Botany Boy Takes a Nature Hike: Mountains, Flowers and Forests

The mountains of southern Japan offer a view into an amazing array of wild flowers and forests. In this video I take a nature hike into the woods only a 10 minute walk from my front door. The plants encountered are both exotic and commonplace, and often quite unexpected to the uninitiated. No less than 4 orchids are seen on this outing, as well as several edible plants, and a couple plants commonly grown in western gardens. Come along for this nature jaunt and enjoy the sights and sounds of the mid-spring woods.
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Thanks to Nesnad for the picture of myoga shoots from Wikipedia, credit: By Nesnad - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikime...
Thanks also to Terpsichores for the map of Japan’s taiheiyo evergreen forest map, credit: Terpsichores - Own work Source : background : Natural Earth II (public domain) by Tom Patterson, US National Park Service national borders : File:NED worldmap 110m.svg by Gringer ecoregion shape : File:Eastern palearctic biomes.svg by Terpsichores
#NatureHiking #Wildflowers #WildOrchids

[@an1l381]

I love your videos. Very informative, no lame music or jokes and you are very charismatic.

[@botanyboy1]

If you are interested in specific information about the plants, here is a timeline: 1:26 Camellia japonica (Theaceae) - tea family, mostly native to east Asia 3:45 Phyllostachys edulis (Poaceae) - grasses, formally called Gramineae, including all cereal grains, lawn grasses and bamboos 6:28 Wisteria brachybotrys (Fabaceae) - legumes, the species name means “short clusters” 7:20 Cephalanthera falcata (Orchidaceae) - orchid family, the Japanese name is “kinran”, meaning “golden orchid” 8:14 Myco-heterotroph - plants that parasitize soil fungi for nutrients 9:12 Calanthe discolor (Orchidaceae) - orchid family, the name “discolor” means “varied or different colors” 10:21 Cymbidium goeringii (Orchidaceae) - orchid family, Japanese name “shunran” means “spring orchid” 14:52 Laurel Forest - a forest type where tree species typically have glossy, long leaves, in Japan trees from the Fagaceae, Theaceae, and Lauraceae are typical species 15:22 Chamaecyparis obtusa (Cupressaceae) - hinoki cypress, a common forestry tree in southern Japan forming vast monocultures along with Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) 15:45 Photinia glabra (Rosaceae) - rose family, commonly called “red tip” in the horticultural trade 16:43 Piper kadsura (Piperaceae) - pepper family, most famous is black pepper, P. nigrum. In the past used medicinally, but is not spicy to the taste. 17:42 Zingiber mioga (Zingiberaceae) - ginger family, important food in Japan, flower buds used as a garnish and vinegar pickled dishes. 20:04 Arisaema ringens (Araceae) - the arums or aroids, common name, cobra lily. 21:31 Arisaema serrata (Araceae), possibly a species complex involved, many varieties 23:32 Cephalanthera erecta (Orchidaceae) - called “ginran” in Japanese, meaning “silver orchid”

[@gabrielg.2401]

That was great! Loved hearing more about the trees as well! Thanks!

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Thanks for the video, very informative and interesting! Liked the yellow tiny orchid and the calanthea as well. Thanks for sharing and take care!

[@prometheusignitus116]

Hi Tom, I really enjoy it when you invite us along a botanising trek. Arisæma is a ‘pet’ genus of mine and it was nice seeing Arisæma ringens and A. serratum in their agrestal state. I’ve managed to maintain a sizable clump of Cymbidium goeringii for a few decades which reliably flowers in early spring in the open garden. I didn’t realise the shika were such a nuisance but I suppose without natural predators their population just goes unchecked. I’m glad a mukade wasn’t lurking under you! Have you considered taking us along to a specialty Japanese nursery? I really enjoyed the specialty Chinese orchid nusery of a few years ago. Look forward to your next video. Stay safe. Best, John.

[@botanyboy1]

Wow, John, keeping C. goeringii in the open garden isn't that easy - they are very touchy, especially the roots. They are always grown in containers here. There are vast areas of low mountains in Japan that have been extensively used/abused through the years, collectively known as "satoyama", that are in disarray. Deer are another issue - out of control and destroying much of what's left. Bottom line, these are systems totally out of balance and eventually the forces of nature will right them again to a new equilibrium, but not in my lifetime. If you look at my orchid show videos, most are taken at speciality nurseries, or hobbyist group gatherings.

