クズの葉痕と冬芽：Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata): Leaf marks and winter buds

夏にあれほどの勢いで成長し、河川敷の木々を覆い尽くしたクズも、秋深くなってすべて葉を散らしています。一年で10メートル以上も成長し、春に伸びた蔓は小指ほどの太さに、昨年からの蔓は親指の太さほどになり、木肌にめり込んで木を締め付けています。その「猛威」に似合わないのが葉痕の模様。小さな顔が申し訳なさげに覗いています。クズの葉痕はことのほか個性的なものが多いようです。撮影した中からいくつか拾ってみました。

The kudzu, which had grown so vigorously in the summer and covered the trees along the riverbed, has all lost its leaves in deep autumn. The vines have grown more than ten meters in a year, the spring vines as thick as my pinky finger, and the vines from last year as thick as my thumb, digging into the bark and pinning the tree down. What doesn't suit its "ferociousness" is the pattern of the leaf marks. A small face peeks out apologetically. Kudzu has many unique leaf marks. I picked up some of them from the photos I took.

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Photos 2021-12-19