Category:

Municipally Designated Natural Monument

Title:

Someya no tarayo

The Lusterleaf Holly of Someya

染谷のタラヨウ

No. of features:

One tree

Designated:

August 11, 1970

Location:

Someya, Minuma Ward

Owner:

Under private ownership

Description:

  Lusterleaf hollies are evergreen trees in the family Aquifoliaceae. They are frequently planted in Buddhist temples.

It’s possible to write on the underside of the leaves, earning this tree the nickname “hagakinoki” (lit. “leaf writing tree”) in Japanese. The leaves were also used in fortune-telling.

The private residence that this lusterleaf holly (Ilex latifolia) grows in front of was once the main hall of  Shugenji’in Temple.

This tree was 13 meters tall and had a base circumference of 3.1 meters at the time of designation. It is very well-grown, with a trunk that splits into two about 0.8 meters from the ground and a nice canopy.   

It bears yellowish-green flowers in April and May and round, red berries in autumn. 

Associated Texts:

(1987). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 3). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

This cultural property is not available for public viewing.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL：048-829-1723 FAX：048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/005/002/003/p000578.html