Rare Cherry Blossoms Discovered on Ancient Tomb Grounds in Kobe
Arborists in Kobe City, Japan, have identified and are preserving a rare variety of cherry blossom trees growing on the grounds of ancient burial mounds known as kofun. The Imperial Household Agency restricts public entry to these sites, but Kiyohiro Shikata, a local arborist, first noticed the unique trees at the Ozuka Tumulus in 2007. Unlike typical wild cherries in the region that bloom in March, these trees flower later, around April 20, with petals that remain partially closed rather than opening flat. In 2019, Shikata collaborated with Takayuki Fujiwara, a cherry blossom expert from the Japanese Cherry Blossom Society, to study the specimens. They determined the trees represent a distinct local variety, now referred to as the 'Ozuka Princess.' To ensure their survival, the experts are cultivating successor trees as a new local specialty. This effort connects historical cultural properties with modern botanical conservation, highlighting a unique natural heritage found within protected archaeological sites in Hyogo Prefecture.
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Rare Cherry Blossoms Discovered on Ancient Tomb Grounds in Kobe
Arborists in Kobe City, Japan, have identified and are preserving a rare variety of cherry blossom trees growing on the grounds of ancient burial mounds known as kofun. The Imperial Household Agency restricts public entry to these sites, but Kiyohiro Shikata, a local arborist, first noticed the unique trees at the Ozuka Tumulus in 2007. Unlike typical wild cherries in the region that bloom in March, these trees flower later, around April 20, with petals that remain partially closed rather than opening flat. In 2019, Shikata collaborated with Takayuki Fujiwara, a cherry blossom expert from the Japanese Cherry Blossom Society, to study the specimens. They determined the trees represent a distinct local variety, now referred to as the 'Ozuka Princess.' To ensure their survival, the experts are cultivating successor trees as a new local specialty. This effort connects historical cultural properties with modern botanical conservation, highlighting a unique natural heritage found within protected archaeological sites in Hyogo Prefecture.
asahi