Fairies in the forest of Rokko Mountains

In this forest, there are fairies in pastel colors which lit up the forest during the season of gray skies.  I made my way to Hase-ike Pond admiring beautiful fairies along the paths.

The pond was covered with yellow “Kohone/河骨”, or Nuphar japonicum, and white or pink water lilies, “Suiren/睡蓮”, or Nymphaeales

Today's protagonist is these yellow fairies on the water.  コウホネ(河骨), yellow pond lilies, bloom from June to September one after another.

This photo is not mine but via here.

They have bright-yellow sepals which surround the same-colored numerous petals. Till late spring, their leaves are below the water surface, and then the broad, dark green, heart-shaped leaves come to float on the surface.  The floating leaves are connected by long stalks to large horizontal roots in the sediments which look like a spine.  That’s why they are called 河骨/Kohone in Japanese which literally means “brook-bone”.

They are beneficial to wildlife habitat and an important part of a pond/lake ecosystem.  Seeds are dispersed by water currents and eaten by the critters of the pond including birds. Roots are used in a poultice for cuts, swelling, and other ailments as crude drugs. (Source here in Japanese.)

Shall we walk around the pond together?

A small patch of blue appears from time to time.

Enclosed by green, the swamp is mysteriously shimmering.

How cute! This frog looks taking a nap on a hammock slightly rocking in the breeze. It is 森青蛙,　Forest Tree Green Frog, or Rhacophorus arboreus, which is native to Japan. 

They spend their adult lives in trees of forests.

Frogs in general lay their eggs in the water like puddles, ponds or lakes, however, Forest Green Tree Frogs “lay their eggs within a batch of sponge-like foam which is suspended from a tree branch,usually hanging over a pond, marsh, or slow-flowing stream.”

Before leaving, I paid another look again at the world of yellow fairies....

..... and breathed in deeply the wet green air to remember.


My former visits:
 Mt. Rokko with fresh verdure
        Floral Galaxy of Japanese primrose