is often flocked with different species, and a group of "liquid plums" beside it.

young bird's wings are brown (young).

It is said that it will take about four years to become adult bird's wings.

He shows various "gusas" such as "fairing", "foraging", "dormant", "screaming", etc.

✎Although it is difficult to distinguish seagull species, it is relatively easy to identify the three species of seagull that are often found in the mouth of the Sumida River.

　Seglocame>　Larger than crows. His legs are light red. The beak is yellow and red spots at the bottom of the beak.

　<black-tailed gull>　　　 Medium-sized (crow size). The legs are yellow. The beak is yellow and the tip is red and black.

　Squirrel>　　 Small (smaller than crow). The legs are red. The beak is red and the tip is black.

　　　　　 　<Seglocame>　　　　　　　　　　<black-tailed gull>　　　　　　　　　　　<Uricamome>

　　　　　　　　　　<adult bird Goisagi>　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　<young bird Goisagi>

 New Year's Tsukuda Park.

Despite the severe cold weather, it is easy to find wild birds flying between the trees in winter.

A convenient season for bird watching.

The object of observation this time is "Goissagi".

It is a crow-sized stork-eye heron bird and is considered "dome bird" or "wafting bird".

In adult bird, the upper surface is dark indigo gray, the lower surface is white, the wings are gray, and the iris is red.

young bird is also known as "Hoshigoi" because its upper surface is grayish brown and white spotted and looks like a star. The lower surface is cloudy white and the iris is yellow.

I hear that it takes about three years to become the color of adult bird.

He usually shrinks his neck, round his back, and looks stupid.

It is said that in the daytime in nocturnal he rests on or on the trees and preys while wandering around the water at night.

In the daytime, he sometimes shows various expressions and gestures while moving little.

    ------- adult bird--------

　　　　　　　　<face>　　　　　　　　　   　 <Shrinking forward bending shoulders>　　　　　　　　  <Single-legged dormant>

    ------- young bird-------- 

　　　　　　　　<face>　　　　　　　　 　　　　<Fairing>　　　　　　　　 　　<Single-legged dormant>