I mentioned ‘Kinshibai,’ but this is a different flower. The formal name for this flower is actually ‘Seiyō Kinshibai.’ It was given the flower language of ‘sparkle’ or ‘radiance of the sun’ because of its stamen that looks like golden threads and its vibrant yellow petals, which evoke the beautiful shining of the sun. There is a similar flower called ‘Biyōyanagi’ that looks almost identical, but  the stamen tip is red in the Seiyō Kinshibai, distinguishing it. While Kinshibai and Biyōyanagi are native to China, Seiyō Kinshibai is native to southern Europe and the Near East. It seems that ‘Seiyō’ was added to Kinshibai due to its origin. In any case, there are other yellow flowers that bloom in parks and elsewhere that closely resemble it, but unless you have a keen interest, it’s difficult to tell them apart.

キンシバイとは言いましたが、キンシバイとは別の花で、正式にはこの花はセイヨウキンシバイと言います。金糸のように見える雄しべと、鮮やかな黄色い花びらが、太陽が美しく輝く姿を想像させることから付けられた花言葉は「きらめき」「太陽の輝き」です。そっくりな花にビヨウヤナギがありますが、雄蕊の先が赤いのがセイヨウキンシバイです。キンシバイやビヨウヤナギは中国原産ですが、セイヨウキンシバイはヨーロッパ南部から中近東にかけてが原産で、キンシバイにセイヨウがついたのでしょう。ともかく、公園などにほかにもよく似た黄色い花が咲いていますが、よほどの関心がない限り見分けがつきません。