Japanese
Hualien Giant (Pteris wallichiana) at the Mikagawa River（Mikagawa no nachishida）
三ケ川のナチシダ
Pentagonal shape when seen from above
This plant was named “Nachi shida” in Japanese because it was found near Nachi Waterfall (Nachikatsuura Town) in the Meiji Period. Usually, the whole shape of any plant of the division Pteridophyta, including ferns and fern allies, is triangular when seen from above, but Hualien Giant features a pentagonal shape. This plant has become widespread so as not to suffer from deer-eating damage, and was designated a National Treasure in Kawazu Town in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is considered to be the northern limit of its habitat.
Information
Access
Fifteen min. on foot from Mikagawa[三ケ川] bus stop of Shirahama Community Bus(reservation required; bus services suspended on Sundays and holidays). For a bus reservation, please contact Shirahama Daiichi Koutsu (0739-42-2916).
