Strange change in the flowering of Somei Yoshino!? Mar 3 at 22:13
Spring is the season of cherry blossoms. In Tokyo, the flowering of Yoshino cherry trees was announced early, but in recent years, it is said that there have been abnormal changes in the flowering of Yoshino cherry trees due to climate change caused by global warming and other factors. This time, we will focus on Somei Yoshino.
Challenge the problem!
Which of the following is the Somei Yoshino flower?
Answer with symbols.
However, the relationship between sizes is different from reality.
(Seikouin Junior High School, 2016)
The answer is d.
Features of Somei Yoshino
On March 3, it was announced that "cherry blossoms have blossomed in Tokyo."
It was the earliest announcement at Someiyoshino in Japan.
Someiyoshino cherry trees are widely distributed from southern Hokkaido to Kagoshima and are subject to observation by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
We asked Mr. Toshio Katsuki of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, who has been studying cherry blossoms for more than 14 years, how Someiyoshino was born.
Mr.
Katsuki: "We know that it is a hybrid of Edohigan and Oshima cherry, and it is said that there was a town of plant shops called Somei Village in Edo, where it proliferated and spread."
Someiyoshino cherry is born by crossing two types of cherry blossoms, and has a gorgeous pale pink color like "Edohigan" and large flowers like "Oshima cherry".
It is a variety that has "good taste" of both.
It is characterized by its branches that are easy to see the cherry blossoms, grows quickly, and is easy to multiply, and it is said that it is a "miracle one" with just the right properties.
Mr.
Katsuki: "I think people at the time also thought, 'It's perfect for cherry blossom viewing, so let's increase this properly.'"
What are the anomalies that have occurred in recent years?
In recent years, Yoshino cherry blossoms have changed.
Mr
. Katsuki: "In the past, it was thought that the cherry blossoms bloomed around the time of the entrance ceremony in Tokyo, but now they bloom around the middle of March, and by the time of the entrance ceremony, most of the flowers are gone."
The first anomaly is the early flowering.
The flowering date of Yoshino cherry trees in Tokyo this year was 1 days earlier than normal, and along with 10 and 2020, it was the earliest flowering since statistics were collected.
According to Katsuki, it is about two weeks earlier than it was 2021 years ago, when it was about the beginning of April.
Katsuki:
"In addition to the so-called global warming caused by climate change, there is also a phenomenon unique to cities called heat islands.
So, if the temperature continues to rise, will the flowering of Yoshino cherry trees be even faster?
Mr.
Katsuki: "Actually, that's the difference... If it gets too warm, it will bloom late."
This anomaly is evident in Someiyoshino in Kagoshima.
This is the flowering date of Somei Yoshino in the past 10 years in Fukuoka and Kagoshima.
In the past, relatively warm Kagoshima tended to bloom early, but in recent years, Kagoshima has often bloomed later.
Furthermore, last year, not only did flowering slow down in Kagoshima, but some individuals did not bloom with some buds.
Mr. Katsuki: "Ibusuki City is located in the southernmost part of the Satsuma Peninsula, and last year I confirmed that Yoshino cherry trees do not bloom properly if you go that far.
The mechanism of flowering of Yoshino cherry
Why does this happen?
Someiyoshino flower buds are formed in the summer of the year before flowering.
It is temporarily dormant from autumn to winter so that it does not bloom as it is, and the dormancy is released when it is stimulated by the cold of winter.
After that, it continues to grow due to the warmth of early spring and eventually blooms.
Thus, flowering requires cold stimulation, but ...
Mr.
Katsuki: "If the winter is too warm, this dormancy cannot be released properly."
Mr.
Katsuki: "It means that we always think that it is autumn, and we mistakenly think that spring has not come."
Sakura that can be enjoyed in each region
There is concern that Yoshino cherry trees may eventually stop blooming in warm regions such as Kagoshima.
However, there are many other cherry blossoms in the Japan that are suitable for warm environments.
Mr. Katsuki is conducting research to increase the number of cherry blossoms that suit the climate of the region so that you can continue to enjoy cherry blossom viewing in various places.
Mr
. Katsuki: "As a substitute for Someiyoshino, there are Tsukushiyamazakura in southern Kyushu and Kumanozakura in the Kii Peninsula. We are also trying to recreate cherry blossoms that everyone can enjoy."
In addition to Someiyoshino, there are many other wonderful cherry blossoms, so Katsuki said that he wanted you to enjoy various cherry blossoms.
Let's continue to think about "why?", in fact, the "in the first place" that we want to know.
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