Kotohajime

Tuyama, 1968, Camellias of Japan, pl.50, p.25, colour photo, p.100, description as ‘Koto-hajime’: Leaves small, dark green, broadly elliptic, with the apex recurved, acute; thin, raised venation, margins crenate-denticulate, 6.3-7.3 cm long x 2.8-3.5 cm wide; petioles green and hairy. Flowers white, anemone centered double, with outer petals, 8­12; inner incurved petals, 34-103 and 14-15 petaloids, shaded pale yellow to pinkish yellow at the base. Stamens few with creamy filaments. Flowers early to mid-season. May be a synonym for Shirokarako. Originated in the Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Corruptions of the Japanese name: ‘Kotchajime’, ‘Kothojimi’. The name refers to 13th December, the day for beginning cus­tomary business for the new year and indicates its early flowering.

文化出版局. 1975. 《現代椿名鑑》. P120. 新潟產. [花]乳白色で、弁の基部は微帯黄色、唐子咲き、小輪、11～5月。[葉]小型の楕円形でわりあいに平坦な葉。葉柄には少し毛があり、ユキツバキ系　[樹]横張り性、やや弱く枝が細い。[来歴]昭和43年に「日本の椿」（津山尚他）に命名・発表されたのがはじめである。　文/桐野