Nature and the Volcano - Toyako-cho - Greenery
Trees in the Toyako area
The Mount Usu area is populated with different types of trees than the lakeshore area. In the Mount Usu area, which has experienced repeated eruptions, there are few large trees, and forests are still young. Furthermore, there are almost no conifer trees. On the other hand, the lakeshore area has forests that contain (Japanese) yew (tree) and oaks.
Mountain Ash
Family name: Rosaceae
Height: 10-15 meters
Girth: 30-40 cm
This is a deciduous tree that grows in mountainous areas. The tree blossoms with small white flowers in June and bears red fruit between September and November.
Japanese white birch
Family name: Betulaceae
Height: 20-25 meters
Girth: 40-60 centimeters
This is a deciduous tree typical of northern regions and its white bark is striking. The bark is thin and peels off like paper. These trees start to grow before any of the other trees in areas that have been damaged by landslides and fires.
Table Dogwood
Family name: Cornaceae
Height: 12-20 meters
Girth: 50-70 centimeters
This is a deciduous tree that can be found in mountainous areas. The tree’s branches turn red in winter. The tree is called mizuki (water tree) in Japanese since it produces a large amount of sap.
Japanese big-leaf magnolia
Family name: Magnoliaceae
Height: 15-20 meters
Girth: 60-80 centimeters
This tree is characterized by large leaves that can be up to 20-40 centimeters long. The leaves are often used as containers for local dishes. The flowers are also large and give off a nice fragrance.
Flowers around Toyako
One can come across various types of unique flowers in forests, pastures, and farm land around Toyako. These flowers include Corydalis ambigua and Adonis amurensis, which bloom throughout the area in early spring, and Lilium medeoloides and Linaria japonica during summer.
Carmichael's Monkshood
Family name: Ranunculaceae
In bloom: August-October
Height: 100-150 centimeters
Pheasant's eyes grow either in mountain forests of broad-leaf trees or alone near mountain streams. They produce purple flowers, and their roots have a strong poison, which have been used to make poison arrows.
Pheasant's eye
Family name: Ranunculaceae
In bloom: April-May
Height: 10-30 centimeters
Pheasant's eyes have yellow flowers and grow under sunlit broad-leaf trees. The name in Japanese is written with the Chinese characters for “happy life” and “grass.” The flower is also called the New Year’s Day grass.