Benijishi

Kasuya, Kamegorō, 1859, Tsubaki Irohanayose Irotsuki in the anemone form section; Itō, Ko’emon, 1879, Chinkashū: Dark red. Medium sized, anemone form with vigorous, upright growth. Early to mid-season flowering. Leaves, dark green, oval, 7.5 cm x 4 cm, acuminate, finely serrate, reflexed, venation impressed. Plant bushy and side spread­ing. Originated in Japan. Different reading: ‘Kōjishi’. For colour plates under this reading see: Tuyama, 1966, Camellia Cultivars of Japan, pl.129. Tuyama, 1968, Camellia of Japan, pl.255. Ency­clopedia of Camellias in Colour, vol.II, 1972, pl.373. Seibundō Shinkōsha, 1979, Senchinshū, p.52. Yokoyama & Kirino, 1989, Nihon no Chinka, p.382. Except for the original reading by Kasuya, all later authors read this name as ‘Kōjishi’, and this is now generally accepted in Japan for this cul­tivar. Synonym: ‘Pink Lion’. Corruption of name: ‘Benigishi’. Resembles Ōkarako.

講談社　1975年　《現代椿集》 P.347.　淡交社.1989年. 《日本の椿花》.ｐ.382　 関東產. [花]濃紅色の唐子～獅子咲き、中～大輪、11～4月。花芯の唐子弁は不規則に並び、半球形に盛り上がり、外側の大きい外弁8～10枚からこぼれんばかりにひしめく。弁端は紫紅色で、花形とともに、何となく田舎じみた素朴な感じの品種。[葉]枝葉は密生。[樹]横張りとなり。晩秋から咲く。　　[来歴]。　　文/桐野・写真/神園