Shirasuge

Carex alopecuroides var. chlorostachya

Flower name
Shirasuge
Scientific name
Carex alopecuroides var. chlorostachya
Aliasムシャナルコスゲ
Place of originIndia, Taiwan, China, and Japan
Place of floweringLow mountains
Flowering seasonMay, June

What is Shirasuge

Shirasuge or Carex alopecuroides (scientific name:Carex alopecuroides var. chlorostachya) is a perennial herb native to India, Taiwan, China, and Japan, belonging to the sedge family Kayazurigaceae. It grows naturally in moist areas of grassland and sandy gravel in mountainous regions throughout Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu and Okinawa.
From May to June, it produces an inflorescence from a flower stalk, with a pale green, elongated, 8 cm long, rod-shaped male inflorescence at the top and 3 to 5 green, 6 cm long, cylindrical female inflorescences at the lower lateral side of the inflorescence.
The underside of the leaf is lined with white papillae and the underside of the leaf appears white.

Common name: Shirasuge or Carex alopecuroides, scientific name: Carex alopecuroides var. chlorostachya, plant kingdom: India - Taiwan, China, Japan, habitat: Hokkaido - Kyushu, Okinawa, all Japan, Habitat: grassland and sandy gravel in mountainous areas, Height: 50-70 cm, Form: perennial, Plant: dioecious, Leaf surface color: light green, Leaf underside color: powder green, Leaf shape: linear and flexuous, Leaf width: 0.5-1 cm, Phyllotaxy: alternate, Inflorescence type: double inflorescence (small ear: 3-5 flowers), Male small ear length: 8 cm, light green, elongated rod-shaped, Female small ear length Flowering season: May-June; Fruit type: thin; Pericarp length: 0.3 cm.