月下美人

ベランダで鉢植えしている月下美人の花が咲きました。数年前に捨てられるところだった、切れ端のような葉状茎をもらい受け、育てていました。昨年初めて花を付けたのですが、今年の春強剪定してしまい、通常は初夏に花を付けるはずが、全く咲かなかったのであきらめていました。ところが秋のこの時期に2つつぼみを付け、そのうちの1つが今夜咲きました。大輪の花が数時間かけてゆっくり開き、濃厚な甘い香りを漂わせています。原産地では樹木に絡みついて伸び上がり、コウモリが花粉を媒介するとか。日本では路地での栽培は寒さのため厳しいので、もっぱら鉢植えで楽しまれます。

The queen of the night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) that I have potted on my balcony has bloomed. A few years ago, I acquired a few pieces of leafy stem that was about to be thrown away, and I have been taking care of it since then. It flowered for the first time in July last year. I mistakenly pruned it hard this spring, and it have never bloomed this year, so I gave up on it. A week before, however, I noticed that it produced two buds, and one of them bloomed tonight. The large flower opened slowly over a few hours, giving off a dense, rich, sweet fragrance. In its place of origin, it grows up entwined with trees, and bats transmit pollen. In Japan, it is difficult to grow it outdoors due to the cold weather in winter, so it is mostly enjoyed as a potted plant.

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Photo 2021-09-29