On a corner of the sidewalk along the road, the Matsubagiku (Osteospermum) are blooming all at once. They look like higasa (parasol) or bangasa (beach umbrella), and seem to hide and reveal people who use them to avoid the spring sunshine. The plump leaves are succulent and the shape of the flowers is similar to some types of cacti. They also resemble umbrellas in that they open up when exposed to the sun and close when shaded. The Matsubagiku was introduced to Japan in the early Meiji period and is a perennial evergreen herb native to South Africa, not a cactus or a chrysanthemum. They are often seen planted in flower beds or stone walls on the streets, and some have become naturalized. They grow along the ground and can reach a width of about 100 cm for larger plants. Although the flower language for Matsubagiku is “lazy” because the flowers do not bloom on cloudy or rainy days or at night, it seems rather cruel. It probably means that people want the flowers to continue blooming as long as possible.

道路沿いの歩道の一角に松葉菊が一斉に花咲かせています。日傘の様でもあり、番傘の様でもあり、春の日差しを避けて傘差す人が見え隠れする様にも見えます。ふっくらとした葉は多肉であり、花の形もある種のサボテンにも似ています。日を浴びると開き日が陰ると萎んでしまう様子も傘そっくりです。明治初年ごろに渡来した松葉菊は南アフリカ原産の常緑多年草でサボテンではありません。また菊でもありません。路地の花壇や石垣に植えられているのをよく見かけますが、野生化しているのもあります。地面をはうように生長し、大きい株だと、幅100cmほどになるものもあります。松葉菊は夜だけでなく、曇りや雨の日にも花は開きませんので、「怠け者」と言う花言葉がありますが、酷いですね。裏を返せば、花が咲いている間は咲き続けてほしいと言うことでしょうね。