今朝は良く晴れて快適な散歩でした。帰宅してローゼルの状態をチェック。花は毎朝咲いていますがその数が日ごとに減ってきて、反面ガクが目立ってきました。
Thanks to a beautiful and dry morning, we had a pleasant walk. After coming home, I started checking the roselle plant. I still get flowers every morning, but the number of flowers is dwindling every day. Instead, the calyxes are becoming prominent.
The long branches are starting to lean towards the road due to the weight of growing calyxes.
ネット上で色々調べたところ、日本で流通しているローゼルは大きく分けて３種類の名で売られているようです。（1）花はピンクの花びらで赤い中心、葉っぱはモミジアオイに似た細い葉の「ローゼル パープル」。（2）花はクリーム色の花びらに赤い中心、葉っぱは苗の下の方では３つに分かれた広葉、枝の上の方にくると一枚の広い葉の「ローゼル レッド」。（3）花は全体が薄黄色で葉っぱはモミジアオイの「ローゼル アイボリー」。この他に、JAでうちの苗と一緒に売られていた白い花のホワイトもあるようですが、「アイボリー」とどう違うのか分かりません。また、種の自家採取を繰り返しているうちには、ガクに先祖帰りのような現象が起きることもあるし、異なる品種を一緒に植えている場合は交雑するようです。よって、品種にこだわるなら業者が名札つきで売っている苗を買うほうが、個人が自家採取した種を買うより確かかもしれません。
うちの苗はというと、２番目の「ローゼル レッド」に近いと思います。ガクの形が丸っこくて気に入っていますが、ひとつ難点はガクの底のツンツンした２番目のガクのようなものが緑色で厚みがないことです。利用するときその部分を切り捨てれば済むことかもしれませんが、他所の画像や動画で当該部分が肉厚で赤い例を見ると、柄から上全部が利用可能になりそうで好みです。
According to information on the internet, there seem to be mainly 3 named varieties sold by commercial growers in Japan, as follows. (1) 'Roselle Purple': pink petals with read centre, and leaves are narrow like those of Hibiscus coccineus. (2) 'Roselle Red': cream-coloured petals with red centre, and the leaves are broad at the lower part of the plant with 3 fingers, but at the higher part the leaf does not part. (3) 'Roselle Ivory': light yellow petals and centre, and leaves are narrow like Hibiscus coccineus. In addition, there might be a variety called 'White' - this was sold at the nearby JA along with the plant I bought. Also, the characteristics may change and revert to ancestors as you repeatedly use your home-grown seeds. Further, if you grow more than one variety in the garden, they may cross pollinate and the next generation may look different from what you thought you had. Therefore, if you are fixed on getting a particular variety, it may be safer to buy a young plant from a commercial grower, rather than buy home-grown seeds on the net from individuals.
As to my roselle plant, it looks very much like the second variety, 'Roselle Red'. I love the round shape of the calyx. I only wish that the pointy collar at the base of the calyx were also red and meaty. Instead, it is green and thin. Now, I have seen images of calyxes with fat and red collar, which looks more appetising.
私が道路からローゼルの苗を眺めていた間、タイガは出てきたくて門の内側でじっと待機していました。
While I was inspecting the roselle plant from the road, Taiga was patiently waiting to be let out.
The moment I opened and signed to her that she was free to do what she wanted, Taiga started her insane running in front of our house. If I touch her body as she runs past me, it means I won - a game she loves.
私を挑発しながらすぐ横を走り抜けます。
She challenges me to try again.
坂の上から自転車に乗った人が来たので、中へ呼び戻してゲームは終わり。さすがに12歳ともなると指示に従います。
A person on a bicycle appeared at the upper end of the slope, so I called her back inside which ended the game. At 12 years old, she at last obeys my commands.
