ランという名前は付いていますが、蘭科の植物ではなく、ナデシコ目ハゼラン科の植物です。日本には明治時代に移入され、観賞用と、一部食用（若い芽をおひたしなどにして食す）として用いられたようです。現在は野生化して、道路脇や花壇の中など、そこここに花を見る逞しい植物です。夏の盛りでも毎日花を絶やさず、咲いた後の果実は赤く丸く光り、なかなか可愛らしい花です。午後3時頃に咲き始め、夕方まで咲き続けます。そのことから三時花の別名もあります。咲き始めると一気に開くので、開花を観察するのに適した花と言えます。
Although its Japanese name has "ran," or "orchid," in it, it is not a member of the Orchidaceae family, but of the Talinaceaee family (Talinum crassifolium) or coral flower in English. It was introduced to Japan in the Meiji era (1868-1912) and was used as an ornamental plant and partly as an edible plant (the young shoots were boiled and eaten). Today, it has become wild and can be found everywhere, on roadsides and in flower beds. The flowers bloom every day even in the height of summer, and the fruits after blooming are red, round, and shiny, and quite pretty. Hence its English and Japanese name. Some say the Japanese name derived from the red fruit which resembles firework sparks. The flowers begin to bloom around three in the afternoon and continues to bloom until evening. This is why it is also known as the "three o'clock flower. When it starts to bloom, it opens all at once, making it a good flower to observe.
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Photo 2021-10-29
