Here are some of the trees I've passed.
**These photos are from my personal hikes. Several of these trees you can no longer approach so closely (because of natural damage and because of decades of too many humans like me going to close). Some are in low-traffic areas and have little to worry about at present. Some are fast-growing, or have roots that grow where they won't be bothered. Others grow close to town. And there are even some trees—namely the Sarugawa Gajumaru—you are welcome to climb around.
(Smaller trees can be found in the Plant & Flower Gallery.)
By Family:
- Araliaceae (aralia or ivy family): Kalopanax septemlobus
- Cupressaceae (cypress family): Cryptomeria japonica
- Lythraceae (loosestrife or henna family): Lagerstroemia indica
- Moraceae (fig or mulberry family): Ficus superba, Ficus microcarpa
- Pinaceae (pine family): Abies firma, Tsuga sieboldii
- Theaceae (tea or camelia family): Stewartia monadelpha
- Trochodendraceae: Trochodendron aralioides
Cryptomeria japonica
Japanese: 杉 (Sugi)
Family: Cupressaceae [3]
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Stewartia monadelpha
Japanese: 姫沙羅 (Himeshara)
Family: Theaceae [3]
The Tall Stewartia is one of everybody's favorite trees. The smooth, cool trunks of these trees lure hikers into hugging them, and since they shed their bark constantly (especially during dry spells, such as near the end of winter) to keep other plants from growing on them, they are impressively resiliant to the affection of visitors. Even more beautiful when they glisten in the rain or dawn a white crowns of hoarfrost in the winter, in the extreme conditions of Yakushima wild Tall Stewartias can grow to be hundreds of years old.
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Kalopanax septemlobus
Japanese: ハリギリ (Harigiri)
Family: Araliaceae [3]
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Trochodendron aralioides
English: Japanese Wheel Tree
Japanese: ヤマグルマ (Yama-guruma)
Family: Trochodendraceae [3]
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Ficus superba
Japanese: アコウ (Acou)
Family: Moraceae [3]
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Ficus microcarpa
Japanese: ガジュマル (Gajumaru)
Family: Moraceae [3]
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Sources:
- [1] 新版 屋久島の植物
- 初島住彦監修,2001:南方新社
- [2] 九州野山の花
- 片野田逸朗,2004:南方新社
- [3] Wikipedia