Plant paradise: Rape blossoms (nanohana)in a row

The rapeflower plant or nanohana in Japanese is a plant in the mustard family. It is tough and spreads easily.

Linda Inoki’s article has more (see below)

IN BLOOM

 Nanohana (Rape)

By LINDA INOKI

 

Sparrows In the fields of rape, With flower-viewing faces.

 

By Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated by R. H. Blyth in “Haiku” (Hokuseido Press)

The cheerful yellow flowers of rape plants are a sure sign that spring is here. Nanohana is the general name for several plants in this group, first introduced from Europe. Originally these were grown for the edible oil extracted from their seeds, as they still are in the West. But Japanese people appreciated their pretty flowers, so nowadays nanohana grown here are mostly intended for display as cut flowers or for consumption as spring greens.

The Japan Times: March 7, 2002