[@prometheusignitus116]

botanyboy1 Hi Tom, The several different clones of Cymbidium goeringii that I’ve successfully cultivated in the open garden must be carefully sited to insure immaculate drainage, winter-wet would surely spell its doom. The free-draining loam of the garden is further amended with gravel and plants are positioned on sloping terrain to assure sharp drainage. This hardiest of terrestrial/lithophytic Cymbidium are grown as far as Boston in the open garden - I suppose success is predicated on careful siting and a hardy clone collected in its most Northern range. Yes, as you are aware, the ‘Shun-ran’ cultivated as classic Koten Engei subjects are selected for their unusual colours, flower form and of course variegation of foliage which I would assume impact hardiness in climes experiencing freezing/below freezing temperatures. Yes, I have viewed an enjoyed all your nursery and plant exhibit videos. What I meant by ‘specialty nurseries’ was perhaps ones specialising in Asarum, Primula seiboldii, variegated plants, et cetera.

[@daisyflower4105]

Another video! Yeah! I’ve just discovered your channel. I just love your videos. So professional. So beautiful. Thank you.

[@YayaHortus]

My husband and I hike in the forest all the time, but never really appreciate what the forest has to offer. But now I can actually look down and see what plants or flowers 💐 m not killing 😁I love the ground orchid ( the last tiny one you showed ) and The bright wisteria flower is so beautiful as well, heck I like them all. I’m learning a lot from the type of flowers you are showing. Thank you 🙏

[@vanaru5645]

Thanks for the tour

[@annaszarek7224]

Thank you for another beautiful video :-)

[@татьянапавлинова-с8х]

Спасибо Вам за чудесные ролики!

[@X_explorer]

Excellent clip!

[@NinjaOrchids]

I love your T-shirt 🤩 it’s perfect!! Thank you, again, for an inspirational video 💐

[@avant-gardeningstudios]

The Calanthes are growing so beautifully despite what nature throws at them! I really loved the close up details of the little golden orchid, such a pretty little parasite. Shame we didn't get to see Cymbidium goeringii at their best. The way people harvest and use the tips of the bamboo made me think of asparagus tips. You have such an amazing wilderness right on your doorstep, thank you for sharing it.

[@miakodaforever]

Amazing video, really loved seeing the Arisaema species in Japan. We have three (that I know of) in NW Alabama, triphyllum, quinatum, and dracontium, and I'm kind of in love with all of them (but especially dracontium..). Really hope to make it out to Japan within the next few years. Have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of time checking out the plants. So glad to have found your channel and can't wait to watch your other videos.

[@jeromegagnon8335]

Next vid looks super interesting 😁

[@botanyboy1]

I hope so. Another in my "lockdown garden therapy" series.

[@mattwheatley1567]

Awesome video! I was facinated from start to end! Maybe you should do tours to your secret valley...or maybe you wanna keep it a secret...Thanks!

[@botanyboy1]

For you Matt, I'd surely give a tour!

[@karensicard7304]

Yes life is good.

[@botanyboy1]

Yes, it is. Time to slip another shrimp on the barbie!

[@openheart6113]

Nice to see things that only grow in other countries. I have a bamboo but the shoots did not tast that good. Not sure what spieces it is. Also Australia has a native clumping bamboo but it does not grow that tall.

[@botanyboy1]

Moso is one of the more tasty species of bamboo. The name "edulis" actually means "edible".

[@amaterion7221]

🤗👍

Hello, I don't miss any of your videos; I love. Is it possible to germinate bletilla striata at home? What would be the ideal substrate to do it? I have a copy with two capsules and I want to try it. Thank you in advance and regards, Hernán.

[@botanyboy1]

Easy! Get some "old" potting soil and mix it with a bit of sand. Put this in a sealed, clear plastic container. Also, you can cut strips of cardboard and push them into the sand. Sprinkle the seed over the sand and cardboard and mist it with water until it is fully watered. Then seal the container and put it on a bright windowsill. They will grow within a month or two, but be patient, orchid babies are slow to mature! Oh, DO NOT cover the seed with soil, just sprinkle them over the soil. Good luck!

@@botanyboy1 Thank you very much for the help. What do your experience usually germinate? Does it also work on sphagnum moss? Greetings from Galicia, Hernán.

[@botanyboy1]

@ B. striata is easy to germinate in my experience, but most other orchids are much harder. You could try sphagnum as a substrate, but if it breaks down your seedlings could be in trouble.

[@ogorunova]

Спасибо! Вы открыли мне Японию с другой стороны, через природу! Очень интересно!

[@botanyboy1]

Thanks for watching. I have TONS of stuff about Japan on all my videos and articles on my blog.

