Crape myrtles (sarusuberi or literally monkey slippage in Japanese) in full bloom found in a residential park in NISHIOGI.
The deciduous flowering trees originated in southern China and were introduced to Japan in the Edo period (1603-1867). Their heights are 4-8m (about 160-320 inches).
The humorous Japanese name came from their features in that their petals become curly like crepe, bark peels off and trunks become smooth, so it was thought that even monkeys would slip down from the trees.
Incidentally, the flower language of crape myrtles is, for example, eloquence or attractiveness.
猿も滑り落ちる
西荻の住宅地の公園で見つけた満開の「サルスベリ（猿滑。別名百日紅）」。
江戸時代に渡来した落葉小高木。中国南部原産。樹高4～8ｍ。
花弁は縮れ、樹皮がはがれてつるつるした木肌になるのが特徴。ユーモラスな和名は、つるつるなので、木登り上手の猿でも滑り落ちると考えられたことに由来する。
因みに、花言葉は「雄弁」「愛嬌」など。
