fish mint

fish mint

Has a peculiar odor but is not "poisonous".

Characteristics

A wild grass with a distinctive smell that blooms from spring to summer. The parts that look like white petals are leaves called bracts, and the true flowers grow densely in the center of the bracts. The spikes bloom from below.

The leaves are heart-shaped, dull and pointed. The rim is reddish purple.

Picture of fish mint

Ecology

It thrives in dark, damp places and flowers in summer. Because of its strong reproductive power, it will grow considerably if left alone. It also spreads from underground rhizomes.

Habitat

Along the Sakai River

I photographed flowers growing in clusters in a dark, damp vacant lot along the Sakai River. There were some inflorescences coming out of the bracts that were about to open. It comes out from the bottom of the inflorescence, and I think this corresponds to the order of blooming (bottom to top).

The bracts that open in a cross shape look like flowers and look great in the dark.

Pictures

Introducing a picture of fish mint.

Picture of fish mint1|The bracts are open on the cross.
The bracts are open on the cross.
Picture of fish mint2|The inflorescence blooms from the bottom.
The inflorescence blooms from the bottom.
Picture of fish mint3|Bract before opening.
Bract before opening.
Picture of fish mint4|Turn over from the bottom.
Turn over from the bottom.
Picture of fish mint5|The tip of the leaf is pointed and the margin is reddish purple.
The tip of the leaf is pointed and the margin is reddish purple.
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Pictures of fish mint.

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