fish mint

Has a peculiar odor but is not "poisonous".

Scientific name	Houttuynia cordata
English name	fish mint
Japanese name	蕺
Classification	magnoliids
Classification details	Piperales Saururaceae
Full length	20-60cm (plant height)
Distribution	Distributed in East and Southeast Asia. South of Hokkaido in Japan.

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.