An old lady is walking without even using a cane, carrying a load of flowers on her back. Sharinbai looks like that appearance. Written in kanji, it is 車輪梅. The name “sharinbai” (車輪梅) comes from the resemblance of its flowers to plum blossoms and its leaves and branches forming a wheel shape. The flower’s meaning is “the comfort of a gentle breeze.” True to this meaning, the flowers bloom fully and sway in the May wind. Each flower, upon closer inspection, is very beautiful and elegant. From spring to early summer, the old leaves at the bottom turn red as they are replaced by new leaves. The sharinbai is a hardy evergreen that withstands air pollution, heat, and even sea breezes. It is commonly planted in roadside green belts, parks, and along coastal roads. The bark and wood contain tannins, and the brown dye made from the bark is used in the famous Oshima Tsumugi silk fabric from Amami Oshima. Oshima Tsumugi, known for its deep black color and intricate dyeing and weaving techniques, is considered one of the world’s top three silk fabrics.

花を背中いっぱいに担いだお婆さんが杖も使わず歩いています。そんな姿に見えるシャリンバイ。漢字で書くと車輪梅です。花がウメに似ていて、枝葉が車輪状に生じることからシャリンバイ（車輪梅）と命名されました。花言葉は「そよ風の心地よさ」。その花言葉通り、満開の花を咲かせ５月の風に揺れています。一つ一つの花もよく見るととても美しく気品があります。春から初夏にかけて、新しい葉と入れ替わる形で、下の方の古い葉が赤く色づくのも特徴です。シャリンバイは大気汚染や暑さに強いうえ、潮風にも強い常緑性の花木です。道路の緑地帯や公園、海沿いの道路などによく植えられています。樹皮や材にはタンニンを含み、樹皮から作る褐色染料は奄美大島の大島紬に使われます。大島紬は深い黒に繊細な染めと織りの技術が光る、世界三大織物にも数えられる絹織物です。