[@nebuchadnezzar7706]

New subscriber here, thanks for the great content! Beautiful forest. Iam looking forward to going to Shikoku after the lockdown. Do you have a university degree in biology/botany? Iam teaching myself botany nomenclature at the moment. Do you have any tips for learning and remembering plant Families/Genus and scientific names of species?

[@botanyboy1]

Yes, I have a degree in biology, with a focus on zoology. To learn plants, get out in the local environment, get a good native plant guide, and learn the native flora. Then you can start discerning family attributes and affiliations. Mostly, you have to really have a passion for it, then you'll learn easily. DON'T try to do it online only. Get your feet wet...

[@nebuchadnezzar7706]

@@botanyboy1 Of course! Thank you 👍

[@viiiderekae]

How are you hugging that bamboo shoot. Doesnt it have urticating hairs ? The species where i live is full of em Dx Learned the hard way 😢 Camellia azalea is a nice tropical hardy species that is very popular here in south east asia. My dad has a c. Japonica but it does not flower. The plants rarely get hardened. To flower in tropical weather

[@botanyboy1]

Ha, ha. No problems, we are good friends! Touch them gently, and in the correct direction and you'll be OK. I remember a flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, growing in south Florida that didn't bloom either - not enough cold winter days. C. japonica lives all the way up to northern Honshu Island, and winters are long and cold up there!

[@viiiderekae]

@@botanyboy1 Interesting that genera wise many are simillar to south east asia.. that piper and ginger are 2 plants i never expected to be found in temperate broadleaf forest.

[@XoroksComment]

I actually planted Myoga ginger bulbs recently but they haven't come up yet ^^ Interesting to see P. glabra in the wild, the Photinia x fraseri hybrid is the most common here in central Europe. P. glabra is supposedly too tender, but even P. fraseri has issues with hardiness and fungal diseases. I've planted the Chinese species, P. serratifolia which is supposedly more hardy. Have you come across any Rhaphiolepis plants in the wild?

[@botanyboy1]

Winters here are very mild, nothing below - 4 C, nor have I seen any fungal problems with P. glabra, but it is native here and adapted. I have seen Rhaphiolepis, but it is found in my local woods.

[@martinhild]

Is there any monitoring programme or protection initiative for native plants in Japan?

[@botanyboy1]

Sure. Conservation efforts like those in western countries came late to Japan since people have been living as a part of the environment for many centuries. Focus has varied a lot depending on the region, and the ecosystems and species effected. The land you see in this video is public for the most part, and a common forest type - satoyama - "countryside" mountains, meaning land that has been extensively been used in the past, in secondary growth (or plantation forest) and generally has been poorly managed. Hence, "conservation" on such lands has been minimal, or very local.

[@peterj1823]

could you do a video of Neofinetia falcata in-situ? I've seen all your videos and I don't think I saw one!

[@botanyboy1]

Well, maybe not quite in-situ, but I can show you them growing on a tree near a shrine. In my area, which is higher urbanized, most of the native orchids in-situ have been long ago removed or their habitats converted into human use areas.

[@christopherbollinger4180]

Do you have any great floral or botany books you recommend for learning how to recognize what plants are what?

[@botanyboy1]

What I recommend is getting a local field guide and hitting the nearby woods. See what you can identify. Also, with all that is online these days, you can also find tons of information on the go. Again, focus on just the plants of your area (for instance, you'd be amazed at what you can find in a typical roadside ditch). That is how I'd get my feet wet. Once you start getting a feel for all the plants around you, then you can start looking at the deep end of plant classification. As for specifics, I would take this man's recommendations: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5DQgaiVibusZ6c Skip to 3:09 in the video to see his recommendations. This guy, Tony Santoro, knows his botany inside and out so I trust his suggestions. You will either find his antics funny or offensive, regardless, his knowledge is considerable.

[@LinusCello75]

1. Entomosporium is decimating redtip photinias in the US. Not a problem for the wild photinia you had in the video? 2. What used to keep the deer population in check? Wolves? Hunters? 3. The Japanese deer didn’t eat the Myioga ginger? The white tailed deer in Virginia ate my myioga.

[@botanyboy1]

The native photinia are doing fine here, and all the garden plants I've seen are OK too. So, no problems here at least. The current state of forests around the world is largely a mess. The issue is everything is out of balance due to human activity over the past two centuries. It is complex. Look up the world "satoyama" (里山) and see the situation in much of Japan these days. The deer haven't eaten the myoga yet, but give them time... I know of mountains completely denuded of EVERY herbaceous plant, and even tree seedlings cannot grow. The fate of these forests is very uncertain unless something is done about the situation, and soon.